Bleacher Report - Articles by n.p. Rinaldi

The Unmaking of Corey Patterson

n.p. Rinaldi — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:59:39 -0500

His name is Corey Patterson. He is the hope of a hopeless franchise, one of those five-tool phenomenons apparently invented in a science lab... with Willie Mays potential wrapped in a Kirby Puckett body... Impact player is a term almost inadequate...

There was a time when Corey Patterson was considered the hyperbolic savior of the Chicago Cubs.

In 1999, he was to Wrigley Field what Johnny Kilroy and Motorboat Jones were to the post-Jordan United Center—a glimmer of hope.

In his first season out of Atlanta's Harrison High, 19-year-old Patterson ravaged single-A pitchers of the Midwest League in one of the better all-around pro debuts in recent history.

With 35 doubles, 17 triples, 20 home runs and 33 stolen bases, Patterson seemingly defined what MLB's next-generation offensive threat ought to look like.

During Spring Training 2000, the Chicago media and fans, still reeling from the Tuffy Rhodes, Jerome Walton and Kevin Orie let-downs from the previous decade, were already clamoring to see Corey in the Majors.

The Cubs didn't give in to temptation and instead sent Patterson to Double-A for the 2000 season. It was the beginning of his end.

Although he left his mark in the Southern League with 26 doubles, five triples and 22 home runs, it was obvious that Corey was beginning to sacrifice his plate discipline in return for the power numbers.

His batting average dropped 59 points and his OPS tumbled 121 points that year in Double-A ball.

It also became noticeable that his strikeout problem was not just about youthful impatience, which many of his apologists chalked it up to in 1999.

The wheels really started to come off Patterson's Top Prospect Caravan at Triple-A Iowa the following season.

If Cubs fans and management had overlooked Corey's poor plate discipline in 2000 in favor of the promise that his power offered, they would be in for an unpleasant surprise come 2001.

That season, Corey played Randy Hundley to his journeyman teammate, Chris Snopek's Billy Williams. In other words, he was no more than your average Triple-A player.

Nevertheless, Chicago called him up for 131 big league at-bats toward the end of 2001.

From there, his Major League experience can be defined as a series of injuries and adjustments to his approach at the plate, where he struggled to find the correct balance between getting on-base enough and producing enough power to justify a spot in the lineup.

After four full seasons as a starting outfielder in Chicago, Patterson compiled an unbearable 5:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The Cubs extinguished Corey's star in 2006 by sending him to Baltimore in exchange for two minor league afterthoughts.

A positive addition to Baltimore's lineup in 2006 where he hit 16 home runs and stole 45 bases, Patterson slipped back down the development ladder in 2007 with an odious .690 OPS.

At age 28, Corey now gets a chance with Cincinnati and a second shot to impress Dusty Baker, his manager during his Chicago days.

Center field is a weakness for the team, so Patterson couldn't have asked for a better situation to showcase any talent he has left.

I'd like to believe Patterson will make the Reds' opening day roster, but in reality, he's more likely to find himself on a bus to Triple-A Louisville come the fourth week in March.

For the time, he'll provide the Reds with outfield depth in case of injury. However, if Corey can turn back the clock and perform in Triple-A like the baseball world expected him to do in 2001, then we might finally witness the first step in the making of Corey Patterson.

The Joy of a Minor League Draft, Part 2

n.p. Rinaldi — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:14:32 -0500

In Part One of this article, I introduced my AL-only, fantasy keeper league and the anticipation that accompanies the Minor League Draft.

Now that Round 1 of the draft has come and gone, I present the results with commentary as promised. Please keep in mind that many of the players who are currently considered top prospects in the American League were drafted in previous years by league owners.

Here's how I would have ranked the draft-eligible prospects going into the first round:

Carlos González
Ian Kennedy
David Price
Desmond Jennings
Ryan Royster
Rick Porcello
Jed Lowrie
Alexei Ramírez
Mike Moustakas

THE RESULTS

1) David Price, Starting Pitcher (Tampa Bay Rays)

Having the draft's number one pick is an unenviable position. Conventional wisdom states that whichever player is selected first, chances are he'll be a sure bet. However, the reality is that every player out there is equal parts success and failure.

