CHICAGO CUBS (1998: 792 runs allowed, 5th NL Central) Rotation Steve Trachsel, R Kevin Tapani, R Jon Lieber, R Terry Mulholland, L Scott Sanders, R or Kurt Miller, R Bullpen Rod Beck, R Terry Adams, R Matt Karchner, R Felix Heredia, L Alternatives Andrew Lorraine, L Marc Pisciotta, R Life after Kerry may not be…
The use of a four-man starting rotation was firmly established in the major leagues by 1925. In the 1970s, teams started tinkering with five-man rotations, and by about 1980 all clubs had switched over to it. Last year, Mets’ manager Bobby Valentine implemented a six-man rotation in late-July, which he used up until the last…
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (1998: 861 runs, .269 Equivalent Average) Starters (with projected Equivalent Average) C Mark Johnson .262 or Josh Paul .222 1B Paul Konerko .287 2B Ray Durham .272 3B Greg Norton .251 or Carlos Lee .255 SS Mike Caruso .244 LF Jeff Abbott .269 CF Brian Simmons .245 or McKay Christensen .252 or…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Optioned INF Nelson Castro to Erie (AA); assigned Ps Mark Harriger and Ramon Ortiz and C Bret Hemphill to extended spring training; assigned Ps Mike Bovee, Mike Butcher, Brian Cooper, Seth Etherton, Lou Pote and Keith Troutman, and C Fausto Tejero to their minor-league camp. [3/10] Optioned CF Norm Hutchins and P Geoff…
The Jim Leyland managing today managed very differently from the pre-1997 models. Working for the Pirates, Leyland was comparable to Felipe Alou in his careful handling of starting pitchers, but in 1997 things changed. The first victim was Alex Fernandez, who went down with a torn rotator cuff after being repeatedly overworked late in the…
CHICAGO CUBS (1998: 831 runs, .267 Equivalent Average) Starters (with projected Equivalent Average) C Benito Santiago .247 1B Mark Grace .292 2B Mickey Morandini .264 3B Gary Gaetti .243 SS Jose Hernandez .271 LF Henry Rodriguez .277 / Glenallen Hill .277 CF Lance Johnson .265 RF Sammy Sosa .307 Bench/Alternatives: SS Jeff Blauser .268, C/UT…
CHICAGO CUBS On a team that might be the oldest team in National League, it shouldn’t surprise people to hear that there won’t be much space for rookies. However, at least one has been initially guaranteed first crack at a roster spot: OF Robin Jennings. Jennings will be the fifth outfielder, but doubts about his…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Mentioned that RHP Pep Harris‘ contract for 1999 includes a club option for 2000. [3/2] Announced the retirement of INF Craig Shipley. [3/6] Adios to Craig Shipley, one of Australia’s first wave of imports. His departure opens up the utility job to such luminaries as Luis Rivera, Jeff Huson, and Andy Stankiewicz. Tony…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Acquired 2B Tony Womack from the Pirates for a PTBNL and OF Paul Weichard. [2/26] The D-backs are claiming they’re going to move Womack to the outfield, where his value isn’t merely negligible, it’s Omar Moreno territory. What’s especially goofy is that acquiring Womack cuts into the playing time of a player who’s…
CHICAGO CUBS With so many players coming off of better-than-expected seasons, it isn’t hard to come up with a few potential floppers. A good bet is righthander Kevin Tapani, coming off of a 19-win season despite pitching about as well as unlamentedly departed Mark Clark. If lefty Terry Mulholland returns to the rotation, his ERA…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Signed 2B/SS Danny Klassen and RHP Clint Sodowsky to one-year contracts. [2/15] Signed pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim. [2/19] Anyone else having trouble keeping track of which Kim is which? CHICAGO WHITE SOX Agreed to terms with 2B Ray Durham on a four-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration. [2/15] On a personal level, I’m glad the…
BOSTON RED SOX Agreed to terms on a one-year contract with RHP John Wasdin, avoiding arbitration; extended the player development contracts of Pawtucket (Triple-A) and Lowell (A) through 2002. [2/11] Wasdin seems to have got caught up in the rush to avoid salary arbitration after the owners’ early winning streak. He’ll continue in the role…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed INF Andy Stankiewicz to a minor-league contract with a spring training NRI; signed LHP Chris Michalak, RHP Steve Mintz and OF Darold Butler to minor-league contracts. [1/25] Signed LHP Mike Magnante to a one-year contract. [1/26] Just in case you’re wondering, Mike Holtz’ window of opportunity is being shut now that the…
When half of your team’s schedule is played in a ballpark that increases run production by fifty percent, the manager has to be able to adjust his thinking to account for that distortion. As the Colorado Rockies’ manager since their inception, Don Baylor has been the only man who has had to operate within this…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed INF Andy Stankiewicz to a minor-league contract with a spring training NRI; signed LHP Chris Michalak, RHP Steve Mintz and OF Darold Butler to minor-league contracts. [1/25] Signed LHP Mike Magnante to a one-year contract. [1/26] Just in case you’re wondering, Mike Holtz’ window of opportunity is being shut now that the…
You might think things would get a little easier for Larry Dierker after his first season when he took over a ill-used Astros’ pitching staff and fashioned it into the best rotation outside of Mazzoneville. That wasn’t going to be the case. The Astros headed into 1998 without three-fifths of the rotation that finished the…