This email news release just appeared in the in-box:

(Central Islip, N.Y., June 27, 2005) - The Long Island Ducks, members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, today announced they have released relief pitcher John Rocker after the lefty reliever decided to take a step back from baseball.

Rocker came to the decision and informed club officials on Monday, two days after his last outing with the Ducks. "After pitching for two months with the Long Island Ducks, the consistency required to pitch at the Major League level, and the consistency I demand from myself, are not where they should be," said Rocker. "As a result, I have elected to take a step back and reevaluate the options available to me."

Long Island's professional baseball team has dodged a bullet. It must be said, though, that Rocker played baseball and stayed pretty much controversy-free (save for bad baseball and dealing with the necessary heckling.) But any day he leaves a team is a good day for that team.