The Yankees are attempting to repeat as AL East champions in 2012. With that being said, a large part of their team from 2011 remains intact. One such position is catcher.
1. Russell Martin: Martin got off to an extremely quick start last season, but it was all downhill from there. He finished with respectable numbers due to the quick start, with 18 home runs (nine came in April) and 65 runs batted in, but a quick examination of his basic stats reveals his struggles. Once known for being a good line drive hitter with a high batting average and even some speed, Martin batted only .237 with eight stolen bases last season, and he failed to reach the 100-hit plateau. Martin is a poor defensive catcher, but sadly is an upgrade over the man that he replaced behind the Yankees dish, Jorge Posada, who was arguably the worst everyday catcher in the history of the game. Still, Martin should be a disappointment again this season.
2. Francisco Cervelli: Cervelli is attempting to come back from a series of concussions, and that's always a little shaky. But the Yankees expect him to return next season, and LeRoy thinks that he'll make it back. And you can understand why they want him to return hailing hearty. Cervelli is an excellent defensive catcher, something they need with Martin as the starter, and he's a pretty decent hitter too, batting .266 in 124 at-bats.
3. Austin Romine: Romine is one of the most promising prospects in all of baseball and he's the guy the Yankees want backing up Martin if Cervelli doesn't work out. They went that route with him last year in the Minors, figuring that he would one day back up Jesus Montero in the Bronx. But with Montero traded to Seattle they may have to rethink that strategy once again. And they might want to pick up a veteran catcher as insurance if Cervelli has problems with post-concussion syndrome. Romine probably needs almost a full season at Columbus before he's ready for the Majors. He was recalled last September, batting .158 in 19 at-bats.
4. Gustavo Molina: Molina is a Minor League veteran who spent the season in the Yankees system last year. He is well-liked in the organization and was brought back for 2012. With Cervelli in jeopardy and Romine still developing, Molina could see serious big league time this season. But he probably isn't the answer, and Yankees fans shouldn't expect much from him this season. He batted .167 in six at-bats for the Yankees last season.
The Yankees don't look good behind the plate. Martin's career has been in steady decline for three straight seasons, and he probably won't hit nine home runs in a month again this season. Cervelli's a good backup but his health is in question. Romine isn't ready yet and Molina never has been. It could be a long year for Yankees catchers.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Mets Catchers
The Mets are in a moneyball rebuilding phase and are simply looking to tread water in 2012. The goal this season will be to develop younger players at several positions and get by with veteran players at others. They have a younger player in place behind the dish.
1. Josh Thole: Thole has always been a decent hitter in the Major Leagues, hitting .268 last season and sporting a career .276 batting average. But he's far from perfect offensively. He can't hit left-handers to save his life, has no power, and is not a good base-runner. Basically, he's a one-trick pony who should only legitimately be counted for occasional success at the plate. And defensively he's a mess. A converted first baseman, he's poor behind the plate. And he also fights a lot of pitchers, which is not a good thing for a catcher. The Mets are hoping that Thole can improve a bit at the plate and behind it and they may see both of those things, but Mets fans will be disappointed with Thole by season's end.
2. Mike Nickeas: Nickeas is a 29-year-old career Minor Leaguer who is probably going to be the Mets number two catcher this season. GM Sandy Alderson wanted to sign a more proven backup catcher this off-season, but his need at the position was essentially so high that it was non-realistic. Considering Thole's defensive struggles, Alderson needed an excellent defensive catcher to serve as his backup. And with his bad relations with pitchers - in particularly RHP Mike Pelfrey - Alderson needed someone to serve as a personal catcher for at least two Mets pitchers (Thole also has trouble catching RHP R. A. Dickey, who features a knuckleball in his arsenal). And with Thole's struggles against left-handed pitching, Alderson needed a right-handed bat who could platoon with Thole. Basically such a backup catcher doesn't exist, and if he does he wasn't a free agent this season. So instead they have Nickeas, who is a defensive standout that could potentially catch both Pelfrey and Dickey. And he is right-handed so a platoon isn't out of the question. But Nickeas has a career .190 batting average at the Major League level, and he batted .189 last season in 53 at-bats.
3. Rob Johnson: Johnson is a former top prospect with Seattle who the Mets have signed to a Minor League contract and have invited to Spring Training. Last season he batted .190 in 179 at-bats with San Diego. Johnson, like Nickeas, is also a defensive specialist who pitchers like to throw to. Johnson is a slightly better hitter than Nickeas and has a better track record at the Major League level. Alderson has said repeatedly that this move is purely one of depth, but LeRoy wouldn't be too surprised to see Johnson win the backup catcher's job from Nickeas.
4. Lucas May: May is another catcher whom the Mets have signed to a Minors deal and invited to Spring Training. And he's in the same mold as Nickeas and Johnson: Right-handed with a good history of relationships with pitchers and strong defensively. May's only 27 and he still could blossom as a player, but the Mets are not looking at him in the long-term. He may not even stick with the team after Spring Training. Last season May batted .238 in 248 at-bats at AAA.
The Mets don't look strong at this position. It appears right now that they're not going to get any production against left-handed pitching from their catching tandem, whether it involves Nickeas or Johnson. And with Thole getting most of the innings behind the plate there shouldn't be much defense either. Oh yeah and Lucas May? Yup.
1. Josh Thole: Thole has always been a decent hitter in the Major Leagues, hitting .268 last season and sporting a career .276 batting average. But he's far from perfect offensively. He can't hit left-handers to save his life, has no power, and is not a good base-runner. Basically, he's a one-trick pony who should only legitimately be counted for occasional success at the plate. And defensively he's a mess. A converted first baseman, he's poor behind the plate. And he also fights a lot of pitchers, which is not a good thing for a catcher. The Mets are hoping that Thole can improve a bit at the plate and behind it and they may see both of those things, but Mets fans will be disappointed with Thole by season's end.
2. Mike Nickeas: Nickeas is a 29-year-old career Minor Leaguer who is probably going to be the Mets number two catcher this season. GM Sandy Alderson wanted to sign a more proven backup catcher this off-season, but his need at the position was essentially so high that it was non-realistic. Considering Thole's defensive struggles, Alderson needed an excellent defensive catcher to serve as his backup. And with his bad relations with pitchers - in particularly RHP Mike Pelfrey - Alderson needed someone to serve as a personal catcher for at least two Mets pitchers (Thole also has trouble catching RHP R. A. Dickey, who features a knuckleball in his arsenal). And with Thole's struggles against left-handed pitching, Alderson needed a right-handed bat who could platoon with Thole. Basically such a backup catcher doesn't exist, and if he does he wasn't a free agent this season. So instead they have Nickeas, who is a defensive standout that could potentially catch both Pelfrey and Dickey. And he is right-handed so a platoon isn't out of the question. But Nickeas has a career .190 batting average at the Major League level, and he batted .189 last season in 53 at-bats.
3. Rob Johnson: Johnson is a former top prospect with Seattle who the Mets have signed to a Minor League contract and have invited to Spring Training. Last season he batted .190 in 179 at-bats with San Diego. Johnson, like Nickeas, is also a defensive specialist who pitchers like to throw to. Johnson is a slightly better hitter than Nickeas and has a better track record at the Major League level. Alderson has said repeatedly that this move is purely one of depth, but LeRoy wouldn't be too surprised to see Johnson win the backup catcher's job from Nickeas.
4. Lucas May: May is another catcher whom the Mets have signed to a Minors deal and invited to Spring Training. And he's in the same mold as Nickeas and Johnson: Right-handed with a good history of relationships with pitchers and strong defensively. May's only 27 and he still could blossom as a player, but the Mets are not looking at him in the long-term. He may not even stick with the team after Spring Training. Last season May batted .238 in 248 at-bats at AAA.
The Mets don't look strong at this position. It appears right now that they're not going to get any production against left-handed pitching from their catching tandem, whether it involves Nickeas or Johnson. And with Thole getting most of the innings behind the plate there shouldn't be much defense either. Oh yeah and Lucas May? Yup.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Red Sox sign Maine
The Red Sox have agreed to terms with RHP John Maine on a Minor League deal, though it is not clear if he has been invited to Spring Training or not. The story was first reported by the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, a newspaper in Maine's hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Maine posted a 7.43 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 37 walks in 46 innings pitched last season in the Pacific Coast League.
Maine posted a 2.89 ERA in the 2006 postseason and went 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 2007 before his career went into decline in the face of a wave of injuries. Maine asked for and was granted his unconditional release from the Colorado organization last June and has not pitched since. Several teams reported at least mild interest in Maine this off-season before he signed with Boston.
Maine's signing only adds further depth to an already overloaded competition involving Boston's pitching staff. Despite the huge number of pitchers already competing for jobs and the late addition of Maine, Boston is still reportedly expressing vague interest in free agent RHP Edwin Jackson and free agent RHP Roy Oswalt.
Maine posted a 2.89 ERA in the 2006 postseason and went 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 2007 before his career went into decline in the face of a wave of injuries. Maine asked for and was granted his unconditional release from the Colorado organization last June and has not pitched since. Several teams reported at least mild interest in Maine this off-season before he signed with Boston.
Maine's signing only adds further depth to an already overloaded competition involving Boston's pitching staff. Despite the huge number of pitchers already competing for jobs and the late addition of Maine, Boston is still reportedly expressing vague interest in free agent RHP Edwin Jackson and free agent RHP Roy Oswalt.
Mest sign Tuiasosopo to Minor League Contract
The Mets have signed IF Matt Tuiasosopo to a Minor League contract. He has not been invited to Spring Training. He batted .226 with 14 homers for Tacoma last season. He has a career .176 batting average with five homers in his Major League career.
It is not particularlry clear how Tuiasosopo fits into the Mets' plans this season. He is the great nephew of songwriter Mariota Tuiasosopo, the son of former NFL lineman Manu Tuiasosopo, the brother of former NFL QB Marques Tuiasosopo and FB Zach Tuiasosopo, and the first cousin once removed of actor Peter "Navy" Tuiasosopo.
It is not particularlry clear how Tuiasosopo fits into the Mets' plans this season. He is the great nephew of songwriter Mariota Tuiasosopo, the son of former NFL lineman Manu Tuiasosopo, the brother of former NFL QB Marques Tuiasosopo and FB Zach Tuiasosopo, and the first cousin once removed of actor Peter "Navy" Tuiasosopo.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Red Sox Catchers
The Red Sox are attempting to recover after a September collapse last season. One of their weakest areas all of last season was their contributions from behind the plate. Unfortunately for Red Sox Nation, there hasn't been much change in that area from last season.
1. Jarrod Saltalamacchia: Salty had been a top prospect with Atlanta and Texas for years upon end before he was acquired by Boston. Well, he didn't do much of anything last season, although he's still young (27 in May) and patience is probably required with him. Last season he batted .235 with 16 homers, 56 runs batted in, and one stolen base. In addition, Salty struck out a whopping 119 times and drew only 24 walks. Boston is hoping for a marked improvement from Salty this season, but they may have to wait for 2013 for that to happen.
2. Kelly Shoppach: Shoppach was signed as a free agent from Tampa Bay. An enigma to many baseball observers, Shoppach is a former top prospect originally drafted by Boston who reached his potential in the Major Leagues, once hitting 21 home runs in a season with Cleveland. Since then, though, his bat has gone to sleep. Last season he batted .176 in 221 at-bats, although he did hit 11 homers off the bench for the Rays. The Red Sox are probably hoping that the 32-year-old Shoppach can once again find his groove with his original organization. And if that doesn't work out, Boston probably wants him to at least be a capable backup to Salty, something which the team has lacked over the past couple of seasons. The good news is that he's a good catcher (probably the best in the Majors) and should provide excellent defense, regardless of how his bat works out.
3. Ryan Lavarnway: Lavarnway is a prospect that Boston is taking a look at in Spring Training. He has a ton of power and probably represents the future behind the plate for the Red Sox. But he still needs some fine-tuning. He could use at least another half-season at Pawtucket before he's ready to tackle the Majors. He was recalled last September and batted .231 in 39 at-bats.
4. Luis Exposito: Exposito is a top prospect that the Red Sox have added to their 40-man roster to protect from the Rule V Draft. He's probably ready to take the next step to the Majors next season, although there doesn't appear to be room for him yet. Therefore Exposito, who is known for his defense, will probably return to Pawtucket and play behind Lavarnway.
The catching situation in Boston doesn't look too good. Saltalamacchia is returning and doesn't figure to be drastically improved. Shoppach is a good backup catcher given his defense and he has power, but to expect much from him would probably be a mistake. Lavarnway is a great prospect and Exposito looks like he could be a nice player but both of those players would probably need to see regular at-bats before they could be recalled.
1. Jarrod Saltalamacchia: Salty had been a top prospect with Atlanta and Texas for years upon end before he was acquired by Boston. Well, he didn't do much of anything last season, although he's still young (27 in May) and patience is probably required with him. Last season he batted .235 with 16 homers, 56 runs batted in, and one stolen base. In addition, Salty struck out a whopping 119 times and drew only 24 walks. Boston is hoping for a marked improvement from Salty this season, but they may have to wait for 2013 for that to happen.
2. Kelly Shoppach: Shoppach was signed as a free agent from Tampa Bay. An enigma to many baseball observers, Shoppach is a former top prospect originally drafted by Boston who reached his potential in the Major Leagues, once hitting 21 home runs in a season with Cleveland. Since then, though, his bat has gone to sleep. Last season he batted .176 in 221 at-bats, although he did hit 11 homers off the bench for the Rays. The Red Sox are probably hoping that the 32-year-old Shoppach can once again find his groove with his original organization. And if that doesn't work out, Boston probably wants him to at least be a capable backup to Salty, something which the team has lacked over the past couple of seasons. The good news is that he's a good catcher (probably the best in the Majors) and should provide excellent defense, regardless of how his bat works out.
3. Ryan Lavarnway: Lavarnway is a prospect that Boston is taking a look at in Spring Training. He has a ton of power and probably represents the future behind the plate for the Red Sox. But he still needs some fine-tuning. He could use at least another half-season at Pawtucket before he's ready to tackle the Majors. He was recalled last September and batted .231 in 39 at-bats.
