The Yankees have just signed Randy Winn, effectively and finally ending Johnny Damon's run in pinstripes. While I feel a bit sad that the two sides couldn't get together, I'm glad the lid is closed. It's been carrying on all winter, and the endless amount of speculation was exhausting. I don't even think Winn is the best choice, I'd rather have Rocco Baldelli or even Reed Johnson, honestly, but I'm just glad the roster, on the surface, may be done. Now, for all we know Winn could just be a bench choice as his play last year doesn't really warrant much more, but in a platoon with Brett Gardner he may be OK.
Let's get back to Damon, though, a player I've always liked, yes, even when he was pesky and killed the Yanks with Boston. Johnny was a solid player, and when he came to the Yankees, I thought it was a perfect marriage. Although he lost his center-field job within his first two years, he still was outstanding on offense. His stats during his four-year-run here were spot on, with '09 being his absolute best. The combo of the new Yankee Stadium and his switching in the order with Jeter spurred this on. (I'm sure being in his walk year didn't hurt neither!) He also gave us one fantastic World Series memory that will go down in Yankee history, and forever haunt Brad Lidge and Phillies fans. Like Matsui before him, it was a fitting end to his life in pinstripes, and he got another ring, so all-in-all a great 4 years..
Unlike Matsui, though, he lingered too long in free agency, and is still there now. Matsui signed with the Angels rather quickly, starting his next chapter happily, while Damon allowed his super-agent Scott Boras to pass up a two-year offer from the Yankees for 14 million! It amazes me that such disillusions can exist in this economy. Despite his numbers, he is 36 years old and his outfield play has diminished pretty far. He limped out of Game 6 of the World Series, and would've been out of Game 7!
Now the Yankees have moved on, and Damon will have to also. (maybe as a DH in Tampa) He played a game with Brian Cashman and the Yankees and their very real budget, and lost. Even the Yankees have their limits, and so they should. I love that free agents think that the Yankees should pay more just because they are the richest franchise in baseball. Playing for them is a privilege, folks, and I hope this serves as a lesson to everyone else. Yes, I know that screams snobby Yankee fan, but you tell me of a more prestigious franchise in all of sports and then we can talk otherwise!
As for their signing, again I thought there were better options, although Baldelli can still be brought in on a minor-league deal. Winn is going to look to play more, and if he out-plays Brett Gardner or any other choice, then fine, but I'm not a fan right now. His '09 season was terrible and he's aging himself. Maybe he'll turn that around, and change my opinion. Still, I'd like Gardner to get the most at-bats, but whoever helps the team more, I'll be on-board with.
To sum up everything: Damon, you'll be missed here, sorry, and good luck. Winn, prove me wrong. Gardner, kick his butt. Carl Crawford, we'll see you next year in left.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
MORE MET MISERY
I'll keep this one brief. CF Carlos Beltran is having knee surgery, and is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. There are three things this tells us. One, it is high time to fire the Mets entire training staff and replace them with a witch doctor, or maybe Dr. Nick from the Simpsons. Two, the free agent market is, and will always be, an inefficient way to build a contender. Beltran's best seasons were in Kansas City, and he was signed at the same time as Pedro, who left his best seasons in Boston. 170 million dollars and several disappointing (to put it mildly) seasons later, here we are. So sure, let's add 35-year old Bengie Molina. He's sure to lead the stirring charge towards third place. Number three is an anagram of Merri Oaf. Got it?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
STILL NO LOVE FOR BERT BLYLEVEN
A pitcher who's 5th on the all time strikeout list can't get into Cooperstown? It seems likely that he'll be elected next year, as he just missed this time, but who are these voters? Do they watch more ballgames than I do? A quick rundown of Bert's career: He's pitching effectively in the majors at the age of 19 for the 1970 Twins. From 1971-1976, he goes 89-81 for Twins teams that are 25 games under .500 when he doesn't pitch, posts ERA's between 2.52 and 3.12, and strikes out 200+ a year. He's traded to the Rangers in June of 1976 and continues to pitch well there. He's traded to the Pirates in December 1977, continues to pitch well, and allows 3 runs in 19 innings in the 1979 playoffs, pitching 4 innings of scoreless relief in Game 5 with the Pirates facing elimination. He has a mediocre 1980, going 8-13, and the Pirates ship him to Cleveland, where he regains his form and goes 11-7 in the strike-shortened season, before missing almost all of 1982 with an elbow injury, and pitching poorly in 1983. Bert comes back to go 19-7 in 1984, and gets traded again, back to the Twins, in mid-1985. In a typical Blyleven season, he goes 17-16 for two bad teams (the Indians lost 102 games that year), pitches 24 complete games, and leads the league in strikeouts. No one notices. At this point, Bert is 35, and with the exception of his age 38 season for the California Angels where he goes 17-5, doesn't pitch all that well again. He gives up 96 home runs in 1986-87, but makes it back to the postseason with the 1987 Twins, and goes 3-1. Finally, Blyleven has rotator cuff surgery in 1991, at the age of 40, and comes back to pitch at 41, though he goes 8-12 with a 4.74 ERA. So, 287 wins, 242 complete games, a 5-1 postseason record, 2 rings, and 3700 strikeouts? That isn't enough?
