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…
CHICAGO WHITE SOX The Pale Hose have many concerns, but none greater than the performance of Frank Thomas. The difference between the 1990-97 version (the greatest offensive player in 40 years) and the 1998 version (roughly average production from a 1B/DH) is worth as much as six wins in the standings. I examined this issue…
ATLANTA BRAVES The bad news about Andres Galarraga has put several Braves players on the spot, and the team’s anxiety over the loss of their top slugger from ’98 has them hitting the trade market. Barring a deal, the spotlight will fall on Ryan Klesko. Klesko actually wanted to make the move to first early…
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 The Diamondbacks went on a well-publicized spending spree in the offseason, and bought themselves some decent pitching in the process. They’ll need it, because the offense is saddled with ancient players at key positions. New left fielder Luis Gonzalez will have trouble duplicating his decent 1998, and one of the few youngsters in…
BALTIMORE ORIOLES While OF Albert Belle gets most of the attention as the Orioles open camp, and can be expected to put up a typical .300/.380/.570 season, pay attention to catcher Charles Johnson, acquired from the Dodgers via the Mets for Armando Benitez. Johnson had a terrible 1998, falling off both at the plate and…
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…