Well, here we are in the middle of May and I’m finally getting around to the April Summary. Before you read any further, you might want to check out my disclaimer and glossary of terms. If you don’t feel like reading them, then just jump right in. Enjoy! A California League Last First Pos AB [...]
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Padres Farm Report: Mike Darr/Gary Matthews
I’ve actually been meaning to write about these guys for quite some time, but for whatever reason (sheer laziness?) I haven’t gotten around to it until now. Anyway, Darr and Matthews are a couple of young outfielders who also happen to be sons of former major leaguers with the same name. Both are currently at [...]
Draft Watch 1998: Bubba Crosby
Bubba Crosby, OF, Rice University, Jr., 5-11, 185 lbs. Bubba Crosby is a lefty-swinging outfielder out of Houston who generates tremendous power from a strong lower body and an uppercut stroke that gets through the hitting zone in a hurry. He hits from a crouch, weight on his back foot, a la George Brett or [...]
Kerry Wood: Hope or Hype?
Kerry Wood, RHP, Chicago Cubs, 6-5, 190 lbs. Selected out of a Texas high school in the 1st round of the 1995 June draft, #4 overall, after Darin Erstad, Ben Davis, and Jose Cruz, Jr., Kerry Wood made his long-awaited major-league debut this afternoon in Montreal against the Expos, two months shy of his 20th [...]
Draft Watch 1998: Jeff Weaver
Jeff Weaver, RHP, Fresno State, Jr., 6-5, 200 lbs. Weaver is a tall, lanky right hander with a loose arm, who pitches from a three-quarters delivery and sometimes drops down to the side against righties, a la David Cone. His fastball runs in the low 90s, and he features a slow curve as his #2 [...]
Andruw Jones: Boom or Bust?
In 1996, 19-year-old outfielder Andruw Jones tore through the Atlanta Braves minor league system, beginning it at Class-A Durham, and ending it by becoming the youngest player in major league history to slug two homers in a World Series game. Coming into last season expectations for the phenom from Curacao were understandably high. But, like [...]
Age and Treachery Will Overcome Youth and Skill
It was recently suggested on the AOL STATS Sabermetrics Board that Tony Gwynn’s dramatic improvement at age 33-37 is largely due to the fact that the seasons during which he played at those ages coincide with the last expansion in 1993. But I believe there is more to it than this. While I’m sure expansion [...]
Put Me In, Coach!
You know, I really don’t like to gripe about player salaries. I mean, the whole salary structure is so far out of whack it’s not even funny, but I can’t really fault the players for that. If someone was going to pay me millions a year to copy edit, I certainly wouldn’t say, “Gee, that’s [...]
Padres Farm Report: Matt Clement
The Padres have fallen into the habit of drafting strong arms from Pennsylvania high schools. In 1995 they picked up catcher Ben Davis. Two years earlier, San Diego selected Matt Clement, an infielder with a lively arm who someone in the organization envisioned as a pitcher. Admittedly, Clement’s progress has been slow, as not until [...]
Padres Farm Report: Expansion Draft Aftermath
Before the expansion draft Padres GM Kevin Towers expressed concern that he would lose three players from the organization. As it turned out, the Padres lost only two. The first Padre taken, by Arizona with the 5th pick overall, was Gabe Alvarez. Alvarez, a second round draft choice in 1994 as a shortstop out of [...]
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