Monday, March 7, 2005

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FANTASY PERSPECTIVE:

American League East Pitchers

Over the course of the past couple of weeks I have discussed the hitters of baseball, and over the next couple of weeks, I will be providing a team-by-team look at many of the major league pitchers from a fantasy baseball perspective. I want to do this for a couple of reasons. First, I love fantasy baseball and love discussing what I think of certain players. Second, I know that many people who take the time to read baseball sites like this one participate in fantasy baseball leagues as well.

However, I do understand not everyone gets into fantasy sports, and that’s OK too. I do not think that my "analysis" will be too "statty" so it should be enjoyable for any baseball fan to read.

Another point to mention before getting started is that there are many forms of fantasy baseball. There are the traditional rotisserie leagues, 5x5 leagues, head-to-head, simulation, keeper leagues, American League Only, National League only and many more. Most leagues probably vary in subtle ways. I am not going to try to analyze for any specific variety. I will just give my opinions on the players. When I project a round-range where the player could be drafted, it will be based on a 30 round major league draft.

If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail me.

Disclaimer: What you read below are simply my opinions. Obviously I have no knowledge of what will happen in the 2005 season, so please take the information for what it is worth (fun). Also, these opinions are subject to change as spring training approaches. All players listed are either projected starters, or starters based on my opinion. I will try to project where each player could be drafted, assuming a 30 round draft.

If you've missed the first four pieces to this project, check them out here:

Part 1 - American League Central Hitters
Part 2 - American League East Hitters
Part 3 - American League West Hitters
Part 4 - National League Central Hitters

Part 5 - National League East Hitters

Part 6 - National League West Hitters

Part 7 - American League Central Pitchers


 

PART 8:

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST PITCHERS


This is a very interesting pitching division. It is tough to know what to expect because it is clearly the strongest offensive division. The Red Sox and Yankees both have very strong pitching staffs, but both are filled with question marks and injury concerns. The Yankees bullpen is stacked. The Orioles have a couple of bad pitchers, but also have a few guys with plenty of potential. The Blue Jays have a few really good pitchers whose numbers may not be reflected that way because of the division. And then there are the Devil Rays, who have a very solid lineup, but not much pitching.

 
So, let’s get going on some analysis. If you have any comments, arguments, agreements, questions or anything, please feel free to e-mail me. When this project is complete, I would like to put together a Mailbag issue with many of those comments.


Baltimore Orioles


SP – Sidney Ponson

"I mock the O’s for dumb free agent decisions. I think this is one of them. 3 years and $22.5 million for a guy with a career 58-65 record, with a career 4.54 ERA? Yes, he was 17-12 last year, but his ERA was still just 3.75. He strikes out less than 6 batters per 9 innings. Next compare his ERA’s from 2002 to 2003. 2002 it was 4.09. 2003 it was 3.75. Little difference. His 2002 strikeout rate was 6.14 and in 2003 it was just 5.58. So, he must have had a similar year, right? Wrong. In 2002, Ponson was 7-9. I think it’s a bad signing for Baltimore, and I think picking Ponson before the 15th round would be a mistake for you." That’s what I wrote last year, and then he went 1-15 with a 5.30 ERA. His K-rate dropped all the way down to 4.8. He may pick up some wins this year, because of the O’s offense, but he’s still not worth drafting until the 24th round.

SP – Rodrigo Lopez

Now Rodrigo Lopez could be a different story. Last year, he was 14-9 with a 3.59 ERA. Now, He started the season as a reliever, coming out of the bullpen for 16 games before moving to the rotation and making 23 starts. He is hard to read. He was great in 2002, his first full season. But then he and his 5.82 ERA really struggled in 2003. So, Lopez is far from a sure thing. Wait until the 23rd round to take him.

SP – Daniel Cabrera

With Cabrera, the word is potential. The 23 year old had a decent first season. He went 12-8 with an ERA of 5.00. If you were to remove what he did in August, when he was 1-2 with a 11.51 ERA, he was 11-6 with a 3.96 and would have been even more strongly considered for Rookie of the Year. Anyway, he’s young, and he’s huge (6-7, 230), so I think he would be very good! I would take him in the 18th round.

