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HITTERS

Glen Barker          PS      Age 28
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Fayettvl SAL 138  31   0   0   1  10   9   7   6   3 110 .225 .277 .246  .182   8  36-OF 113
1996 Jacksnvl Sou 121  15   0   1   0   5   3   3   3   2 108 .124 .159 .140  ****  -3  40-OF 107
1996 Toledo   Int  79  16   1   1   0   8   6   3   4   4  67 .203 .276 .241  .176   4  21-OF 117
1997 Lakeland Fla  56  14   1   0   1   4   6   4   3   1  43 .250 .300 .321  .223   5
1997 Jacksnvl Sou 254  53   4   1   4  21  19  15  10   5 206 .209 .269 .280  .191  16  63-OF 102
1997 Toledo   Int  48   8   0   0   1   4   3   2   4   2  42 .167 .231 .229  .159   2
1998 Jacksnvl Sou 453 105  17   2   5  37  43  32  17   5 353 .232 .290 .311  .214  37 108-OF 116
1999 Houston  NL  412  90  11   2   6  33  44  32  20   7 329 .218 .276 .299  .214  35

After leaving the Tigers’ organization as a six-year free
agent, he was a mild shock to make the Astros out of spring
training. As a switch-hitting outfielder who can get to
first (.362 OBP last year) and steal second (31 last year),
Barker is a nice fit for the 25th roster spot on a National
League team.

Clay Bellinger	3B	Age 30
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Rochestr Int 453 117  19   2  11  30  43  48   5   3 339 .258 .304 .382  .237  46  21-2B 90 41-1B 74
1997 Columbus Int 415 101  20   2   9  26  39  38   8   3 317 .243 .288 .366  .226  39  36-OF 98 45-3B 83
1998 Columbus Int 393  70  11   1   6  28  17  16   3   2 325 .178 .233 .257  .154  15  19-3B 117 25-SS 98
1999 NY Yanks AL  403  94  17   1  11  29  42  46   5   2 311 .233 .285 .362  .225  37

Organizational soldier getting his reward. Unlike many
infielders in the Yankee system, Bellinger is not good enough to
play every day, and isn’t a good enough hitter or defensive
shortstop to warrant the roster spot.

Jacob Brumfield	OF	Age 34
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Pittsbrg NL   79  19   5   0   3   6   9   9   3   1  61 .241 .294 .418  .246   9  15-OF 103
1996 Toronto  AL  302  74  19   2  11  22  37  34  12   3 232 .245 .296 .430  .251  37  67-OF 105
1997 Toronto  AL  172  35   6   1   2  15  12  10   4   4 141 .203 .267 .285  .187  11  42-OF 100
1998 Charlott Int 227  29   4   0   3  28   7   5   4   1 199 .128 .224 .185  .119   5  72-OF 83
1999 LosAngls NL  221  38   9   0   5  21  18  15   6   2 185 .172 .244 .281  .193  15

Brumfield doesn’t do enough to justify his spot on a team with
right-handed hitters on the outfield corners and a good defensive
player in center. He’s only got the roster spot until Todd
Hollandsworth returns, but will probably bounce up and down a few
times this year, contributing very little.

Tripp Cromer	        IF	Age 31
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Louisvil AA  245  48   3   2   3  21  14  13   2   1 198 .196 .259 .261  .174  13  75-SS 90
1997 Albuquer PCL 132  31   5   2   3  10  12  13   3   1 102 .235 .289 .371  .229  13  37-SS 93
1997 LosAngls NL   87  26   4   0   4   6  10  14   0   1  62 .299 .344 .483  .277  12
1998 Albuquer PCL  29   8   0   0   1   1   2   3   0   1  22 .276 .300 .379  .221   3
1999 LosAngls NL  125  29   4   1   4   8  12  15   1   1  97 .232 .278 .376  .235  13

Cromer is an unusual utility infielder, in that he has pretty
good power and no speed. He’s going to play a lot, as the Dodgers
bat their shortstop eighth (Grudzielanek usually, occasionally
Vizcaino) and Davey Johnson will double-switch liberally. Cromer
is a good example of what teams should try to do with their sixth
infielder. In Davey We Trust.

