ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Waived RHP Hector Carrasco. [3/25] For all of the hullaballoo about this, Carrasco isn’t a unique talent, and that’s his problem. Finding relievers who throw moderately hard just isn’t very difficult, and if you’re not wedded to the belief that situational usages reflect ineffable qualities like "closer’s moxie" or whatever, you’re left with…
Here are some picks from various BP authors about who they think will crash and burn, and who will break out this year… Steven Rubio The idea is a simple one: name the three players most likely to crash in 1998, and the three most likely to have a breakthrough season. The only guy I’m…
The Atlanta Braves’ offense was almost as formidable as its pitching staff last year, scoring 791 runs – the second highest total among teams playing in oxygenated atmospheres, and only four fewer than San Diego. A large portion of that was due to the excellent performance of the hitters in the Braves’ leadoff slot. Kenny…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed C Angelo Encarnacion on the 15-day DL. [3/22] Optioned RHP Geoff Edsell to Vancouver. [3/23] With Jason Dickson a probable health risk, and Jack McDowell and Omar Olivares being their uninspiring selves, there’s a very good chance that Edsell could start some games for the Angels this year. He had a rocky…
The sought-after "sleepers" aren’t the only players in your auction whose actual values are likely to exceed their purchase price. Plenty of established players are likely to step their game up – or down – a notch or two in ’98, but their prices won’t fully reflect that probability. Since most of you are heading…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed C Todd Greene, 2B Randy Velarde, and RHP Pep Harris on the 15-day DL; returned LHPs Rich Robertson and Greg Cadaret, C Ben Molina, and 1B Troy Neel to minor-league camp; assigned 1B Chris Pritchett to minor-league camp for work purposes. [3/19] Greene’s and Velarde’s injuries have been casting a pall over…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Returned 3B Troy Glaus, RHPs Ramon Ortiz and Mike Bovee, LHPs Scott Schoenweis and Jarrod Washburn, OF Norm Hutchins, C Ben Molina, and INF Nelson Castro to minor-league camp; released OF Patrick Lennon. [3/11] Glaus had an outstanding camp, and Washburn was simply out of luck after the Angels decided to tack on…
Subject: Draft Question Date: Mon, 16 Mar 98 15:30:25 CST To: roto@baseballprospectus.com Keith, In a 4×4 NL only draft with 10 teams and 9 active pitchers. Does it make sense to draft only a few starters and many good relievers, like setup men. After the closers are gone and the stud SP, to me getting…
It’s the cops again. This time, they’ve got a warrant. You’ve flushed the heroin, buried the bodies, and, hey, she said she was 21 and how could you have known her real age? You are under arrest anyway, charged with gambling and bookmaking. You are a fantasy leaguer. Now that you’ve hired me as your…
Starting Pitchers Florida Openings: #2-5 Candidates: Felix Heredia, Eric Ludwick, Rafael Medina, Kirt Ojala, Brian Meadows, assorted others There are a number of other guys who could theoretically end up in this rotation – Andy Larkin, Antonio Alfonseca, Mark Gardiner, etc. – but I’ve only listed the ones that seem to be more than longshots,…
THE YOUNG … "People think the leadoff spot is a big deal. I tell people you’re going to lead off the first inning, and after that, you can be a No. 4 hitter or No. 3 hitter." — Andruw Jones, Braves outfielder "I know what I can do. I can do everything — run, hit,…
Mo Vaughn finally got ticked off enough this week to publicly vent over the upcoming treatment he expects from Dan Duquette and the Red Sox front office. “They’re trying to use my arrest for drunk driving against me,” said Vaughn. (Vaughn, as you may know, was acquitted of drunk driving charges, in a verdict which…
This year’s BP includes a new way of measuring fielding. Significantly, it is, to my knowledge, the first book that has attempted to apply fielding measures to minor league players. To give everyone a better idea of how the fielding system works and, most importantly for judging current players, has worked in the past, I’m…
Each year, players in their third year of service wait anxiously after the season. Their hope is that they will land in the top 1/6 of players in their year of service for time spent on the major league roster. If they do, they are rewarded with arbitration rights. Indeed, this past winter Mark Grudzielanek,…
Starting Pitchers Oakland Slots: #3-5 Candidates: Jimmy Haynes, Brad Rigby, Mike Oquist, Ariel Prieto, Willie Adams If it were my decision, this wouldn’t be so difficult. Adams doesn’t get to start until he gets his act together, and Oquist goes to long relief or to Edmonton to wait for the first injury or collapse. Of…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Assigned Ps Mo Sanford, Rob Banano, Darryl Scott and Brian Cooper and Cs Ben Molina and Jaime Burke to their minor league camp. [3/3] The only surprise here is that Mo Sanford is still around to throw his wicked breaking stuff. Here’s hope he’s got the aptitude to coach, because it doesn’t look…