Surprises are what provide much of the drama of a baseball season. There are too many unknowns in baseball for there not to be surprises, so not even the best analysts can make predict every development in an upcoming season. Here we check in on players who did the unexpected during the 1997 season, and…
The Orthopedic Award goes to those pitchers and organizations who pushed their arms to the highest limits in the past season. Those limits are determined by considering multiple factors, including Batters faced. More innings, more batters faced, more pitches thrown equals more strain. Age. Younger pitchers, below the age of 25, are less capable of…
DEATH OF HARRY CARAY "It’s really been a heck of run for Harry — just an amazing human being. He squeezed every drop out of about four lifetimes. He really lived life to the fullest." — Ed Lynch, Cubs GM "He was beyond an icon. He was beyond an ambassador for the game. He was…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed RHP Jack McDowell to a one-year contract; signed 1B/CF Darin Erstad to a four-year contract. [2/25] Both the Angels and Black Jack are treating this as the signing that ices the Mickey-Mouse-gloved stranglehold that they claim to have on the ’98 division title. It definitely forces Omar Olivares into the sixth starter-long…
This winter, we at the Baseball Prospectus have been very fortunate in that some very busy people have been generous enough to give us some of their time. Recently, Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane spoke with our own Gary Huckabay about the philosophy and future of the Oakland A’s. GH: Mr. Beane, you’ve been…
One of our readers (and occasional contributor), James Kushner had some reflections on Steven Rubio’s Abstract Progress: Dear Steven Rubio and other Baseball Prospectors: I’m writing in response to your article “Abstract Progress”, which decries the lack of influence that Bill James and his theories have on “the minds of the average fan or baseball…
Continuing our joint around the majors, we look at NL hitters embroiled in battles for starting jobs this spring. Projected starting lineups follow. Catchers Team: Arizona Contenders: Kelly Stinnett, Jorge Fabregas Not a true decision, since Fabregas has pretty much got the job locked up. The problem is that he is simply horrible at the…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Purchased the contract of RHP Ken Robinson from Toronto. [2/17] Robinson is coming off of an outstanding season as Syracuse’s closer. But he’s short, so like Jim Corsi, some people don’t go ga-ga over him. Given the D-backs’ extremely weak bullpen situation, he’s as good an option for the team’s closer as they’ve…
Harry Caray wasn’t the best technical broadcaster in the world. Others had a smoother delivery. Harry’s pronunciation was such that you wondered if the Cubs would purposefully avoid acquiring players like Doug Gwosdz or Mark Grudzielanek. In later years, he had clearly slipped due to advancing age and the ravages of ill health. But who…
This week, we’ll take the first of four looks at major-league jobs that aren’t currently nailed down by one player. These positions offer opportunities for hedging (if you’ve got one contender, get the other), for speculating (bet on the underdog or the battle’s eventual loser), and for shunning risk entirely (avoiding the guys whose jobs…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Travis Lee should open the season at 1B for the Diamondbacks, and he figures to be a good one. Last year, he ripped up the California League, was promoted to AAA, and more than held his own. He’s had no trouble adjusting to the wooden bat, his defense is outstanding, and he rated…
BALTIMORE ORIOLES The Orioles’ best prospects are probably a couple of years away from making an impact in the majors. Two who might appear with Baltimore in 1998 are Danny Clyburn and Nerio Rodriguez. Clyburn had his first truly strong season at Triple-A last year, most notably improving his strike zone judgment. His future with…