Transaction Analysis, August 28-September 3, 2002
by Chris Kahrl
Activated OF-Rs Tim Salmon and Julio Ramirez and LHP Dennis Cook
from the DL; recalled LHP Mark Lukasiewicz from Salt Lake. [9/1]
Most of this is a case of the cavalry riding in just in time to discover that the
Indians jumped out ahead and built PanzerArmee Lakota. The Angels have nothing to be
ashamed of, coming off of an August where they went 18-11. They just got blown away
by the most amazing steamroller the game's seen in modern history.
The Angels are nevertheless in the driver's seat for the wild-card. They aren't
really at full-strength yet, especially since Tim Salmon isn't fully ready to roll.
Fortunately, they've got the next two series against the Devil Rays and the Orioles
before entering a stretch where they'll have play eight of their next eleven games
against Oakland. You have to think the guys in green and gold will have rubbed away
the midget's belly by that time, don'cha?
Activated PH-L Chris Donnels and RHP Mike Morgan from the DL; recalled
C-R Rod Barajas and RHP John Patterson from Tucson; purchased the
contract of OF-R Mark Little from Tucson. [9/1]
None of this is going to compensate for the three games the Dodgers have picked up
in the last several days. Donnels is a pinch-hitter, Barajas the loser in the clash
of the puny for the job of backup catcher, and Mike Morgan is the mop-up man for
those blowouts you'll get from any third through fifth slots in a rotation. Frankly,
before his participation in the 19-run game, Rick Helling was going good, and Brian
Anderson's been doing well too. Miguel Batista's value should really be in the pen
come October, which is another way of saying that Morgan's a temp, even in the long
relief role. So all in all, this isn't help, it's recycled meat.
Purchased the contracts of RHP Trey Hodges and INF-PR Jesse Garcia
from Richmond; recalled RHP Kevin Gryboski and C-R Steve Torrealba
from Richmond. [9/2]
Designated Kiwi-R Travis Wilson for assignment. [9/3]
Straight off of the assembly line, the Braves have cranked out yet another
good-looking young pitcher. Although Hodges starred at LSU (winning the final game
of the 2000 College World Series) before being drafted in 2000, he was never going
to impress people with his velocity. But skipping past Double-A to pitch in Richmond
this summer, he won 15 games for the second year running, while posting a 3.19 ERA,
allowing 158 hits and 55 walks in 172.1 IP to go with only nine homeruns allowed
and 116 strikeouts. He changes speeds effectively to set up a nifty slider. He also
has no chance of being a Braves starter if the other half-dozen guys already in the
majors hang around this winter. Given the way so many ex-Braves starter prospects
seem to perform as ex-Braves, Hodges has to hope he doesn't wind up as the next
Dave Nied or Micah Bowie or Joey Nation or Ruben Quevedo. Certainly John Schuerholz
winds up looking like the original witch doctor, but that only underscores the more
basic point, which is that talented young pitching can wind up being young ex-talent
pretty quickly.
Activated RHP Sidney Ponson from the 15-day DL. [9/1]
Recalled RHP Steve Bechler, 1B/3B-R Jose Leon and OF-L Larry
Bigbie from Rochester; recalled OF-R Luis Matos and SS-R Eddie
Rogers from Bowie (Double-A). [9/3]
Now that Ponson is back, the Orioles have an interesting dilemma as far as what
they should do with their rotation. They've demonstrated that they can play .490
ball if things go their way. But they aren't going to get any further than that
relying on Scott Erickson. They're already stuck with him for 2003. Assuming
they don't have the gumption to eat the contract outright, what they need to see
is who from among their bevy of young pitchers can compete for the rotation for
next year, and whether or not enough of them are ready that they can make an
informed choice about trading or dumping Erickson.
Clearly, Rodrigo Lopez, Ponson, and Jason Johnson have earned the work. John
Stephens deserves further review, while Travis Driskill should be bumped to
the pen--he's an option after others fail. So with one rotation slot left, do
you hand it to Erickson because he's expensive, or do you take a look at Rick
Bauer or Sean Douglass? My biases are pretty clear, I'd rather take a look at
the devils you don't know than revisit ol' Scratch to see him stick a
pitchfork into you one night out of five.
Meanwhile, on the 'prospect' front, even the few guys that the Orioles had the
temerity to brag about fizzled this summer. Larry Bigbie had an awful season
(.302/.363/.397, so no power, and only 28 walks of his own in 388 plate
appearances), Ed Rogers celebrated a few birthdays to throttle the last gasps
out of his prospectdom, and Steve Bechler did nothing to bring those inspired
comparisons ("he throws righty, you know") to Curt Schilling.
Bringing all of them up does highlight the nature of the organization's core
problem: flirting with .500 is nothing to be proud or ashamed of, it just
isn't a goal in itself. To build an organization that can build on any kind of
success, you need a thoroughgoing farm system, and the Orioles still haven't
given any indication that they have one.
Recalled RHP Wayne Gomes from Pawtucket. [9/1]
Recalled OF-R Benny Agbayani, 3B-R Shane Andrews, SS/2B-R
Freddy Sanchez and RHP Josh Hancock from Pawtucket. [9/2]
Wayne Gomes, Willie Banks, or Dustin Hermanson, does it really matter how many
mop-up men are lingering around the back end of the bullpen? Fortunately, the
Red Sox have a solid trio up front in Uggy Urbina, Bobby Howry and Alan Embree.
But with the Western trio pulling ahead and the Yankees still capering about in
front with their usual braggadocio, does it matter?
Luckily for the Beantowners, they have a ridiculously light schedule in
September (not a single winning team do they have to face), so if they want to,
they have the opportunity for a late rally back to relevance.
