Transaction Analysis: July 12-16, 1999

With Holmes’ return, the Diamondbacks have gone from their three rookie
right-handers in the pen to one (Byung-Hyun Kim), along with Matt Mantei,
Bobby Chouinard and the four codgers (Greg Swindell, Dan Plesac, Gregg
Olson and Holmes). The important difference, at least for the next few
weeks, won’t be the talent, but Buck Showalter’s comfort with this group.
Jerry Colangelo is talking about how teams need to go for it when they’re
close, referring back to his experiences with the Phoenix Suns. Sadly, a
sense of history isn’t serving Jerry well here: in-season trades for
relievers have very rarely made the difference to a team, instead producing
some of the greatest ripoffs in history, Larry Andersen-for-Jeff Bagwell
being only the most notorious. Look, I’m sure the Brewers wish they’d done
something like this in 1982, but the best way to win and win handily isn’t
to build a better bullpen, but to build a better lineup. That means finding
someone who can really play shortstop, or getting Travis Lee back on track,
or benching Tony Womack.

Lopez’ return isn’t a moment too soon, since the Braves are in a stretch
where they’re playing the Yankees and the Blue Jays, while the Mets draw
the Orioles and the D-Rays.

Expect Webster to be in a Pirates uniform within the next few days. The
interesting plot point here is that Webster has been Scott Erickson’s
personal catcher for a few years now. Will the O’s package the pair of them
to some suitably desperate team that could use a starting pitcher and a
catcher? While the Indians might seem like an obvious good match, I just
don’t see that working out.

The ugliest news here is the petty dispatch of Rocky Coppinger. Most of
what’s gone wrong in Baltimore can’t be blamed on Ray Miller, but this can
be. When a manager demonizes one of his team’s better prospects, then runs
him out of town, that’s as good a reason for a firing as I need. Middle
relief should be an opportunity for young pitchers to get their innings
before being worked in as starters. Who do the Orioles have working those
innings? Ricky Bones and Scott Kamieniecki, putting in their internships
before graduating to the Angels’ rotation by their fortieth birthdays.

Ryan Minor passes for a prospect in the Orioles chain, and in Camden he
might poke a tater or two, but he’s still terribly undisciplined at the
plate (a .314 OBP at Rochester), evoking memories of Craig Paquette.

Liefer basically got a roster spot for having a hot week in camp for a team
that needed some left-handed pop. But on a team already carrying Frank
Thomas and Paul Konerko, there wasn’t a lot of playing time for a third DH,
and even less when he had a hard time hitting anything past the infielders.

Having won the center field job in camp, only to lose it when he was gashed
by Dave Bell, Simmons will get some spot starts in center along with some
defensive subbing for Carlos Lee in left. He was hitting about as well as
you’d expect at Triple-A (.270/.363/.425). The Sox will take the
opportunity to evaluate who among Simmons and Singleton will be part of
next year’s team.

Optioned LHP Wil Brunson to Toledo; recalled RHP Dave
Borkowski from Toledo. [7/16]

Borkowski’s up for an emergency start, but he might get to create a bigger
opportunity for himself after his good outing. He’s suffered through a
season of being the only guy with a real future on arguably the worst
Triple-A team in baseball. Nevertheless, he’s pitched well: 6-8, a 3.50
ERA, 119 hits allowed in 126 innings with 43 walks and 94 strikeouts, while
giving up 16 home runs. On the aggressive side, he’s plunked ten men. In
the big league rotation, Dave Mlicki isn’t famous for being much more than
a fifth starter, while Justin Thompson’s being shopped around.

Acquired RHP Kevin Gordon from the Rockies to complete a previous
deal. [7/16]

Moskau’s not a half-bad pitcher, so getting him for a guy who’s about as
good as a dozen minor-league second basemen is a nifty return.

Bully for the Astros for having the courage to be greedy while flipping
their noses at the Pan Am games. For everything that gets written about the
Angels and their injuries, it’s the Astros who have now lost five of their
eight regulars (C Mitch Meluskey, SS Ricky Gutierrez, 3B Ken Caminiti, LF
Moises Alou and Everett).