4. Luis Exposito: Exposito is a top prospect that the Red Sox have added to their 40-man roster to protect from the Rule V Draft. He's probably ready to take the next step to the Majors next season, although there doesn't appear to be room for him yet. Therefore Exposito, who is known for his defense, will probably return to Pawtucket and play behind Lavarnway.
The catching situation in Boston doesn't look too good. Saltalamacchia is returning and doesn't figure to be drastically improved. Shoppach is a good backup catcher given his defense and he has power, but to expect much from him would probably be a mistake. Lavarnway is a great prospect and Exposito looks like he could be a nice player but both of those players would probably need to see regular at-bats before they could be recalled.
Yankees re-sign Jones
The Yankees have re-signed OF Andruw Jones to a one-year, $2 million contract. The 34-year-old Jones batted .247 with an impressive 13 homers and 33 runs batted in in only 77 games last season for the Yankees, including a .286 batting average and 16 extra base hits against lefties. Jones, who could platoon in left field with LF Brett Gardner, also stands to make an additional $1.4 million in incentives. Jones now has 420 career home runs, and is one of only four players in baseball history with at least 400 home runs and at least ten Gold Gloves (Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Schmidt).
The Yankees 40-man roster is now full.
The Yankees 40-man roster is now full.
Red Sox sign Ross to one-year Deal
Boston has signed OF Cody Ross to a one-year, $3 million contract. The deal also affords him some incentives based upon the amount of at-bats he gets. RHP Scott Atchison was designated for assignment to make room for Ross on the 40-man roster.
The 31-year-old Ross batted .240 with 11 homers and 52 runs batted in for San Francisco last season. A power hitter who has a flair for the dramatic, Ross should give them a good right-handed bat off of their bench as a pinch hitter and left-handed option to substitute in for DH David Ortiz. Ross could also get some playing time in left field early this season as LF Carl Crawford is expected to miss the beginning of the season following wrist surgery.
The 31-year-old Ross batted .240 with 11 homers and 52 runs batted in for San Francisco last season. A power hitter who has a flair for the dramatic, Ross should give them a good right-handed bat off of their bench as a pinch hitter and left-handed option to substitute in for DH David Ortiz. Ross could also get some playing time in left field early this season as LF Carl Crawford is expected to miss the beginning of the season following wrist surgery.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Yankees Bullpen
The Yankees are attempting to repeat as AL East champions in 2012. It shouldn't be an easy task, with Tampa Bay (the reigning wild card winners) still strong and Boston finishing a game behind them in third place, and even Toronto shapes up to be a decent team on paper. One key to success for the Yankees is undoubtedly their bullpen, which has always been shaky in the past but has a strong anchor in the closer's role.
1. RHP Mariano Rivera: The ageless Rivera had another strong season in 2011, posting a 1.91 ERA in 61.1 innings pitched to go along with 44 saves. Rumors about Rivera's impending retirement have been swirling for years, and they continue to swirl almost daily. Even former Yankees C/DH Jorge Posada hinted that he will retire after the end of the 2012 season when he made his own retirement announcement. But until he walks away Rivera should be a beast out of the bullpen.
2. RHP Rafael Soriano: Soriano was signed to a massive contract for a setup man, totaling three years, after a strong season as a closer in Tampa Bay in 2010. Most people thought that Soriano was signed to replace Rivera after he retired, but at this rate the Yanks will only get one year out of him in that role. And that's still a maybe. And even if he never closes in the Bronx he could still prove to be a disappointment as a setup man in New York. He had problems with injuries and effectiveness last season, posting a 4.12 ERA in only 39.1 innings pitched. The Yankees hope he can stay healthy and pitch better in 2012.
3. RHP David Robertson: Robertson may be the true answer as the heir apparent for Rivera in the Bronx. The still young right-hander (he'll turn 27 in April) should be poised for a breakout in 2012. But until then he'll work as a setup man. And he was lights out in that role last season, posting a 1.08 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched. That's a hard season to follow up, especially for a young pitcher, but the Yankees should expect another strong season from Robertson in 2012.
4. LHP Boone Logan: Logan should be poised for a breakout in 2012, and the Yankees hope he can build upon his success from last season. Logan has had a rocky career in the Majors thus far, but he had a decent season in 2011, posting a 3.46 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched. The Yankees are looking for him to improve upon his success in 2012. He should pitch in middle relief, probably as a lefty specialist, though he might get some crossover work as well.
5. RHP Cory Wade: The veteran Wade has always been a good pitcher throughout his career, and he had another good season last year, albeit in limited work. He posted a 2.08 ERA in 39.2 innings pitched last season. The Yankees are expecting another similar season from him in 2012. He should pitch in middle relief, probably as a righty specialist.
6. RHP Dellin Betances: Betances was recalled last September and made one start and pitched one game out of the bullpen. Neither outing went particularly well, with Betances posting a 6.75 ERA in 2.2 innings pitched. But the Yankees want the young Betances (he'll turn 24 in March) to crack the Major League roster this season. A starter at present, Betances probably fits in perfectly as a long man, but the Yankees are prompting him for middle relief. He could presumably work as a crossover specialist.
7. RHP Joba Chamberlain: Chamberlain is attempting to rebound from a season lost to injury in 2011. He posted a 2.83 ERA in only 28.2 innings pitched last season. Chamberlain is still young (27 in September) and there's still reason to believe in his potential. He's been shuttled between the bullpen and the rotation throughout his career, but he's always been a decent pitcher in both roles. The Yankees are touting him as next year's long man, and maybe that's the best place for him as it sits between relieving and starting. But his place on the team is pretty optimistic. LeRoy would be surprised if he's healthy at the start of the season, or anytime before 2013.
8. RHP George Kontos: Kontos, who will turn 27 in June, is a young pitcher that the Yankees are taking a look at for a possible spot in this year's rotation. If Chamberlain isn't ready to pitch at the beginning of this season then Kontos might have the inside track on a job in the Yankees bullpen. He was recalled last September and looked decent in an abbreviated tryout in the Bronx, posting a 3.00 ERA in six innings pitched.
9. RHP Kevin Whelan: The veteran Whelan is a career Minor Leaguer who has seemingly found a home in the Yankees organization. He was recalled last season and was rattled pretty badly in his brief time on the mound, posting a 5.40 ERA in 1.2 innings pitched. Whelan probably isn't going to make the team, but he should be the first fright-hander recalled if a need arises in the Yankees bullpen.
10. LHP Cesar Cabral: Cabral was taken by the Yankees from the Red SoxPawtucket to start 2012. But expect to see him in Boston soon. He posted a 3.52 ERA in 38.1 innings pitched at Pawtucket last season.
11. LHP Pedro Feliciano: Feliciano injured his left anterior capsule last Spring and he probably won't be ready for next season. The fastest that anyone has ever recovered from such an injury is two years, which leaves Feliciano one year shy from recovery in a realistic world. In addition, former Cubs RHP Mark Prior has never recovered from such an injury, meaning that Feliciano's career may have ended. But some may think that modern medicine is becoming accustomed to the injury, with optimistic reports saying that Mets LHP Johan Santana could return by Opening Day this season, so perhaps Feliciano's outlook is not as bleak as it could be. It is important to note that Feliciano opted for a rest and recovery routine as opposed to surgery for the injury. Feliciano did make one start in the Gulf Coast League last season during a rehab assignment, which went well. But he probably doesn't have a place in the Yankees bullpen this season, even if he is healthy.
12. LHP Hideki Okajima: Okajima was signed to a Minor League contract by the Yankees and invited to Spring Training. He didn't pitch well last season in Boston, posting a 4.32 ERA in 8.1 innings pitched. He's probably only here for depth, though he should stick with the organization following Spring Training and could get a recall in September.
The Yankees bullpen looks decent. They have one big hole with Soriano setting up and they have some other holes down lower. Betances might not be ready for the Majors in middle relief and a healthy Chamberlain in the long role is probably a pipe dream. But everyone else looks solid.
1. RHP Mariano Rivera: The ageless Rivera had another strong season in 2011, posting a 1.91 ERA in 61.1 innings pitched to go along with 44 saves. Rumors about Rivera's impending retirement have been swirling for years, and they continue to swirl almost daily. Even former Yankees C/DH Jorge Posada hinted that he will retire after the end of the 2012 season when he made his own retirement announcement. But until he walks away Rivera should be a beast out of the bullpen.
2. RHP Rafael Soriano: Soriano was signed to a massive contract for a setup man, totaling three years, after a strong season as a closer in Tampa Bay in 2010. Most people thought that Soriano was signed to replace Rivera after he retired, but at this rate the Yanks will only get one year out of him in that role. And that's still a maybe. And even if he never closes in the Bronx he could still prove to be a disappointment as a setup man in New York. He had problems with injuries and effectiveness last season, posting a 4.12 ERA in only 39.1 innings pitched. The Yankees hope he can stay healthy and pitch better in 2012.
3. RHP David Robertson: Robertson may be the true answer as the heir apparent for Rivera in the Bronx. The still young right-hander (he'll turn 27 in April) should be poised for a breakout in 2012. But until then he'll work as a setup man. And he was lights out in that role last season, posting a 1.08 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched. That's a hard season to follow up, especially for a young pitcher, but the Yankees should expect another strong season from Robertson in 2012.
4. LHP Boone Logan: Logan should be poised for a breakout in 2012, and the Yankees hope he can build upon his success from last season. Logan has had a rocky career in the Majors thus far, but he had a decent season in 2011, posting a 3.46 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched. The Yankees are looking for him to improve upon his success in 2012. He should pitch in middle relief, probably as a lefty specialist, though he might get some crossover work as well.
5. RHP Cory Wade: The veteran Wade has always been a good pitcher throughout his career, and he had another good season last year, albeit in limited work. He posted a 2.08 ERA in 39.2 innings pitched last season. The Yankees are expecting another similar season from him in 2012. He should pitch in middle relief, probably as a righty specialist.
6. RHP Dellin Betances: Betances was recalled last September and made one start and pitched one game out of the bullpen. Neither outing went particularly well, with Betances posting a 6.75 ERA in 2.2 innings pitched. But the Yankees want the young Betances (he'll turn 24 in March) to crack the Major League roster this season. A starter at present, Betances probably fits in perfectly as a long man, but the Yankees are prompting him for middle relief. He could presumably work as a crossover specialist.
7. RHP Joba Chamberlain: Chamberlain is attempting to rebound from a season lost to injury in 2011. He posted a 2.83 ERA in only 28.2 innings pitched last season. Chamberlain is still young (27 in September) and there's still reason to believe in his potential. He's been shuttled between the bullpen and the rotation throughout his career, but he's always been a decent pitcher in both roles. The Yankees are touting him as next year's long man, and maybe that's the best place for him as it sits between relieving and starting. But his place on the team is pretty optimistic. LeRoy would be surprised if he's healthy at the start of the season, or anytime before 2013.
8. RHP George Kontos: Kontos, who will turn 27 in June, is a young pitcher that the Yankees are taking a look at for a possible spot in this year's rotation. If Chamberlain isn't ready to pitch at the beginning of this season then Kontos might have the inside track on a job in the Yankees bullpen. He was recalled last September and looked decent in an abbreviated tryout in the Bronx, posting a 3.00 ERA in six innings pitched.
9. RHP Kevin Whelan: The veteran Whelan is a career Minor Leaguer who has seemingly found a home in the Yankees organization. He was recalled last season and was rattled pretty badly in his brief time on the mound, posting a 5.40 ERA in 1.2 innings pitched. Whelan probably isn't going to make the team, but he should be the first fright-hander recalled if a need arises in the Yankees bullpen.
10. LHP Cesar Cabral: Cabral was taken by the Yankees from the Red SoxPawtucket to start 2012. But expect to see him in Boston soon. He posted a 3.52 ERA in 38.1 innings pitched at Pawtucket last season.
11. LHP Pedro Feliciano: Feliciano injured his left anterior capsule last Spring and he probably won't be ready for next season. The fastest that anyone has ever recovered from such an injury is two years, which leaves Feliciano one year shy from recovery in a realistic world. In addition, former Cubs RHP Mark Prior has never recovered from such an injury, meaning that Feliciano's career may have ended. But some may think that modern medicine is becoming accustomed to the injury, with optimistic reports saying that Mets LHP Johan Santana could return by Opening Day this season, so perhaps Feliciano's outlook is not as bleak as it could be. It is important to note that Feliciano opted for a rest and recovery routine as opposed to surgery for the injury. Feliciano did make one start in the Gulf Coast League last season during a rehab assignment, which went well. But he probably doesn't have a place in the Yankees bullpen this season, even if he is healthy.
12. LHP Hideki Okajima: Okajima was signed to a Minor League contract by the Yankees and invited to Spring Training. He didn't pitch well last season in Boston, posting a 4.32 ERA in 8.1 innings pitched. He's probably only here for depth, though he should stick with the organization following Spring Training and could get a recall in September.
The Yankees bullpen looks decent. They have one big hole with Soriano setting up and they have some other holes down lower. Betances might not be ready for the Majors in middle relief and a healthy Chamberlain in the long role is probably a pipe dream. But everyone else looks solid.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Mets Bullpen
The Mets are trying to tread water with a $91 million payroll this season. Despite the "low" payroll by New York standards, it should still be one of the higher ones in the league. And that means that the Mets should perform below expectations once again. The bullpen was a big problem last year, especially after RHP Francisco Rodriguez was traded. The Mets have added personnel to the bullpen, but it remains to be seen if these moves provide an upgrade or a downgrade.
1. RHP Jon Rauch: Rauch was signed as a free agent from Toronto. He got about half of the save opportunities last season with Toronto, and his performance wasn't pretty. He posted a 4.85 ERA in 52 innings pitched. It remains to be seen if Rauch will get any save opportunities this season, or if he will be used strictly in setup. Either way, they need Rauch to pitch better than he did last year. A move to the National League and a transition from hitter-friendly Rogers Centre and pitcher paradise Citi Field could facilitate his improvement.