Carlos Garcia	2B	Age 31
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Pittsbrg NL  387 107  18   4   6  26  45  40  13   6 286 .276 .322 .390  .249  44  66-2B  93
1997 Toronto  AL  347  76  19   2   3  16  27  20  11   3 274 .219 .253 .311  .194  23  94-2B 104
1998 Vancouvr PCL 159  33   3   0   2   8   7   7   2   4 130 .208 .246 .264  .159   7  39-SS  81
1998 Anaheim  AL   35   5   1   0   0   3   2   1   2   0  30 .143 .211 .171  .116   1
1999 San Dieg NL  260  61  10   1   3  13  23  22   7   4 203 .235 .271 .315  .212  21

Yeah, yeah, he’s 31, but with a standard deviation of 9. He
was mediocre his last year in Pittsburgh and useless in his two
seasons in the AL, but the unfortunate decision to DFA Ed
Giovanola in the spring – followed by a series of injuries –
left the Padres short. With Phil Nevin back, Garcia was sent
packing.

Dave Hansen	3B	Age 30
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 LosAngls NL  105  24   2   0   0  11   8   6   0   0  81 .229 .302 .248  .192   7
1997 ChiCubs  NL  149  44   8   2   3  31  27  22   1   2 107 .295 .417 .436  .300  26  29-3B 95
1999 LosAngls NL   55  14   2   0   1  10   8   7   0   1  42 .255 .369 .345  .267   8

Back from a year making good money in Japan. Hansen is an
excellent left-handed hitter, with patience and some power. He’s
not the best third baseman on the team anymore, as he was for
years, so there’s no longer the expectation that he should play
more. As Beltre insurance and a lefty stick, he’s a tremendously
valuable bench player.

Brian Hunter	PH	Age 31
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Tacoma   PCL  91  29   4   1   5   7  13  17   1   0  62 .319 .367 .549  .308  16  18-OF  81
1996 Seattle  AL  195  51   6   0   8  14  18  25   0   1 145 .262 .311 .415  .247  22  21-OF 112 23-1B  83
1997 Indianap AA  507 130  26   2  15  36  52  57   8   5 382 .256 .306 .404  .244  56  53-OF  92 76-1B  96
1998 Calgary  PCL  31   2   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0  29 .065 .094 .065  ****  -2
1998 St Louis NL  111  22  10   1   4   8  10  11   1   1  90 .198 .252 .414  .222  10
1999 Atlanta  NL  258  64  14   1   9  20  31  36   4   2 196 .248 .302 .415  .248  30

Six years after leaving Atlanta, he returns as the same player:
a useful right-handed pinch-hitter, nothing more. Bobby Cox
is smart enough to know how to maximize Hunter’s value and
prevent the roster spot from being completely wasted.

Jeff Huson	IF	Age 34
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 ColSprin PCL  59  13   3   0   0   2   5   2   4   0  46 .220 .246 .271  .188   4 
1996 Baltimor AL   28   9   2   0   0   0   3   3   0   0  19 .321 .321 .393  .245   3
1997 Milwauke AL  142  28   4   0   0   5   5   5   3   0 114 .197 .224 .225  .135   4  11-1B 75 19-2B 95
1998 Tucson   PCL  79  17   2   0   1   4   4   4   0   1  63 .215 .253 .278  .169   4
1998 Seattle  AL   48   7   1   0   1   6   2   2   1   1  42 .146 .241 .229  .152   2

Journeyman utility infielder whose primary asset is a left-handed
bat. Huson is sixth-infielder material, and really can’t even
aspire to Bill Spiers status. That said, he’s the best sixth
infielder in a division that houses Domingo Cedeno, Jorge
Velandia and Raffy Bournigal. Huson would also be a reasonable $1
pickup in a hypercompetitive AL roto league.

Scott Leius	IF	Age 33
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Buffalo  AA  124  29   1   1   3  11   9  12   0   0  95 .234 .296 .331  .218  10
1996 Clevelnd AL   43   6   3   0   1   1   1   1   0   0  37 .140 .159 .279  .106   1
1997 Nashvill AA  104  22   0   0   5   9   7  11   0   0  82 .212 .274 .356  .215   9
1998 Omaha    PCL 252  63   4   0  10  15  23  27   6   3 192 .250 .292 .385  .233  25  58-3B  97
1998 KansasCy AL   45   7   0   0   0   2   1   1   0   0  38 .156 .191 .156  ****   0
1999 KansasCy AL  213  49   4   0   7  16  20  24   2   1 165 .230 .284 .347  .214  17

Leius had just a brief – and unimpressive – cameo with the
Royals last year, but the Royals went into spring training with
half a dozen open roster spots and the injury to Jeremy Giambi
widened things further. He can play the corners and second
base in a pinch, and has occasionally been known to hit left-handed
pitching. Not a bad 25th player; as the Royals 20th or 21st
player, well, insert your own punchline here.