Berkman ought to be the Astros’ left fielder for at least the next six
years. After losing some early time to injury, he’s hitting .303/.393/.500.
Even with adjustments, that’s a far sight better than what they’re getting
out of Derek Bell, who’s bitching about how he doesn’t feel appreciated.
Once Everett heals, or Moises Alou returns, Bell should hit the bench and
stay there, which should do quite a bit to get the Astros back near the top
of the league in runs scored. In the meantime, things aren’t so good,
because Everett’s been their best outfielder. In his absence, Richard
Hidalgo will play center field, which won’t hurt them defensively. He’s got
the range to the gaps, and a very good arm.

Placed RHP Jeff Montgomery on the 15-day DL, retroactive to 7/10
(tendinitis, hip); purchased the contract of RHP Brian Barber from
Omaha; outrighted OF Eric Vann outright to Charleston (A-ball);
announced that RHPs Mark Pisciotta and Don Wengert cleared
waivers, and that they outrighted Pisciotta to Omaha, and granted Wengert
his free agency. [7/16]

Montgomery’s hip injury keeps him from pushing off, which basically
undermines his ability to do anything useful. If there’s a lesson here,
it’s that Herk Robinson made a big mistake by keeping Montgomery last year
for his pathetic push for second place.

Sal Bando has made another nice pickup for retreading. Jim Pittsley’s
already joined David Weathers as a semi-functional middle reliever.
Coppinger may get to move into the rotation over someone like Bill
Pulsipher. Of course, it’s also sort of fun to see that Rocky wound up with
the same team that already produced Chris Bosio, among the pantheon of
portly pitchers.

Losing Pavano probably pushed Miguel Batista back into the rotation,
especially since Ted Lilly is still working his way back from shoulder
problems. It won’t help the drive to finish ahead of the Marlins.

It’s a mite bit strange to call up Watson right after calling up Eddie
Yarnall, since it gives the Yankees three lefties in the pen where they had
previously had only one (Mike Stanton). Not that Bellinger was doing
anything other than polishing Don Zimmer’s head.

Hinch didn’t hit, and throwing to any base was becoming a big problem.
Ramon Hernandez doesn’t have problems with either, and just like that,
Hinch’s one-year window of opportunity to have the job to himself has been
slammed shut. Hernandez was the better prospect all along, but it was hoped
or expected that Hinch would be better prepared for the jump to the majors.

The real question is whether this will be Macfarlane’s last year with the
A’s, so that Hinch or Danny Ardoin will get a shot at the backup job. It
sort of depends on quickly Hernandez picks things up from Macfarlane, and
whether the A’s end up thinking they need a veteran caddy.

Yet again, the Cards make the jump to a twelve-man staff. This is
particularly ill-advised when both catchers need to be pinch-hit for, and
the bench is stuck with three of the worst players on any major league
roster in Willie McGee and the punchless Howards (Thomas and David). The
Cardinals can’t afford to carry dead weight, and yet they’re carrying more
than their fair share.

A happy turn of events for the Mariners, in that getting Hunter’s feeble
bat out of the lineup is a major boon. It won’t be enough to catch the
Indians in runs scored, but it might be enough to overcome some of
Piniella’s tactical indiscretions as far as mismanaging the bullpen.
Whether that’s enough to make some noise in the West is an open question.
The Rangers seem to be improving, and the A’s have a much better pitching
staff.

Optioned CF Randy Winn to Durham; recalled CF Terrell Lowery
and LHP Mike Duvall from Durham; designated LHP Scott Aldred
for assignment. [7/16]

Winn’s been a big disappointment this year, and Lowery’s deserved a break
for years. This may finally be his big shot to play center field regularly
in the majors. Dumping Aldred seems strange, since he hasn’t been
particularly ineffective. With Arrojo’s return, the issue is whether Bryan
Rekar or Dave Eiland will get to be the fifth starter. I’d pick Rekar, and
apparently so will the D-Rays.

Yan’s return highlights the huge problems the Rays have had with their
bullpen this year. Between the ineffectiveness of Yan and Albie Lopez, and
losing Jim Mecir for the year, what was the team’s strength last year has
been noticeably absent this year.

The misery of this move is that with utility infielder Craig Grebeck being
relegated to DH duties, the Blue Jays had to add another utility infielder.
They’re already carrying several guys you don’t want batting too often, and
sending Butler away leaves them with Jacob Brumfield as their only backup
outfielder.