2. RHP Ramon Ramirez: Ramirez came over in the trade from San Francisco for CF Angel Pagan along with CF Andres Torres. Regardless of the situation in front of him in the bullpen, he should handle the seventh inning. And it should be good. Last season in San Francisco he posted a 2.62 ERA in 68.2 innings pitched. That's a little above typical expectations from Ramirez, but the Mets should expect another strong season from him.
3. RHP Bobby Parnell: Parnell turned in a decent season last year. He posted a 3.64 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched, but his performance was markedly better before he took over closer duties from RHP Jason Isringhausen in August. Parnell should start this season in middle relief, probably as a crossover specialist, and that transition should result in even greater success for Parnell.
4. RHP Pedro Beato: Beato was a Rule V Draft pick last season for the Mets. They wanted to keep him in the organization and therefore kept him on the Major League roster for the entire season. If not for his Rule V status, he probably would have been sent down mid-season and presumably recalled in September. He posted a 4.30 ERA in 67 innings pitched. Beato's still young and the Mets like his potential, but they need him to improve next season. He's a front-runner for a middle relief spot right now, but a poor performance will result in a demotion this season.
5. LHP Tim Byrdak: Byrdak was re-signed after a solid performance from last season. He posted a 3.82 ERA in 37.2 innings pitched last season as the lefty specialist in middle relief. He'll fill that role again this year, and the Mets are hoping or another strong season.
6. RHP Manny Acosta: Acosta had another decent season for the Mets last year, mirroring his career success at the Major League level. He's a front-runner to win a big league job this season, but what role he might fill remains unclear. Right now they have him penciled in as a long reliever. That seems unlikely, considering he's never started a game at the Major League level. He should be an asset in the 'pen somewhere though. He posted a 3.45 ERA in 47 innings pitched last season.
7. RHP D. J. Carrasco: Carrasco is one the highest-paid players on the Mets roster, but his role remains unclear. He had a terrible season last year, including a demotion to Buffalo, and the Mets don't like him for a bullpen spot this year. Having said that, Carrasco makes perfect sense as the right-handed specialist in middle relief. But the Mets want either Parnell or Beato in that role and Carrasco's performance from last year may pull him out of contention for that role. He posted a 6.02 ERA in 49.1 innings pitched last year.
8. RHP Josh Stinson: Stinson is a guy who has come up through the Mets system but has never been a top prospect. But the Mets still like his potential enough to invest in him. He'd been a starter up until the middle of last year, but he was getting shelled in the rotation at Buffalo and was demoted to Binghamton to be converted into a reliever. He fared much better there and was given a promotion in September. But his performance in the bigs wasn't good. He posted a 6.92 ERA in 13 innings pitched last season. Stinson still needs some bullpen fine-tuning at Buffalo, but he should be one of the first people on call when needs arise in the bullpen this year.
9. LHP Daniel Ray Herrera: Herrera was one of the players acquired from Milwaukee in exchange for K-Rod. He pitched well in his time with the Mets, although his overall performance was more mixed. He was designated for assignment and waived in the off-season, but he cleared waivers and accepted a demotion to Buffalo. He was given an invite to Spring Training and is still highly-regarded in the Mets organization, but he'll likely start the season at Buffalo and be the first person recalled if the Mets need a lefty out of the bullpen.
10. RHP Chris Schwinden: Schwinden is expected to win a role in the starting rotation if LHP Johan Santana starts the season on the disabled list. And he's probably also the favorite to win the long relief role if Santana is healthy and if GM Sandy Alderson opts to carry a traditional long reliever. And if Santana is healthy and Alderson doesn't want a long man in his pen, the Mets may still look to Schwinden as a more traditional short reliever in the bullpen later on in the season. But he's still a starter for now. He posted a 4.71 ERA in four starts last season. The young Schwinden, who has never been a top prospect with the Mets but is someone who they've always liked in their system, is probably ready to make the step up to the big leagues.
11. RHP Frank Francisco: Despite the Mets' refusal to commit to Francisco winning a spot the odds of him pitching an important role for the team are almost guaranteed. He has a guaranteed contract (one of the largest on the team) and probably has the best track record of everyone in the relief equation. In all likelihood Francisco, who closed for Texas in 2009 and part-time for Toronto last season, will be the Mets closer this year. He posted a 3.55 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched last season.
12. RHP Miguel Batista: Batista was in the rotation for Buffalo last season and he made five starts in the Majors last year (including four for the Mets) but he probably fits in more at the Major League level as a reliever. He's probably more reliable as a reliever career-wise anyway, and his 41-year-old arm probably shouldn't be counted on to provide many starts throughout the season at the Major League level. He posted a 3.60 ERA in 60 innings pitched at the Major League level last season.
13. LHP Chuck James: James is a Minor League veteran whom the Mets have signed to provide depth at AAA. He should be behind Herrera on the depth chart and seeing him in the Majors is probably a sign that the Mets are either playing terribly or have suffered numerous injuries to their pitching staff, although he should get a recall in September. Last season James posted a 6.10 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched for Minnesota.
14. RHP Fernando Cabrera: Cabrera is a former top prospect with Cleveland and a Minor League veteran whom the Mets have signed to take a look at in the Spring. Cabrera is a former Minor League closer and could provide important innings somewhere in Minor League Baseball this season, although don't be surprised to see the Mets part ways with him at the end of Spring Training. He posted a 2.71 ERA in 63 innings pitched for Sacramento last season.
This bullpen doesn't look particularly good. It looks like they've found a closer in Francisco and a setup man in Ramirez and they have some nice arms returning in Parnell, Byrdak, Acosta, and even Schwinden if he sticks as a long reliever. But they still have some holes in that bullpen and not all of the above mentioned will make the team or be in the bullpen even if they do, with players like Rauch commanding a lot of salary and probably getting important innings. Plus there's the matter of sub-par pitchers like Beato and Carrasco making the team in favor of more deserving players like Acosta and Schwinden.
1. RHP Jon Rauch: Rauch was signed as a free agent from Toronto. He got about half of the save opportunities last season with Toronto, and his performance wasn't pretty. He posted a 4.85 ERA in 52 innings pitched. It remains to be seen if Rauch will get any save opportunities this season, or if he will be used strictly in setup. Either way, they need Rauch to pitch better than he did last year. A move to the National League and a transition from hitter-friendly Rogers Centre and pitcher paradise Citi Field could facilitate his improvement.
2. RHP Ramon Ramirez: Ramirez came over in the trade from San Francisco for CF Angel Pagan along with CF Andres Torres. Regardless of the situation in front of him in the bullpen, he should handle the seventh inning. And it should be good. Last season in San Francisco he posted a 2.62 ERA in 68.2 innings pitched. That's a little above typical expectations from Ramirez, but the Mets should expect another strong season from him.
3. RHP Bobby Parnell: Parnell turned in a decent season last year. He posted a 3.64 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched, but his performance was markedly better before he took over closer duties from RHP Jason Isringhausen in August. Parnell should start this season in middle relief, probably as a crossover specialist, and that transition should result in even greater success for Parnell.
4. RHP Pedro Beato: Beato was a Rule V Draft pick last season for the Mets. They wanted to keep him in the organization and therefore kept him on the Major League roster for the entire season. If not for his Rule V status, he probably would have been sent down mid-season and presumably recalled in September. He posted a 4.30 ERA in 67 innings pitched. Beato's still young and the Mets like his potential, but they need him to improve next season. He's a front-runner for a middle relief spot right now, but a poor performance will result in a demotion this season.
5. LHP Tim Byrdak: Byrdak was re-signed after a solid performance from last season. He posted a 3.82 ERA in 37.2 innings pitched last season as the lefty specialist in middle relief. He'll fill that role again this year, and the Mets are hoping or another strong season.
6. RHP Manny Acosta: Acosta had another decent season for the Mets last year, mirroring his career success at the Major League level. He's a front-runner to win a big league job this season, but what role he might fill remains unclear. Right now they have him penciled in as a long reliever. That seems unlikely, considering he's never started a game at the Major League level. He should be an asset in the 'pen somewhere though. He posted a 3.45 ERA in 47 innings pitched last season.
7. RHP D. J. Carrasco: Carrasco is one the highest-paid players on the Mets roster, but his role remains unclear. He had a terrible season last year, including a demotion to Buffalo, and the Mets don't like him for a bullpen spot this year. Having said that, Carrasco makes perfect sense as the right-handed specialist in middle relief. But the Mets want either Parnell or Beato in that role and Carrasco's performance from last year may pull him out of contention for that role. He posted a 6.02 ERA in 49.1 innings pitched last year.
8. RHP Josh Stinson: Stinson is a guy who has come up through the Mets system but has never been a top prospect. But the Mets still like his potential enough to invest in him. He'd been a starter up until the middle of last year, but he was getting shelled in the rotation at Buffalo and was demoted to Binghamton to be converted into a reliever. He fared much better there and was given a promotion in September. But his performance in the bigs wasn't good. He posted a 6.92 ERA in 13 innings pitched last season. Stinson still needs some bullpen fine-tuning at Buffalo, but he should be one of the first people on call when needs arise in the bullpen this year.
9. LHP Daniel Ray Herrera: Herrera was one of the players acquired from Milwaukee in exchange for K-Rod. He pitched well in his time with the Mets, although his overall performance was more mixed. He was designated for assignment and waived in the off-season, but he cleared waivers and accepted a demotion to Buffalo. He was given an invite to Spring Training and is still highly-regarded in the Mets organization, but he'll likely start the season at Buffalo and be the first person recalled if the Mets need a lefty out of the bullpen.
10. RHP Chris Schwinden: Schwinden is expected to win a role in the starting rotation if LHP Johan Santana starts the season on the disabled list. And he's probably also the favorite to win the long relief role if Santana is healthy and if GM Sandy Alderson opts to carry a traditional long reliever. And if Santana is healthy and Alderson doesn't want a long man in his pen, the Mets may still look to Schwinden as a more traditional short reliever in the bullpen later on in the season. But he's still a starter for now. He posted a 4.71 ERA in four starts last season. The young Schwinden, who has never been a top prospect with the Mets but is someone who they've always liked in their system, is probably ready to make the step up to the big leagues.
11. RHP Frank Francisco: Despite the Mets' refusal to commit to Francisco winning a spot the odds of him pitching an important role for the team are almost guaranteed. He has a guaranteed contract (one of the largest on the team) and probably has the best track record of everyone in the relief equation. In all likelihood Francisco, who closed for Texas in 2009 and part-time for Toronto last season, will be the Mets closer this year. He posted a 3.55 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched last season.
12. RHP Miguel Batista: Batista was in the rotation for Buffalo last season and he made five starts in the Majors last year (including four for the Mets) but he probably fits in more at the Major League level as a reliever. He's probably more reliable as a reliever career-wise anyway, and his 41-year-old arm probably shouldn't be counted on to provide many starts throughout the season at the Major League level. He posted a 3.60 ERA in 60 innings pitched at the Major League level last season.
13. LHP Chuck James: James is a Minor League veteran whom the Mets have signed to provide depth at AAA. He should be behind Herrera on the depth chart and seeing him in the Majors is probably a sign that the Mets are either playing terribly or have suffered numerous injuries to their pitching staff, although he should get a recall in September. Last season James posted a 6.10 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched for Minnesota.
14. RHP Fernando Cabrera: Cabrera is a former top prospect with Cleveland and a Minor League veteran whom the Mets have signed to take a look at in the Spring. Cabrera is a former Minor League closer and could provide important innings somewhere in Minor League Baseball this season, although don't be surprised to see the Mets part ways with him at the end of Spring Training. He posted a 2.71 ERA in 63 innings pitched for Sacramento last season.
This bullpen doesn't look particularly good. It looks like they've found a closer in Francisco and a setup man in Ramirez and they have some nice arms returning in Parnell, Byrdak, Acosta, and even Schwinden if he sticks as a long reliever. But they still have some holes in that bullpen and not all of the above mentioned will make the team or be in the bullpen even if they do, with players like Rauch commanding a lot of salary and probably getting important innings. Plus there's the matter of sub-par pitchers like Beato and Carrasco making the team in favor of more deserving players like Acosta and Schwinden.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Red Sox Bullpen
The Red Sox are trying to recover from a disastrous collapse last season. One of the reasons for their collapse was a solid bullpen which fell apart late in the season. RHP Jonathan Papelbon is gone, and Boston has replaced him, perhaps even with an upgrade. That's a good place to start.
1. RHP Andrew Bailey: Injuries have plagued the newly-acquired Bailey throughout his career, and last season was no exception. Luckily for the Red Sox, effectiveness has never been a problem. Last season Bailey posted a 3.24 ERA with 24 saves in 41.2 innings pitched for Oakland. Bailey turns 28 in May, and he should be poised for a breakout season. The Red Sox hope that he can stay healthy and develop into one of the premier AL closers .
2. RHP Mark Melancon: Melancon came out of nowhere last season as Houston's closer, and the Red Sox swooped him up when he became available. He's penciled into serve as the setup man for Bailey, though he will also serve as insurance for the oft-injured closer. He should fit in nicely in either role. Melancon posted a 2.78 ERA with 20 saves in 74.1 innings pitched for the Astros last season.
3. RHP Alfredo Aceves: Aceves is a returner from last season and he should handle the seventh inning most of the time. He's been a good reliever throughout his career, and last season was no exception. The Red Sox know what to expect, and hope that he can duplicate his 2.61 ERA in 114 innings pitched from last season.
4. RHP Bobby Jenks: Jenks has been a good reliever throughout his career, but he faltered last season due to injury and ineffectiveness. He's still going to be handed a spot in the bullpen, but his role will probably be lesser as he has to prove that he can still be a reliable reliever. If he does pitch well, he may get some work as a setup man and even some save opportunities behind Bailey and Melancon. Until then though, look for Jenks to get some time as a crossover specialist in middle relief. And the Red Sox will probably move slowly with Jenks. He only pitched in 19 games last season due to injury, and his ERA was over 6.00 in those 19. He's in need of a complete overhaul, and that usually takes time.
5. RHP Matt Albers: Albers is also returning from last year, and like Jenks, he's trying to increase his effectiveness by quite a bit. Given his performance last year and throughout his career, this guy is lucky to be considered a front-runner for a spot in any Major League bullpen, let alone one that expects to win in Boston. Last season Albers posted a 4.73 ERA in 64.2 innings. Despite that poor performance he's expected to break camp as a right-handed specialist in middle relief.