SP – Erik Bedard

Bedard had Tommy John surgery and missed the 2003 season, so 2004 was his first real shot with the O’s. The 26 year old was always considered a top prospect before the injury. I always am leery of guys in their first year after the surgery, and Bedard was 6-10 with a 4.59 ERA. He even struck out bout 8 per nine innings, very impressive. I am always a little more excited about that second your for TJS recoveries. So, I would be willing to use a 19th round pick on Bedard.

SP – Bruce Chen

Chen has been with eight major league clubs since he first came up as a top prospect with the Braves in 1998. He’s been given plenty of chances, but last year at the end of the season, he actually did well for the Orioles. He made seven starts (completed one) and threw just 47.2 innings. He was 2-1 with a 3.02 ERA. He is now just 27 years old still and should be given a shot to start every fifth day. But, he is still a huge gamble that I would not draft until the last couple of rounds.

Closer – Jorge Julio

There is some question as to whether Julio will be ready for the season because of arm pain. There are probably more questions as to whether Julio should be the closer anyway. Last year, he was 2-5 with 22 saves and a 4.57 ERA. He is scary and intimidating and isn’t afraid to throw his 98 mph fastball at a hitter after giving up a homer to the previous one. He lives on the edge and I just don’t think that is good for a closer. If he is the closer, he’ll get saves, and I’d take him in the 19th round. If not, stay far away.

Reliever – BJ Ryan

BJ Ryan is one of the best relievers in all of baseball. Add in the fact that he is left-handed and he becomes incredible valuable. The 29 year old is 6-6 and 266 and throws hard. Last year, he was 4-6 with a 2.28 ERA. He had 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings. There is a chance that he will become the closer. If that’s the case, I think he’s worth a 15th round pick. If he’s just a reliever, he may still be worth a late-round pick just on the chance that he could become the closer.

One 2 Watch – Kurt Ainsworth

Ainsworth came to the Orioles at the trade deadline for Sidney Ponson in 2003. He was hurt at the time and then really struggled last year with the O’s and then had elbow surgery in May and missed a lot of time. On the year, he made 7 starts and went 0-1 with a 9.68 ERA in just 30.2 innings. He had 20 walks and 20 strikeouts, certainly not good. But there is a reason he was a top prospect in San Francisco, and he still is just 26 years old. Probably not worth drafting though.

Team Fantasy Summary -
The Good – Ryan, and the futures of Cabrera and Bedard.
The Bad – The rest of the starting rotation and the fact they are in this division..
The Questions – Which Ponson will show up? Can Ainsworth stay healthy? Can Bruce Chen stay in the rotation all year? Who is the closer!?
 


Boston Red Sox


SP – Curt Schilling

The 38 year old Schilling was again the second best pitcher in his league, in 2004. That means that he didn’t win the Cy Young Award (thanks to Johan Santana), but it means that he is still one of the best pitchers in baseball, and certainly one of the best fantasy pitchers as well. For the season, he was 21-6 with a 3.26 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and 8 strikeouts per 9 innings. What he did in the playoffs last year was incredible, pitching with his bad ankle. It becomes more impressive as he is still not near 100%. But I think he will be early in the season, and if so, he’s worth a mid-first round pick.

SP – David Wells

Wells is now 41 years old and everyone keeps assuming that because of his weight and age he’ll eventually decline, maybe even fall completely flat. And each year he continues to put up numbers. Last year in San Diego, he was 12-8 with a 3.73 ERA. He has started 31 games each of the past three years. He is a solid #3 pitcher. If he can have an ERA of around 4.00, he could very easily win 15-18 games. To me, Wells should be taken around the 12th round.