Was David Price the best fantasy pick at No. 1 this year? Only time will tell. He sure is a big athletic kid with three-plus pitches. Throughout his college career he was practically unhittable and won nearly every collegiate award possible in 2007.

That said, he has absolutely no professional experience and because of that I have a hard time gauging how he'll respond to the type of coaching and hitting he'll see when he finally makes his debut. Can he strengthen his mechanics in order to become a consistently dominant pitcher?

In all likelihood, Price will progress through the Minor Leagues and find a spot in the Rays' rotation by 2010. If he becomes an ace or second starter, he will have fulfilled his potential.

2) Rick Porcello, Starting Pitcher (Detroit Tigers)

Every one likes a young gun, but I didn't realize they liked them this much.

Porcello is one of the best pitching prospects to come out of prep school in a long time. The hype around him reminds me of the anticipation that met Joe Mauer when he was drafted by the Twins in 2001.

Porcello brings four pitches and a great pitcher's body to the table. Although some project him as a future closer, nothing short of a disaster would convince the Tigers that this guy shouldn't be a starter.

Again though, with no professional experience and a 19-year-old arm, I wouldn't have predicted Porcello to jump so high up in the draft. High school pitchers without at least some pro experience can be scary. Does anyone remember Jeff Allison?

Look for Porcello to spend the season in A-ball. If he comes out unscathed and still sporting that cannon for an arm, this pick will be genius.

3) Mike Moustakas, Shortstop (Kansas City Royals)

Moustakas came onto the scene last year as a mature prep star from California and was selected by the Royals with the second overall pick in the 2007 MLB amateur draft. The Royals signed the 18-year-old in time to get him some Rookie ball action, despite the fact that he is represented by Scott Boras.

Limited to 40 at-bats at Idaho Falls last year, Moustakas still was able to demonstrate the pop that so attracted the Royals. A sweet swinging lefty, scouts rave that Moustakas can flat out rake. He has a patient swing that puts the head of the bat in the strike zone, and he uses his size (6'0" 190 lbs.) well to produce power.

He's projected to start in A-ball this year, but due to his mature approach, don't be shocked to see a promotion to AA if he can keep his batting average above .300 and demonstrate plus gap power early on.

4) Chris Tillman, Starting Pitcher (Baltimore Orioles)

At this point in our league's draft, there were still plenty of good prospects out there who posted big numbers in 2007. So you have to ask yourself, why Tillman?

This is the sort of pick that can ruin your draft karma and earn you an "F" come time to hand out draft grades.

Tillman has two years of pro experience under his belt with little to show for it other than mediocre statistics. An average ERA to go with an average WHIP and K-to-BB ratio rarely equate to a first round selection.

If Chris has an upside though, it has to be his size and age. He'll turn 20 in April and has the physical assembly you look for in a southpaw.

Let's hope he's a late bloomer.

5) Matt Wieters, Catcher (Baltimore Orioles)

If you have a bat, can swing it, and are willing to don an Orioles' uniform, you might just have the most potential for immediate job growth of any profession, anywhere in this country, from Provincetown to Pasadena.

Everyone knows the Orioles need to start hitting and Wieters, the product of Georgia Tech's hit machine, was an easy target for the team last June during the amateur draft. Wieters hits from both sides of the dish for power and average.

His collegiate career reminds me a little bit of Pat Burrell and Phil Nevin with all the plus power and plus strikeouts that will probably translate into during Wieters' pro career.

Positionally, Matt's a big catcher at 6'5", but scouts project him to remain behind the plate since his game-calling and defensive abilities have steadily improved through his college career. Consequently, as a hard-hitting catcher, his fantasy value greatly increases.

Out of necessity, I predict Wieters finds himself in Camden Yards come Opening Day 2009.

6) Fautino De Los Santos, Starting Pitcher (Oakland A's)

I don't know what's more impressive about De Los Santos—his fastball (>96 mph) or the fact that Billy Beane was able to wrangle him away from the White Sox along with top pitching prospect Gio González in exchange for Nick Swisher.