Two prospects deserve mention, since they should both be in the picture for
next season's Sox squad. Freddy Sanchez gets mentioned as the team's second
baseman of the future, but it's more of a worthwhile default and a sensible
cost-cutting measure; he's perfectly capable of being an offensive upgrade on
Rey Sanchez, since he'll probably hit in the .280-.290 range, draw more walks
than Sanchez, and past thirty doubles if you give him 500 plate appearances.
Josh Hancock has a chance to be an asset in the bullpen and eventually as a
fifth starter. He was uncharacteristically wild in Pawtucket after showing
his usual fine control in a repeat engagement with Trenton, but he throws in
the low 90s and spots a nice curve. If he masters changing speeds, he can be
an asset as a starter, but there's no shame in becoming a good reliever on a
team that could use a good right-handed reliever.
Purchased the contract of CF-B Joe Borchard from Charlotte; recalled
RHP Jon Rauch from Charlotte. [9/2]
Joe Borchard is the third man in the team's long-term outfield plans, joining
Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee in the corners. There are still questions about
whether or not he's the long-term center fielder, however. He arrives after
having hit .272/.349/.498. Did he resolve his strikezone judgment issues this
year? Not exactly, since he's still striking out just under 30% of the time.
However, that remains a fixable problem, and since he brings moderate patience
and good power, he's an asset. He'll get September to win the job for next
April, competing against theoretical free agent alternatives who will only get
considered if he looks awful right now.
How long that outfield alignment lasts, on the other hand, is a good question,
since the Sox have been shopping Lee for most of the last year, and it's
rumored they'd like to move him this winter. Aaron Rowand has done a decent
job in the lineup since becoming a regular
after
Kenny Lofton was traded away, so if Lee gets moved, there's a chance that
Rowand and Jeff Liefer could share the third job in the outfield. A
Liefer-Borchard-Ordonez outfield won't win many friends on the pitching staff,
however.
The more basic problem is this: if you're going to shop Carlos Lee and you're
the White Sox, what do you need? Pitching, yes, but that's about it. The
infield is set, and in the outfield, it isn't likely that you're going to get
a great outfielder in his prime for Lee. Would you want to upgrade on Mark
Johnson and Josh Paul behind plate? Arguably, but what team is looking to
dump a catcher good enough for you to want? (Easy answer: the Marlins with
Ramon Castro, but it shouldn't take Lee to pry Castro loose.) So that means
you want pitching, and again, what do you expect to land with Lee? And with
Kenny Williams doing the shopping? Color me less than optimistic about how
this is going to work out for the Sox.
Jon Rauch comes back up after having a good second half in Charlotte. His
overall numbers aren't awe-inspiring: 4.9 runs per nine allowed, with 90 hits
and 40 walks allowed in 109.1 IP, with 97 strikeouts. But since getting his
early-season kinks worked out, he's been one of the most effective starters
in the International League over the last two months. He'll step right into
the Sox' rotation, since neither Gary Glover or Jim Parque are doing enough
to hold onto the fourth and fifth starter's jobs.
Activated RHP Jason Bere from the DL; optioned RHP Carlos
Zambrano to Iowa. [8/31]
Purchased the contract of RHP Pat Mahomes from Iowa; recalled C-R
Mike Mahoney from Iowa. [9/1]
Placed RHP Mark Prior on the 15-day DL (strained hamstring);
recalled LHP Steve Smyth from Iowa; released LHP Donovan
Osborne. [9/2]
Recalled 1B-L Hee Seop Choi and RHP Carlos Zambrano from
Iowa; purchased the contract of LHP Jesus Sanchez from Iowa;
transferred RHP Jon Lieber from the 15- to 60-day DL; traded
3B-B Bill Mueller and cash to the Giants for RHP Jeff
Verplancke; purchased the contract of 3B-R Kevin Orie. [9/3]
All of these moves really only boil down to a single worthwhile
implication: the Cubs are about to try their 2003 infield on for
size. Trading Bill Mueller creates the room to move Mark Bellhorn
to third and let Bobby Hill slip in at second, while promoting Hee
Choi should relegate Fred McGriff to the bench for the remainder of
the season. There's no point in honoring McGriff with more playing
time; he's a mercenary who's been a wee bit too transparently
disinterested this summer, and
considering how grudgingly he acceded
to becoming an ex-Devil Ray, the Cubs shouldn't feel they owe him
any favors. They're better off reviewing Choi to increase their own
comfort level with tabbing him as their Opening Day 2003 first baseman.
After the season he had with Iowa (.287/.406/.513), they should be
ready; he is.
Otherwise, the Cubs get to doodle around what they want to do with
their rotation for the rest of the season. Considering that Bruce
Kimm has already demonstrated that he has no idea of how to balance
his simultaneous responsibilities to the organization's future and
present, this is not a good thing. He might make Carlos Zambrano his
workhorse du jour, or he might work Kerry Wood into the ground. On
the other hand, if he abuses Jason Bere, I doubt even Tommy Tanzer
would care.
Just as Andy MacPhail's wangled a last chance for Pat
Mahomes, Jim Hendry's giving the pride of his Creighton program,
Alan Benes, a last chance in the Cubs' rotation. That's what this
team has been reduced to, memories of aspiring mediocrity. They
even brought Kevin Orie back, as a reminder of those precious times
when they aspired to postseason speedbumpdom.
Placed RHP Brian Moehler on the 15-day DL (sore shoulder);
recalled RHP Chris Reitsma from Chattanooga (Double-A). [8/28]
Activated UT-R Brandon Larson from the DL. [8/31]
Activated RHP Jose Silva from the DL. [9/1]
Recalled RHP Jared Fernandez from Louisville. [9/2]
I'm pretty unhappy about how things turned out for the Reds, since there's
so much here to like and so much here that you have to turn a blind eye
towards in order to keep your enthusiasm. But for all of the slings and
brickbats being fired off in Ken Griffey's general direction, the team's
millstones were Larkin and Casey. It might have been better if the Reds
had been more aggressive in shoring up their rotation earlier in the summer,
instead of winding up with
overlapping pickups of Scuffy Moehler,
Ryan Dempster,
and Shawn Estes.
