ALL-STAR GAME “I was having fun. I love doing these things. Earlier in my career, when I didn’t accept myself as a home-run hitter, I didn’t like doing these things. But now I enjoy them. I think sometimes it’s better than the game because I haven’t really had a great All-Star Game.” — Mark McGwire,…
Second-Half Prospectus The AL West is the tightest race in baseball at the break, with just 6 1/2 games separating the four teams. There’s potential here for a great finish, especially since none of the teams is likely to win enough to be a wild-card factor. Texas Rangers (48-39, division leader) Texas hasn’t made a…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Activated RHP Darren Holmes from the DL; optioned RHP Eric Sabel to Tucson. [7/15] With Holmes’ return, the Diamondbacks have gone from their three rookie right-handers in the pen to one (Byung-Hyun Kim), along with Matt Mantei, Bobby Chouinard and the four codgers (Greg Swindell, Dan Plesac, Gregg Olson and Holmes). The important…
Second-Half Prospectus At midseason, the 1999 NL East looks a lot like the 1998 version. The Braves have a comfortable cushion over the Mets, the Phillies are hanging around with no real chance of winning the division, and the Expos and Marlins are…uh…anybody know what the Expos and Marlins are doing? A look at what…
The umpires’ Wednesday proclamation that they will all gradually resign between now and September 4th might be the worst decision in baseball since…well, since Rich Garcia said it didn’t matter if Oscar Maier caught the ball, it was a home run. Legal wrangling aside, this is a battle the Men in Black can’t win, and…
The three days of the All-Star break present a rare opportunity for baseball fans to catch their breath. Here at Baseball Prospectus, we’re just like the rest of you, looking both back at the three months past, and ahead to see what we can expect over the stretch run. Over the next week, we’ll be…
Rany Jazayerli Players of the Year 1) Derek Jeter 2) Nomar Garciaparra 3) Jeff Bagwell 4) Tony Fernandez 5) Ken Griffey, Jr. 6) Larry Walker 7) Alex Rodriguez 8) Sean Casey 9) Shawn Green 10) Tie, Roberto Alomar & Manny Ramirez HM) Dave Nilsson Can anyone really argue that Jeter and Garciaparra are not head…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Optioned OF/C Todd Greene to Edmonton; purchased the contract of UT Tim Unroe from Edmonton; transferred RHP Jason Dickson from the 15- to the 60-day DL. [7/6] When a guy like Greene–who fields like a DH–sees his OBP drop to .276, I suppose even the Angels have to get frustrated with him. With…
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,…
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…