Nen quits after injury setback

Nen missed the 2003 and 2004 seasons

Robb Nen, San Francisco's all-time saves leader, has suffered a setback in his return from major shoulder surgery and has decided to retire.

"I'm 99% sure," Nen told the San Francisco Chronicle.

"If I get a wild hair about coming back, and six or eight months from now I pick up a ball and feel good again, I might think about it.

"But that's probably not going to happen."

Nen, who claimed 206 saves for the Giants' uniform, has not pitched since the 2002 season when he went 6-2 with 43 saves and a 2.20 earned run average in 68 games.

He might have ruined his career that season, as he pitched through pain and the knowledge of inevitable surgery in an effort to help the Giants win the World Series.

They wound up losing in seven games to the Anaheim Angels, and Nen had three shoulder operations the following year.

The 35-year-old closer, who was being courted by the Colorado Rockies, finishes his career with 314 saves and is just one of just 18 pitchers to reach the 300 mark.

Nen, originally a 32nd round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 1987, won a World Series ring with the 1997 Florida Marlins.