SP – Matt Clement

Last year, Clement was 9-13 with a 3.68 ERA. He strikes out more than a batter an inning. He spent the last three years with the Cubs where he put up good "other" numbers, but had a record of 35-36. You would like to think that he could continue to do much of the same with the Red Sox and if he does, he is another guy who could get 18-10 wins. If that happens, he is worthy of a 9th round pick.

SP – Tim Wakefield

38 year old Wakefield is now in his 12th season with the Red Sox. Every year, they decide whether he’ll start of come out of the ‘pen. And most years, he does great in whatever role they pick. But he wants to be a starter and he has earned that right. In 2004, he was 12-10 with a 4.87 ERA. The knuckle baller strikes out just 5.5 per 9 innings. I think he is a guy who could end up back in the ‘pen this year, so I would have to be cautious about taking him. But he will start the season in the rotation and will likely get run support, so he’s still worth a 21st round pick.

SP – Bronson Arroyo

28 year old Arroyo finally spent his first full season with a major league team. He made 29 starts. He was a very solid 10-9 with a 4.02 ERA. In 178+ innings, he struck out over7 an inning. 1.22 WHIP, and opponents hit just .249 against him. These are all good numbers, but it doesn’t assure Arroyo of making the rotation. That said, I would take him in about the 19th round.

Closer – Keith Foulke

I keep wanting to dismiss what Foulke has done the last six years. He isn’t the prototypical closer. He doesn’t overpower, but his great changeup makes him look like he throws hard. Last year was another great year for him. He pitched 83 innings in 72 games. He walked 79 and walked just 15. His WHIP was 0.94 and opponent’s hit just .206 against him. Actually, everything about his season looked good. But when you look at the fact that he was just 32 of 39 in save opportunities, it says more. If you’re in a league where Saves are big, the fact that Foulke plays on a team that usually wins by more than 3 runs hurts him. And 7 blown saves isn’t great. But, all said, Foulke is still worth a 13th round pick.

Reliever – Mike Timlin/Matt Mantei

Timlin is a very solid reliever. Last year, he was 5-4 with an ERA of 4.03. But, he got into 76 games and pitched 76.1 innings. He averaged 6.6 K/9 IP and walked just 19 hitters. The 38 year old is in his 15th season. 31 year old Mantei signed a deal with the Sox this offseason after years of injuries in Arizona. Last year, he pitched 10.2 innings in 12 games. He was 0-3 with a 11.81 ERA. The Sox are taking a chance because when healthy, he has always been solid. Neither is worth drafting though.

One 2 Watch – Wade Miller

The Astros decided to non-tender the 28 year old Miller because of injuries. Last year, he pitched just 88.2 innings in 15 starts. He went 7-7 and had an ERA of 3.35. These are very good numbers, however, arm problems made the Astros leery of signing him again. The Red Sox were more than willing to take a gamble on the big, hard-throwing righty. From 2001 to 2003, Miller won 45 games. This is a great gamble for the Red Sox and I would expect him to be in the rotation shortly! He is worth taking by the 18th round.

Team Fantasy Summary -
The Good – Schilling and Foulke.
The Bad – Age and injury questions in the rotation.
Question Marks – Will Schilling be the same? Will Clement finally get some run support and some wins? How good could Wade Miller be on this team?
 


New York Yankees


SP – Randy Johnson

OK, fantasy owners get excited when middle-of-the road pitchers like Matt Clement or David Wells go to the Red Sox because they should be able to get more wins. By the same thinking, fantasy owners must be going crazy over the idea of Randy Johnson pitching for the Yankees. Last year, Johnson had an 2.60 ERA. He struck out 10.6 hitters per nine innings. He had a WHIP of 0.90 and opponents hit just .197 against him. When you consider that he went 16-14 for a poor offense in Arizona, you can’t help but think 30 wins would be possible if he makes 30 starts. Of course, the likelihood of a 30 game winner is not good, but the 41 year old Johnson’s fantasy potential for 2005 is as high as it gets. The question is whether to take he or Johan Santana first in the early first round.

