He’s starting pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Today’s game with the Chicago Cubs has been postponed. Kile was found earlier, dead in his Chicago hotel room. He was 33. Press conference to be held at 3:10 Central time.
No further news available at this time, I heard it announced on MSNBC, but I haven’t been able to find it online anwhere.
Jesus, the second major leaguer to die this year.
That’s harsh.
That’s sad news.
Was Kile the guy who couldn’t throw strikes against the Braves in the 2000 division series?
No, that was Rick Ankiel, 22 year old wunderkind.
Kile’s the guy who signed a free agent deal with Colorado and got destroyed by the park. No, wait, they ALL do that.
Kile had the good fortune to get traded from Colorado to St Louis a couple of years ago.
Thanks, Jonathan. I knew that didn’t sound right, but I couldn’t shake it loose.
Forgive my ignorance, but I really haven’t been keeping up with the sports news for about a week or so. (like I do anyways, but that’s another story) Who was the first major leaguer to die this year? (cites, links, etc. would be greatly appreciated!)
That is indeed sad news. 
F_X
There’s been a lot of head shaking and shock every place I’ve been this afternoon. Jack Buck’s death was terribly sad, but he had been ill for months and people here in StL were prepared to accept it. Kile’s death is just literally stunning.
Mike Darr, back up infielder for the Padres died during the Spring this year.
Oh, and here’s a link:
Rest in peace Darryl. Twin girls that are five years old…one son under a year.
They say there’s no foul play suspected at this time. It’s shocking.
A man knows not his time.
j
IMHO, speaking as a life-long Cardinals fan, they should cancel tomorrow’s game as well…but it won’t happen. Tomorrow’s game is scheduled to be the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball nation-wide broadcast. There’s probably some program executive at ESPN tastelessly salivating over the prospect of using Kile’s death to grab ratings for their program.
Some of the players are saying they wanna play tomorrow, but I don’t know if they’ve been encouraged to say that or not…perhaps those who would prefer not to play remain silent on the issue.
Thanks, Jonathan. The things you learn at this message board…
F_X
Rex, it’s my understanding that the team voted TO play in honor of Kile because HE NEVER MISSED A START in his whole career.
The concern, actually, was that the commissioner would cancel the game even if the team wanted to play.
Sadly, Kile’s father ALSO died very young, from a heart attack at age 44. The police are now saying that the safety lock was on his hotel room door and he was in bed when they found him…so hopefully, he passed away in his sleep, feeling no pain.
I pray that’s what happened.
j
KneadToKnow - as has been stated, it was Ankiel, not Kile, who lost control in the 2000 postseason. However, I believe he lost control against the Mets, not the Braves. IIRC, the Cards swept the Braves in the Divisional Series that year, then lost to the Mets in the NLCS - Ankiel started games one and four (again IIRC) of the NLCS and had absolutely no control both games.
And jarbaby, the local papers, tv news, etc, all say the Kile was found lying peacefully on the bed, still wearing the eyemask he slept in. By all accounts, whatever happened seems to have been quick and painless.
It’s also being reported here that the team voted to play today as Jarbaby mentioned, because Kile hated missing his starts. Had Kile’s wife objected, then they would’ve forfeited the game, or whatever they had to do to not play, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
His old Houston Astros teammates Bagwell, Biggio, and Ausmus, were reportedly too upset to play yesterday.
I just can’t help thinking of his family. He was 33. Fine one day, having dinner with family and friends. The next day he’s found dead. An autopsy was planned for this morning to try and determine the cause of death.
**His old Houston Astros teammates Bagwell, Biggio, and Ausmus, were reportedly too upset to play yesterday. **
We went extra innings and all saw action. Bagwell drove in the game-winning run as a pinch hitter. I heard Biggio interviewed after the game. He was distraught, as I am sure so many players and fans in baseball. Tragic.
I met Kile once at a friends house while he was in Colorado. Real nice guy, but we only talked for like 2 minutes. He invited me to a poker game, but I chickened out because I figured the stakes would be way out of my league.
He died from a blocked coronary artery. It was probably a hereditary thing since his Dad also died young from a heart attack.
Haj
I also have to say that I’m a bit sickened that after they released the info on the blocked artery (which is so obviously the cause of death), they also released the ‘info’ that there was a substance that ‘could be’ marijuana in his hotel room.
So they don’t even know if it IS marijuana, but decided to throw that little piece of scandal out there just to make sure he doesn’t pass on quietly.
I’m not even a big marijuana advocate, but it’s ridiculous that they brought that up. And if it isn’t marijuana…they’d better be ready with a big damn apology.
P.S. there will be no music at tonight’s Cubs/Cardinals game…just Darryl’s name on the outfield scoreboard for the seventh inning stretch.
j