ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed INF Andy Stankiewicz to a minor-league contract with a spring training NRI; signed LHP Chris Michalak, RHP Steve Mintz and OF Darold Butler to minor-league contracts. [1/25] Signed LHP Mike Magnante to a one-year contract. [1/26] Just in case you’re wondering, Mike Holtz’ window of opportunity is being shut now that the…
You might think things would get a little easier for Larry Dierker after his first season when he took over a ill-used Astros’ pitching staff and fashioned it into the best rotation outside of Mazzoneville. That wasn’t going to be the case. The Astros headed into 1998 without three-fifths of the rotation that finished the…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed INF Luis Rivera to a minor league contract with a spring training NRI. [1/15] Agreed to terms with RHP Mark Petkovsek on a one-year contract, avoiding arbitration. [1/18] Agreed to terms with RHP Steve Sparks on a one-year contract, avoiding arbitration. [1/19] Nothing major here, although you have to wonder why signing…
Felipe Alou‘s annual assembly of a solid pitching staff out of kids and retreads is as sure a thing as a crappy Fall lineup on CBS. However, last year may have been the most challenging of any of his seven seasons as manager of the Expos. Five of the eleven pitchers who started games for…
The biggest off-season move prior to the 1998 season was Boston’s acquisition and subsequent signing of Pedro Martinez. He didn’t come cheaply–first costing the Red Sox &oumu;berprospect Carl Pavano, and then a $75 million, six-year contract–but he was absolutely the type of pitcher that Jimy Williams had to have if the Red Sox were to…
CUBA "This is something that Bud [Selig] and I have been talking about for years. Now that it has been made part of a policy announcement by the president, we need to sit down and talk to all the parties concerned. If everybody is satisfied, we can go forward." — Peter Angelos, Orioles owner "I…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed OF Matt Luke to a one-year contract. [1/12] Luke isn’t the world’s worst spare outfielder, except that he isn’t really a good match for the Angels. Left-handed power isn’t something a team with Mo Vaughn and Erstad and Edmonds needs, and a fifth outfielder who gets on base (like Orlando Palmeiro) is…
This year’s Rule 5 Draft was like the winter meetings as a whole, in that it wound up being almost completely a non-event. While previous Rule 5 efforts have seen teams snag some real prospects, Ken Phelps All-Stars, or pitchers who suddenly found an extra 8 mph on their fastball change teams, this year’s big…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Re-signed pitcher Jack McDowell and infielder Randy Velarde to one-year contracts. Signed infielder Craig Shipley to a minor-league contract. [12/7] Designated pitcher Allen Watson for assignment. [12/12] Acquired pitcher Mark Petkovsek from the St. Louis Cardinals for a PTBNL (who turned out to be catcher Matt Garrick). Designated catcher Ben Molina for assignment….
KEVIN BROWN SIGNS WITH LA "I’m in mourning. Not for the Padres, but for baseball." — Larry Lucchino, Padres president "This is an affront to baseball." — Sandy Alderson, MLB’s executive vice president "I don’t mean to criticize Kevin Brown, but it’s a truly tragic day for baseball. It’s extraordinary. It confirms my worst fears…
MO VAUGHN SIGNS IN ANAHEIM "Our ownership has established its desire to take this team to the next level, and Mo [Vaughn] is the type of individual who relishes that challenge." — Terry Collins, Angels manager "Some might look at this and think we’re done. That’s not the case." — Bill Bavasi, Angels GM "Maybe…
Pitcher Usage and Result Patterns? What are these, you ask? This is the end result of a conversation the two of us started up in the spring on how to evaluate starting pitchers in terms of how they’re used by their managers, and what that means in terms of results. We wanted to generate a…
Pitcher Usage and Result Patterns? What are these, you ask? This is the end result of a conversation the two of us started up in the spring on how to evaluate starting pitchers in terms of how they’re used by their managers, and what that means in terms of results. We wanted to generate a…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Released pitchers Jeff Juden and Rich Robertson. [11/16] Re-signed catcher Matt Walbeck to a two-year contract. [11/17] Signed first baseman Mo Vaughn to a six-year contract with club option for 2005. [11/25] The Angels were the team to make Mo Vaughn the most well-paid player in the majors, signing him for $80 million….
AWARDS "It adds confidence that people who watch the game and people who follow baseball acknowledged as good a season as I’ve had." — Kerry Wood, Cubs pitcher and NL ROY "It means a lot after a long season to get recognition like this. But at the same time it doesn’t change anything. It’s just…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Exercised their option on RHP Troy Percival and agreed upon an additional option for 2002. [10/19] Named Dick Pole pitching coach. [11/7] Percival remains one of the best closers in the game, and the Angels aren’t going to have to worry about him until 2002. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Exercised their options on LHP Brian…