If, instead, the Reds had entered the higher-ante sweepstakes and acquired
just one quality starter (like Finley or Colon or even Paul Byrd) and stuck
with Jared Fernandez in the fifth slot, they might have wound up hanging
with the Cardinals for longer than they did. Instead, they incrementally
acquired a lot of low-end starters for various smaller packages of goodies,
and they got low-end contributions.
This is the danger of working with a
Bowden-Boone management duo; they can operate quickly to come up with
expedient solutions when the opportunities present themselves, but they
fell short of supplying solutions to real problems. Instead of bold
strokes, you got clever ones, in a minor key, and it wasn't anywhere close
to enough.
Placed RHP Jason Phillips on the 15-day DL (elbow inflammation);
recalled RHP Jaret Wright from Buffalo. [8/28]
Activated CF-B Milton Bradley from the DL; optioned OF-B Covelli
Crisp to Buffalo. [8/30]
Recalled RHP Dave Elder and OF-B Chris Magruder from
Buffalo. [9/1]
Placed RHP Jake Westbrook on the 15-day DL (elbow), retroactive to
8/26; recalled RHP Roy Smith from Buffalo. [9/3]
Beyond getting Milton Bradley back (and Covelli Crisp's creditable spot
duty in his absence), it would be hard to put a positive spin on anything
going on with the Tribe. Maybe you can claim that the decision to bump
Danys Baez back into the bullpen is a good thing, because it spares his
arm, but to the organization's credit, the move to the rotation worked.
This team desperately needs starting pitching, so Baez has to be in next
year's rotation.
The problem has been made worse by
the
loss of Jason Phillips, so now you've got a rotation of C.C.
Sabathia (who really could use the time in the pen to spare his
elbow), Ricardo Rodriguez, and some randomly assembled combination
of Dave Burba, Jaret Wright, Charles Nagy, and Terry Mulholland,
who between them have almost enough ligaments to go around.
Recalled OF(C)-R Ben Petrick and OF(2B)-R Jason Romano,
1B/OF-L Ross Gload, INF-R Jose Ortiz and LHP Randy
Flores from Colorado Springs. [9/1]
There are some things here which reflect the perpetual indecision
between interesting alternatives that have characterize Dan O'Dowd's
Rockies. Is Ben Petrick an outfielder now? Is Jason Romano? What
position is Jose Ortiz going to play?
This team needs a second baseman and it needs a catcher, but it
may also need a center fielder and a left fielder. Jack Cust and
perhaps Gabe Kapler are sort of one possible answer, but that's
only left field. So what do you do at the other positions? Bobby
Estalella may be part of the answer behind the plate in 2003,
which sort of leaves Ben Petrick at loose ends, but the Rockies
seem bereft of any idea about what they want to do with Petrick.
If he's an outfielder, he isn't good enough to beat out Cust or
Kapler. If he's a catcher, he might be frustrating to watch, but
better to settle for that than forego finding a way to use him at
all.
That leaves second and center. Neither Ortiz or Brent Butler has done
anything to win the job at second; Jason Romano is potentially the
answer at either second or center, but just as they have to make a
decision and stick with it in Petrick's case, they need to make a
similar choice with Romano. Here, the calculus ought to be whether
or not Ortiz or Butler can outhit Jay Payton or Juan Pierre, and
placing Romano wherever the losers reside. Given that I'd rather
take a chance on Ortiz' up-side than Payton's adequacy, I'd try to
stick with the experiment of making Romano a center fielder.
Which all sounds nice and decisive, right? Now try to put yourself
in O'Dowd's shoes. Nobody's really hitting among all of these guys,
so he has no easy, defensible answer suggesting itself to any of
these problems. This is where either cogent performance analysis
of the players' performance and quality scouting is supposed to
give you the kind of information with which to make an informed
decision, but the Rockies seem committed to overlapping and
mutually exclusive wishcasts that keep them actually getting to
the decision part of the program.
Acquired OF-R Gary Varner from the Reds as one of two
PTBNLs in the Moehler trade. [8/30]
Activated SS-B Ramon Santiago from the DL. [9/1]
Recalled LHP Andy Van Hekken from Toledo. [9/3]
Varner now goes by the name "Noochie," but whatever,
the guy named Varner was hitting .310/.355/.467 and had swiped
37 bases in 41 attempts for Dayton. So he has power, speed, and
he makes good contact, not a bad guy to have picked up
considering he's only 21. Of course, name changes like this will
only cause trouble. What's next, Dookie Zumsteg?
The happier development
is
getting Ramon Santiago back. He may not fend off Omar Infante
next season, but at least either of them can actually play shortstop.
Shane Halter has been a disaster, and it's amazing to see that Luis
Pujols has been willing to so disinterestedly maintain a charade
inherited from Phil Garner and Randy Smith. Although losing Santiago
to injury didn't help, between Halter and Damian Jackson, it's amazing
that Halter has kept reflexively getting tabbed.
Calling up Andy Van Hekken might seem a bit premature. A high school
lefty picked by the Mariners in 1998 and stolen from them in the
laughable Brian (Speedy) Hunter deal in 1999, Van Hekken isn't a hard
thrower, but he throws strikes and wins games, and the Tigers can use
both of those things. He did struggle for the first time in Erie this
summer, going 4-7 while allowing 4.6 runs per nine, but the SeaWolves
were the worst team in the Eastern League, and went through most of
the season with an unsettled/bad infield. Promoted to Toledo, a better
club with some offense and better interior defense, he went 5-0 in
seven starts, and allowing only 2.5 runs per nine.