Oh, and congratulations, Andre Dawson! More on him later.
Oh, and congratulations, Andre Dawson! More on him later.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
SUCCESS (Amateur Drafts 1987-1991)
Interestingly, the Yankees had the best record in baseball for the decade of the 1980s, but only made the playoffs twice, losing in the ALCS to the Royals in 1980 and to the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series. The 1987-1991 period was not a good one for Yankee fans; the team's initial response to the rise of the Mets was a tailspin that bottomed out at 67-95 in 1990, and the team wasn't competitive until 1993, under Gene Michael and Buck Showalter. The interference of owner George Steinbrenner was partly to blame for the Yankees' directionless stumbling in the late 1980s, as he hired Billy Martin to manage three separate times, changed GM's almost as frequently, and allowed Dallas Green the rare opportunity to wreck both franchises. He hired Gene Michael, who had managed the Yankees in parts of 1981 and 1982, as GM, and allowed Michael more autonomy than previous GM's. The eventual results were 4 championships. Here are the humble beginnings.
1987
7) RHP Dave Eiland. 12-27, 5.74 career. 6-10, 5.23 as a Yankee. Pitched for Yankees, Padres, and Rays, 1988-2000. Eiland is now the Yankee pitching coach. His playing career was unsuccessful, in part due to the Yankees rushing him to the majors.
Later rounds: CF/LF Gerald Williams, C Brad Ausmus.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
1988
6) LHP Jeff Johnson. 8-16, 6.52 for Yankees, 1991-1993.
9) 2B Pat Kelly .249/.307/.369 career, .251/.300/.365 as a Yankee. Bench player for Yankees, Cardinals, Blue Jays, 1991-1999. Kelly played for the 1996 champs, but didn't make the postseason roster.
10) RHP Kenny Greer. 1-2, 4.85 in 13 innings with '93 Mets and '95 Giants.
Later rounds: 3B Russ Davis, CF/LF Deion Sanders, LF/RF Orlando Palmeiro (did not sign), 2B Fernando Vina (did not sign).
1989
2) SS/2B/3B Andy Fox .239/.324/.338 career, .200/.287/.264 as a Yankee. Bench player for Yankees, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Expos, Rangers, 1996-2004.
5) 1B J.T. Snow .268/.357/.427 career, went 2-for-14 for 1992 Yankees. Played for Yankees, Angels, Giants, Red Sox, 1992-2006. Snow had two 100 RBI seasons, in 1995 and 1997, and had 1509 career hits and 189 homers, in addition to being a great defensive 1B. He batted .327 in the postseason. He was traded for 2 seasons of Jim Abbott, who went 20-22 in a Yankee uniform. Oops.
7) RHP Russ Springer. 36-45, 4.52 career. 0-0, 6.19 ERA in 16 innings for 1992 Yankees. Pitched for Yankees, Angels, Phillies, Astros, Diamondbacks, Braves, Cardinals, A's, Rays. Still active. Had his best seasons for Tony LaRussa at 38 and 39. Fastball/slider middle reliever who took a long time to find his command. Throw-in in the Jim Abbott trade.
9) LHP Sterling Hitchcock, 74-76, 4.80 career. 22-24, 5.15 as a Yankee. Hitchcock proved to be a very valuable commodity. Packaged with Russ Davis, he brought the Yankees Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson. He pitched well for the Padres in 1998 and 1999, but not nearly well enough to make it worth keeping him. Hitchcock threw hard but straight, and always allowed too many home runs. His career postseason record is 4-0 with a 1.76 ERA. Pitched for Yankees, Mariners, Padres, Cardinals, 1992-2004.
1990
1) CF/RF Carl Everett .271/.341/.462 career. Played for Marlins, Mets, Astros, Red Sox, Rangers, White Sox, Expos, Mariners, 1993-2006. Doesn't believe in dinosaurs. Everett was lost to the Marlins in the expansion draft. While Everett had great tools and had some excellent seasons-- 59 HR's, 216 RBI, and 41 steals in 1999-2000, he was a negative clubhouse influence and he was usually more trouble than he was worth. He finished with 1304 hits and 202 HR's, but was traded in his prime for Adam Everett, which should tell you something.
