The DiSar Awards haven’t been clinched just yet–I’ve learned better than to make an official announcement before the season is over–but they do appear to be in safe hands, at least in the American League. And no, it’s not Rocco Baldelli’s mitts holding the Golden Crutch.
I announced the contest to pick the 2003 award winners this spring a little bit late, not getting to it until a few days into the season. Because of that, the vast majority of the entrants selected Baldelli, the free-swinging Devil Rays rookie, as the eventual AL award winner. Baldelli made a nice run, reaching 60 at-bats before his first walk, but he only held the top AL mark for a few days, getting caught by Deivi Cruz soon afterwards.
Cruz didn’t hold on, either; his 70 at-bats were passed by Matt Walbeck in July, but The Walbeck couldn’t even garner this much glory. A week ago, he, too, saw his total of 75 walkless at-bats to start the season eclipsed. Walbeck was passed by a player who received no votes in the preseason balloting, although his brother was one of the most popular candidates after Baldelli.
J.P. Ricciardi doesn’t like giving away outs. Maury Wills thinks speed is underrated. Lloyd McClendon thinks he’s victim of an injustice, and that doesn’t even count having to manage the Pirates. Tom Martin just does his job, and Julian Tavarez likes ’em old, fat, rich, and dirty. All this and many more quips in this week’s edition of The Week In Quotes.
The Astros’ farm system has started to dry up. The Brewers’ future could take a while to unfold. The A’s made a puzzling move by designating Adam Piatt for assignment. These and other news and notes out of Houston, Milwaukee, and Oakland in today’s Prospectus Triple Play.