6. LHP Franklin Morales: Morales is returning from last year and, unlike Jenks and Albers, his season was mostly marked with bright spots. Based on his career performance, last season was either a career year or a sign that he's finally turned the corner. The Red Sox are hoping for the latter, as Morales is the easy favorite to break camp as the lefty specialist (and possibly lone lefty) in Boston's middle relief corps. Last season he posted a 3.69 ERA in 46.1 innings pitched.
7. LHP Andrew Miller: Miller made 12 starts for Boston last year and is probably still viewed as a starting pitcher in the organization. However, he's also being looked at as a reliever. The plus side about a guy like Miller is that he can be kept in the bullpen and make a spot start here and there when needed. That essentially makes him a perfect fit for the long relief role, and Boston sees him as the front-runner for that role right now. Last season he posted a 5.54 ERA in 12 starts and 65 innings pitched.
8. RHP Michael Bowden: Bowden will turn 26 in September and is one of the more promising young arms who's ready to go in the Majors in the Boston organization. But his results at the big league level have been puzzling for years. Last season he posted a 4.05 ERA in 20 innings pitched. Based on the makeup of the bullpen he's probably headed back down to Pawtucket again. However, he should be the first person recalled if a need for a right-hander develops in the bullpen.
9. LHP Felix Doubront: Doubront has always been a starter in the Minor Leagues and he's still viewed that way by Boston, but they've always used him in relief in his brief stints in the Majors. If a need for a left-hander develops in Boston's bullpen Doubront will probably be the first guy recalled despite his status as a starter and his ineffectiveness as a reliever in the Majors. Last season he posted a 6.10 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched in the Majors.
10. RHP Scott Atchison: Atchison has been in the Red Sox organization for years and he's one of the most well-liked people in their system. He's always had some trouble staying in the Majors and pitching effectively at the game's top-level, and he's probably headed back to AAA despite his strong performance last season, albeit in limited opportunity. Atchison posted a 3.26 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched last season for Boston. He should get important innings at PawtucketSox pitchers.
11. RHP Daniel Bard: Boston has Bard penciled into start this season. They're so committed to this notion that they're saying that they would consider sending him to Pawtucket until there's room in the Major League rotation. Get it straight mister: Bard belongs in the bullpen. But right now they're so committed to Bard starting that he's below Bowden and company on the depth chart. Last season Bard posted a 3.33 ERA in 73 innings pitched for Boston. Yeah, he belongs in the bullpen.
12. RHP Junichi Tazawa: Boston has temporarily given up on Japanese import Tazawa as a starter. They now believe that he belongs in the bullpen, although he probably has no chance of winning a job in the Majors out of Spring Training. Tazawa is still a top prospect, but his stints in the Majors have not gone well and his contract runs out this year. At his current rate of success he could be headed back to the land of the rising sun. Last season he posted a 6.00 ERA in three innings for Boston, and he still needs time in the Minors before he's ready. Considering that he probably figures to start the season at AA and he'll be 26 this season, it looks like Tazawa might be another Nippon bust for Boston.
13. LHP Jesse Carlson: Carlson is a Minor League veteran who Boston has signed to provide depth at AAA. He should stick with the organization after Spring Training. If Boston needs a left-hander at any time in 2012 and they don't want to mess too much with Doubront than Carlson will be the guy who gets the call. Last season he posted a 4.61 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched for Toronto.
14. LHP Rich Hill: Hill is trying to get back into the Major Leagues as a reliever after making 32 starts for the Cubs in 2007. He pitched last year in Boston and is well-liked in the organization. He's probably only here for depth but he should stick with the organization after the Spring. You probably won't see Hill unless there are a lot of bad injuries in Boston this year, though a September call-up is probably in order. He didn't give up any earned runs in eight innings pitched last season for Boston.
15. LHP Justin Thomas: Thomas is a Minor League veteran who Boston has signed to provide depth at Pawtucket. He's really only here for a tryout and Boston just wants to see what he has to offer. Don't be surprised to see him released by the end of Spring Training. He posted a 3.89 ERA in 69.1 innings pitched last season for Indianapolis.
16. RHP Will Inman: Inman is a Minor League veteran who Boston has signed as a Minor League free agent who is a former top prospect with Milwaukee and San Diego. He'll only be 25 next season and still has a lot of potential. Having said that, it would not be a complete surprise to see him let go at the end of the Spring. He posted a 6.15 ERA in 117 innings pitched last season.
17. RHP Tony Pena Jr.: That's right folks, this is the same Tony Pena Jr. who was the starting rocket-armed shortstop for Kansas City in 2007. The Royals used him as a reliever in a blow-out in a game in 2008, where he showcased a 97 mile-per-hour fastball. It was mentioned tongue-in-cheek style by many that Pena, who was struggling at the plate, could have been sent back down to the Minors and converted into a reliever. Well, after another rough start in 2009 Pena was indeed sent to the Arizona League and told to start pitching. He pitched in the San Francisco organization in 2010 and caught on with Boston last year, where he impressed a lot of people in the organization. And for good reason, he posted a 3.56 ERA in 116.1 innings pitched at Pawtucket. He's low on the depth chart but well-liked in the organization, which means that you could see him in September.
Boston's bullpen has three pretty big holes as it's currently constructed. Two in middle relief and one in long relief. But the long relief role isn't that important and if you factor Bard into the equation you could move Aceves back into middle relief and all of a sudden three holes turns into one. You still have to wonder about Jenks though. Other than that the bullpen should be solid, with a lot in the way of depth at Pawtucket.
1. RHP Andrew Bailey: Injuries have plagued the newly-acquired Bailey throughout his career, and last season was no exception. Luckily for the Red Sox, effectiveness has never been a problem. Last season Bailey posted a 3.24 ERA with 24 saves in 41.2 innings pitched for Oakland. Bailey turns 28 in May, and he should be poised for a breakout season. The Red Sox hope that he can stay healthy and develop into one of the premier AL closers .
2. RHP Mark Melancon: Melancon came out of nowhere last season as Houston's closer, and the Red Sox swooped him up when he became available. He's penciled into serve as the setup man for Bailey, though he will also serve as insurance for the oft-injured closer. He should fit in nicely in either role. Melancon posted a 2.78 ERA with 20 saves in 74.1 innings pitched for the Astros last season.
3. RHP Alfredo Aceves: Aceves is a returner from last season and he should handle the seventh inning most of the time. He's been a good reliever throughout his career, and last season was no exception. The Red Sox know what to expect, and hope that he can duplicate his 2.61 ERA in 114 innings pitched from last season.
4. RHP Bobby Jenks: Jenks has been a good reliever throughout his career, but he faltered last season due to injury and ineffectiveness. He's still going to be handed a spot in the bullpen, but his role will probably be lesser as he has to prove that he can still be a reliable reliever. If he does pitch well, he may get some work as a setup man and even some save opportunities behind Bailey and Melancon. Until then though, look for Jenks to get some time as a crossover specialist in middle relief. And the Red Sox will probably move slowly with Jenks. He only pitched in 19 games last season due to injury, and his ERA was over 6.00 in those 19. He's in need of a complete overhaul, and that usually takes time.
5. RHP Matt Albers: Albers is also returning from last year, and like Jenks, he's trying to increase his effectiveness by quite a bit. Given his performance last year and throughout his career, this guy is lucky to be considered a front-runner for a spot in any Major League bullpen, let alone one that expects to win in Boston. Last season Albers posted a 4.73 ERA in 64.2 innings. Despite that poor performance he's expected to break camp as a right-handed specialist in middle relief.
6. LHP Franklin Morales: Morales is returning from last year and, unlike Jenks and Albers, his season was mostly marked with bright spots. Based on his career performance, last season was either a career year or a sign that he's finally turned the corner. The Red Sox are hoping for the latter, as Morales is the easy favorite to break camp as the lefty specialist (and possibly lone lefty) in Boston's middle relief corps. Last season he posted a 3.69 ERA in 46.1 innings pitched.
7. LHP Andrew Miller: Miller made 12 starts for Boston last year and is probably still viewed as a starting pitcher in the organization. However, he's also being looked at as a reliever. The plus side about a guy like Miller is that he can be kept in the bullpen and make a spot start here and there when needed. That essentially makes him a perfect fit for the long relief role, and Boston sees him as the front-runner for that role right now. Last season he posted a 5.54 ERA in 12 starts and 65 innings pitched.
8. RHP Michael Bowden: Bowden will turn 26 in September and is one of the more promising young arms who's ready to go in the Majors in the Boston organization. But his results at the big league level have been puzzling for years. Last season he posted a 4.05 ERA in 20 innings pitched. Based on the makeup of the bullpen he's probably headed back down to Pawtucket again. However, he should be the first person recalled if a need for a right-hander develops in the bullpen.
9. LHP Felix Doubront: Doubront has always been a starter in the Minor Leagues and he's still viewed that way by Boston, but they've always used him in relief in his brief stints in the Majors. If a need for a left-hander develops in Boston's bullpen Doubront will probably be the first guy recalled despite his status as a starter and his ineffectiveness as a reliever in the Majors. Last season he posted a 6.10 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched in the Majors.
10. RHP Scott Atchison: Atchison has been in the Red Sox organization for years and he's one of the most well-liked people in their system. He's always had some trouble staying in the Majors and pitching effectively at the game's top-level, and he's probably headed back to AAA despite his strong performance last season, albeit in limited opportunity. Atchison posted a 3.26 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched last season for Boston. He should get important innings at PawtucketSox pitchers.
11. RHP Daniel Bard: Boston has Bard penciled into start this season. They're so committed to this notion that they're saying that they would consider sending him to Pawtucket until there's room in the Major League rotation. Get it straight mister: Bard belongs in the bullpen. But right now they're so committed to Bard starting that he's below Bowden and company on the depth chart. Last season Bard posted a 3.33 ERA in 73 innings pitched for Boston. Yeah, he belongs in the bullpen.
12. RHP Junichi Tazawa: Boston has temporarily given up on Japanese import Tazawa as a starter. They now believe that he belongs in the bullpen, although he probably has no chance of winning a job in the Majors out of Spring Training. Tazawa is still a top prospect, but his stints in the Majors have not gone well and his contract runs out this year. At his current rate of success he could be headed back to the land of the rising sun. Last season he posted a 6.00 ERA in three innings for Boston, and he still needs time in the Minors before he's ready. Considering that he probably figures to start the season at AA and he'll be 26 this season, it looks like Tazawa might be another Nippon bust for Boston.
13. LHP Jesse Carlson: Carlson is a Minor League veteran who Boston has signed to provide depth at AAA. He should stick with the organization after Spring Training. If Boston needs a left-hander at any time in 2012 and they don't want to mess too much with Doubront than Carlson will be the guy who gets the call. Last season he posted a 4.61 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched for Toronto.
14. LHP Rich Hill: Hill is trying to get back into the Major Leagues as a reliever after making 32 starts for the Cubs in 2007. He pitched last year in Boston and is well-liked in the organization. He's probably only here for depth but he should stick with the organization after the Spring. You probably won't see Hill unless there are a lot of bad injuries in Boston this year, though a September call-up is probably in order. He didn't give up any earned runs in eight innings pitched last season for Boston.
15. LHP Justin Thomas: Thomas is a Minor League veteran who Boston has signed to provide depth at Pawtucket. He's really only here for a tryout and Boston just wants to see what he has to offer. Don't be surprised to see him released by the end of Spring Training. He posted a 3.89 ERA in 69.1 innings pitched last season for Indianapolis.
16. RHP Will Inman: Inman is a Minor League veteran who Boston has signed as a Minor League free agent who is a former top prospect with Milwaukee and San Diego. He'll only be 25 next season and still has a lot of potential. Having said that, it would not be a complete surprise to see him let go at the end of the Spring. He posted a 6.15 ERA in 117 innings pitched last season.
17. RHP Tony Pena Jr.: That's right folks, this is the same Tony Pena Jr. who was the starting rocket-armed shortstop for Kansas City in 2007. The Royals used him as a reliever in a blow-out in a game in 2008, where he showcased a 97 mile-per-hour fastball. It was mentioned tongue-in-cheek style by many that Pena, who was struggling at the plate, could have been sent back down to the Minors and converted into a reliever. Well, after another rough start in 2009 Pena was indeed sent to the Arizona League and told to start pitching. He pitched in the San Francisco organization in 2010 and caught on with Boston last year, where he impressed a lot of people in the organization. And for good reason, he posted a 3.56 ERA in 116.1 innings pitched at Pawtucket. He's low on the depth chart but well-liked in the organization, which means that you could see him in September.
Boston's bullpen has three pretty big holes as it's currently constructed. Two in middle relief and one in long relief. But the long relief role isn't that important and if you factor Bard into the equation you could move Aceves back into middle relief and all of a sudden three holes turns into one. You still have to wonder about Jenks though. Other than that the bullpen should be solid, with a lot in the way of depth at Pawtucket.
Crawford Undergoes Wrist Surgery
Red Sox LF Carl Crawford has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist and is in doubt for Opening Day. GM Ben Cherington believes that Crawford will be available for the bulk of the season, however. The discovery of the injury appears dubious.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Donald Sheridan in Arizona. Crawford had a sub-par season for Boston last year, and injury news is the last thing that both he and Red Sox Nation wanted to hear. OF Darnell McDonald and IF Mike Aviles are expected to fill in for the injured Crawford in left field.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Donald Sheridan in Arizona. Crawford had a sub-par season for Boston last year, and injury news is the last thing that both he and Red Sox Nation wanted to hear. OF Darnell McDonald and IF Mike Aviles are expected to fill in for the injured Crawford in left field.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Yankees Rotation
The Yankees are expected to repeat as 2012 AL East Division champions, and their starting rotation will be a big part of that. Last season, they appeared to be a team that was lacking one or two legitimate starters. That wasn't enough to stop them from winning the division, but it was enough to prevent them from being a factor in the postseason. They think that they've solved that problem with a big trade and a nice free agent signing only days ago.