2) 2B Robert Eenhoorn .239/.260/.328 career. 5-for-32 as a Yankee in parts of 1994-96. Played for Yankees and Angels, 1994-97. The Yanks didn't have much luck with infield prospects until Jeter came along.
4) LHP Kirt Ojala. 3-10, 4.71 with 1997-1999 Marlins.
6) RHP Sam Militello. 4-4, 3.89 with 1992-93 Yankees. Militello lost the strike zone in 1993, and walked 54 in 20.1 minor league innings over the next three years before shutting it down. Militello was a power pitching prospect who made 9 strong starts for the Yanks in 1992. I guess he cancels out Bill Pulsipher.
7) LF Jalal Leach. 12 at bats for 2001 Giants.
Later Rounds: OF Ricky Ledee, LHP Andy Pettitte, C Jorge Posada, LF/RF Shane Spencer. Wow.
1991
3) RF/LF Lyle Mouton .280/.339/.420 as a bench player for White Sox, Orioles, Brewers, Marlins, 1995-2001. Mouton was a righty platoon outfielder, similar to Shane Spencer but got fewer opportunities.
9) LHP Keith Garagozzo. 9.64 ERA in 9.1 innings with 1994 Twins.
This was the Brien Taylor draft. Taylor was the #1 pick of the 1991 draft, who injured his pitching shoulder in a bar fight before the 1994 season. He missed all of 1994, and walked 184 in 111.1 innings with 59 wild pitches while attempting a comeback. Whether Taylor would have made the majors and pitched successfully is unknown. His walk rate was poor even before the injury, and it's easier to project him as a Kaz Ishii/ Damian Moss fringe starter than a #1 or #2 guy.
So, the core of young players drafted by the Yankees in these years looks like:
C Jorge Posada
1B J.T. Snow
2B Fernando Vina or Pat Kelly
3B Russ Davis
LF Deion Sanders
CF Carl Everett
RF Ricky Ledee / Shane Spencer
SP Andy Pettitte
SP Sam Militello
SP Sterling Hitchcock
RP Russ Springer
While this isn't nominally more impressive than the Met drafts of the same era, it does produce a future Hall of Fame catcher, and a near-HOF starting pitcher. Plus some shrewd trading to net them Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson. The only player on this list that the Yankees gave up on too soon was J.T. Snow.
Also-- I haven't factored in international scouting, but add to the Yankee core Bernie Williams and the Met core Edgardo Alfonzo.
1987
7) RHP Dave Eiland. 12-27, 5.74 career. 6-10, 5.23 as a Yankee. Pitched for Yankees, Padres, and Rays, 1988-2000. Eiland is now the Yankee pitching coach. His playing career was unsuccessful, in part due to the Yankees rushing him to the majors.
Later rounds: CF/LF Gerald Williams, C Brad Ausmus.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
1988
6) LHP Jeff Johnson. 8-16, 6.52 for Yankees, 1991-1993.
9) 2B Pat Kelly .249/.307/.369 career, .251/.300/.365 as a Yankee. Bench player for Yankees, Cardinals, Blue Jays, 1991-1999. Kelly played for the 1996 champs, but didn't make the postseason roster.
10) RHP Kenny Greer. 1-2, 4.85 in 13 innings with '93 Mets and '95 Giants.
Later rounds: 3B Russ Davis, CF/LF Deion Sanders, LF/RF Orlando Palmeiro (did not sign), 2B Fernando Vina (did not sign).
1989
2) SS/2B/3B Andy Fox .239/.324/.338 career, .200/.287/.264 as a Yankee. Bench player for Yankees, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Expos, Rangers, 1996-2004.
5) 1B J.T. Snow .268/.357/.427 career, went 2-for-14 for 1992 Yankees. Played for Yankees, Angels, Giants, Red Sox, 1992-2006. Snow had two 100 RBI seasons, in 1995 and 1997, and had 1509 career hits and 189 homers, in addition to being a great defensive 1B. He batted .327 in the postseason. He was traded for 2 seasons of Jim Abbott, who went 20-22 in a Yankee uniform. Oops.
7) RHP Russ Springer. 36-45, 4.52 career. 0-0, 6.19 ERA in 16 innings for 1992 Yankees. Pitched for Yankees, Angels, Phillies, Astros, Diamondbacks, Braves, Cardinals, A's, Rays. Still active. Had his best seasons for Tony LaRussa at 38 and 39. Fastball/slider middle reliever who took a long time to find his command. Throw-in in the Jim Abbott trade.
9) LHP Sterling Hitchcock, 74-76, 4.80 career. 22-24, 5.15 as a Yankee. Hitchcock proved to be a very valuable commodity. Packaged with Russ Davis, he brought the Yankees Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson. He pitched well for the Padres in 1998 and 1999, but not nearly well enough to make it worth keeping him. Hitchcock threw hard but straight, and always allowed too many home runs. His career postseason record is 4-0 with a 1.76 ERA. Pitched for Yankees, Mariners, Padres, Cardinals, 1992-2004.