SP – Mike Mussina

Mike Mussina is still just 36 years old. I guess when I think of him, I assume he’s older. He missed some starts at the beginning of the year with an injury. He threw 164.2 innings in 27 starts. He was 12-9 with a 4.59 ERA. He has been a very durable pitcher. Before last year, he had thrown over 200 innings the previous nine seasons. He has a career record of 211-119 with a 3.59 ERA. In other words, he’s good. Consider drafting him in the 5th round.

SP – Carl Pavano

Pavano is another pitcher who has been a very average career pitcher. However, last year, he had a breakout year. The 29 year old went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA. His previous ERAs were 4.30 and 5.16. His career strikeout rate is less than 6 per nine innings. But I guess timing is everything. Pavano certainly has the size of an ace. He’s 6-5 and 240 pounds. He has good stuff, but he has never put it all together. But he is young and was the top free agent pitcher on the market this offseason. He also gets the Yankees run support, so he’s worth taking in the 7th round.

SP –Jaret Wright

Speaking of a guy who had just one good year and turned it into a big free agent signing, Jaret Wright might be the most ridiculous case. Another big (6-2, 230) 29 year old, Wright spent last year in the Braves rotation. He went 15-8 with a 3.28 ERA. Wright came up and pitched for the Indians in the 1997 World Series. Since then, he’s been nothing but a disappointment and very injury prone. Until the Padres released him late in the 2003 season, he was not good. But, he pitched in 9 games for the Braves bullpen that year and had a 2.00 ERA. Anyway, Wright is another guy who could go either way. Many say that he’s ready to go big-time. I’m a lot more leery. Wait until the 12th round to grab him.

SP – Kevin Brown

The Yankees were unable to unload the 39 year old who has just one more year left on his ridiculous 7 year, $105 million contract. When healthy, he can be dominant, as he was early in 2004. But then he got hurt, and then he struggled and then he punched a wall, and then he was bad in the postseason. So, what do you make of him from a fantasy perspective? Well, he will be the #5 starter and any Yankees starter is worth consideration. Even in last year’s strange season, Brown went 10-6 with a 4.09 ERA. But I would wait until the 20th round.

Closer – Mariano Rivera

Every year, I want to diminish what Rivera does because I get tired of hearing how great he has been in the post-season. And then Rivera has arguably his best season in 2004. He pitched 78.2 innings in 74 games. He was 4-2 with a 1.95 ERA and a career-high 53 saves. That comes after his 2003 season when he was 5-2 with 40 saves and a 1.66 ERA. In other words, the 35 year old really is that good. Take him by the 5th round.

Reliever – Tom Gordon

Flash Gordon has now been healthy for two straight years. I think that makes him pretty safe yet, he still is 37 years old with a sharp, arm-jarring slider. Last year, he was the most dominant reliever in baseball. He pitched a career high 80 games. In 89.2 innings, he stuck out 96 and walked just 23. He went 9-4 with a 2.21 ERA. His WHIP was 0.88 and opponents hit just .188 against him. He’s worth drafting late, just in case Rivera is hurt. In leagues were WHIP and ERA are important, Gordon is worth taking by the 17th round.

One 2 Watch – Tanyan Sturtze

Sturtze was 6-2 with a 5.27 ERA last year for the Yankees. May not seem like much, but he did a lot for the Yankees. He started a couple of game, and by the playoffs, Sturtze had earned Joe Torre’s trust. How will that play in 2005? Who knows? I mean, the Yankees also have added Felix Rodriguez and Mike Stanton and will hopefully get Steve Karsay back as well.

Team Fantasy Summary -
The Good - Johnson and Mussina. The bullpen.
The Bad – none.
The Question Marks – How will Pavano and Wright follow-up their 2004 seasons? Can Brown stay healthy all year again and will he stay around? Will Pavano, Wright and Johnson respond to pitching in New York?
 