1. LHP C. C. Sabathia: Sabathia had another good season last year. He pitched 237.1 innings and fanned 230 batters, while picking up 19 wins with a 3.00 ERA and a ton of run support. Sabathia wouldn't get as much attention as an ace outside of the Bronx (without that run support his win total would probably be somewhere around 13, with some experts saying as low as 7) and he's not one of the elite pitchers in the AL. But he's a horse who gets a lot of swings and misses and he's suitable to serve as the Yankees ace. Look for him to have another strong season this year, especially if he stays away from that Captain Crunch.
2. RHP Michael Pineda: Pineda was an impressive rookie last season in Seattle. For the Mariners he posted a 3.74 ERA in 28 starts. He only won nine games for the Mariners, but that total should go up with a better team and more run support with the Yankees. The only other factor will be the ballpark. Pineda was extremely impressive in the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field, but will he be able to maintain his productivity in the bandbox that is Yankee Stadium? LeRoy doesn't think so. But he should still serve as a decent middle of the rotation starter. The trade for Pineda (in exchange for C/DH Jesus Montero and RHP Hector Noesi) has not yet been made official, but unless it falls through this should be a pretty good swap for both teams.
3. RHP Ivan Nova: Nova had a terrific season last year, posting a 3.70 ERA to go along with 16 wins in 27 starts. And unlike Pineda, there's no question about whether or not he can pitch in Yankee Stadium or how effective he can be in Yankee Stadium. The answers to those questions are "yes" and "quite effective." In 2012, Nova will look to increase his number of starts, innings pitched, and strikeouts.
4. RHP Hiroki Kuroda: The Yankees have recently signed Kuroda to a one-year contract worth $10 million, although the deal is not official as he has yet to pass a physical. Unless something untoward is found in his health, this should be a good sign for the Yankees. Kuroda had a 3.07 ERA in 32 starts and 202 innings pitched last season for the Dodgers. He only won 13 games for a pretty good Dodgers team, but that was due more to bad run support than to ineffectiveness. He won't have that problem with the Yankees. The only question is, can he pitch as effectively in the Bronx as he did in Chavez Ravine? The answer: Probably not. But he should emerge as the team's second ace behind Sabathia.
5. RHP Phil Hughes: Hughes had problems with injuries last season, and he was terrible while healthy, posting a 5.79 ERA in 74.2 innings. His first task will be to stay on the team in Spring Training, and his second task will be to stay in the rotation. He could end up back in the bullpen, either as a long reliever or as a setup man again. If he does stick in the rotation he will try to stay healthy and again become a mediocre starter.
6. RHP A. J. Burnett: Burnett had a terrible season last year, and this time he can't blame injuries or former Yankees C Jorge Posada for his performance. He had a 5.15 ERA in 32 starts and only managed an 11-11 record with the Yankees lineup behind him. The Yankees have made it no secret that they will try to trade him in Spring Training, though that may prove a difficult task considering his body of work throughout his career and from last year and the years and money ($32 million) remaining on his contract. There's really no good side to this story. He's probably a better option for the rotation than Hughes, but that won't make him a favorite to win a spot on the team.
7. RHP Freddy Garcia: If there is justice in the world Garcia will win the fifth starter's job for the Yankees. But the Yankees have a lot more money invested in Burnett and a lot more hype invested in Hughes. The way things are going with the Yankees this off-season it looks like Burnett will not be traded and thusly be awarded the fifth starter's job and Hughes will wind up in the bullpen. Even if a trade for Burnett is worked out Hughes would probably still win the fifth starter's role for hype's sake and Garcia would be sent to the 'pen. If Burnett wins the role Garcia would probably be released. That's a shame. He had a 3.62 ERA in 25 starts last season.
8. RHP Dellin Betances: Betances broke into the Majors in a brief September call-up last season and posted a 6.75 ERA in 2.2 innings. He clearly wasn't ready for the Majors despite his fine Minor League season, and he will need most of one full year at AAA before he is ready. Expect to see a new and improved Betances again in September.
9. RHP D. J. Mitchell: Mitchell had an outstanding season last year at AAA, posting a 3.18 ERA in 24 starts at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He's probably ready for the show, but it doesn't look like there's room for him yet.
10. RHP David Phelps: Phelps had minor injury problems last year which don't appear to be a concern. He had a good season at AAA last year, posting a 3.19 ERA in 19 starts along with two near-perfect starts in a rehab assignment in the Gulf Coast League. Phelps is probably also ready for the show, although there doesn't appear to be room for him and his injury history may be more of a concern than the Yankees are letting on.
11. RHP Brad Meyers: Meyers was taken in the Rule V Draft by the Yankees from Washington this year. That means that he'll have to stick with the team in Spring Training this year to remain Yankees property. That means that he'll probably be back in Washington this season unless their bullpen really falls apart. That's probably not a bad thing for the Yankees. Meyers probably needs at least 5 or 6 starts at AAA before he's ready for the show, and the Yankees can't do that with a Rule V pick.
The Yankees rotation looks pretty good. Sabathia, Pineda, Nova, and Kuroda are the real deal. And if the Yankees did the proper thing and named Garcia the fifth starter they could have one of the better rotations in the Majors (potentially). But they have to figure out what to do with Hughes and Burnett. Either way, the four guaranteed starters look good. They have nothing in the way of veteran depth at AAA, which is a problem.
Here's how the three local teams fare in the rotation competition:
1. Yankees: They have five legit starters with Garcia, and even if he gets released in favor of Burnett or Hughes (or both) the Yankees still have four legit starters.
2. Mets: The Mets have one stud in R. A. Dickey, two good options in Jon Nies and Dillon Gee, and one exceptable starter in Mike Pelfrey. And if they can get Johan Santana healthy their rotation will be pretty strong. If not they'll turn to rookie Chris Schwinden. With or without Santana their rotation looks decent.
3. Red Sox: They have two legit starters in Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, but after that everything is a question mark regarding either health (Clay Buchholz), ineffectiveness (John Lackey), or both (Dice-K).
1. LHP C. C. Sabathia: Sabathia had another good season last year. He pitched 237.1 innings and fanned 230 batters, while picking up 19 wins with a 3.00 ERA and a ton of run support. Sabathia wouldn't get as much attention as an ace outside of the Bronx (without that run support his win total would probably be somewhere around 13, with some experts saying as low as 7) and he's not one of the elite pitchers in the AL. But he's a horse who gets a lot of swings and misses and he's suitable to serve as the Yankees ace. Look for him to have another strong season this year, especially if he stays away from that Captain Crunch.
2. RHP Michael Pineda: Pineda was an impressive rookie last season in Seattle. For the Mariners he posted a 3.74 ERA in 28 starts. He only won nine games for the Mariners, but that total should go up with a better team and more run support with the Yankees. The only other factor will be the ballpark. Pineda was extremely impressive in the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field, but will he be able to maintain his productivity in the bandbox that is Yankee Stadium? LeRoy doesn't think so. But he should still serve as a decent middle of the rotation starter. The trade for Pineda (in exchange for C/DH Jesus Montero and RHP Hector Noesi) has not yet been made official, but unless it falls through this should be a pretty good swap for both teams.
3. RHP Ivan Nova: Nova had a terrific season last year, posting a 3.70 ERA to go along with 16 wins in 27 starts. And unlike Pineda, there's no question about whether or not he can pitch in Yankee Stadium or how effective he can be in Yankee Stadium. The answers to those questions are "yes" and "quite effective." In 2012, Nova will look to increase his number of starts, innings pitched, and strikeouts.
4. RHP Hiroki Kuroda: The Yankees have recently signed Kuroda to a one-year contract worth $10 million, although the deal is not official as he has yet to pass a physical. Unless something untoward is found in his health, this should be a good sign for the Yankees. Kuroda had a 3.07 ERA in 32 starts and 202 innings pitched last season for the Dodgers. He only won 13 games for a pretty good Dodgers team, but that was due more to bad run support than to ineffectiveness. He won't have that problem with the Yankees. The only question is, can he pitch as effectively in the Bronx as he did in Chavez Ravine? The answer: Probably not. But he should emerge as the team's second ace behind Sabathia.
5. RHP Phil Hughes: Hughes had problems with injuries last season, and he was terrible while healthy, posting a 5.79 ERA in 74.2 innings. His first task will be to stay on the team in Spring Training, and his second task will be to stay in the rotation. He could end up back in the bullpen, either as a long reliever or as a setup man again. If he does stick in the rotation he will try to stay healthy and again become a mediocre starter.
6. RHP A. J. Burnett: Burnett had a terrible season last year, and this time he can't blame injuries or former Yankees C Jorge Posada for his performance. He had a 5.15 ERA in 32 starts and only managed an 11-11 record with the Yankees lineup behind him. The Yankees have made it no secret that they will try to trade him in Spring Training, though that may prove a difficult task considering his body of work throughout his career and from last year and the years and money ($32 million) remaining on his contract. There's really no good side to this story. He's probably a better option for the rotation than Hughes, but that won't make him a favorite to win a spot on the team.
7. RHP Freddy Garcia: If there is justice in the world Garcia will win the fifth starter's job for the Yankees. But the Yankees have a lot more money invested in Burnett and a lot more hype invested in Hughes. The way things are going with the Yankees this off-season it looks like Burnett will not be traded and thusly be awarded the fifth starter's job and Hughes will wind up in the bullpen. Even if a trade for Burnett is worked out Hughes would probably still win the fifth starter's role for hype's sake and Garcia would be sent to the 'pen. If Burnett wins the role Garcia would probably be released. That's a shame. He had a 3.62 ERA in 25 starts last season.
8. RHP Dellin Betances: Betances broke into the Majors in a brief September call-up last season and posted a 6.75 ERA in 2.2 innings. He clearly wasn't ready for the Majors despite his fine Minor League season, and he will need most of one full year at AAA before he is ready. Expect to see a new and improved Betances again in September.
9. RHP D. J. Mitchell: Mitchell had an outstanding season last year at AAA, posting a 3.18 ERA in 24 starts at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He's probably ready for the show, but it doesn't look like there's room for him yet.
10. RHP David Phelps: Phelps had minor injury problems last year which don't appear to be a concern. He had a good season at AAA last year, posting a 3.19 ERA in 19 starts along with two near-perfect starts in a rehab assignment in the Gulf Coast League. Phelps is probably also ready for the show, although there doesn't appear to be room for him and his injury history may be more of a concern than the Yankees are letting on.
11. RHP Brad Meyers: Meyers was taken in the Rule V Draft by the Yankees from Washington this year. That means that he'll have to stick with the team in Spring Training this year to remain Yankees property. That means that he'll probably be back in Washington this season unless their bullpen really falls apart. That's probably not a bad thing for the Yankees. Meyers probably needs at least 5 or 6 starts at AAA before he's ready for the show, and the Yankees can't do that with a Rule V pick.
The Yankees rotation looks pretty good. Sabathia, Pineda, Nova, and Kuroda are the real deal. And if the Yankees did the proper thing and named Garcia the fifth starter they could have one of the better rotations in the Majors (potentially). But they have to figure out what to do with Hughes and Burnett. Either way, the four guaranteed starters look good. They have nothing in the way of veteran depth at AAA, which is a problem.
Here's how the three local teams fare in the rotation competition:
1. Yankees: They have five legit starters with Garcia, and even if he gets released in favor of Burnett or Hughes (or both) the Yankees still have four legit starters.
2. Mets: The Mets have one stud in R. A. Dickey, two good options in Jon Nies and Dillon Gee, and one exceptable starter in Mike Pelfrey. And if they can get Johan Santana healthy their rotation will be pretty strong. If not they'll turn to rookie Chris Schwinden. With or without Santana their rotation looks decent.
3. Red Sox: They have two legit starters in Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, but after that everything is a question mark regarding either health (Clay Buchholz), ineffectiveness (John Lackey), or both (Dice-K).
Monday, January 16, 2012
Mets Rotation
The Mets appear to be in the second year of an official rebuilding program, and in the fourth year of a rebuilding program in reality, unless they can pull off what would amount to a near miracle in 2012. Having said that, the Mets' rotation this season appears to have been designed to tread water as opposed to win.
1. LHP Johan Santana: Santana is attempting to come back after anterior capsule surgery in about 18 months, if he plans to be the Opening Day starter. To date, that would be the fastest recovery from such a procedure. Not that there's much of a sample. The only person to successfully recover from said surgery is Washington Nationals RHP Chien-Ming Wang, and it took him about two full years. The only other person to undergo such a procedure is former Chicago Cubs RHP Mark Prior, who has never again pitched in the Majors. New York Yankees LHP Pedro Feliciano suffered a tear of his left (throwing) anterior capsule as well, but opted for a resting procedure as opposed to an operation. The jury is still out on Feliciano. And it's the same thing for Santana. The Mets are hoping that he returns this year as their ace. The most optimistic scenario might have him returning by September, and even that would be quick. And don't forget Mets fans, it's not unreasonable to think that his career might be over. If you don't believe me, see Prior.
2. RHP Mike Pelfrey: Pelfrey will once again serve as the team's number two starter, and de facto ace if Santana proves unavailable again. Last year was not good for Pelfrey, who went 7-13 with a 4.74 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 193.2 innings pitched. That's not terrible by any means, and with the Mets' current situation it's easily enough for a rotation spot. But he's not an ace.
3. LHP Jon Niese: Niese had a pretty good season last year, going 11-11 with a 4.40 ERA in 26 starts. He'll look to capitalize on that success this year by staying healthy throughout the season and by improving upon both his record (which was probably an over-achievement last year) and lowering his ERA.
4. RHP R. A. Dickey: Dickey was the team's ace last season in all respects, despite his 8-13 record. He pitched 208.2 innings, recorded 134 strikeouts and posted a 3.28 ERA. And he did all that with a knuckleball. Dickey will look to have a third strong season in a row and once again step up as the team's true ace.
5. RHP Dillon Gee: Gee had a strong rookie season last year after a brief start in the Minor Leagues and some time in the bullpen as a long reliever. As a starter, Gee went 13-6 with a 4.43 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 27 starts. He'll look to improve upon his win, innings pitched, and strikeout totals next season while lowering his ERA below 4.00.
