JOE DIMAGGIO “I feel fortunate and lucky that I had the opportunity to talk baseball with him. I’m a baseball fan, and his accomplishments speak for themselves. There were a lot of misconceptions about Joe because of his need for privacy.” — Cal Ripken Jr., Orioles infielder “He really lived up to his billing. He…
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…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (1998: 665 runs, .245 Equivalent Average) Lineup (with projected Equivalent Average) LF Tony Womack .251 CF Steve Finley .267 1B Travis Lee .307 3B Matt Williams .268 RF Luis Gonzalez .269 2B Jay Bell .276 SS Tony Batista .273 C Kelly Stinnett .273 There’s nothing rosy about this team’s future offensively; they’ll be…
Full 1998 Numbers o Glossary of Statistical Terms Back in my college days, when I was spending too much of my time at the Astrodome instead of studying for finals, my friends and I used to cringe whenever Astros reliever Dave Smith was brought into a game with runners on base. Our experience (admittedly, probably…
The way I see it, the husband must have come home about 30 minutes into the LABR-NL draft on Saturday. The only logical explanation for what happened is this: My strategy was apparently sleeping with another man’s wife. While they were together, she heard the door open and realized her husband was home. At that…
Joe DiMaggio died Monday morning. His place in history went beyond baseball, as he became one of those players whose myth grew so large that it often obscured any rational evaluation of his play. Especially now, it is hard to discuss DiMaggio with many fans because he, like Sandy Koufax and only a few others,…
CHICAGO WHITE SOX The rebuilding process of a team that should have been more competitive than it was continues, as the departures of Belle and Ventura open up even more jobs. The departure of Mike Cameron leaves the centerfield job open for Brian Simmons, a tools-laden late-blooming hitter with a diverse range of skills, but…
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…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS This is a very old team with few openings for rookies. At the top of management’s list is infielder Danny Klassen, who has a shot at the utility spot for 1999. A considerably more interesting player to anyone who paying attention is 2B Jackie Rexrode, whose skill set reminds one of vintage Lance…
Major league baseball came to San Francisco in 1958 when the Giants, with Willie Mays, joined the Dodgers on their move west. Despite Mays’ undeniable brilliance, local fans wanted a hero they could call their own, and Mays carried New York baggage with him. So when a 20-year-old rookie named Orlando Cepeda hit a homerun…
BALTIMORE ORIOLES First baseman Calvin Pickering is a Sam Horn hit-alike who absolutely crushed a bomb in an intrasquad game Monday. Unfortunately, he has Sam Horn’s chance at the first base job after the O’s signing of Will Clark. He could end up getting some DH at-bats, particularly in the second half, by which time…
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…
ANAHEIM ANGELS While much of the Disney Corporation’s vast empire has been built on the exploitation of children, that will not be the case for the 1999 version of the Anaheim Angels, as it is unlikely that any rookies will leave Tempe with the parent club (Troy Glaus and Jarrod Washburn are no longer rookies)….
ATLANTA BRAVES The real deal: lefty pitchers Bruce Chen and Odalis Perez. Inevitably, both will be overhyped because they’re Braves pitchers, and many observers seem to believe the Braves genetically re-engineer pitchers who enter the organization with Mazzone’s ancient recipe for pitching success. That may make their rookie seasons seem like disappointments if they don’t…
Last week, I delineated some of the reasons you might consider shunning the use of a valuation system in your rotisserie/fantasy leagues this spring. This week, I’ll look at the other side of the coin: why those systems are still very popular. Reason 1: They put method in your madness. Regardless of how you forecast…
CLEMENS TO THE YANKEES "They are the champions. I just want to slide in the side door and go to work with these guys and hopefully fit right in." — Roger Clemens, Yankees pitcher "I’m not knocking the Toronto Blue Jays, they’re a fine organization. I’ve had my ups and downs with this organization, but…