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This is the first of two articles where we’ll comment on
players who appeared on Opening Day rosters, but for one reason
or another were omitted from the book. The remainder will appear
in an article early next week.

HITTERS

Gary Bennett	C	Bats R	Age 27
Year Team     Lge  AB  H   DB  TP  HR  BB  R  RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Scran-WB Int 282  60  10   1   6  23  20  22   1   0 222 .213 .272 .319  .203  21
1996 Philadel NL   16   4   0   0   0   2   1   1   0   0  12 .250 .333 .250  .211   1
1997 Pawtuckt Int 223  40   4   1   3  15   8   9   1   1 184 .179 .231 .247  .146   8
1998 Scran-WB Int 282  64   8   0   8  19  20  25   0   0 218 .227 .276 .340  .210  22  68-C  101
1998 Philadel NL   31   9   0   0   0   5   4   3   0   0  22 .290 .389 .290  .254   4
1999 Philadel NL  273  63   8   0   7  23  25  30   0   0 210 .231 .291 .337  .224   25

Nine-year organizational veteran who set a career-high in
slugging percentage last year at .426, three full years after he
first reached AAA. Bennett is only on the roster due to the
injuries to Tom Prince and Bobby Estalella, so his long-term
outlook is measured in weeks, not years.

David Doster	2B/3B	Bats R	Age 28
Year Team     Lge  AB  H   DB  TP  HR  BB  R  RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Scran-WB Int 318  68   9   0   6  23  22  21   5   2 252 .214 .267 .299  .194  21  87-2B  89
1996 Philadel NL  105  28   5   0   2   8  10  11   0   0  77 .267 .319 .371  .240  11  20-2B 101
1997 Scran-WB Int 408 116  20   0  13  23  43  52   4   4 296 .284 .323 .429  .256  49  33-3B  68 73-2B  94
1998 Scran-WB Int 577 140  25   2  12  41  56  51  15   5 442 .243 .293 .355  .227  54 134-3B 102
1999 Philadel NL  492 129  22   1  14  33  61  64  12   4 367 .262 .309 .396  .252  58

The year’s best Opening Day surprise. Doster was removed from
the 40-man roster last year, and the organization’s infatuation
with Marlon Anderson meant that Doster was blocked at both of his
positions. That said, he’s an outstanding utility infield
candidate with some pop and a good batting eye. In a fair and
just world, Doster would have started at 2b for the Phils last
year, instead of the Mark Lewis formerly known as a baseball
player. Instead, Doster returned to AAA for the third straight
season, and while the frustration clearly brought his performance
down, he may have earned notice with a career-high 23 steals in
29 attempts.

Guillermo Garcia	C	Bats R Age 27
Year Team     Lge  AB  H   DB  TP  HR  BB  R  RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Chattang Sou 202  56   6   0   5   8  17  22   2   2 148 .277 .305 .381 .234   20
1996 Indianap AA   47  11   2   0   0   2  3    2   0   0  36 .234 .265 .277 .178    2
1997 Chattang Sou  72  15   2   0   2   6  4    6   0   0  57 .208 .269 .319 .200    5
1997 Indianap AA  151  34   2   0   7   8  10  15   0   2 119 .225 .264 .377 .212   12
1998 Indianap Int 331  73  11   0  13  17  22  31   0   1 259 .221 .259 .372 .211   26  89-C 102
1998 Cincnnti NL   36  7    2   0   2   2  2    4   0   0  29 .194 .237 .417 .216    3
1999 Florida NL   306  72   9   1  13  14  26  40   0   1 235 .235 .269 .399 .232   30

See this week’s Transaction Analysis for some choice comments
on the roster-hopping excitement of Guillermo Garcia.

Jesse Garcia	2B	Bats R	Age 25
Year Team     Lge  AB  H   DB  TP  HR  BB  R  RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 High Des Cal 445  83  11   2   6  40  28  22  11   4 366 .187 .254 .261  .175  23 132-2B 100
1997 Bowie    Eas 438  90  11   1   4  30  23  22   5   5 353 .205 .256 .263  .170  21 124-2B 101
1998 Bowie    Eas 257  62   9   1   1  28  28  18   8   2 197 .241 .316 .296  .222  23  78-2B  97
1998 Rochestr Int 159  43   5   3   0   5  14  12   5   4 120 .270 .293 .340  .216  13  43-2B 111
1999 Baltimor AL  421  95  13   1   4  30  38  32   9   5 331 .226 .277 .290  .198  29   

A slick-fielding, no-hit second baseman, we left him out of
the book because he had clearly been passed by Jerry Hairston on
the Oriole depth chart. But he caught Ray Miller’s eye with a few
dazzling plays in the field, and the O’s decided to let Garcia
sit on the bench as a backup 2B while DeShields recuperates and
Hairston plays in Rochester. While we’d rather see Hairston, it
does make more sense to waste an option on Garcia.