Tampa Bay Devil Rays


SP – Mark Hendrickson

Don’t make anything out of me listing Hendrickson first on this list. Fact is, the Rays really don’t have a #1 starter yet. The 30 year old former NBA power forward has been trying to become a consistent major league pitcher. He got 30 starts each of the last two years. In 2004, he pitched 25 more innings. He dropped his ERA almost a run. All told, he was 10-15 with a 4.81 ERA. He’s tall, but is a soft-tosser who doesn’t strike out many, or walk any. Don’t take him until the 29th round, if at all.

SP – Dewon Brazelton

Brazelton was taken with the 3rd overall pick, following Joe Mauer and Mark Prior (and just ahead of Mark Teixeira and Gavin Floyd) in the 2001 draft! He made his big league debut with 2 games in 2002. In 2003, he started the season in the rotation. He got 10 starts, and was 1-6 with a 6.89. In 2004, he made 21 starts and went 6-8 with a 4.47 ERA. In 120.2 innings, he struck out just 64, but walked 53. That is the problem. If he can correct the control issues, Brazelton has a chance to be good. But for now, wait until the 28th round to pick the 6-4 righty.

SP – Scott Kazmir

The Rays got Kazmir for Victor Zambrano in the coup of the year. I still can’t believe that the Mets gave up Kazmir for a decent righty with control problems. Kazmir is 21 years old, left-handed and throws hard, with solid control. He was the 15th overall pick in 2002 out of high school. Last year, he dominated the Florida State League and moved up to AA. After the trade, he made four starts at AA for the Rays before being called up to Tampa. He made seven starts for the big club and went 2-3 with a 5.67 ERA. HE struck out 41 hitters in 33.1 innings. That’s over 11 per nine innings. Of course, you have to wonder why the Rays were so quick to bring him up? Why start his major league clock? Anyway, he’s got the best stuff on the staff, but still pitches in the best offensive division in baseball. So, don’t draft him until the 23rd round.

SP – Doug Waechter

After a very strong 2003 in which he moved from AA to the big leagues, Waechter took a step back in 2004. In 8 AAA starts, he was 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA. In 14 starts for the Rays, the 24 year old was 5-7 with a 6.01 ERA. He didn’t strike many out and walked about as many. Expect some improvement from him in 2005, but don’t draft him!

SP – Hideo Nomo

After winning 16 games in both 2002 and 2003 with the Dodgers, Nomo came unglued last year. Injuries played a factor as he made just 18 starts on the season. He went 4-11 with a 8.25 ERA. I really think it was just a bad year for Nomo. Now at 36, he signed a minor league deal with the Rays, but unless he is hurt, there is no way he doesn’t make this rotation. I think he may be worth a 25th round pick.

Closer – Danys Baez

Baez was actually very solid last year. He threw 68 innings in 62 games. He was 4-4 with 30 saves in 33 chances. He struck out just 6.6 per nine innings, and opponents hit just .237 against him. Baez is still just 27 years old. He is an example of closers on even poor teams still being worth drafting. Even the bad teams will usually win 60 games, and usually by close margins. I would consider Baez in the 15th round.

Reliever – Lance Carter

The 30 year old Carter was an All-Star in 2003. It was one of those things that wasn’t really deserved, but the team needed a pitcher for the roster and he had some saves. Soon after, Carter was removed from the team’s closer role. Last year, back in middle relief, Carter actually wasn’t too bad. In 56 games, he threw 80.1 innings. He was 3-3 with a 3.47 ERA. Don’t draft him!

One 2 Watch – Seth McLung

As a 22 year old in 2003, McLung went 4-1 with a 5.35 ERA for the Rays. Last year, he was injured and only pitched rehab in the minors. He made a couple of starts at AA and then just pitched some in relief at AAA. He should have a shot at the Rays staff if he’s able to stay healthy. I suppose I could have written about Denny Neagle, but I prefered to discuss someone with my first name. There aren’t many of us and we have to look out for each other.

Team Fantasy Summary -
The Good – Kazmir’s future.
The Bad – Pretty much everything else!
The Question Marks – How many runs will this staff give up in the AL East? Can Hideo Nomo regain his form from 2002 and 2003, and is he healthy? Will Brazelton finally meet his incredible potential?
 