1990
1) CF/RF Carl Everett .271/.341/.462 career. Played for Marlins, Mets, Astros, Red Sox, Rangers, White Sox, Expos, Mariners, 1993-2006. Doesn't believe in dinosaurs. Everett was lost to the Marlins in the expansion draft. While Everett had great tools and had some excellent seasons-- 59 HR's, 216 RBI, and 41 steals in 1999-2000, he was a negative clubhouse influence and he was usually more trouble than he was worth. He finished with 1304 hits and 202 HR's, but was traded in his prime for Adam Everett, which should tell you something.
2) 2B Robert Eenhoorn .239/.260/.328 career. 5-for-32 as a Yankee in parts of 1994-96. Played for Yankees and Angels, 1994-97. The Yanks didn't have much luck with infield prospects until Jeter came along.
4) LHP Kirt Ojala. 3-10, 4.71 with 1997-1999 Marlins.
6) RHP Sam Militello. 4-4, 3.89 with 1992-93 Yankees. Militello lost the strike zone in 1993, and walked 54 in 20.1 minor league innings over the next three years before shutting it down. Militello was a power pitching prospect who made 9 strong starts for the Yanks in 1992. I guess he cancels out Bill Pulsipher.
7) LF Jalal Leach. 12 at bats for 2001 Giants.
Later Rounds: OF Ricky Ledee, LHP Andy Pettitte, C Jorge Posada, LF/RF Shane Spencer. Wow.
1991
3) RF/LF Lyle Mouton .280/.339/.420 as a bench player for White Sox, Orioles, Brewers, Marlins, 1995-2001. Mouton was a righty platoon outfielder, similar to Shane Spencer but got fewer opportunities.
9) LHP Keith Garagozzo. 9.64 ERA in 9.1 innings with 1994 Twins.
This was the Brien Taylor draft. Taylor was the #1 pick of the 1991 draft, who injured his pitching shoulder in a bar fight before the 1994 season. He missed all of 1994, and walked 184 in 111.1 innings with 59 wild pitches while attempting a comeback. Whether Taylor would have made the majors and pitched successfully is unknown. His walk rate was poor even before the injury, and it's easier to project him as a Kaz Ishii/ Damian Moss fringe starter than a #1 or #2 guy.
So, the core of young players drafted by the Yankees in these years looks like:
C Jorge Posada
1B J.T. Snow
2B Fernando Vina or Pat Kelly
3B Russ Davis
LF Deion Sanders
CF Carl Everett
RF Ricky Ledee / Shane Spencer
SP Andy Pettitte
SP Sam Militello
SP Sterling Hitchcock
RP Russ Springer
While this isn't nominally more impressive than the Met drafts of the same era, it does produce a future Hall of Fame catcher, and a near-HOF starting pitcher. Plus some shrewd trading to net them Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson. The only player on this list that the Yankees gave up on too soon was J.T. Snow.
Also-- I haven't factored in international scouting, but add to the Yankee core Bernie Williams and the Met core Edgardo Alfonzo.
Monday, January 4, 2010
FAILURE (Amateur drafts 1987-1991)
You can probably guess which NY team this is going to be about. One thing that becomes quickly apparent when comparing the Mets and the Yanks is that one team can grow their own talent, and one for the most part can't. I begin in the winter of 1986-87, when the Mets probably should have died and left a good looking corpse. All drafts were under the direction of Frank Cashen in his Mr. Hyde years.
1987
1) 3B/1B Chris Donnels .233/.319/.355 career, .195/.299/.224 as a Met. Played for Mets, Astros, Red Sox, Dodgers, Diamondbacks as a bench scrub, 1991-2002.
2) C Todd Hundley .234/.320/.443 career, .240/.320/.438 as a Met. Played for Mets, Dodgers, Cubs, 1990-2003. Peaked in 1995 and 1996 for Mets with 71 HR and 198 RBI over 2 seasons before blowing out his throwing elbow. Apparently took a lot of steroids. 202 career HR's.
2) LHP Pete Schourek. 66-77, 4.59 career, 16-24, 4.65 as a Met. Played for Mets, Reds, Astros, Red Sox, Pirates, 1991-2001. Won 18 games for Reds in 1995.
8) SS Tim Bogar .228/.298/.332 career, .242/.293/.328 as a Met. Played for Mets, Astros, Dodgers as bench scrub, 1993-2001.
9) CF Pat Howell .187/.218/.200 in 79 PA's with '92 Mets.
Later rounds: RHP Anthony Young!
1988
3) 2B Doug Saunders .209/.243/.239 in 73 PA's with '93 Mets.