Scarborough Green	OF	Bats R	Age 25
Year Team     Lge  AB  H   DB  TP  HR  BB  R  RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 St Pete  Fla 145  41   3   1   1  18  20  13   7   6 110 .283 .362 .338  .249  17
1996 Arkansas Tex 299  50   4   1   3  34  20  10  15   5 254 .167 .252 .217  .165  14
1997 Arkansas Tex 246  63   9   2   2  29  29  22   7   3 186 .256 .335 .333  .240  26  73-OF 109
1997 Louisvil AA  208  50   9   1   3  21  23  17   9   6 164 .240 .310 .337  .227  20  51-OF 120
1997 St Louis NL   31   3   0   0   0   2   0   0   0   0  28 .097 .152 .097  ****  -1
1998 Arkansas Tex  73  21   0   0   2   4   9   7   5   1  53 .288 .325 .370  .252   8
1998 Memphis  PCL  80  13   3   0   0   8   2   2   1   3  70 .162 .239 .200  .122   2
1999 Texas    AL  298  72  10   1   4  29  38  28  12   7 233 .242 .309 .322  .217  26   

In a clash of offensive titans, Green beat out Milt Cuyler for
the Rangers’ fifth outfielder job. We don’t think anybody
imagines he’s going to hit; his main role on the team will be as
a pinch runner and late-inning defensive replacement. He will
fill that role well enough — the defensive part, at least — but
that still leaves the question of whether you want a good-field-no-hit
outfielder using up one of your 25 roster spots.

Edwards Guzman	IF	Bats L	Age 22
Year Team     Lge  AB  H   DB  TP  HR  BB  R  RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 San Jose Cal 367  84  14   3   1  28  26  24   1   3 286 .229 .284 .292  .195  24 105-3B 104
1997 Shrevprt Tex 374  92  11   2   3  28  30  29   2   1 283 .246 .299 .310  .212  29 109-3B  87
1998 Fresno   PCL 316  85  10   0   8  22  29  35   1   0 231 .269 .317 .377  .241  33  74-3B  89
1999 San Fran NL  335  90  12   1   7  22  35  43   1   1 246 .269 .314 .373  .244  36   

Technically not on the OD roster, Guzman was called up on
Opening Day when Bill Mueller broke his toe and went on the DL.
Guzman is only 22 years old, and could conceivably hit enough to
become a major-league regular 3B in the future. For now, though,
he is merely holding a roster spot until Mueller’s return.

Tim Hyers	PH	Bats L Age 27
Year Team     Lge  AB  H   DB  TP  HR  BB  R  RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Toledo   Int 432  99  12   4   6  38 37   34   5   1 334 .229 .291 .317 .213   35  26-OF 86 88-1B 100
1996 Detroit  AL   26  2    0   0   0   4  0    0   0   0  24 .077 .200 .077 ****   -1
1997 Toledo   Int 427  109 16   2  10  33 39   45   1   2 320 .255 .309 .372 .235   43  113-1B 112
1998 Charlott Int 295  67  13   1   5  22 21   24   0   2 230 .227 .281 .329 .207   22  38-OF 86 40-1B 89
1999 Florida  NL  337  79  15   1   6  29 33   36   1   1 259 .234 .295 .338 .228   32

Made the team as the 25th man after beating out Ryan Jackson.
That seems like an odd decision, in that it cost them Jackson (snagged
on waivers by the Mariners). Neither player is particularly
special in the first place, so it isn’t really a big deal. Hyers
has been touted for years for a pretty line-drive stroke, and he’s
been jerked around as a Rule 5 pick (by the Padres out of the
Jays’ organization back in 1994). Non-prospect, roster filler.

Jon Shave	IF	Bats R	Age 31
Year Team     Lge  AB  H   DB  TP  HR  BB  R  RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR  Defense
1996 Oklahoma AA  415  94  13   1   5  38  34  29   7   5 326 .227 .291 .299  .205  31  33-3B  84 60-2B  94
1997 SaltLake PCL 375  89  12   1   5  29  30  29   4   4 290 .237 .292 .315  .209  29  22-3B 101 22-SS  98
1998 SaltLake PCL 301  73  10   1   2  28  27  22   5   6 234 .243 .307 .302  .212  24  55-2B  94
1998 Minnesot AL   39   9   3   0   1   4   4   4   1   2  32 .231 .302 .385  .227   4
1999 Texas    AL  348  88  13   1   4  31  39  36   4   5 265 .253 .314 .330  .217  29   

Inexplicably won the Rangers’ second utility infielder spot
over Scott Sheldon. Here – we kid you not – are the reasons for
the choice, according to the Dallas Morning News: (1) in the last
9 games before the Rangers broke camp, Shave went 6-for-16 while
Sheldon went 1-for-12, (2) "Sheldon also struck out 19 times,
which doesn’t make him a good pinch-hitting candidate." So
it’s important for pinch-hitters to ground out rather than strike
out? Why, because double plays are exciting? And we’re sure the
Rangers won’t miss the pinch hit doubles and home runs that Shave
won’t be hitting.