At 23, Van Hekken shouldn't
be pushed too hard by a Tigers team that has nothing to gain by
overusing him. He's already pitched 183.1 innings this year, so
making him work for much longer in September seems a bit dicey.
Naturally, Luis Pujols didn't care a whit, since he saw Van Hekken
throwing strikes and getting what's left of the Indians out, and
he hasn't gotten much of that from his other pitchers this summer.
Hopefully, the Tigers will stop short of treating Van Hekken as
this September's Mark Fidrych.
Extended the contract of UT-L Andy Fox through 2003. [8/31]
Recalled RHP Gary Knotts, 2B/OF-R Pablo Ozuna and
OF-B Abraham Nunez from Calgary; purchased the contracts
of Justin Wayne and UT-B Brian Banks from Calgary;
released 2B-R Homer Bush. [9/1]
How much do the Marlins not know what they're doing? They promoted
Justin Wayne early, before he had to be added to the 40-man roster,
and without his earning it. Although he initially looks pretty good
on the basis of how he pitched for Harrisburg before
being traded
over to the Marlins organization in the Floyd deal, that was
because only 26 of his 41 runs allowed were earned. After the deal,
he "struggled" with Portland, struggled with Calgary, and
got promoted because the Marlins merc braintrust remembers him from
when they drafted him when they were all Expos. He isn't a bad
young pitcher, but you don't get to be called a prospect on the
basis of a 87:51 strikeout to walk ratio in 152.2 IP.
Elsewhere, there isn't much here. Gary Knotts spent the season pitching
in relief for Calgary. After seeing a couple of summers fly by him this
summer, Pablo Ozuna has abandoned his shortstopdom and now perhaps
second to spend time in the outfield this summer; he was hitting
.326/.371/.475. Brian Banks can't really catch in anything more than an
emergency, but he does come up after hitting .306/.408/.535; he won't do
anything like that in the majors, but there are worse people winning
"last man on the bench" jobs.
The real disappointment is Abraham Nunez, who arrives after only hitting
.250/.329/.477 at Calgary. He can walk, he can run, and he can throw,
but not a lot of people who hit .250 in the PCL, either today's less
combustible edition or your daddy's jacktastic free-for-all, are going
to cut it in the majors.
Outrighted RHP Scott Linebrink to New Orleans. [8/28]
Acquired INF-R Mark Loretta and cash from the Brewers for two
PTBNLs. [8/31]
Recalled C-R Raul Chavez and RHPs Brad Lidge and
Brandon Puffer from New Orleans; purchased the contract of
LHP Jeriome Robertson from New Orleans. [9/1]
Getting Mark Loretta is one of those timorous stretch-drive adds that
doesn't really add up to much. Mark Loretta's veterandom is an asset on
some level to the sorts of mindsets that care about that sort of thing,
but those same people also fret about postseason experience, which
Loretta has as much of as anybody who's been a career Brewer in the
'90s.
The key to this move is that Loretta can play short, second and
third, and that's useful as far as giving them an alternative to Jose
Vizcaino or Adam Everett or Geoff Blum if you're also worried about
Craig Biggio's decline. I would have stuck with Everett for his defense,
since Loretta doesn't exactly offer much punch himself these days, but
then if I was running the Astros instead of chiding them,
Morgan Ensberg
would have never been sent down in the first place. Also keep in mind
that I'd identify Vizcaino as someone who can go pumpkin on you at any
moment, since if he doesn't keep spraying singles over the infield, he
doesn't contribute any other way offensively, and adding Mark Loretta
just gives you another guy who really needs to murdilate a few worm-killers
to add anything to your lineup. Roster flexibility is nice, but so would a
good offensive player at third, reducing the number of positions that Jimy
Williams has to fiddle with to just short and the non-Berkman outfield
slots.
Elsewhere, the outlandish Oswalt suspension helped the Cardinals by giving
Jeriome Robertson a start. The question is whether the Astros could have
done better, since starting an organizational soldier like Robertson
against Alex Rodriguez and the Rangers had to seem like a desperate
idea, relying on the Rangers' terrible record against lefties. Sure, it
made more sense than going with the (very) available Dave Mlicki or
Nelson Cruz, but they had another option: spotting Brad Lidge.
Lidge at least has talent, and this year he's finally produced the facsimile
of a healthy season, making nineteen starts for the Zephyrs, posting a 3.39
ERA while giving up only 83 hits in 111.2 IP, walking 47 and striking out
110. Since the entire game devolved into a shared "pen start"
where Williams ended up using everyone from the back end of the bullpen as
well as Ricky Stone, it might have made more sense to actually try to make
a game of it and win or lose with Lidge.
Optioned RHP Ryan Bukvich to Wichita (Double-A). [8/28]
Activated OF-R Brian Jordan, INF-R Jeff Reboulet and RHP
Giovanni Carrara from the DL; recalled C-R David Ross,
2B-L Joe Thurston, OF-R Wilkin Ruan and LHP Jeff Williams
from Las Vegas. [9/1]
Almost everyone here has been on the roster at some point or another, in
roles significant (like Jordan) to minor (like Williams or Reboulet).
Nevertheless, Reboulet might end up on the postseason roster, although it
might be to have him around to play second instead of short, considering
how feeble Mark Grudzielanek is getting as the season drags on.
Sadly, Joe Thurston is not an option since he came up after September 1st.
He's probably the most advanced of the Dodgers' few hitting prospects, but
that doesn't mean much given the absence of alternatives. He comes up
after hitting .334/.372/.506 at Vegas, but drawing only 24 walks on his
own in over 630 plate appearances isn't really exciting. He does carry
a good rep with the glove, but the Dodgers need to replace Grudz's bat more
than they need to fret over interior defense.
