I made my 1999 Comiskey Park debut by showing up to watch the White Sox try to avoid getting swept by the Royals, in a game featuring each team’s ace (Chicago’s James Baldwin vs. Kansas City’s Kevin Appier). My focus was on the three "stories" already being spun about the Sox and Royals: How would…
AL East | AL Central | AL West Welcome to Baseball Prospectus’ predictions for 1999. We’ll go division by division and each of our staff members will tell you what they think about the races. Remember, there’s a reason we don’t print this stuff in the book; there is no good way we know of…
OPENING DAY “A fabulous day. It’s big for the organization.” — John Boles, Marlins manager, on beating the Mets “You can’t judge us on one game. We’re going to be back. Everyone likes to get a good start, but just because we lost doesn’t mean it’s over.” — Rafael Palmeiro, Rangers infielder, on losing to…
I have to admit, this year’s ToutWars-AL edition marks my first foray into the world of the Sweeney plan, a popular strategy where you punt the two power categories (HR/RBI) and try to win the remaining six. You buy a few speedsters who’ll hit for good averages and pretty much blow the rest on buying…
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (1998: 931 runs allowed, last in the AL) Rotation James Baldwin, R Mike Sirotka, L Jim Parque, L John Snyder, R Jaime Navarro, R Bullpen Bobby Howry, R Bill Simas, R Keith Foulke, R Sean Lowe, R David Lundquist, R Bryan Ward, L Alternatives Chad Bradford, R Carlos Castillo, R Kevin Beirne,…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (1998: 812 runs allowed, T-13th in NL) Rotation Randy Johnson, L Todd Stottlemyre, R Andy Benes, R Omar Daal, L Armando Reynoso, R Bullpen Gregg Olson, R Amaury Telemaco, R (DL) John Frascatore, R Brian Anderson, L Greg Swindell, L Darren Holmes, R Alternatives Vlad Nunez, R Here’s where all the money went…
As a Royals fan, these days I am quite interested in whether Royals GM Herk Robinson can turn aging and expensive players like Kevin Appier and Jeff King into high quality young talent useful to the team as it rebuilds. That’s why I was particularly intrigued by the questions Rany Jazayerli asked Robinson about the…
When Gord Ash let Brian Cashman do Very Bad Things to the Blue Jays, giving up a Hall of Fame pitcher on top of his game in exchange for a tumescent starter in a vintage cap, a middle reliever, and a pinch runner, most of the media coverage focused on the nature of the deal…
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (1998: 785 runs allowed, 7th in AL) Rotation Mike Mussina, R Scott Erickson, R Juan Guzman, R Sidney Ponson, R Doug Linton, R Bullpen Mike Timlin, R Heathcliff Slocumb, R Mike Fetters, R Ricky Bones, R Arthur Rhodes, L Jesse Orosco, L Alternatives Scott Kamieniecki, R (DL) Jason Johnson, R Rocky Coppinger, R…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed SS Gary DiSarcina, 2B Justin Baughman, and RHPs Jack McDowell and Pep Harris on the 15-day DL; placed RHP Mike James on the 60-day DL. [3/24] Optioned LHPs Jarrod Washburn and Scott Schoeneweis to Edmonton. [3/25] Acquired INF Andy Sheets and OF Gus Kennedy from the Padres for C Phil Nevin and…
Those of you who drafted in AL leagues in the last ten days may have seen the immediate impact of the surfeit of spring training information, gossip, and innuendo in John Wetteland‘s price. There was a brief period when it appeared that Wetteland might start the season on the DL, and miss a fair amount…
KERRY WOOD “I haven’t even had the surgery yet. It’s too early to think about when I’m going to be back.” — Kerry Wood, Cubs pitcher “We were very, very conservative with Kerry. Whether this was bound to happen, I can’t answer.” — Ed Lynch, Cubs GM “Thankfully, we live in a day and age…
ATLANTA BRAVES (1998: 581 runs allowed, 1st in the NL) Rotation Greg Maddux, R Tom Glavine, L John Smoltz, R Kevin Millwood, R Odalis Perez, L Bullpen Mark Wohlers, R John Rocker, L Mike Remlinger, L Kevin McGlinchy, R Rudy Seanez, R Alternatives Kerry Ligtenberg, R (hurt) Mike Cather, R Bruce Chen, L Russ Springer,…
CHICAGO CUBS (1998: 792 runs allowed, 5th NL Central) Rotation Steve Trachsel, R Kevin Tapani, R Jon Lieber, R Terry Mulholland, L Scott Sanders, R or Kurt Miller, R Bullpen Rod Beck, R Terry Adams, R Matt Karchner, R Felix Heredia, L Alternatives Andrew Lorraine, L Marc Pisciotta, R Life after Kerry may not be…
ANAHEIM ANGELS (1998: 783 runs allowed, 6th in AL) Rotation Chuck Finley, L Tim Belcher, R Steve Sparks, R Ken Hill, R Omar Olivares, R Bullpen Troy Percival, R Rich DeLucia, R Shigetoshi Hasegawa, R Mark Petkovsek, R Mike Magnante, L Mike Holtz, L Alternatives Scott Schoeneweis, L Jarrod Washburn, L The Angels have a…
The use of a four-man starting rotation was firmly established in the major leagues by 1925. In the 1970s, teams started tinkering with five-man rotations, and by about 1980 all clubs had switched over to it. Last year, Mets’ manager Bobby Valentine implemented a six-man rotation in late-July, which he used up until the last…