Chris Singleton	OF	Bats L	Age 26
Year Team     Lge  AB   H  DB  TP  HR  BB   R RBI  SB  CS Out   BA  OBA   SA   EQA EQR Defense
1996 Shrevprt Tex 494 130  23   4   5  23  51  41  20   8 372 .263 .296 .356  .228  46 121-OF  93
1997 Shrevprt Tex 453 119  15   4   8  17  42  41  17   8 342 .263 .289 .366  .227  42 117-OF  98
1998 Columbus Int 407  86  12   6   4  21  25  24   6   2 323 .211 .250 .300  .184  23 116-OF 103
1999 ChiSox   AL  406  97  13   4   7  19  41  39  11   4 313 .239 .273 .342  .217  34

Non-prospect. He may end up logging lots of service time this
year while playing very little. Chances are good that he won’t be
demoted even after Brian Simmons’ lacerated hand heels up,
because he’s left-handed and can run, and because he has no
future to waste getting stale on a major league bench.

PITCHERS

Rheal Cormier	Throws L	Age 32
Year Team     Lge      IP  H   ER  HR  BB   K   ERA  W  L    H/9  HR/9  BB/9   K/9   KWH  PERA
1996 Montreal NL    164.0 172  71  16  39  91  3.90  9  9   9.44  0.88  2.14  4.99  0.93  3.79
1997 Montreal NL      1.3   4   3   1   1   0 20.25  0  0  27.00  6.75  6.75  0.00  0.00 27.00
1998 Akron    Eas     8.7  20   8   3   2   4  8.31  0  1  20.77  3.12  2.08  4.15  0.30 13.50

Lost all of 1998 to injury, then Duquette scooped him up as
one of his patented rehab projects. This is his second stint with
the Bosox – he originally went from Boston to Montreal in the Wil
Cordero trade. Will work as the designated lefty in the pen. If
he posts even a modest success in 1999, it will be enough to keep
Cormier employed in the big leagues for the next decade in a Tony
Fossas kind of role.

Miguel Deltoro	Throws R	Age 27
Year Team     Lge      IP   H  ER  HR  BB   K   ERA  W  L    H/9  HR/9  BB/9   K/9   KWH  PERA
1996 ***      Mex    40.7  62  35   4  36  29  7.75  1  4  13.72  0.89  7.97  6.42  0.28  8.63
1997 MxCyRdDv Mex    33.3  29  23   2  34  31  6.21  1  3   7.83  0.54  9.18  8.37  0.73  5.13
1998 MxCyRdDv Mex    84.3 101  48   5  42  56  5.12  3  6  10.78  0.53  4.48  5.98  0.55  5.02

Skinny righthander Miguel del Toro comes from the Mexican
League, and his hot spring earned him a job in Dusty Baker’s deep
and oft-used bullpen. The entertaining but always unreliable
Candlestick Park speed gun has clocked del Toro at speeds ranging
from 94 to 44 MPH, which suggests Miguel will do well with his
off-speed pitches. Hasn’t pitched particularly well since the
season started, giving up longballs, walking too many batters,
and letting baserunners steal with abandon. Which puts him below
John Johnstone on the Giants’ bullpen ladder, but gives him a
chance to aspire to become Julian Tavarez.

Kip Gross	Throws R	Age 34

Returns to the majors for the first time since 1993, having
spent the intervening years in Japan. He led his Japanese league
in wins in 1996 and 1997, but missed much of 1998 with an arm
injury. Capable of starting, but given the depth of starters in
Boston, he will work primarily out of the bullpen.

Brett Hinchliffe	Throws R	Age 24
Year Team     Lge      IP   H  ER  HR  BB   K   ERA  W  L    H/9  HR/9  BB/9   K/9   KWH  PERA
1996 Lancastr Cal   163.0 194  87  19  59 100  4.80  7 11  10.71  1.05  3.26  5.52  0.66  5.08
1997 Memphis  Sou   139.3 182  77  20  42  84  4.97  6  9  11.76  1.29  2.71  5.43  0.69  5.68
1998 Lancastr Cal    16.3  11   6   2   6  16  3.31  1  1   6.06  1.10  3.31  8.82  2.91  2.76
1998 Tacoma   PCL   156.0 141  71  21  85  82  4.10  8  9   8.13  1.21  4.90  4.73  0.42  4.44

One of five rookies to scale Peoria’s imposing Mt. Piniella
this spring. Maybe John Krakauer should write a book about their
harrowing experiences after the season. A lanky, loqacious lad,
Hinchliffe saw a big drop in his H/9 last season neutralized to a
large degree by a similar increase in his walk rate. A better
choice for the Mariner’s long relief / spot starter role than Mac
Suzuki–but Suzuki is out of options so Hinchliffe will get to
enjoy the the scenic forty minute commutes to Tacoma.