For that reason, among others,
Jordan's
return to the active roster will hopefully stick. Getting Marquis
Grissom into the lineup every day has had predictable results, as
Grissom's numbers have dropped as he started facing more and more
right-handed pitching. Although Jim Tracy's collection of pinch-hitters
and spare parts can make up for the weaker hitters in the infield or in
high-leverage pinch-hitting situations, they can't play the outfield
regularly, so the Dodgers really do need Jordan to be able to contribute.
Acquired OF-B Chris Morris and a PTBNL from the Cardinals for RHP
Jamey Wright and cash. [8/29]
Purchased the contract of RHP David Pember from Huntsville (Double-A). [8/30]
Traded INF-R Mark Loretta and cash to the Astros for two PTBNLs. [8/31]
Purchased the contract of RHP Ben Diggins from Huntsville (Double-A);
recalled SS-R Bill Hall from Indianapolis. [9/1]
Recalled OF-R Ryan Christenson from Indianapolis. [9/2]
Acquired LHP Wayne Franklin and 2B/OF-R Keith Ginter from
the Astros to complete the Loretta trade; purchased the contract of OF-L
Jim Rushford from Indianapolis; placed LHP Shane Nance on
the 60-day DL (torn biceps tendon); released C-B Raul Casanova. [9/3]
There's a consistent theme here: it's Dean Taylor doing what he can to show
that he deserves to keep his job. Billy Hall comes up as the most over-touted
Brewers suspect on the heels of an appallingly bad Triple-A season
(.228/.272/.301), where he got the same number of extra-base hits and walks
(25 apiece) in 500 plate appearances. Hall's struggles with the bat were
predictable, given that his entire reputation for prospectery relied on
hitting well in High Desert. You would have thought that this particular
organization would have learned something from the example of Matt Mieske
on the subject of High Desert hitting stats, but apparently not. He's
considered a toolsy defender, but he booted another 41 balls this year after
40+ error seasons in 2000 and 2001, and there's nothing in his peripheral
defensive stats to suggest he's actually any good with leather. But here he is.
Similarly, Ben Diggins has little business being here. He's being rushed on the
strength of seven starts with Huntsville (1.91 ERA, 34 strikeouts in 37.2 IP),
but his earlier struggles in the Florida State League (over 4.25 runs allowed
per nine) should have made it plain he shouldn't be here just yet. A
responsible organization wouldn't be pushing him up to get a month's worth of
big league starts.
Dave Pember comes up after being a rotation stalwart for Huntsville, winning
ten games while giving up around four runs per nine IP. He allowed 157 hits
in 156 IP, with a 111:52 strikeout to walk ratio, and thirteen wild pitches;
at least he resembles somebody who should be up now.
As for the loose change that Taylor received for dumping Jamey Wright and
Mark Loretta, you could say he got value. Chris Morris only hit .249/.348/.299
in the Carolina League, so he isn't even a poor man's Alex Sanchez just yet.
The inevitable comparisons to Billy North or Dave Collins or whoever will be
made, since Morris is a flyer who can cover the gaps and steal bases, but he's
already 23, and he's going to have to get better in a hurry to be a major
league asset. Wayne Franklin is your typical lefty waiver bait, potentially
useful, easily replaceable.
Keith Ginter has been a disappointment since his
great year in Round Rock in 2000, and the Astros screwed around with playing
him in the outfield or third, but with the Brewers, he really should be
considered a second baseman who will allow them to peddle Eric Young
(fat chance on finding takers) and perhaps Ronnie Belliard (who they've
reduced to near-worthlessness by not playing him). But Ginter is the
sort of player the Brewers should be taking a chance on, on that off
chance that he winds up being a poor man's Jeff Kent. Between getting him
and promoting indy league refugee and minor league hitting machine Jim
Rushford, that's about all the good news there is here.
Activated LHP Eric Milton from the DL. [9/2]
Sure enough, Milton didn't get much in the way of extended rehab time, so the
Twins will have to work him carefully up to speed to have him ready for October.
Ron Gardenhire did exactly that in Milton's first start, and Milton freaked out
about it, so hopefully this is one of those things that Milton will sort out on
his way to his first-ever postseason start. Gardenhire, to his credit,
underscored the basic fact of life, which is that if Milton had a problem with
this, he should take it up with Gardenhire, and not the fourth estate.
Recalled CF-L Endy Chavez and RHPs Sun-Woo Kim and Tim Drew
from Ottawa. [9/2]
Endy Chavez is just a pinch-runner and fifth outfielder, and Tim Drew still
isn't fooling anybody (72 strikeouts in 181 IP?), so the name of note in this
group is the return to the majors of Sunny Kim. Kim continued his successful
pitching from his stint in the PawSox rotation, finishing the International
League season with a 7-3 record, allowing only 63 hits and 32 walks in 89
IP, with 65 strikeouts. Seeing that this is Kim's first flirtation with
success at any level, depending on your point of view you can take this to be
either anomalous or a positive development, but either way he's worth the Expos
taking a look-see to find out if they got anything close to big-league ready
in
exchange for Cliff Floyd.
Recalled OF-R Juan Rivera from Columbus; optioned RHP Mike Thurman
to Columbus. [8/31]
Recalled LHP Randy Choate and re-purchased the contract of C-R
Alberto Castillo from Columbus; released RHP Brett Jodie. [9/1]
Recalled RHPs Brandon Knight and Mike Thurman and 3B-R Drew
Henson from Columbus; activated 1B-L Nick Johnson from the DL. [9/3]
Tip your cap to Brian Cashman and company: they might be parading through the
regular season, but they didn't skip the small stuff as far as postseason
roster design, making Juan Rivera available. Otherwise,
they've
got Nick Johnson back to handle the DH duties again, and they have to hope
he goes back to the hot hitting he was providing just before heading to the DL.