Eric Owens	2B/3B/OF	Age 28
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Indianap AA  129  38   6   2   3  10  18  16   5   3  94 .295 .345 .442  .270  18
1996 Cincnnti NL  204  39   6   0   0  24  19   7  14   2 167 .191 .276 .221  .187  13  38-OF  93
1997 Indianap AA  393 100  12   2   8  36  45  37  18   8 301 .254 .317 .356  .239  42  82-2B  96
1997 Cincnnti NL   57  15   0   0   0   4   5   3   2   2  44 .263 .311 .263  .199   4
1998 Louisvil Int 251  72   7   2   4  27  36  27  13   5 184 .287 .356 .378  .263  33  26-3B  86 35-OF  98
1998 Milwauke NL   40   5   2   0   1   2   1   1   0   0  35 .125 .167 .250  .092   0
1999 San Dieg NL  351  92  12   2   7  34  52  41  19   7 266 .262 .327 .368  .259  45

An outstanding pickup for the Pads, given the question marks
at third base and Quilvio Veras’ epoxy-filled shoulders at second.
Owens has a solid glove at second and in left and is passable at
third in a pinch; he draws a few walks and has a little pop. A
great fifth infielder who would be more than adequate if an
injury gave him 400 PA at second.

Scott Pose	OF	Age 32
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Syracuse Int 419  93   7   3   1  51  42  23  18  11 337 .222 .306 .260  .204  32 107-OF  93
1997 Columbus Int 227  62   7   4   2  25  30  23   9   4 169 .273 .345 .366  .254  27  55-OF  99
1997 NY Yanks AL   86  19   2   1   0  10   8   5   3   1  68 .221 .302 .267  .207   7  35-OF  81
1998 Columbus Int 480 115  14   5   3  42  53  32  28  11 376 .240 .301 .308  .220  43  99-OF  89
1999 KansasCy AL  397 101  16   4   2  43  58  39  15   7 303 .254 .327 .330  .233  40

Glad to see he made the team; he’s not a superstar, but the
first-ever hitter in Marlins history has a career .390 OBP in the
minor leagues, and having a bench player who can pinch-hit to
begin an inning is the kind of common sense planning that the
Royals have been lacking for years. He’s 32 years old with
no future potential; he’ll likely be back in Omaha when Giambi
returns.

Steve Scarsone	IF	Age 33
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 San Fran NL  282  60  11   1   5  27  21  21   1   3 225 .213 .282 .312  .202  21  68-2B  91
1997 Louisvil AA   27   3   0   0   1   6   2   1   0   0  24 .111 .273 .222  .177   2
1997 LasVegas PCL 243  38   6   0   6  30  13  12   1   2 207 .156 .249 .255  .166  12  17-3B  87 41-2B 100
1998 Vancouvr PCL 404  98  16   2  14  29  37  45   3   2 308 .243 .293 .396  .236  42  42-3B 100 60-2B  90
1999 KansasCy AL  347  77  14   1  12  34  38  43   2   2 272 .222 .291 .372  .225  33

Like Leius, he would have had no hope of making the roster of
a normal team, but the Royals are funny like that. In
fairness, having a backup shortstop with double-digit home run
power is a much better use of a roster spot than having an Ozzie
Guillen clone on your bench. Yes, we’re reaching for a
silver lining.

Tim Spehr	C	Age 32
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Montreal NL   44   4   0   0   1   3   1   1   1   0  40 .091 .149 .159  ****  -1
1997 Richmond Int 120  19   3   0   2  10   4   4   0   0 101 .158 .223 .233  .135   3
1997 KansasCy AL   35   6   0   0   1   2   1   1   0   0  29 .171 .216 .257  .140   1
1998 St Lucie Fla  39   5   0   0   1   6   2   1   0   0  34 .128 .244 .205  .144   1
1998 KansasCy AL   25   6   1   0   1   8   5   4   0   0  19 .240 .424 .400  .301   5
1998 NY Mets  NL   51   7   2   0   0   7   2   1   1   0  44 .137 .241 .176  .132   1
1999 KansasCy AL  135  23   3   0   3  17  10   9   1   0 112 .170 .263 .259  .175   7