Toronto Blue Jays


SP – Roy Halladay

After two seasons in which he threw over 500 innings, Halladay was shut down after just 21 starts last year because of a tired arm. Shocking, isn’t it? A year after winning the 2003 AL Cy Young Award, Halladay went just 8-8 with a 4.20 ERA. He’s still just 27, so I would expect a return to form for Halladay. That said, I wouldn’t expect a sub-4 ERA or 20 wins. Halladay doesn’t strike out excessive amounts of hitters and does give up hits. He will be solid, but I wouldn’t expect him to be a great any more. I would take him in the 10th round.

SP – Miguel Batista

The last four seasons, Batista has gone from starter to reliever and back and forth a lot. Last year, he made 31 starts and then got five saves without blowing a chance in seven relief appearances. As a starter, he was 10-12 with a 4.88 ERA. In the first half, he was 8-6 with a 4.02 ERA. In the second half, he was 2-7 with an ERA over 6.00. Which Batista will show up, and what role with the Blue Jays put him in. The answers to those questions will determine where to draft him. If he’s a starter, he could be worth a 16th round pick. If he’s in middle relief, don’t draft him.

SP – Ted Lilly

The 29 year old Lilly is another pitcher that I frequently relegate as a third tier kind of pitcher. He’s not big. He doesn’t throw particularly hard. But then you look at his numbers, and he is pretty good. Last year, he was 12-10 with a 4.06 ERA. He was able to strikeout 7.7 hitters per 9 innings. Opponents hit just .230 against him. In other words, he’s not an ace, but he is a solid middle of the order pitcher. Unfortunately, the Jays won’t give him a lot of run support, so slightly better than average numbers may not produce a lot of wins. Wait until the 16th round to draft him.

SP – David Bush

25 year old David Bush came up to the Jays midway through the season. He made an impression in his 16 starts. He went 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA. In 98 innings pitched, he struck out 64 and walked just 25. Those numbers were actually better than what he had done in 16 starts at AAA before his callup. There he was 6-6 with a 4.06 ERA. In 100 innings, he had struck out 88 and walked just 20. In 2003, he was at Hi-A and AA and went 7-3 at each stop. In other words, it is possible that Bush could be a quality big league starter. I would consider taking him in the 22nd round.

SP – Josh Towers

28 year old Josh Towers made 21 starts for the Jays last year and went 9-9 with a 5.11 ERA. He threw 116.1 innings and had a WHIP of 1.50 and opponents hit .310 against him. He was solid at AAA that last couple of years, but he has struggled at the big league level. You usually hear about AAAA players, but it is possible that Towers in a AAAA pitcher. Don’t draft him.

Closer – Justin Speier

The son of former Twins player, Chris, Justin has been a reliever in the big leagues since 1998. He may again be given a shot at the closer’s role. Last year, he pitched 69 innings in 62 appearances. He was 3-8 with a 3.68 ERA. He had seven saves in 11 opportunities. He struck out just 6.8 batters per 9 innings. He should be given another shot at the closer’s role, but he’ll have to earn it. If he gets it, still wait until the 21st round because it could be a closer-by-committee type of situation.

Reliever – Kerry Ligtenberg/ Billy Koch

It is interesting to judge the productivity of a reliever. Ligtenberg’s 2004 season may be a perfect illustration of that. He was 1-6 with a 6.38 ERA. Not good. But, of his 57 outings, he gave up no runs 38 times. He gave up one run 11 times. In other words, the Jays kept going to him, and for the most part, it worked. However, factor in the fact that in two outings he gave up 5 runs, that hurts an ERA with few innings. 33 year old Billy Koch goes back to Toronto, where much of his success has been. Last year, he went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA with the White Sox. He was then traded to the Marlins where he went 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA. The Marlins released him this offseason and the Jays are taking another chance on him. Don’t draft either.