6. RHP Chris Schwinden: Schwinden is a guy who's come up through the Mets system and has impressed a lot of people along the way. He's never distinguished himself as a top prospect but he's pitched very well at every stop along the way in the Minors. Last season he was recalled in September and posted a 4.71 ERA in four starts. If a long-term injury befalls one of the Mets' first five starts - or if Santana won't return before the All-Star break - Schwinden will probably serve as the team's fifth starter.
7. RHP Jeremy Hefner: Hefner is a Minor League veteran whom the Mets claimed on waivers from the San Diego system. Last season at Portland he posted a 4.98 ERA in 28 starts. If the Mets need a right-hander for short-term work Hefner should be the first one to get the call. He'll only be 26 this season, and he still has the potential to develop into a reliable pitcher at the big league level.
8. RHP Jenrry Mejia: Mejia is a former top prospect with the Mets who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. He'll probably miss most of this season after posting a 2.86 ERA at Buffalo in five starts last season before undergoing surgery. But a speedy recovery could see Mejia on the 40-Man Roster in September.
9. LHP Robert Carson: Carson is another guy who has come up through the Mets system without ever developing into a prospect but has shown enough potential for the Mets to make an investment in him. He really has no chance to make the team out of Spring Training, but the Mets liked him enough to put him on the 40-Man Roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. He had a 5.05 ERA in 25 starts last season at Binghamton and will need to improve upon that mark if he wants to keep playing professionally. He'll likely be sent to Buffalo after Spring Training and Mets fans probably won't see him at all in 2012, though a strong season at AAA could earn him a September call-up.
10. RHP Jeurys Familia: Familia is a top prospect with the Mets who they will take a look at in Spring Training. Last season he posted a combined 2.90 ERA in 23 starts between St. Lucie and Binghamton. He should return to Binghamton
11. RHP Armando Rodriguez: Rodriguez has come up though the Mets system but has never emerged as a top prospect, although he has pitched well in every stop along the way. The Mets have added him to their 40-Man Roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. He was injured last season, and posted a 3.96 ERA in 16 starts at St. Lucie. He'll probably be headed to Binghamton this season, although he could return to A-ball.
12. LHP Garrett Olson: Olson is a Minor League veteran whom the Mets have signed as a free agent and invited to Spring Training. Olson has always been an outstanding starting pitcher in the Minors, though he's been shelled in the Majors, albeit primarily pitching as a reliever. Last season he posted a 2.08 ERA in 4.1 innings with Pittsburgh. He'll probably be the first pitcher recalled if the Mets need a left-hander on a short-term basis.
The Mets' rotation doesn't look bad. They have one stud pitcher in Dickey and two pretty good middle-of-the-rotation guys in Niese and Gee. Plus, Pelfrey's not a terrible option as a fourth or fifth starter. After that, they could take a chance on the fifth starter role with Schwinden, who - thus far - has been a great starter in the Minors and an okay one in the Majors. And then there's always Santana. They don't have much in reserve in the Minors though.
1. LHP Johan Santana: Santana is attempting to come back after anterior capsule surgery in about 18 months, if he plans to be the Opening Day starter. To date, that would be the fastest recovery from such a procedure. Not that there's much of a sample. The only person to successfully recover from said surgery is Washington Nationals RHP Chien-Ming Wang, and it took him about two full years. The only other person to undergo such a procedure is former Chicago Cubs RHP Mark Prior, who has never again pitched in the Majors. New York Yankees LHP Pedro Feliciano suffered a tear of his left (throwing) anterior capsule as well, but opted for a resting procedure as opposed to an operation. The jury is still out on Feliciano. And it's the same thing for Santana. The Mets are hoping that he returns this year as their ace. The most optimistic scenario might have him returning by September, and even that would be quick. And don't forget Mets fans, it's not unreasonable to think that his career might be over. If you don't believe me, see Prior.
2. RHP Mike Pelfrey: Pelfrey will once again serve as the team's number two starter, and de facto ace if Santana proves unavailable again. Last year was not good for Pelfrey, who went 7-13 with a 4.74 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 193.2 innings pitched. That's not terrible by any means, and with the Mets' current situation it's easily enough for a rotation spot. But he's not an ace.
3. LHP Jon Niese: Niese had a pretty good season last year, going 11-11 with a 4.40 ERA in 26 starts. He'll look to capitalize on that success this year by staying healthy throughout the season and by improving upon both his record (which was probably an over-achievement last year) and lowering his ERA.
4. RHP R. A. Dickey: Dickey was the team's ace last season in all respects, despite his 8-13 record. He pitched 208.2 innings, recorded 134 strikeouts and posted a 3.28 ERA. And he did all that with a knuckleball. Dickey will look to have a third strong season in a row and once again step up as the team's true ace.
5. RHP Dillon Gee: Gee had a strong rookie season last year after a brief start in the Minor Leagues and some time in the bullpen as a long reliever. As a starter, Gee went 13-6 with a 4.43 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 27 starts. He'll look to improve upon his win, innings pitched, and strikeout totals next season while lowering his ERA below 4.00.
6. RHP Chris Schwinden: Schwinden is a guy who's come up through the Mets system and has impressed a lot of people along the way. He's never distinguished himself as a top prospect but he's pitched very well at every stop along the way in the Minors. Last season he was recalled in September and posted a 4.71 ERA in four starts. If a long-term injury befalls one of the Mets' first five starts - or if Santana won't return before the All-Star break - Schwinden will probably serve as the team's fifth starter.
7. RHP Jeremy Hefner: Hefner is a Minor League veteran whom the Mets claimed on waivers from the San Diego system. Last season at Portland he posted a 4.98 ERA in 28 starts. If the Mets need a right-hander for short-term work Hefner should be the first one to get the call. He'll only be 26 this season, and he still has the potential to develop into a reliable pitcher at the big league level.
8. RHP Jenrry Mejia: Mejia is a former top prospect with the Mets who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. He'll probably miss most of this season after posting a 2.86 ERA at Buffalo in five starts last season before undergoing surgery. But a speedy recovery could see Mejia on the 40-Man Roster in September.
9. LHP Robert Carson: Carson is another guy who has come up through the Mets system without ever developing into a prospect but has shown enough potential for the Mets to make an investment in him. He really has no chance to make the team out of Spring Training, but the Mets liked him enough to put him on the 40-Man Roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. He had a 5.05 ERA in 25 starts last season at Binghamton and will need to improve upon that mark if he wants to keep playing professionally. He'll likely be sent to Buffalo after Spring Training and Mets fans probably won't see him at all in 2012, though a strong season at AAA could earn him a September call-up.
10. RHP Jeurys Familia: Familia is a top prospect with the Mets who they will take a look at in Spring Training. Last season he posted a combined 2.90 ERA in 23 starts between St. Lucie and Binghamton. He should return to Binghamton
11. RHP Armando Rodriguez: Rodriguez has come up though the Mets system but has never emerged as a top prospect, although he has pitched well in every stop along the way. The Mets have added him to their 40-Man Roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. He was injured last season, and posted a 3.96 ERA in 16 starts at St. Lucie. He'll probably be headed to Binghamton this season, although he could return to A-ball.
12. LHP Garrett Olson: Olson is a Minor League veteran whom the Mets have signed as a free agent and invited to Spring Training. Olson has always been an outstanding starting pitcher in the Minors, though he's been shelled in the Majors, albeit primarily pitching as a reliever. Last season he posted a 2.08 ERA in 4.1 innings with Pittsburgh. He'll probably be the first pitcher recalled if the Mets need a left-hander on a short-term basis.
The Mets' rotation doesn't look bad. They have one stud pitcher in Dickey and two pretty good middle-of-the-rotation guys in Niese and Gee. Plus, Pelfrey's not a terrible option as a fourth or fifth starter. After that, they could take a chance on the fifth starter role with Schwinden, who - thus far - has been a great starter in the Minors and an okay one in the Majors. And then there's always Santana. They don't have much in reserve in the Minors though.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Red Sox Rotation
Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in a month. The Red Sox are trying to erase the memory of last September's collapse by bringing in new management (in the front office and at the field level) and by hoping that most of last year's returnees can wipe away September and return to top-form. Let's start with the rotation.
1. LHP Jon Lester: Lester has emerged as the true ace of this staff, going 15-9 with a 3.47 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 191.2 innings pitched. That's pretty much a standard season for Lester, although the innings total and strikeouts are down. Hopefully he can get his strikeouts and longevity back up and return to his 2010 form. Regardless, the Red Sox should expect another strong season from their ace.
2. RHP Josh Beckett: In a lot of ways Beckett had the best season of his career last year. He made 30 starts, pitched 193 innings, had a 2.89 ERA, and posted 175 strikeouts. He didn't get much run support and only went 13-7, but that's really the only negative and more or less outside of his control. Beckett hasn't posted back-to-back strong seasons since he came to Boston, but new manager Bobby Valentine is hoping that he can right that wrong in 2012.
3. RHP Clay Buchholz: 2011 was a lost season for Buchholz due to injury, but when he was healthy he was strong, posting a 3.82 ERA in 82.2 innings pitched. The Red Sox are hoping that he can bounce back next season and maintain his performance on the mound.
4. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka: Dice-K is also trying to bounce back from a lost 2011 season. He only made seven starts, and in those seven he was roughed up pretty badly. If Boston expects to win they really can't have Dice-K pitching the way he did last season. And his health is still a question mark.
5. RHP John Lackey: Lackey performed below expectations after Boston signed him before the 2010 season, but after last year he's starting to look like the definition of a free agent bust. He had minor injury problems which really aren't much of a concern, but his real problems were with performance. He posted an ERA over 6.00 in 28 starts. That's not acceptable, especially if Boston wants to avoid another late-season collapse.
6. RHP Daniel Bard: Bard's a setup man. Valentine expects him to be a setup man. So does everyone else. But he used to start in the Minor Leagues. With Bobby Jenks returning and new acquisitions Andrew Bailey and Mark Melancon the bullpen should be strong, or at least deep. And with so many question marks with the first five in the rotation, the odds of Bard starting have gone way up, to the point where he is now regarded as the first line of defense in case of injury or ineffectiveness.
7. LHP Andrew Miller: Miller spent quite a bit of time in Boston last season, making 12 starts. He also made 12 starts at Pawtucket. He was lights-out at AAA, but not so much in Boston. Having said that, it becomes apparent that Miller is really only here for depth. But he is well-liked in the organization and should get a fair-shake in Spring Training. He'll be the first one recalled if the Red Sox need a lefty.
8. LHP Felix Doubront: Doubront spent some time on the Minor League disabled list last season. He had rehab assignments in both the New York-Penn League and the Eastern League, but spent most of the year at Pawtucket. All told, he made 18 starts in the Minors and was lights-out when healthy. But a September call-up that saw Doubront pitch in 11 games out of the bullpen for Boston was a disaster. He'll probably end up in AAA unless he opens some eyes in the Spring.
9. RHP Stolmy Pimentel: Pimentel spent last season between AA and the Carolina League. He wasn't particularly impressive in either stop, treading water in A-ball and getting dominated at AA, averaging over one earned run given up per inning pitched. Despite his ineffectiveness, the Red sox still thought highly enough of him to put him on the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. But he's probably going back to AA and won't be in the Majors anytime soon.
10. LHP Drake Britton: Like Pimentel, Britton was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. And like Pimentel, the Red Sox are hoping he turns the corner soon. Last season at Salem, Britton posted a 6.91 ERA in 26 starts. He figures to start the season at AA.
11. RHP Brandon Duckworth: Duckworth is a Minor League veteran who spent last season at Pawtucket, posting a 3.97 ERA in 21 starts. He never got a recall from Boston last year, but he impressed a lot in the organization and was brought back for 2012. He should stick with the team and will probably be the first right-hander to get a recall from Pawtucket, especially if there is a need in the rotation.
12. RHP Doug Mathis: Mathis is a Minor League veteran who the Red Sox
13. RHP Charlie Haeger: Haeger is a Minor League veteran who throws a knuckleball. Haeger started last season in Tacoma but was released. He was picked up by Boston late in the season and sent to Portland, where he pitched well. Haeger is well-liked in the organization and his knuckleball remains unique and intriguing. He could get a recall at some point in time in 2012.
14. RHP Chorye Spoone: Spoone is a former top prospect from Baltimore who will only be 26 this season. He spent last season between AA and AAA in Baltimore's system before leaving as a six-year Minor League free agent. Spoone still has potential but Boston will probably have a leash on him. He's almost guaranteed to start the season in AAA. Last year he posted a combined 4.50 ERA in 122 innings pitched.
15. RHP Carlos Silva: Yes. This is the same Carlos Silva who last pitched in the Majors for the Cubs in 2010. He's been given a tryout by the Red Sox this year, but don't expect him to last long. He shouldn't stick with the club past Spring Training. He pitched in the Yankees system last season and was injured for most of it, making only four starts at AAA.
The Red Sox rotation is iffy. Aside from Lester, there are questions everywhere. Beckett hasn't had back-to-back strong seasons in Boston yet. Buchholz and Dice-K are trying to return from injury (and Dice-K has never really been anything more than a solid pitcher anyways). John Lackey is just plain terrible. Daniel Bard has never before been a starter. And there isn't much in reserve in the Minor Leagues.
1. LHP Jon Lester: Lester has emerged as the true ace of this staff, going 15-9 with a 3.47 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 191.2 innings pitched. That's pretty much a standard season for Lester, although the innings total and strikeouts are down. Hopefully he can get his strikeouts and longevity back up and return to his 2010 form. Regardless, the Red Sox should expect another strong season from their ace.
2. RHP Josh Beckett: In a lot of ways Beckett had the best season of his career last year. He made 30 starts, pitched 193 innings, had a 2.89 ERA, and posted 175 strikeouts. He didn't get much run support and only went 13-7, but that's really the only negative and more or less outside of his control. Beckett hasn't posted back-to-back strong seasons since he came to Boston, but new manager Bobby Valentine is hoping that he can right that wrong in 2012.
3. RHP Clay Buchholz: 2011 was a lost season for Buchholz due to injury, but when he was healthy he was strong, posting a 3.82 ERA in 82.2 innings pitched. The Red Sox are hoping that he can bounce back next season and maintain his performance on the mound.
4. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka: Dice-K is also trying to bounce back from a lost 2011 season. He only made seven starts, and in those seven he was roughed up pretty badly. If Boston expects to win they really can't have Dice-K pitching the way he did last season. And his health is still a question mark.
5. RHP John Lackey: Lackey performed below expectations after Boston signed him before the 2010 season, but after last year he's starting to look like the definition of a free agent bust. He had minor injury problems which really aren't much of a concern, but his real problems were with performance. He posted an ERA over 6.00 in 28 starts. That's not acceptable, especially if Boston wants to avoid another late-season collapse.
6. RHP Daniel Bard: Bard's a setup man. Valentine expects him to be a setup man. So does everyone else. But he used to start in the Minor Leagues. With Bobby Jenks returning and new acquisitions Andrew Bailey and Mark Melancon the bullpen should be strong, or at least deep. And with so many question marks with the first five in the rotation, the odds of Bard starting have gone way up, to the point where he is now regarded as the first line of defense in case of injury or ineffectiveness.
7. LHP Andrew Miller: Miller spent quite a bit of time in Boston last season, making 12 starts. He also made 12 starts at Pawtucket. He was lights-out at AAA, but not so much in Boston. Having said that, it becomes apparent that Miller is really only here for depth. But he is well-liked in the organization and should get a fair-shake in Spring Training. He'll be the first one recalled if the Red Sox need a lefty.
8. LHP Felix Doubront: Doubront spent some time on the Minor League disabled list last season. He had rehab assignments in both the New York-Penn League and the Eastern League, but spent most of the year at Pawtucket. All told, he made 18 starts in the Minors and was lights-out when healthy. But a September call-up that saw Doubront pitch in 11 games out of the bullpen for Boston was a disaster. He'll probably end up in AAA unless he opens some eyes in the Spring.
9. RHP Stolmy Pimentel: Pimentel spent last season between AA and the Carolina League. He wasn't particularly impressive in either stop, treading water in A-ball and getting dominated at AA, averaging over one earned run given up per inning pitched. Despite his ineffectiveness, the Red sox still thought highly enough of him to put him on the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. But he's probably going back to AA and won't be in the Majors anytime soon.
10. LHP Drake Britton: Like Pimentel, Britton was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. And like Pimentel, the Red Sox are hoping he turns the corner soon. Last season at Salem, Britton posted a 6.91 ERA in 26 starts. He figures to start the season at AA.
11. RHP Brandon Duckworth: Duckworth is a Minor League veteran who spent last season at Pawtucket, posting a 3.97 ERA in 21 starts. He never got a recall from Boston last year, but he impressed a lot in the organization and was brought back for 2012. He should stick with the team and will probably be the first right-hander to get a recall from Pawtucket, especially if there is a need in the rotation.
12. RHP Doug Mathis: Mathis is a Minor League veteran who the Red Sox
13. RHP Charlie Haeger: Haeger is a Minor League veteran who throws a knuckleball. Haeger started last season in Tacoma but was released. He was picked up by Boston late in the season and sent to Portland, where he pitched well. Haeger is well-liked in the organization and his knuckleball remains unique and intriguing. He could get a recall at some point in time in 2012.
14. RHP Chorye Spoone: Spoone is a former top prospect from Baltimore who will only be 26 this season. He spent last season between AA and AAA in Baltimore's system before leaving as a six-year Minor League free agent. Spoone still has potential but Boston will probably have a leash on him. He's almost guaranteed to start the season in AAA. Last year he posted a combined 4.50 ERA in 122 innings pitched.
15. RHP Carlos Silva: Yes. This is the same Carlos Silva who last pitched in the Majors for the Cubs in 2010. He's been given a tryout by the Red Sox this year, but don't expect him to last long. He shouldn't stick with the club past Spring Training. He pitched in the Yankees system last season and was injured for most of it, making only four starts at AAA.
The Red Sox rotation is iffy. Aside from Lester, there are questions everywhere. Beckett hasn't had back-to-back strong seasons in Boston yet. Buchholz and Dice-K are trying to return from injury (and Dice-K has never really been anything more than a solid pitcher anyways). John Lackey is just plain terrible. Daniel Bard has never before been a starter. And there isn't much in reserve in the Minor Leagues.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Mets make Cedeno Signing Official
The Mets have officially agreed to terms with SS Ronny Cedeno on a one-year, $1 million deal. Cedeno batted .249 with a .297 OBP last season in 413 at-bats with Pittsburgh. The Mets expect to announce the signing of OF/2B Scott Hairston later this week, who has yet to pass a physical.
Cedeno's best season came in 2010, when he batted .256 with eight homers in 468 at-bats with Pittsburgh. GM Sandy Alderson plans to sign more pitchers to provide both rotation and bullpen depth at Buffalo.
Cedeno has been signed to serve as a utility man behind SS Ruben Tejada and the second baseman (whoever that person is), but LeRoy believes he is a dark horse candidate to win the starting shortstop position over Tejada, who will more likely serve as a utility player.
Cedeno's best season came in 2010, when he batted .256 with eight homers in 468 at-bats with Pittsburgh. GM Sandy Alderson plans to sign more pitchers to provide both rotation and bullpen depth at Buffalo.
Cedeno has been signed to serve as a utility man behind SS Ruben Tejada and the second baseman (whoever that person is), but LeRoy believes he is a dark horse candidate to win the starting shortstop position over Tejada, who will more likely serve as a utility player.
Yankees Acquire Pineda, sign Kuroda
Pitching has been on the Yankees' wish list for the entire off-season, and, truth be told, for about two years the Yanks have always seemed to be at least two or three pitchers short. Owner Hal Steinbrenner has been looking for top-line pitchers without sending his payroll over $200 million for the entire winter. In a span of 24 hours, the Yankees acquired two pitchers.
The Yankees acquired RHP Michael Pineda in a trade with the Mariners and signed RHP Hiroki Kuroda as a free agent. The Yankees consider these two acquisitions to the be the thing that will push them over the hump in the AL East, and they are again naming themselves as favorites for the AL pennant. The Yanks sent C/DH Miguel Montero - who had been penciled in as the team's third catcher and starting DH - and RHP Hector Noesi - who was set to compete for the fifth starter's job - to Seattle for Pineda.
The Mariners and Yankees had been fine-tuning this deal for weeks, trying to improve upon their rotation that was plagued last season by RHP A. J. Burnett and RHP Phil Hughes. Pineda has a good strikeout-to-walk ratio, is only 23, makes $415,000 per season, isn't arbitration eligible until after the 2013 season, and will be under team control until 2016. The Yankees rotation now looks like this: 1. LHP C. C. Sabatha, 2. Pineda, 3. RHP Ivan Nova. Those are the only guaranteed spots. Hughes, Burnett, Kuroda, and RHP Freddy Garcia will battle for the last two spots in the rotation and, presumably, at least one spot in the bullpen. The ultimate loser may be released in Spring Training.
Kuroda has been all-but-guaranteed one of those last two rotation spots, who the Yankees have been courting since last off-season (they also attempted to acquire him via trade last July). The barrier here was that Kuroda's asking price - $15 million - was considered too high. With the off-season starting to get late (pitchers and catchers report in a month) and the market shrinking Kuroda's price fell to within the Yankees' range.
Kuroda, who had a 1.21 WHIP and had a good K/9 ratio and will be 37 this season, will make $10 million with the Yankees this year. The Bombers have made it no secret that they will plan to trade Burnett this Spring, but that will be difficult given the $32 million that he is owed. Pineda, on the other hand, produced swings and misses on 12 percent of his pitches last season.
The Mariners were able to part with Pineda and 19-year-old RHP Jose Campos because they are deep in young pitching and shallow on offense, a situation which they hope will be helped by the acquisition of Montero. Montero had a .996 OPS last season in the Majors and has been an animal at the plate throughout his Minor League career. The Yankees were reluctant to part with Montero, who they expected to start this year.
But Steinbrenner believed that the need for pitching was greater than the need for offensive production. Right now, the Yankees plan to use a revolving door at DH, led by 3B Alex Rodriguez, and have been talking to free agent 1B Carlos Pena and DH/OF Johnny Damon, both of whom have experience as a DH. With seven starting pitchers in the fold, the Yankees could also make a trade to acquire a low-grade DH.
The Yankees are flaunting these two deals as the ones which put them back on top, but let's be realistic. You lost two of your "best" young players in Montero and Noesi (though neither of them have reached their potential) and in return you got one good young pitcher and another who's in low-A ball. Kuroda should be a nice sign, but he's going to be 37 next season and here's LeRoy predicting that he will be viewed as a $10-million-bust by November 2012. Montero was said to be the next Mike Piazza, will Pineda be worth that? The AL East and the AL Pennant, that's what Steinbrenner says this rotation will bring the Yankees. Well the pennant has to be earned in the playoffs, so that's premature. And by the way, it wouldn't be that much of a surprise to see the Yankees finish in third place in the East this season, with or without this rotation.
The Yankees acquired RHP Michael Pineda in a trade with the Mariners and signed RHP Hiroki Kuroda as a free agent. The Yankees consider these two acquisitions to the be the thing that will push them over the hump in the AL East, and they are again naming themselves as favorites for the AL pennant. The Yanks sent C/DH Miguel Montero - who had been penciled in as the team's third catcher and starting DH - and RHP Hector Noesi - who was set to compete for the fifth starter's job - to Seattle for Pineda.
The Mariners and Yankees had been fine-tuning this deal for weeks, trying to improve upon their rotation that was plagued last season by RHP A. J. Burnett and RHP Phil Hughes. Pineda has a good strikeout-to-walk ratio, is only 23, makes $415,000 per season, isn't arbitration eligible until after the 2013 season, and will be under team control until 2016. The Yankees rotation now looks like this: 1. LHP C. C. Sabatha, 2. Pineda, 3. RHP Ivan Nova. Those are the only guaranteed spots. Hughes, Burnett, Kuroda, and RHP Freddy Garcia will battle for the last two spots in the rotation and, presumably, at least one spot in the bullpen. The ultimate loser may be released in Spring Training.
Kuroda has been all-but-guaranteed one of those last two rotation spots, who the Yankees have been courting since last off-season (they also attempted to acquire him via trade last July). The barrier here was that Kuroda's asking price - $15 million - was considered too high. With the off-season starting to get late (pitchers and catchers report in a month) and the market shrinking Kuroda's price fell to within the Yankees' range.
Kuroda, who had a 1.21 WHIP and had a good K/9 ratio and will be 37 this season, will make $10 million with the Yankees this year. The Bombers have made it no secret that they will plan to trade Burnett this Spring, but that will be difficult given the $32 million that he is owed. Pineda, on the other hand, produced swings and misses on 12 percent of his pitches last season.
The Mariners were able to part with Pineda and 19-year-old RHP Jose Campos because they are deep in young pitching and shallow on offense, a situation which they hope will be helped by the acquisition of Montero. Montero had a .996 OPS last season in the Majors and has been an animal at the plate throughout his Minor League career. The Yankees were reluctant to part with Montero, who they expected to start this year.
But Steinbrenner believed that the need for pitching was greater than the need for offensive production. Right now, the Yankees plan to use a revolving door at DH, led by 3B Alex Rodriguez, and have been talking to free agent 1B Carlos Pena and DH/OF Johnny Damon, both of whom have experience as a DH. With seven starting pitchers in the fold, the Yankees could also make a trade to acquire a low-grade DH.
The Yankees are flaunting these two deals as the ones which put them back on top, but let's be realistic. You lost two of your "best" young players in Montero and Noesi (though neither of them have reached their potential) and in return you got one good young pitcher and another who's in low-A ball. Kuroda should be a nice sign, but he's going to be 37 next season and here's LeRoy predicting that he will be viewed as a $10-million-bust by November 2012. Montero was said to be the next Mike Piazza, will Pineda be worth that? The AL East and the AL Pennant, that's what Steinbrenner says this rotation will bring the Yankees. Well the pennant has to be earned in the playoffs, so that's premature. And by the way, it wouldn't be that much of a surprise to see the Yankees finish in third place in the East this season, with or without this rotation.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Yankees sign Preston Mattingly as Minor League free Agent
The Yankees have signed OF Preston Mattingly to a Minor League contract. Mattingly batted .232 with five home runs and 29 runs batted in last season in the Minor Leagues in the Dodgers organization. He has not been invited to Spring Training.
He is the son of former Yankees player and coach and current Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. His brother, Taylor Mattingly, also played for the Yankees in 2003 after being drafted in the 42nd round that year.
He is the son of former Yankees player and coach and current Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. His brother, Taylor Mattingly, also played for the Yankees in 2003 after being drafted in the 42nd round that year.
Martinez Claimed on Waivers by Houston
OF Fernando Martinez has been claimed on waivers by the Houston Astros. Martinez was waived two days ago after being designated for assignment. Martinez, a former top prospect, batted .227 with one home run and two runs batted in last season. Houston, who had the worst record in the Majors last year, was the first team eligible to put in a claim for Martinez.
LHP Daniel Ray Herrera, who was waived along with Martinez, cleared waivers and will remain with the team with the Buffalo Bisons and is expected to report to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. Herrera was eligible to become a free agent if he cleared waivers but opted to stay with the Mets.
Martinez and Herrera were waived to make room on the 40-man roster for IF Ronny Cedeno and OF Scott Hairston.
LHP Daniel Ray Herrera, who was waived along with Martinez, cleared waivers and will remain with the team with the Buffalo Bisons and is expected to report to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. Herrera was eligible to become a free agent if he cleared waivers but opted to stay with the Mets.
Martinez and Herrera were waived to make room on the 40-man roster for IF Ronny Cedeno and OF Scott Hairston.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Larkin elected to Hall of Fame
It finally happened. We knew it was going to happen with this weak ballot. A hugely unworthy player was elected to the Hall of Fame. I could see why Larkin would get a lot of support from a certain subtext of BBWAA voters, as he was a 12-time All-Star. In the minds of a lot of people that is an indication that he was a dominant player in his era. But with some of the dumbass moves that voters have made in selecting All-Stars it doesn't resonate much with me. Now we have elected a player with a batting average lower than .300, less than 2,500 hits, less than 200 home runs, and less than 1,000 runs batted in into the Hall of Fame. Who's next?