7) SS Kevin Baez .179/.244/.245 in 168 PA's with Mets, 1990-93.
This draft was a complete waste.
1989
1) 1B Alan Zinter .167/.214/.333 in 84 PA's with 2002 Astros and 2004 D'Backs. Made the majors at age 34. Hit 263 minor league home runs. Originally a catcher.
3) C Brook Fordyce .258/.309/.388 career, batted 3 times for 1995 Mets. Played for Mets, Reds, White Sox, Orioles, Rays, 1995-2004.
7) RF/1B Butch Huskey .267/.318/.442 career, .264/.309/.434 as a Met. Played for Mets, Mariners, Red Sox, Twins, Rockies, 1993-2000. A power prospect who didn't pan out, couldn't play the field, and lasted only a year and a half more as a DH in the other league.
Later rounds: Drafted Mark Grudzielanek but didn't sign him.
1990
1) RF Jeromy Burnitz .253/.345/.481 career, .237/.322/.432 as a Met. Traded in his second season to Cleveland for RHP's Paul Byrd (also to be given up on too soon), Dave Mlicki, and Jerry DiPoto, because he didn't get along with Dallas Green. Mashed 315 home runs, only 53 in a Met uniform. Hit 153 HR's and drove in 511 for Milwaukee, 1997-2001. Played for Mets, Indians, Brewers, Dodgers, Rockies, Cubs, Pirates, 1993-2006. Oops.
2) SS/2B Aaron Ledesma .296/.338/.365 career, .242/.359/.242 in 39 PA's with 1995 Mets. Got most of his playing time in the first two years of the Tampa Bay franchise. Utility infielder for Mets, Orioles, Rays, Rockies, 1995-2000.
3) RF Micah Franklin. Batted 37 times for 1997 Cardinals.
7) RHP Pete Walker. 20-14, 4.48 career. 1-0, 4.26 in 25 innings as a Met. Career didn't get going until the Mets released him in 2002, and he became a swingman in Toronto. Pitched for Mets, Padres, Rockies, Blue Jays, 1995-2006.
8) C Raul Casanova .236/.304/.379 career, .273/.344/.364 as Mets 3rd string catcher in 2008. Bench player for Tigers, Brewers, Orioles, White Sox, Rays, Mets, 1996-2008.
9) 2B Fernando Vina .282/.348/.379 career, .250/.372/.298 in 150 PA's with 1994 Mets. Retired with 1196 career hits, played for Mariners, Mets, Brewers, Cardinals, Tigers, 1993-2004. The Mets decided they'd rather have mediocre setup man Doug Henry.
Later Rounds: 1B Brian Daubach, who did sign, and RHP's Darren Dreifort and Rick Helling, who didn't.
1991
1) RHP Bobby Jones. 89-83, 4.36 career. 74-56, 4.13 as a Met. Jones won 15 games in 1997,and threw a one-hitter against the Giants in the 2000 playoffs, but other than that was a back-end "innings eater". The Mets sold at the right time, as Jones lost 19 games for the Padres in 2001. Pitched 1993-2002.
2) RHP Marc Kroon. 0-2, 7.76 career in 27 innings with Padres, Reds, Rockies, 1995-2004.
2) LHP Bill Pulsipher. 13-19, 5.15 career, 5-9, 4.63 as a Met. This was a tragic story. Pulsipher inexplicably averaged 7.45 innings a start in 17 games with the Mets as a 21-year old. He blew out his elbow, missed most of the next two seasons, and was never the same. I believe Pulse could have been a great pitcher without the injury, comparable perhaps to Mark Mulder in his prime. Pulse was ahead of Tommy Glavine as a 21-year old. He pitched in the Mexican league last year for Pueblo, posting a 6.08 ERA in 7 starts. In the majors, he pitched for the Mets, Brewers, Red Sox, White Sox, and Cardinals, 1995-2005.
4) RHP Erik Hiljus. 8-3, 4.72 ERA as a swingman for Tigers and A's, 1999-2002.
Later rounds: RHP Jason Isringhausen, who was a pretty good closer for other teams...
Assuming everything works out (which almost nothing did), you have a young core like this:
C Todd Hundley
1B Butch Huskey
2B Fernando Vina
SS Mark Grudizelanek
RF Jeromy Burnitz
SP Bill Pulsipher (in alternate dimension where he becomes staff ace)
SP Bobby Jones
SP Rick Helling
SP Pete Schourek
CL Jason Isringhausen
RP Darren Dreifort
But-- three guys didn't sign, Pulse got hurt, four guys were given up on too soon for almost no return, Huskey and Jones never quite panned out... so basically all they have to show for five years of drafting is Todd Hundley. That's why when the players from the 1986 team got old or became drug casualties, there was nothing to replace them, and the franchise went into freefall. I'll be examining the Yankee drafts tomorrow.
