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…
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (1998: 861 runs, .269 Equivalent Average) Starters (with projected Equivalent Average) C Mark Johnson .262 or Josh Paul .222 1B Paul Konerko .287 2B Ray Durham .272 3B Greg Norton .251 or Carlos Lee .255 SS Mike Caruso .244 LF Jeff Abbott .269 CF Brian Simmons .245 or McKay Christensen .252 or…
Recently, a reader sent the following to me: Keith — I enjoy your articles, and thought that I would ask you a question that I have never seen answered in all of the mags, books and websites: How does valuation change if you have 11 or 10 (or less) teams instead of the standard 12?…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Optioned INF Nelson Castro to Erie (AA); assigned Ps Mark Harriger and Ramon Ortiz and C Bret Hemphill to extended spring training; assigned Ps Mike Bovee, Mike Butcher, Brian Cooper, Seth Etherton, Lou Pote and Keith Troutman, and C Fausto Tejero to their minor-league camp. [3/10] Optioned CF Norm Hutchins and P Geoff…
The Jim Leyland managing today managed very differently from the pre-1997 models. Working for the Pirates, Leyland was comparable to Felipe Alou in his careful handling of starting pitchers, but in 1997 things changed. The first victim was Alex Fernandez, who went down with a torn rotator cuff after being repeatedly overworked late in the…
Recently, Rany Jazayerli had the opportunity to conduct a brief interview with Kansas City Royals General Manager Herk Robinson. Here is the complete transcript: RJ: Let’s start with the obvious: the trade situation with Kevin Appier. HR: There’s nothing specific with Appier yet; we haven’t discussed any particular players with any of the teams that…