We shouldn't be at all surprised by Larkin's election. Without a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer on the ballot the next-closest guy was probably going to get elected. Based on percentages from 2011, that player was Larkin. He finished third last year behind 2B Roberto Alomar and RHP Bert Blyleven (who were both elected) with 62.1 percent of the votes. But I have to admit that I was a bit surprised by the significance of the jump. He went from 62.1 percent to 86.4 percent in one year, a 22.3 percent jump. I didn't think the ballot was thin enough that that many of the writers would vote for Larkin as the only viable candidate, which is what appeared to have happened. I also thought, and I will always contend, that there were many other more deserving candidates on this ballot, and on any other ballot, than Barry Larkin.
Who were some of those players? Well, let's start with the obvious and the most controversial. The most impressive player statistically is undoubtedly 1B Rafael Palmeiro, who finished his career with over 3,000 hits and over 550 homers. The second-most impressive candidate is probably 1B Mark McGwire, who hit over 550 home runs in his career. But both of those players have been directly linked to the performance-enhancing drug scandal, with Palmeiro being labeled as a PED user by former teammate DH Jose Canseco, failing a steroid test in 2005, and being named in the Mitchell Report, and with McGwire being caught using a then legal and over-the-counter but now-illegal PED, failing a steroid test in 2001 having his name leaked by the New York Times in 2009, being named by Canseco, being named in the Mitchell Report, and eventually admitting to using in an interview with Bob Costas. Those two players haven't gotten much support and most of the writers don't want to vote for them, I get that. I disagree with them on both cases, but I get it.
But what about some of the other players? 1B Jeff Bagwell, who hit over 400 home runs in his career, got a fairly-impressive 56 percent of the vote. Bagwell wasn't ever considered to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and I expected that he would have a long wait in store, but compared to Larkin I thought he was much more deserving. RHP Lee Smith had over 450 saves in his career and should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer a long time ago, but he only got 50.6 percent of the vote. OF Tim Raines stole over 800 bases in his career, but he only got 48.7 percent of the vote.
Those were the top-of-the-line, scandal-free candidates in my opinion (although Raines was known to use cocaine at times in his career). But what about the mid-level, but still-worthy candidates? Well DH Edgar Martinez retired with a career .300 batting average and over 300 home runs, but he only got 36.5 percent of the vote, probably due to the fact that he was "only a DH." 1B Fred McGriff hit 493 home runs - that's seven short of 500 for those of you who can't do basic math - and he only got 23.9 percent of the vote. OF Larry Walker retired with a career .300 batting average and over 300 home runs to go along with eight Gold Gloves in the outfield, but he only got 22.9 percent of the vote. I know that Martinez is being penalized for being a DH, and Walker will be slighted for years to come because he spent the ,majority of his career in Colorado, but I honestly can't come up with any reason about why McGriff is getting so little support.
McGwire got 19.5 percent of the vote and Palmeiro came in with 12.6 percent of the vote. OF Dale Murphy, who finished his career with 398 home runs, was sandwiched between them with 14.5 percent of the vote. In my opinion, a player like Murphy is a tertiary player who would have to wait for many years (possibly a full 15) to be elected but still a Hall of Famer nonetheless.
The only returning player voted off of the ballot was OF Juan Gonzalez, who hit over 400 homers in his career but has been linked to PEDs, though nothing concrete has ever developed. I guess that doesn't matter anymore.
I viewed Larkin as being less-worthy than all of the above-mentioned players, although I refuse to fault the BBWAA for not voting for either McGwire or Palmeiro. Larkin would not have been able to crack my top ten. But if I didn't vote for McGwire or Palmeiro he would have. So I realize how he could have garnered more than 22 percentage points in additional votes from last year.
There weren't many worthy newcomers to the ballot this year. 3B Vinny Castilla, OF Tim Salmon, 3B Bill Mueller, RHP Brad Radke, C Javy Lopez, 2B Eric Young, OF Jeromy Burnitz, OF Brian Jordan, LHP Terry Mulholland, 3B Phil Nevin, OF Ruben Sierra, and SS Tony Womack were all voted off of the ballot on their first try. Burnitz was a nice player with a ton of power, but he failed to get to 1,000 RBIs in his career in spite of his tremendous home run production. Castilla and Sierra were probably worthy players, but they didn't crack the top ten on my ballot or on many others. The rest were completely undeserving altogether.
And then there's the other bonehead support for players like Larkin, but even less-deserving than him. RHP Jack Morris jumped up 13.2 percent to top out at 66.7 percent on this year's ballot. Morris finished his career with less than 300 wins, less than 3,000 strikeouts and nowhere near 300 saves (to his credit he was never a relief pitcher) with a career ERA of 3.90. That's a pretty good ERA to retire with, but is that alone worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. I say no. And think about this for a second. How many pitchers with ERAs of 3.90 do you remember winning a CY Young Award? Probably not many right? Right. SS Alan Trammell somehow managed to get 36.8 percent of the vote and 1B Don Mattingly amazingly garnered 17.8 percent of the vote once again. Mattingly is getting the benefit of the doubt because he played for the Yankees, however obscene it might be. I don't know where Trammell's support is coming from.
OF Bernie Williams got 9.6 percent of the vote, the only newcomer to the ballot who didn't get voted off on his first try. Williams doesn't deserve any support at all, either, but, like Mattingly, he played for the Yankees and is getting the benefit of the doubt.
I have good news and bad news. The good news is that next year's ballot is set to include 2B Craig Biggio (3,000 hits), OF Barry Bonds (700 home runs, 500 stolen bases), RHP Roger Clemens (300 wins, 4,000 strikeouts), OF Kenny Lofton (600 stolen bases), C Mike Piazza (.300 batting average, 400 home runs), RHP Curt Schilling (3,000 strikeouts), and OF Sammy Sosa (600 home runs), and is easily the best ballot the BBWAA will have seen in years. The bad news is that it will be especially tainted with Bonds (federal conviction), Clemens (federal indictment), and Sosa (failed test and Canseco allegations) all linked to PED use. The other bad news is that with a ballot this packed with worthy players - especially untainted players like Biggio - is that players like Bagwell and Smith will probably lose support as opposed to gaining it.
We shouldn't be at all surprised by Larkin's election. Without a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer on the ballot the next-closest guy was probably going to get elected. Based on percentages from 2011, that player was Larkin. He finished third last year behind 2B Roberto Alomar and RHP Bert Blyleven (who were both elected) with 62.1 percent of the votes. But I have to admit that I was a bit surprised by the significance of the jump. He went from 62.1 percent to 86.4 percent in one year, a 22.3 percent jump. I didn't think the ballot was thin enough that that many of the writers would vote for Larkin as the only viable candidate, which is what appeared to have happened. I also thought, and I will always contend, that there were many other more deserving candidates on this ballot, and on any other ballot, than Barry Larkin.
Who were some of those players? Well, let's start with the obvious and the most controversial. The most impressive player statistically is undoubtedly 1B Rafael Palmeiro, who finished his career with over 3,000 hits and over 550 homers. The second-most impressive candidate is probably 1B Mark McGwire, who hit over 550 home runs in his career. But both of those players have been directly linked to the performance-enhancing drug scandal, with Palmeiro being labeled as a PED user by former teammate DH Jose Canseco, failing a steroid test in 2005, and being named in the Mitchell Report, and with McGwire being caught using a then legal and over-the-counter but now-illegal PED, failing a steroid test in 2001 having his name leaked by the New York Times in 2009, being named by Canseco, being named in the Mitchell Report, and eventually admitting to using in an interview with Bob Costas. Those two players haven't gotten much support and most of the writers don't want to vote for them, I get that. I disagree with them on both cases, but I get it.
But what about some of the other players? 1B Jeff Bagwell, who hit over 400 home runs in his career, got a fairly-impressive 56 percent of the vote. Bagwell wasn't ever considered to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and I expected that he would have a long wait in store, but compared to Larkin I thought he was much more deserving. RHP Lee Smith had over 450 saves in his career and should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer a long time ago, but he only got 50.6 percent of the vote. OF Tim Raines stole over 800 bases in his career, but he only got 48.7 percent of the vote.
Those were the top-of-the-line, scandal-free candidates in my opinion (although Raines was known to use cocaine at times in his career). But what about the mid-level, but still-worthy candidates? Well DH Edgar Martinez retired with a career .300 batting average and over 300 home runs, but he only got 36.5 percent of the vote, probably due to the fact that he was "only a DH." 1B Fred McGriff hit 493 home runs - that's seven short of 500 for those of you who can't do basic math - and he only got 23.9 percent of the vote. OF Larry Walker retired with a career .300 batting average and over 300 home runs to go along with eight Gold Gloves in the outfield, but he only got 22.9 percent of the vote. I know that Martinez is being penalized for being a DH, and Walker will be slighted for years to come because he spent the ,majority of his career in Colorado, but I honestly can't come up with any reason about why McGriff is getting so little support.
McGwire got 19.5 percent of the vote and Palmeiro came in with 12.6 percent of the vote. OF Dale Murphy, who finished his career with 398 home runs, was sandwiched between them with 14.5 percent of the vote. In my opinion, a player like Murphy is a tertiary player who would have to wait for many years (possibly a full 15) to be elected but still a Hall of Famer nonetheless.
The only returning player voted off of the ballot was OF Juan Gonzalez, who hit over 400 homers in his career but has been linked to PEDs, though nothing concrete has ever developed. I guess that doesn't matter anymore.
I viewed Larkin as being less-worthy than all of the above-mentioned players, although I refuse to fault the BBWAA for not voting for either McGwire or Palmeiro. Larkin would not have been able to crack my top ten. But if I didn't vote for McGwire or Palmeiro he would have. So I realize how he could have garnered more than 22 percentage points in additional votes from last year.
There weren't many worthy newcomers to the ballot this year. 3B Vinny Castilla, OF Tim Salmon, 3B Bill Mueller, RHP Brad Radke, C Javy Lopez, 2B Eric Young, OF Jeromy Burnitz, OF Brian Jordan, LHP Terry Mulholland, 3B Phil Nevin, OF Ruben Sierra, and SS Tony Womack were all voted off of the ballot on their first try. Burnitz was a nice player with a ton of power, but he failed to get to 1,000 RBIs in his career in spite of his tremendous home run production. Castilla and Sierra were probably worthy players, but they didn't crack the top ten on my ballot or on many others. The rest were completely undeserving altogether.
And then there's the other bonehead support for players like Larkin, but even less-deserving than him. RHP Jack Morris jumped up 13.2 percent to top out at 66.7 percent on this year's ballot. Morris finished his career with less than 300 wins, less than 3,000 strikeouts and nowhere near 300 saves (to his credit he was never a relief pitcher) with a career ERA of 3.90. That's a pretty good ERA to retire with, but is that alone worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. I say no. And think about this for a second. How many pitchers with ERAs of 3.90 do you remember winning a CY Young Award? Probably not many right? Right. SS Alan Trammell somehow managed to get 36.8 percent of the vote and 1B Don Mattingly amazingly garnered 17.8 percent of the vote once again. Mattingly is getting the benefit of the doubt because he played for the Yankees, however obscene it might be. I don't know where Trammell's support is coming from.
OF Bernie Williams got 9.6 percent of the vote, the only newcomer to the ballot who didn't get voted off on his first try. Williams doesn't deserve any support at all, either, but, like Mattingly, he played for the Yankees and is getting the benefit of the doubt.
I have good news and bad news. The good news is that next year's ballot is set to include 2B Craig Biggio (3,000 hits), OF Barry Bonds (700 home runs, 500 stolen bases), RHP Roger Clemens (300 wins, 4,000 strikeouts), OF Kenny Lofton (600 stolen bases), C Mike Piazza (.300 batting average, 400 home runs), RHP Curt Schilling (3,000 strikeouts), and OF Sammy Sosa (600 home runs), and is easily the best ballot the BBWAA will have seen in years. The bad news is that it will be especially tainted with Bonds (federal conviction), Clemens (federal indictment), and Sosa (failed test and Canseco allegations) all linked to PED use. The other bad news is that with a ballot this packed with worthy players - especially untainted players like Biggio - is that players like Bagwell and Smith will probably lose support as opposed to gaining it.
Mets Designate Herrera, Martinez for Assignment, sign Three to Minors Deals
The Mets have designated LHP Daniel Ray Herrera and OF Fernando Martinez for assignment. The moves were completed to make room on the 40-man roster for the recently re-signed OF Scott Hairston and newly-acquired IF Ronny Cedeno. The Mets have ten days to trade the two players, but they have opted to expose both of them to waivers in an effort to retain them at Buffalo. If Martinez clears waivers he will be sent to Buffalo. Herrera would have to be outrighted if he clears waivers and would have the option of becoming a free agent. Last season Herrera went 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA and five strikeouts in 18 appearances out of the bullpen. Martinez batted .227 with one home run and two runs batted in.
The Mets have also agreed to terms with RHP Miguel Batista and RHP Miguel Cabrera to minor league contracts and have invited them to Spring Training. Neither one of them really has any orthodox chance of making the team but will be on call at Buffalo if an injury occurs to one of the five starters in New York's rotation, and depth is a good thing in that regard. LHP Johan Santana is continuing to recover from left anterior capsule surgery. RHP R. A. Dickey is spending his off-season mountain climbing and there is a fear that he may be injured there and he is also coming off a leg-muscle injury last season. LHP Jon Niese ended last season on the disabled.
The Mets have also agreed to terms with RHP Miguel Batista and RHP Miguel Cabrera to minor league contracts and have invited them to Spring Training. Neither one of them really has any orthodox chance of making the team but will be on call at Buffalo if an injury occurs to one of the five starters in New York's rotation, and depth is a good thing in that regard. LHP Johan Santana is continuing to recover from left anterior capsule surgery. RHP R. A. Dickey is spending his off-season mountain climbing and there is a fear that he may be injured there and he is also coming off a leg-muscle injury last season. LHP Jon Niese ended last season on the disabled.
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