Two 2 Watch – Dustan McGowan/Gustavo Chacin

McGowan was one of the bigger pitching prospects heading into the 2004 season. Last year, I compared him prospect-wise to the Twins JD Durbin. Unfortunately, McGowan needed Tommy John surgery and was out for the year after just six games. He’s still just 22 years old. On the other end of the spectrum is Gustavo Chacin. Chacin is 24 years old and spent the previous three years at AA, primarily as a reliever. Then last year he was moved into the AA rotation and was unreal. He made 25 starts and went 16-2 with a 2.86 ERA. He moved up to AAA and made two starts going 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA. That earned him a callup to the Blue Jays where he made two starts. He was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA. So yeah, he was 19-3 on the season. With an ERA well under 3.00. That warrants a definite shot at a rotation spot.

Team Fantasy Summary -
The Good – Halladay... probably.
The Bad – Uncertainty in the bullpen, 5th starter. .
The Question Marks – Who is the closer, or will it be by committee? What will Miguel Batista’s role be this year? Can Halladay stay healthy? Who will be the 4th and 5th starter?
 

Well, that is it for Part 8 of my Fantasy Baseball Preview. I hope you’ve enjoyed it. The same format will be used next when I discuss the AL West pitching staffs. Please let me know what you think. Any comments or suggestions would be welcomed! E-mail me.

TWINS WEEKEND

Friday - The Twins lost 5-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays. There were a couple of big stories on the day. The first is just the fact that Joe Mays started and went two innings. He gave up a hit and a walk, and struck out three hitters. Man, if he can be on, that would be great, and great for the team. The big thing may have been the fact that the Twins resigned Joe Nathan to a 2 year extension at about $10 million, meaning he will be around through the 2008 season, well, unless he is traded. Also, Juan Rincon was signed to a two year deal worth about $1.35 million.

 

Saturday - The Twins played a couple of split squad games. One team played the Pirates and beat them 6-2. The other team defeated the Red Sox 12-7. There were a few hitting stars. For instance, Jason Tyner went 2-6 with 3 RBI, including a home run. Remember that he has never hit a big league home run and he has had one homer in his professional career. Michael Restovich got into a game and DHed. He went 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI. Justin Morneau also made his first spring start after missing time due to health issues. He was 1-3 with a double and a walk. Todd Dunwoody went 3-4. Scott Baker looked good, pitching 2 perfect innings. Boof Bonser, David Gassner and Travis Bowyer each pitched two strong innings.


On interesting storyline is the SS position. Remember that Juan Castro was brought in because he has the ability to "pick it." Ha! Well, on Saturday, he was 0-1 with 2 BBs, but he committed 3 errors. Jason Bartlett on the other hand is known for his offense while struggling with his defense. So far this spring he has been flawless with the glove and continued to hit. Well, if he can do that for the next three weeks, we shouldn't have to worry about a bad shortstop getting significant playing time in the regular season.

 

Sunday - The Twins lost to the Blue Jays 6-5. My man, Luis Maza doubled in the go ahead run as a pinch-hitter in the top of the 9th. Unfortunately, the Twins were not able to hold the lead. Johan Santana looked good in his two innings, allowing one hit and striking out two. Jason Tyner continues to show he can hit, going 2-3 with an RBI and a stolen base. Todd Dunwoody is also showing a lot. He was 3-4 again, with a home run.

 

WEEKEND TWINS ARTICLES

FORMER TWINS

Here is how the former Twins players did over the weekend.

 

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

BLOG SPOTTING

It isn't a blog. It isn't even a collection of blogs. It's a marketplace for trading your passions for Minnesota baseball.

It is a site where a number of current bloggers, including myself, will post our Twins thoughts. But it is a place where you will also be able to contribute, and essentially write your own blog entries. Be sure to check it out frequently, sign up and take the time to contribute!

And on those notes, thank you again very much for stopping by my site. I hope you enjoy what you read, but if you have any questions or comments on anything, please feel free to e-mail me.

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