Second-Half Prospectus Enough bad things have happened to the Astros to give every team an opportunity to indulge in some wishful thinking, but what should these teams be doing? Cincinnati Reds (49-36, division leader) Most of the risks Jim Bowden has taken in shooting for contention have worked out, with the most obvious problem being…
Game Report: San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres, July 7, 1999: Shawn Estes vs. Matt Clement For much of the season, the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks have been giving the San Francisco Giants everything they could handle in the race for the division’s top spot. The Snake offense has been more poisonous than expected, and…
"Tuesday? Oh, I Guess I’ll Go Fishing…" 60 players will divide 18 innings and, if recent history is any indication, about six hits among them during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game in Boston. With the brouhahas over players being snubbed or backing out already fading, let’s take a look at a handful of guys who were,…
TWO+ QUESTIONS, ONE+ ANSWER Dear Rotoman: What’s the deal with Andy Benes? Is he worth holding onto? Will he turn it around in the 2nd half? He’s been a ratio and ERA killer. Also what are the chances of Freddy Garcia on Pittsburgh playing more in the 2nd half? “Close to the Edge” Dear Rotoman:…
Now, more than any time in baseball history, games are won and lost in the bullpen. As such, more attention has focused on the importance of a good bullpen as oen significant difference between a playoff team and an underachieving also-ran. Whether it’s explaining the Mariners’ inability to contend despite fielding two of the 50…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed RHP Ken Hill on the 15-day DL, retroactive to 7/1 (elbow inflammation); recalled LHP Jarrod Washburn from Edmonton. [7/2] Coming on the heels of losing Belcher, you might think this is bad news for the Angels. But Hill’s been pitching hurt all year, and losing someone walking more than five guys per…
Entering the 1999 season, 20-year-old Gil Meche was rated the fourth-best prospect in the Seattle Mariners’ organization by Baseball America, behind Ryan Anderson, Freddy Garcia and Carlos Guillen. Both Garcia and Guillen started the year with the big league squad, and while Anderson is currently laboring at Double-A New Haven, Meche has pitched so well…
KENDALL OUT FOR THE SEASON “It was one of the worst things I’ve seen. I’ve never seen anything like it. He was probably going to set the record for steals by a catcher, but will that speed come back? I just don’t know.” — Gene Lamont, Pirates manager “It’s one of the most gruesome things…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed OF Matt Luke on the 15-day DL, retroactive to 6/25 (partially torn rib cage muscle); recalled LHP Mike Holtz from Edmonton. [6/27] Placed RHP Tim Belcher on the 15-day DL, retroactive to 6/27 (fractured right pinky); recalled C Bret Hemphill from Edmonton; acquired OF Mike Stoner from the Diamondbacks for OF Jason…
The most important thing Bill James did for baseball, in my opinion, was to question the assumptions that were prevalent in the game and determined how it was played. His statistical methods were tools, and only tools, developed to help test the validity of those assumptions. Some analysts–myself included–have occasionally forgotten that point, and treated…
Game Report: Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox, June 24, 1999: Brad Radke versus Jaime Navarro I like to go to the ballpark with a few things on my mind. Sometimes they’re questions, and I see if the game gives me any clues about their answers. Sometimes I go just to see a player I’ve…
JIMENEZ NO-HITS D-BACKS “It’s unbelievable. I can’t explain it. I just want to fly tonight.” — Jose Jimenez, Cardinals pitcher “If that doesn’t thrill you, then you should be doing something else for a living. He really had tremendous movement on his pitches. He has Kevin Brown-type movement.” — Tony LaRussa, Cardinals manager “Since I…