As for the Drew Henson Era, don't hold your breath waiting in anticipation. He
hit only .240/.301/.435 this year, while not walking much, striking out a ton,
and basically giving reason to only consider a much better version of Josh Booty.
It might not be a bad idea to convince Robin Ventura to play more than a single
season in pinstripes.
Recalled INF-R Marco Scutaro, C-R Jason Phillips, RHPs Satoru
Komiyama and Tyler Walker, and LHP Pedro Feliciano from Norfolk.
[9/1]
Purchased the contract of OF/PR-B Esix Snead from Binghamton (Double-A). [9/2]
Recalled INF-R Ty Wigginton from Norfolk. [9/3]
This is a modestly interesting group of call-ups, some of whom we've all seen before
as Steve Phillips constantly re-shuffles to keep his keep his shuffling skills up to
snuff. Both Wigginton and Scutaro can be assets as utility infielders, and either one
of them wouldn't kill you as your regular at second base if you have a half-dozen
better players in the lineup. Pedro Feliciano is the lefty who came over from the
Reds; between Chattanooga, Louisville and Norfolk, he's allowed ~3.75 runs per nine
IP, while giving up 82 hits and 15 walks in 74.1 IP, and striking out 56.
The recycled material is interesting enough, but the Mets have other guys to look at
as well. They already have a solid backup catcher in Vance Wilson, so having Jason
Phillips is sort of excessive, although Wilson and Phillips give them a dangerously
tempting alternative behind the plate that might lead to moving Mike Piazza to
first. At Norfolk this year, Phillips hit .282/.327/.477. He's about to turn 26,
so his future is now. It's somewhat surprising that he wasn't packaged in any of the
Mets' desperation moves, so on some level this might be a credit to Steve Phillips
for keeping one of his few prospects handy.
Another interesting call-up is Tyler Walker, since he also looks useful: a 3.99 ERA,
152 hits and 35 walks allowed in 142 IP, with 109 strikeouts. Since converting from
a college career as a reliever, he's been up and down, losing most of 2001 to a torn
labrum. This was his bounce-back year, and it looks like he still has decent velocity
and command. He could pretty easily turn out to be the new Pete Walker, which is handy.
Finally, we come upon baseball's original basesneetcher, Esix Snead, the cat with the
flat bat. By his own lights, hitting .252/.335/.327 was a pretty good year, and he once
again flashed the speed that has rotoheads drooling, swiping 66 bases while getting
caught 18 times. Snead can also bunt, giving himself up sixteen times. People might
almost think he's looking good because he drew 45 walks this year, except that over
470 PA that falls short of being good enough to start thinking of Snead as somebody
who will grow up to be a regular. He's still in the same territory he was always in,
which ranges from Miguel Dilone to Rodney McCray. That's better than Herb Washington,
and well short of John Cangelosi.
Recalled RHP Mike Fyhrie from Sacramento. [9/1]
So what does a guy say in this situation? "I'm behind you guys, every step of
the way"? "Go team, we really showed'em"? I don't know if there would
be a cooler experience in the game right now than to be part of the green & gold gang.
Activated 1B-B Dave Hollins from the 60-day DL; recalled LHP Hector
Mercado from Scranton Wilkes-Barre. [9/1]
No mere spider is going to keep Dave Hollins from his grim drive to accumulate a few
more at-bats. He's two hits away from 870, and three steals away from 50. That should
get him into the King of Prussia, PA Sports Hall of Fame, and it says volumes about
the organization's compassion and sense of charity that they're willing to give an
aging carmine-kiestered member of the '93 almost-something Phillies that one final
lap, when they could be frittering those moments away on someone who might matter
in 2003.
Activated LHP Ron Villone from the DL; recalled RHP Salomon Torres
from Nashville. [9/1]
Recalled RHPs Sean Lowe and Duaner Sanchez and C-R Humberto Cota
from Nashville; recalled OF-Rs Tony Alvarez and J.J. Davis from Altoona
(Double-A); purchased the contract of OF-B Adrian Brown from Nashville;
designated 2B/SS-R Tomas de la Rosa for assignment. [9/3]
There isn't much to say here that I haven't said before. Sean Lowe and Duaner Sanchez
can both be useful relievers, Adrian Brown can be a useful fourth or fifth outfielder
on a team that has maybe one and a half outfielders. None of the prospects are coming
up into situations where they have shots at starting jobs for Opening Day 2003, but
each of them have opportunities to work their way into the picture at some point next
season.
Humberto Cota only hit .267/.321/.406 at Nashville, although at 23 he might still end
up becoming a good caddy. Tony Alvarez hit .318/.361/.483, which looks pretty good,
but he's going to have to improve on drawing 26 walks in 548 plate appearances if
he's going to hit enough to stick as a corner outfielder. He can play in
center, but he's not considered good at it.
More promising is J.J. Davis. Although he's not really living up to the promise he
held as a eighth pick overall in the 1997 draft, he hit well enough this year to
dispel comparisons to Earl Cunningham. Hitting .287/.351/.526 in a return engagement
with Altoona at 23 is the best news his career has had to date, but he's still a
long way off from taking over in one of the corners.
Finally, Salomon Torres is (as always) intriguing as a bottom of the rotation
starter. At Nashville this year, he showed outstanding command, posting a 136:37
strikeout to walk ratio in 162.1 IP while allowing ~4.3 runs per nine, and giving
up 169 hits and only a dozen homeruns. If Jose Rijo can come back, why not Salomon
Torres? On the other hand, Torres would have to have been really good first to
really being considered a comeback, right? His career is one of those great
shipwrecks we can ponder, a gleaming thing of onetime beauty on the seabottom,
waiting to be dredged up and refloated. I'd give him the chance, and not just
because of the memories of what he might have been for the Giants in the early
'90s.