Before cutting out his entry in this year’s book, we poked fun
of the Royals’ fascination with Spehr, saying "he’s been
released, so in all likelihood you won’t see him in a Royals’
uniform again. Or at least until April." It was
a joke. He not only was re-signed by the team, but despite
a torrid spring by Sal Fasano (including 3 homers in a game),
Spehr and his .195 career average was kept as a platoon caddy for
the equally punchless Chad Kreuter. In case you were all
wondering what David Howard did with those pictures of Herk
Robinson…

Tim Unroe	3B	Age 28
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 New Orln AA  404 100  17   3  18  34  45  52   8   3 307 .248 .306 .438  .255  50  14-1B 102 92-3B 103
1997 Tucson   PCL 225  51   8   1   5   7  13  17   2   3 177 .227 .250 .338  .193  14  16-OF 107 29-3B 108
1998 WestTenn Sou  54  10   3   0   0   5   3   2   0   0  44 .185 .254 .241  .161   2
1998 Iowa     PCL 103  12   2   0   1   9   2   2   1   0  91 .117 .188 .165  ****   0  25-3B 103
1999 Anaheim  AL  220  50  10   1   8  16  24  28   3   1 171 .227 .280 .391  .229  21

Not as good a player as Chris Pritchett, but his borderline
ability to play three positions and right-handed bat make him a
better fit for the current Angel roster. A healthy Todd Greene
and an effective Troy Glaus could really render him useless.

Rick Wilkins	C	Age 32
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Houston  NL  256  56   7   2   7  47  30  28   0   1 201 .219 .340 .344  .245  30
1996 San Fran NL  157  45   7   0   9  22  22  28   0   2 114 .287 .374 .503  .294  27
1997 Tacoma   PCL  66  18   4   0   1   6   7   7   0   0  48 .273 .333 .379  .249   7
1997 San Fran NL  190  37   6   0   6  18  13  15   0   0 153 .195 .264 .321  .199  14
1998 Norfolk  Int 156  32   7   1   1  11  10   8   1   0 124 .205 .257 .282  .181   9  26-C 91
1998 Seattle  AL   40   7   1   1   1   5   3   3   0   0  33 .175 .267 .325  .203   3
1999 LosAngls NL  260  57  10   1   7  31  28   30  0   1 204 .219 .302 .346  .238  28

Wilkins hit 30 home runs in 1993. We should all be able to get
good jobs based on our performance six years ago under optimal
conditions. Wilkins is done, and was only supposed to be on the
roster until Todd Hundley proved he’s healthy enough to catch 40
innings a week. Johnson couldn’t even wait that long.

PITCHERS

Jason Grimsley	RHP	Age 31
Year Team     Lge      IP   H  ER  HR  BB   K   ERA  W  L    H/9  HR/9  BB/9   K/9   KWH  PERA
1996 Calfrnia AL    134.3 144  84  12  60  81  5.63  5 10   9.65  0.80  4.02  5.43  0.57  4.56
1997 Omaha    AmA    34.0  39  24   3  31  19  6.35  1  3  10.32  0.79  8.21  5.03  0.22  6.62
1997 Tucson   PCL    81.3 100  62   5  40  51  6.86  2  7  11.07  0.55  4.43  5.64  0.49  5.20
1998 Buffalo  Int    87.3  86  38  10  54  55  3.92  5  5   8.86  1.03  5.56  5.67  0.49  4.95

Proof that anything can come back if given enough time.
Grimsley is just another failed pitching prospect with enough
skill to steal an 11th-man spot. There is no upside with him, and
the hope is that his spot will be turned over to Todd Erdos, or
even Ryan Bradley or Darrel Einertson, later this year.

Brian Williams	RHP	Age 30
Year Team     Lge      IP   H  ER  HR  BB   K   ERA  W  L    H/9  HR/9  BB/9   K/9   KWH  PERA
1996 Toledo__ Int    19.0  26  13   1   9  17  6.16  1  1  12.32  0.47  4.26  8.05  0.93  5.68
1996 Detroit_ AL    126.0 139  82  19  69  71  5.86  4 10   9.93  1.36  4.93  5.07  0.39  5.57
1997 Rochestr Int    68.7  77  32   8  22  61  4.19  4  4  10.09  1.05  2.88  8.00  1.65  4.59
1997 Baltimor AL     24.3  22   7   0  15  14  2.59  2  1   8.14  0.00  5.55  5.18  0.45  3.70

Where the heck did he come from? He was completely out
of baseball in 1998. His game was always marred by too many
homers and too many walks, although pitching in the Astrodome
will help the former, and working for Dierker may help the latter.
Dierker is great with pitchers, but expecting him to coax a
decent season out of Williams may be unreasonable.

Thank you for reading

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