1987
1) 3B/1B Chris Donnels .233/.319/.355 career, .195/.299/.224 as a Met. Played for Mets, Astros, Red Sox, Dodgers, Diamondbacks as a bench scrub, 1991-2002.
2) C Todd Hundley .234/.320/.443 career, .240/.320/.438 as a Met. Played for Mets, Dodgers, Cubs, 1990-2003. Peaked in 1995 and 1996 for Mets with 71 HR and 198 RBI over 2 seasons before blowing out his throwing elbow. Apparently took a lot of steroids. 202 career HR's.
2) LHP Pete Schourek. 66-77, 4.59 career, 16-24, 4.65 as a Met. Played for Mets, Reds, Astros, Red Sox, Pirates, 1991-2001. Won 18 games for Reds in 1995.
8) SS Tim Bogar .228/.298/.332 career, .242/.293/.328 as a Met. Played for Mets, Astros, Dodgers as bench scrub, 1993-2001.
9) CF Pat Howell .187/.218/.200 in 79 PA's with '92 Mets.
Later rounds: RHP Anthony Young!
1988
3) 2B Doug Saunders .209/.243/.239 in 73 PA's with '93 Mets.
7) SS Kevin Baez .179/.244/.245 in 168 PA's with Mets, 1990-93.
This draft was a complete waste.
1989
1) 1B Alan Zinter .167/.214/.333 in 84 PA's with 2002 Astros and 2004 D'Backs. Made the majors at age 34. Hit 263 minor league home runs. Originally a catcher.
3) C Brook Fordyce .258/.309/.388 career, batted 3 times for 1995 Mets. Played for Mets, Reds, White Sox, Orioles, Rays, 1995-2004.
7) RF/1B Butch Huskey .267/.318/.442 career, .264/.309/.434 as a Met. Played for Mets, Mariners, Red Sox, Twins, Rockies, 1993-2000. A power prospect who didn't pan out, couldn't play the field, and lasted only a year and a half more as a DH in the other league.
Later rounds: Drafted Mark Grudzielanek but didn't sign him.
1990
1) RF Jeromy Burnitz .253/.345/.481 career, .237/.322/.432 as a Met. Traded in his second season to Cleveland for RHP's Paul Byrd (also to be given up on too soon), Dave Mlicki, and Jerry DiPoto, because he didn't get along with Dallas Green. Mashed 315 home runs, only 53 in a Met uniform. Hit 153 HR's and drove in 511 for Milwaukee, 1997-2001. Played for Mets, Indians, Brewers, Dodgers, Rockies, Cubs, Pirates, 1993-2006. Oops.
2) SS/2B Aaron Ledesma .296/.338/.365 career, .242/.359/.242 in 39 PA's with 1995 Mets. Got most of his playing time in the first two years of the Tampa Bay franchise. Utility infielder for Mets, Orioles, Rays, Rockies, 1995-2000.
3) RF Micah Franklin. Batted 37 times for 1997 Cardinals.
7) RHP Pete Walker. 20-14, 4.48 career. 1-0, 4.26 in 25 innings as a Met. Career didn't get going until the Mets released him in 2002, and he became a swingman in Toronto. Pitched for Mets, Padres, Rockies, Blue Jays, 1995-2006.
8) C Raul Casanova .236/.304/.379 career, .273/.344/.364 as Mets 3rd string catcher in 2008. Bench player for Tigers, Brewers, Orioles, White Sox, Rays, Mets, 1996-2008.
9) 2B Fernando Vina .282/.348/.379 career, .250/.372/.298 in 150 PA's with 1994 Mets. Retired with 1196 career hits, played for Mariners, Mets, Brewers, Cardinals, Tigers, 1993-2004. The Mets decided they'd rather have mediocre setup man Doug Henry.
Later Rounds: 1B Brian Daubach, who did sign, and RHP's Darren Dreifort and Rick Helling, who didn't.
1991
1) RHP Bobby Jones. 89-83, 4.36 career. 74-56, 4.13 as a Met. Jones won 15 games in 1997,and threw a one-hitter against the Giants in the 2000 playoffs, but other than that was a back-end "innings eater". The Mets sold at the right time, as Jones lost 19 games for the Padres in 2001. Pitched 1993-2002.
2) RHP Marc Kroon. 0-2, 7.76 career in 27 innings with Padres, Reds, Rockies, 1995-2004.