Activated RHP Garrett Stephenson from the 60-day DL; optioned RHP Gabe
Molina to Memphis. [8/28]
Acquired RHP Jamey Wright and cash from the Brewers for OF-B Chris
Morris and a PTBNL; activated RHP Woody Williams from the DL;
optioned RHP Jason Simontacchi to Memphis. [8/29]
Designated RHP Nerio Rodriguez for assignment. [8/30]
Purchased the contract of 1B-L Ivan Cruz from Memphis; recalled RHP
Matt Duff from New Haven (Double-A). [9/1]
Okay, some of this isn't happy, in that Jason Simontacchi has been given the
roster equivalent of Rice-A-Roni for his time, and can consider himself
uninvited for postseason purposes. Jamey Wright is, however, somebody with a
good block of experience and talent, and generally speaking is the kind of
pitcher you normally suspect that Dave Duncan might do some good work with.
As pickups go, this isn't a bad one.
This time around, Garrett Stephenson won't stick in the rotation. It became
obvious that he still isn't ready to give them five innings, so they've
finally done what they should have done back in May, which is put him in
the bullpen to see if he can build up any kind of arm strength. As a
result, once Simontacchi can be re-added to the active roster, he'll take
the fifth slot in the rotation behind Woody Williams, Andy Benes, Chuck
Finley, and Wright. Happily, it does look like they let Williams gear up
properly this time around, so that's only... what, one out of four times
this season that they made the right decision about reactivating Williams
and Stephenson?
Matt Morris should join the rotation at the start of the week, which will
bump either Simontacchi or Wright. The patchwork only has to hold for three
more weeks, after the Cardinals can take their chances in a NL postseason
where nobody looks especially dominant.
I know it's probably just me, but the most interesting call-up here is the
decision to bring up Ivan Cruz after he hit .280/.349/.566 with 35 homeruns
in 518 PA as a Redbird.
How much
more expensive is Tino Martinez? And since
El Tino is only outhitting veteran first basemen like Kevin Young, Sean Casey,
Eric Karros and Travis Lee (and promising rookies Carlos Pena and Nick Johnson),
is a guy who's only in the middle of the bottom third of first base regulars
really what the Cardinals needed to spend $7 million per year for over the last
three seasons? Especially when there are people like Ivan Cruz are hanging around?
Claimed RHP Doug Nickle off of waivers from the Cardinals; designated LHP
Jason Kershner for assignment. [8/28]
Activated RHP Adam Eaton from the 60-day DL; activated LHP Kevin Walker
from the DL; released RHP Bobby J. Jones. [9/1]
Activated LHPs Bobby M. Jones and Oliver Perez from the DL. [9/2]
That's right, they cut the useful Bobby Jones, and kept the crummy one. I had to
look twice to convince myself that this was the case, but sure enough, that is what
happened. Yes, they had one Bobby Jones too many. Yes, Towers said they didn't
think they would use Bobby Jones much for the rest of the season, which seems like
an eminently reasonable proposition. But did he really mean the right-handed one?
I don't who's more stunned, me or Bobby J. Do you think M. is phoning J. to ask
who's laughing now?
Admittedly, the rotation is now full with their young talent, so the Pads are doing
the right thing. Brett Tomko, Oliver Perez and Brian Lawrence are locked in, Jacob
Peavy deserves his shot, and between Adam Eaton and Dennis Tankersley, the Pads have
more than enough starters to look at with an eye towards 2003. It's just interesting
that they elected to cut Bobby J. right now. Who knows, he might be a Cardinal in a
few days.
I like a lot of what Kevin Towers does, but I'm not sure that I would make this
particular exchange, dumping (and losing) Jason Kershner to add Doug Nickle. How
can you wind up with the wrong ex-Phillies' farmhand? Nickle wasn't doing badly,
allowing about 3.8 runs per nine as a reliever while giving up 71 hits and 19 walks
in 76.1 IP; he's never been a flamethrower, evinced by his striking out 47. So why
would you exchange a workmanlike minor league righthanded reliever for a potential
asset as a lefty setup man? Especially when you don't have an effective portsider
in the first place? As endorsements for the perpetually injured Kevin Walker go,
that has to be a ringer.
Activated RHP Manny Aybar, OF-L Marvin Benard and UT-R Shawon
Dunston from the DL; recalled LHP Aaron Fultz and OF-L Tony Torcato
from Fresno; re-purchased the contract of LHP Troy Brohawn from Fresno. [9/1]
Acquired 3B-B Bill Mueller and cash from the Cubs for RHP Jeff
Verplancke. [9/3]
Let me get this straight, the Giants are fighting for their October lives, and they
just now get around to bringing in Bill Mueller? I'm usually the kind of guy who's
half-full as opposed to half-empty, but why did Brian Sabean just now come around to
noticing his club needs offensive help?
What's stranger still is that he picked up something he didn't really need. It isn't
like having Mueller around is going to finally convince Dusty Baker to fix the lineup's
most basic problem, and lock J.T. Snow in the woodshed. Mueller isn't going to chase
David Bell to the bench. He isn't going to play third and move Bell to second so that
Kent can play first, and get Snow benched. Baker's had the opportunity to replace Snow
with Ramon Martinez in that scenario, and he won't, any more than he'll give more
at-bats to Damon Minor at Snow's expense.
No, what the Giants got was a pinch-hitter. What's especially strange about the timing
as far as adding Mueller is that it comes
on the heels
of getting Marvin Benard back,
since they could definitely use Benard as an alternative to Reggie Sanders in right.