Josias Manzanillo	Throws R	Age 31
Year Team     Lge      IP   H  ER  HR  BB   K   ERA  W  L    H/9  HR/9  BB/9   K/9   KWH  PERA
1997 Memphis  Sou     2.7   2   1   1   0   4  3.38  0  0   6.75  3.38  0.00 13.50******  3.37
1997 New Orln AmA    13.3  21   8   3   6   9  5.40  0  1  14.18  2.03  4.05  6.08  0.48  8.77
1997 Tacoma   PCL    12.7  18   9   4   7  12  6.39  0  1  12.79  2.84  4.97  8.53  0.86  9.24
1997 Seattle  AL     19.3  19  10   3  15  18  4.66  1  1   8.84  1.40  6.98  8.38  0.85  6.05
1998 Durham   Int    83.3 104  55  12  28  49  5.94  3  6  11.23  1.30  3.02  5.29  0.62  5.51
1998 Norfolk  Int    78.0  83  31   4  30  58  3.58  5  4   9.58  0.46  3.46  6.69  1.01  3.92

Perhaps best known for the unfortunate body part he used to
stop a line drive two years ago, Manzanillo was a bizarre choice
of bullpen fodder when the Mets chose to return Octavio Dotel to
AAA. Breaking Dotel in Earl Weaver-style – while waiting for
Yoshii or Hersheiser to implode – would have made significantly
more sense, but the Mets wanted the veteran in the pen instead of
the rookie, regardless of whether that was the best option for
the team. Manzanillo’s a barely adequate middle reliever, but the
Mets hardly need to waste a roster spot on another circus
sideshow to make Turk Wendell feel more at home.

Scott Sauerbeck	Throws L	Age 27
Year Team     Lge      IP   H  ER  HR  BB   K   ERA  W  L    H/9  HR/9  BB/9   K/9   KWH  PERA
1996 St Lucie Fla    91.0 140  50   2  35  42  4.95  4  6  13.85  0.20  3.46  4.15  0.27  6.03
1996 Binghmtn Eas    44.0  62  28   4  13  22  5.73  2  3  12.68  0.82  2.66  4.50  0.45  5.73
1997 Binghmtn Eas   125.3 174  92  13  52  62  6.61  4 10  12.49  0.93  3.73  4.45  0.32  6.18
1997 Norfolk  Int     5.0   4   2   0   4   3  3.60  1  0   7.20  0.00  7.20  5.40  0.42  3.60
1998 Norfolk  Int   161.0 191  74   8  65  97  4.14  9  9  10.68  0.45  3.63  5.42  0.57  4.58

The Pirates deserve some praise for using the Rule 5 draft in
a novel, useful manner: taking a AAA player whose organization
didn’t need him, but who is still ready for a shot in the majors.
Sauerbeck is a soft-tossing lefty with a good breaking pitch and
an adequate change, but whose fastball is rather hittable. He
made fools of the Cubs’ lineup on the season’s first Saturday,
and while that’s not particularly hard (and he did retire Sosa
twice), a second time through the lineup probably would cause him
pain.

Jeff Wallace	Throws L	Age 23
Year Team     Lge      IP   H  ER  HR  BB   K   ERA  W  L    H/9  HR/9  BB/9   K/9   KWH  PERA
1996 Lansing  Mid   117.3 189  90  15  69  60  6.90  3 10  14.50  1.15  5.29  4.60  0.21  8.28
1997 Lynchbrg Car    16.0  12   3   0  10   9  1.69  2  0   6.75  0.00  5.63  5.06  0.51  2.81
1997 Carolina Sou    43.0  47  32   3  34  31  6.70  1  4   9.84  0.63  7.12  6.49  0.45  5.65
1997 Pittsbrg NL     12.7   7   1   0   8  13  0.71  1  0   4.97  0.00  5.68  9.24  2.26  2.13

Omitted after he missed 1998 due to reconstructive elbow
surgery; his return to form this spring was quite a surprise.
Before the injury, he was a left-handed reliever who threw a hard,
moving fastball but who had struggled with command and control;
now, he’s a left-handed reliever who threw a hard, moving
fastball but who struggles with command and control. If
Christiansen closes or co-closes, Wallace becomes the #1 LH setup
man; a slight improvement in skills would make him devastating
against lefties.

Thank you for reading

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