2) LHP Bill Pulsipher. 13-19, 5.15 career, 5-9, 4.63 as a Met. This was a tragic story. Pulsipher inexplicably averaged 7.45 innings a start in 17 games with the Mets as a 21-year old. He blew out his elbow, missed most of the next two seasons, and was never the same. I believe Pulse could have been a great pitcher without the injury, comparable perhaps to Mark Mulder in his prime. Pulse was ahead of Tommy Glavine as a 21-year old. He pitched in the Mexican league last year for Pueblo, posting a 6.08 ERA in 7 starts. In the majors, he pitched for the Mets, Brewers, Red Sox, White Sox, and Cardinals, 1995-2005.
4) RHP Erik Hiljus. 8-3, 4.72 ERA as a swingman for Tigers and A's, 1999-2002.
Later rounds: RHP Jason Isringhausen, who was a pretty good closer for other teams...
Assuming everything works out (which almost nothing did), you have a young core like this:
C Todd Hundley
1B Butch Huskey
2B Fernando Vina
SS Mark Grudizelanek
RF Jeromy Burnitz
SP Bill Pulsipher (in alternate dimension where he becomes staff ace)
SP Bobby Jones
SP Rick Helling
SP Pete Schourek
CL Jason Isringhausen
RP Darren Dreifort
But-- three guys didn't sign, Pulse got hurt, four guys were given up on too soon for almost no return, Huskey and Jones never quite panned out... so basically all they have to show for five years of drafting is Todd Hundley. That's why when the players from the 1986 team got old or became drug casualties, there was nothing to replace them, and the franchise went into freefall. I'll be examining the Yankee drafts tomorrow.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
THE BEST HITTER IN BASEBALL
After posting a few weeks ago about 10 guys who laid an egg in 2009, here's 10 hitters who punished the ball last season.
10. Alex Rodriguez (3b-Yankees) .286/.402/.532
Despite missing 38 games with a hip injury, A-Rod still hit 30 homers and drove in 100 runs. Then he batted .365 with 6 HR's in the postseason, laying to rest the persistent talk of choke artistry. Could we be seeing Kate Hudson's best work since Almost Famous?
9. Chase Utley (2b- Phillies) .282/.397/.508
Yep, his team made the Series, too. Utley is, like Matt Holliday, a guy who benefits from his home park, but would flat-out rake anywhere. In fact, he hit better on the road last year. In addition to 31 homers, Utley gives you little things like 88 walks, 24 HBPs (though this is usuallly good for a few weeks on the DL with hand injuries each season), 23-for-23 steals, and strong defense.
8. Derrek Lee (1b- Cubs) .306/.393/.579
Other than a monster 2005, Lee has always been a guy who quietly puts up numbers. For example, he has 293 career HR's and 1700 hits. Lee had a bit of a power spike this season, hitting 35 HR's, and elevating his game a little bit past poor man's Pujols.
7. Ben Zobrist (2b/rf- Rays) .297/.405/.543
Coming into this season, Zobrist was a 27-year old utility infielder with a career BA of .222 and middling power, the low-ceiling prospect the Astros dealt for Aubrey Huff (look for him on the other list). He exploded in 2009, as the rest of the Rays were imploding. Is this a fluke season? Probably yes, though he's a better player than guys like Mark Bellhorn, who were also glove-challenged infielders getting by on power and patience, who had one great year. Don't draft this guy too high in fantasy next year.
6. Hanley Ramirez (ss- Marlins) .342/.410/.543
Ramirez also stole 27 bases and drove in 106 runs in his first year batting #3 instead of leadoff. Ramirez is not a great shortstop, and a bit of a bonehead, but he's worth two of Jose Reyes. The trade that sent him from Boston to Florida gave Boston the pieces they needed for their 2007 title, but the Marlins-- assuming they ever spend enough to contend-- may have won that trade in the long term.
5. Kevin Youkilis (1b/3b- Red Sox) .305/.413/.548
Youk's a bit of a late bloomer, peaking at 29 and 30. He's a winning, hard-nosed ballplayer you love to hate unless he plays for your team. Billy Beane called him "the Greek god of walks", though apparently he isn't even Greek. That made him sound like a slightly better Dave Magadan, instead of the near-MVP type player he's become.
4. Joey Votto (1b- Reds) .322/.414/.567
Votto is a 26-year old Canadian, who like Utley, plays in a hitter's park but hits better on the road. He had 38 doubles and 25 homers despite missing 31 games, and quietly anchors a Cincinnati lineup that could conceivably steal the NL wild card next year.
3. Prince Fielder (1b- Brewers) .299/.412/.602
A Prince Fielder off-year looks like this: .276/34/102. That was 2008. For 2009, he swatted 46 homers and drove in 141 runs. He's only 25, with no injury history, and it would be nice to see his career follow the pattern of Frank Thomas, instead of Mo Vaughn, or papa Cecil, among the man-mountain first basemen.
2. Joe Mauer (c- Twins) .365/.444/.587
He's mind blowingly good. Imagine an athletic Mike Piazza with a line drive swing. His power emerged in 2009, as he hit 28 HR's when his previous high was 13. Defensively, he wins Gold Gloves because he can hit.