So their bench isn't especially weak if they've got Benard and Minor and Martinez on
it. They've even got a nifty pinch-runner in Tom Goodwin. Bill Mueller's just along
for the Giants' ride, and that will only go, as always, as far as Barry Bonds can
carry it. Which to Bonds' credit is as far as any player, anywhere, ever, could haul
a team.
Activated INF-PR Luis Ugueto from the DL; recalled LHP John Halama and
UT-R Willie Bloomquist from Tacoma. [9/1]
Willie Bloomquist has been something of an organizational pet for the last several
years, which says something, since at his most toothsome he only represents a menace
to the mostly harmless Charles Gipson. Bloomquist is up after hitting .270/.331/.383
at Tacoma, while swiping twenty bases in thirty attempts. He's played plenty at
second, short, third and the outfield. There has to be more, right? Look, about the
only way this guy could get more press than he already hasn't earned is if he was
named Benito Mussorgsky or Willie Loman. In Robert Zemeckis' next film, we'll
undoubtedly discover that Bloomquist invented Yahoo, Starbucks, and Al Gore,
"and" had the time to rule Tom Brady's fumble a forward pass. As Bill
Murray said about Luis Rivera in his stint in the Cubs' booth, I hate everything
Willie Bloomquist stands for, or at least everything I'm pretending he does.
Luis Ugueto on a postseason roster? Book it... assuming that the Mariners even make
it, instead of taking a step towards reverting to their storied Barry Bonnell days.
Purchased the contract of RHP Lance Carter from Durham; optioned RHP Brandon
Backe to Durham; designated P Enger Beras for assignment. [8/31]
Activated OF-R Greg Vaughn from the DL. [9/1]
Recalled UT-R Damian Rolls from Durham. [9/3]
These are mostly minor matters. Greg Vaughn won't really be playing much; he's only
on the roster to get some pinch-hitting action, so the outfield of Randy Winn, Carl
Crawford, and Ben Grieve will remain undisturbed down the stretch.
Former Royals
pitching prospect Lance Carter is back after blowing out his elbow, and he's arriving
after an outstanding season at Durham, going 12-2 with a 2.80 ERA, while allowing
only 111 hits in 132 IP, along with an insane 90-12 strikeout to walk ratio. He'll
get the opportunity to make a spot start or two. If Tanyon Sturtze can carve out a
career for himself, the Rays are right to take a look at someone like Carter as
well. There are worse ways for the cartilaginous fishies to spend their time, like
Juan Guzman or Wilson Alvarez or Matt White or Bobby Seay or...
Activated RHP Rudy Seanez from the 60-day DL. [9/2]
The Rangers have enough people they ought to be looking at that they should have the
courage to admit they gained nothing by assuming the risk to sign Rudy Seanez. Cut
him now, and spare the innings for people who matter for the 2003 Rangers. If that
presents a problem for Mr. Hart, he can assuage his bruised conscience by helping
Mr. Seanez pack.
Claimed LHP Jason Kershner off of waivers from the Padres. [8/30]
Recalled C/OF-B Jayson Werth from Syracuse. [9/1]
Recalled SS-B Felipe Lopez from Syracuse; purchased the contract of C-R
Kevin Cash from Syracuse; transferred RHP Chris Carpenter from the
15- to the 60-day DL. [9/2]
Extended the contract of manager Carlos Tosca through 2004, as well as the
contracts of pitching coach Gil Patterson, hitting coach Mike Barnett, third
base coach Brian Butterfield, first base coach John Gibbons and bullpen coach
Bruce Walton; purchased the contract of LHP Scott Wiggins from Syracuse;
transferred RHP Luke Prokopec from the 15- to the 60-day DL. [9/3]
These are two very different sorts of add-ons. From the initial trio of lefty
relievers that the Jays opened the season with,
Dan Plesac is an irrelevant Phillie,
Pedro Borbon is an Astro,
and Felix Heredia is banged-up. So the Jays went from having chits to deal to
dealt chits, or from chitty to chitless.
Taking a flyer on Jason Kershner is a pretty sensible little idea. In a swing
role in the minors this season, he posted a 3.03 ERA while allowing only 65
hits in 86 IP, leavened with a nifty 83-26 strikeout to walk ratio. Although
he murdered lefties, he was also getting right-handers out, so he could be
more than just a situational second lefty in a big league pen. If he's just a
second lefty, again, nabbing him on waivers is a lot nicer than signing
somebody ten years older than he is to fifteen times what he'll make next
season if he shines this September.
The other situation where the Jays went from strength to weakness in-season
has been at catcher. Part of the problem has been
losing Darrin Fletcher to
retirement, Kevin Cash to a hand injury (that fortunately enough was not a
broken bone, so he's up), and Josh Phelps to his destiny as a DH. Jayson Werth
isn't going to be the answer behind the plate. At Syracuse this summer, he
played in 102 games in the outfield, but only 23 as a backstop. The Jays are
rightly concerned that somebody as big as Werth (6'5") probably can't withstand
the wear and tear of catching. Werth seemed to adjust to the outfield easily
enough while hitting .257/.354/.445 (which translates to a .254 Equivalent
Average). He's only 23, so he has the chance to adapt and become a useful
regular in the outfield. That means that the Jays will continue to use the
Tom Wilson/Ken Huckaby offense/defense combo behind the plate, which is a
solid holding pattern until Cash is totally ready at some point during next season.
The bad news is that Luke Prokopec is done, and probably for all of next year
as well. There's no reason to second-guess the pickup, it's just the peril of
shopping for young pitchers--you find them in the combustibles aisle, between
Sean Penn and Ann Coulter.
Chris Kahrl is an author of Baseball Prospectus. You can contact him by
clicking here.
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