ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Optioned RHP Jeff Suppan to Tucson. [7/3] Recalled 2B Danny Klassen from Tucson. [7/4] The lot of fifth starters in general is to get shipped off when roster pressures mount, and Suppan is no exception. Omar Daal may be ready to come off the DL by the end of the break, and the…
DODGER SHAKE-UP, LAST WEEK "I never thought I’d get fired." — Fred Claire, former Dodgers GM "Everybody is numb right now. You just go out there and play. You just go to the park and hope you still have a uniform to wear." — Eric Karros, Dodgers infielder "[Tommy Lasorda is] just killing me and…
If you don’t agree with a pick here and there, that’s OK; half of the authorship probably doesn’t either. As always, we welcome your comments at info@baseballprospectus.com. Catcher Starter: Pudge Rodriguez (Texas) Reserve: Darrin Fletcher (Toronto) Okay, picking Pudge is easy, because he’s probably the league’s MVP. But after that? Several teams are platooning or…
He was through, but it still hurt when the Giants traded Willie Mays early in the 1972 season. It wasn’t just that Mays was my favorite player; it was that yet another seemingly permanent fixture of my youth was shown to be as temporary as everything else. Before that, the deal that really bothered me…
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Placed 2B Andy Stankiewicz on the 15-day DL (knee). [6/27] Activated C Jorge Fabregas from the DL; optioned OF Mike Robertson to Tucson. [6/30] Uncanny. The D-backs replace one utterly useless player for another. Both Kelly Stinnett and Damian Miller are better players, but Fabregas has his defensive reputation, and he’s blessed to…
If you don’t agree with a pick here and there, that’s OK; half of the authorship probably doesn’t either. As always, we welcome your comments at info@baseballprospectus.com. Catcher Starter: Javier Lopez (Atlanta) Reserves: Jason Kendall (Pittsburgh), Mike Piazza (NY Mets) The real shock here is that Piazza isn’t the starter, but the sad fact is…
Oakland Athletics: Acquired OF Bip Roberts from the Detroit Tigers for a PTBNL. I have a great deal of respect for Billy Beane. He’s a competent, confident young executive who has an idea of his goals for the A’s, and he’s got a plan attain those goals. But everybody has a bad day. To say…
Here’s a look at a couple of prospects who have been turning heads with their solid play over the last month. Gabe Alvarez, 3B Bats R Born 1974 Age 24 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA 1995 R Cucmng Cal 208 60 9…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed RHP Erik Hanson to a minor-league contract. [6/25] An insurance move, since the Angels have gambled and lost on Jack McDowell and William VanLandingham. Keep in mind it isn’t a good insurance move, since Hanson may well be done himself. If they’re desperate, calling up Rich Robertson would be a better idea….
ATLANTA BRAVES Optioned pitcher Mark Wohlers to Gulf Coast League Braves (Rookie League). [6/20] Wohlers requested this demotion so he could straighten out his mechanics; although he’s limited batters to a .217 average, he’s walked 18 in 16 innings after walking 38 in 69.1 innings last year and 21 in 77.1 innings in 1996. Kerry…
THE ALL-STAR GAME "I’ve always said that people get voted into the All-Star Game who probably don’t deserve to be there … and it looks like that’s going to happen to me this year." — Larry Walker, Rockies outfielder "If you ask some ballplayers around the game, they’d love to have those days off instead….
Scattershooting around the Oriole organization, plus an old favorite. Joel Bennett, SP Born 1970 Age 28 Year Team Lge IP H ER HR BB K ERA W L H/9 HR/9 BB/9 K/9 1994 New Brit Eas 119.3 162 80 11 63 92 6.03 4 9 12.22 0.83 4.75 6.94 1994 Pawtuckt Int 21.0 23 16…
The topic of pitcher abuse is one we follow closely here at Baseball Prospectus. The injury rate of pitchers, in particular young pitchers, is astonishing. Pitchers are several times more likely to get injured than hitters, and for every prospect that becomes a successful major league pitcher, a dozen more have their careers stalled or…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed RHP Ken Hill on the 15-day DL (elbow – bone spurs); purchased the contract of C Ben Molina from Midland (AA). [6/12] Purchased the contract of RHP Steve Sparks from Vancouver; optioned C Ben Molina to Midland (AA); outrighted 2B Carlos Garcia to Vancouver. [6/15] The chicanery involved was getting a backup…
WINNING "It’s no fun losing day in and day out, and that’s what has been happening here. More so than retiring a Red, I want to win a championship." — Barry Larkin, Reds infielder "Why should I be happy here? They screwed me on my contract the last three years. They took a team with…
Today, we take a quick glimpse into the Oakland A’s farm system at two more gems from Billy Beane’s Amazing Offense Factory, and that rarest of creatures, the A’s pitching prospect. Bring your cameras. Eric Chavez, 3B Born 1978 Age 20 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out…