1. Albert Pujols (1b- Cardinals) .327/.443/.658
47 jacks, 135 RBI, and 115 walks. The Cards need to re-sign Holliday, or pitchers are going to start giving him the Barry Bonds treatment. He has 366 HR's already and just turned 30. He is the Michael Jordan to Tony LaRussa's drunken Phil Jackson.
Did you notice there are no outfielders in the top 10? Also, here's 11 through 20. Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Braun, Adam Dunn, Mark Teixeira, Jason Bay, Miguel Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval, J.D. Drew, Lance Berkman, Shin-Soo Choo. That's right. Shin-Soo Choo.
10. Alex Rodriguez (3b-Yankees) .286/.402/.532
Despite missing 38 games with a hip injury, A-Rod still hit 30 homers and drove in 100 runs. Then he batted .365 with 6 HR's in the postseason, laying to rest the persistent talk of choke artistry. Could we be seeing Kate Hudson's best work since Almost Famous?
9. Chase Utley (2b- Phillies) .282/.397/.508
Yep, his team made the Series, too. Utley is, like Matt Holliday, a guy who benefits from his home park, but would flat-out rake anywhere. In fact, he hit better on the road last year. In addition to 31 homers, Utley gives you little things like 88 walks, 24 HBPs (though this is usuallly good for a few weeks on the DL with hand injuries each season), 23-for-23 steals, and strong defense.
8. Derrek Lee (1b- Cubs) .306/.393/.579
Other than a monster 2005, Lee has always been a guy who quietly puts up numbers. For example, he has 293 career HR's and 1700 hits. Lee had a bit of a power spike this season, hitting 35 HR's, and elevating his game a little bit past poor man's Pujols.
7. Ben Zobrist (2b/rf- Rays) .297/.405/.543
Coming into this season, Zobrist was a 27-year old utility infielder with a career BA of .222 and middling power, the low-ceiling prospect the Astros dealt for Aubrey Huff (look for him on the other list). He exploded in 2009, as the rest of the Rays were imploding. Is this a fluke season? Probably yes, though he's a better player than guys like Mark Bellhorn, who were also glove-challenged infielders getting by on power and patience, who had one great year. Don't draft this guy too high in fantasy next year.
6. Hanley Ramirez (ss- Marlins) .342/.410/.543
Ramirez also stole 27 bases and drove in 106 runs in his first year batting #3 instead of leadoff. Ramirez is not a great shortstop, and a bit of a bonehead, but he's worth two of Jose Reyes. The trade that sent him from Boston to Florida gave Boston the pieces they needed for their 2007 title, but the Marlins-- assuming they ever spend enough to contend-- may have won that trade in the long term.
5. Kevin Youkilis (1b/3b- Red Sox) .305/.413/.548
Youk's a bit of a late bloomer, peaking at 29 and 30. He's a winning, hard-nosed ballplayer you love to hate unless he plays for your team. Billy Beane called him "the Greek god of walks", though apparently he isn't even Greek. That made him sound like a slightly better Dave Magadan, instead of the near-MVP type player he's become.
4. Joey Votto (1b- Reds) .322/.414/.567
Votto is a 26-year old Canadian, who like Utley, plays in a hitter's park but hits better on the road. He had 38 doubles and 25 homers despite missing 31 games, and quietly anchors a Cincinnati lineup that could conceivably steal the NL wild card next year.
3. Prince Fielder (1b- Brewers) .299/.412/.602
A Prince Fielder off-year looks like this: .276/34/102. That was 2008. For 2009, he swatted 46 homers and drove in 141 runs. He's only 25, with no injury history, and it would be nice to see his career follow the pattern of Frank Thomas, instead of Mo Vaughn, or papa Cecil, among the man-mountain first basemen.
2. Joe Mauer (c- Twins) .365/.444/.587
He's mind blowingly good. Imagine an athletic Mike Piazza with a line drive swing. His power emerged in 2009, as he hit 28 HR's when his previous high was 13. Defensively, he wins Gold Gloves because he can hit.
1. Albert Pujols (1b- Cardinals) .327/.443/.658
47 jacks, 135 RBI, and 115 walks. The Cards need to re-sign Holliday, or pitchers are going to start giving him the Barry Bonds treatment. He has 366 HR's already and just turned 30. He is the Michael Jordan to Tony LaRussa's drunken Phil Jackson.
Did you notice there are no outfielders in the top 10? Also, here's 11 through 20. Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Braun, Adam Dunn, Mark Teixeira, Jason Bay, Miguel Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval, J.D. Drew, Lance Berkman, Shin-Soo Choo. That's right. Shin-Soo Choo.
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