In 2007, Fautino mowed down nearly every batter he faced in the Sally League, showing off an electric arm. At the same time, De Los Santos lacked a viable second and third pitch to complement his fastball and had a tendency to get wild with his pitches.

He'll start the season at high-A Stockton and work on harnessing his repertoire. He has one of the livest arms in all of baseball, but if he can't settle down and become a pitcher he may be destined for the bullpen.

7) Ian Kennedy, Starting Pitcher (New York Yankees)

For all the pundits who enjoy Yankee farm bashing, the young pinstripers just might have the last laugh. While Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain have a bountiful arsenal of nasty pitches between them, Ian Kennedy is the unsung arm of the bunch.

Kennedy has consistently found success at every level, handling batters better than many of his counterparts who were deemed to have better "stuff." It's true that his ratios don't blow you away, but his W-L record is uncanny. Ian wins where he goes and pitches well. He attracts a low ERA and WHIP, which are—call me traditional and old-fashioned—still the two best categories by which to judge a pitcher.

Scouts also love Kennedy's intelligence and his artistic approach on the mound, which is a nice way of saying he paints the corners. Although that's become a taboo categorization for a pitcher these days, if you can paint and win, then why not?

I'm holding back from making the Greg Maddux comparison so to make myself feel better I'll say David Cone.

From a bang for your buck point of view, this was the second best pick of my league's draft. Stay tuned for the first.

8) Desmond Jennings, Outfielder (Tampa Bay Rays)

Jennings and his Columbus teammate, Ryan Royster, tore up Sally League pitchers last season. While Royster deals with the question of how his gaudy power numbers will translate against more sophisticated pitching, Jennings basks in the glow of his more humble plate approach.

A .401 OBP combined with 21 doubles and nine home runs in 387 at-bats leaves the 21-year-old with room to grow into his stroke without sacrificing discipline. Add to that 45 SB and the Rays might have another Carl Crawford on their hands. The difference is that there's no rush to get Jennings into the big leagues. Watch for a possible debut in 2009 by which time I suspect his power numbers will have slightly increased.

A wonderful late, first round selection.

9) Carlos González, Outfielder (Oakland A's)

Every good draft need ones...A steal that is. The player who was on top of my draft board goes last. Unfortunately, I traded my first round pick last season, otherwise it could have been me who pulled off this coup.

As evidenced by his fall, González is not without his vocal detractors who say he strikes out too often and does not hit for a high enough average to be a relevant all-around force in the Majors.

He may not be a perennial All-Star, but fantasy Minor League drafts are not about that. If you can recognize the player with the most talent who is also closest to getting a shot with their big club then you're halfway to a player who will contribute to your team for years to come.

Talent is talent is talent and it will adapt anywhere at any level.

It may take González half a season to find his swing in Oakland, but he has shown enough polish and power through his five Minor League seasons, as well as the ability to adapt that it warrants considering him the hitter furthest along the development curve in this year's draft.

In Part Three of this article, we'll highlight some sleepers selected in the draft's later rounds and reveal the fates of the prospects profiled in Part One.

The Joy of a Minor League Draft, Part 1

n.p. Rinaldi — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:54:59 -0500

I'm not sure if many fantasy baseball aficionados ever get the chance to enjoy the anticipation that accompanies a Minor League Draft. Going into my sixth season of an AL-only, fantasy keeper league, even the most jaded of my league's veterans still clamor as the draft approaches like adolescent girls at the sight of Derek Jeter.

And who can blame us for getting so feverish at the thought of adding a player like Rick Porcello, Matt Wieters or Mike Moustakas to our rosters?

Prospecting for minor leaguers gives us the chance to separate the proverbial Billy Butler's from the Hee Seop Choi's. It's the time of the fantasy off-season where you can claim for sure that you know more baseball than the next guy, and years down the road still brag about how it was you who had the judgement to pass up Rocco Baldelli in favor of Hanley Ramírez.

So for those of you who consider a fantasy draft the equivalent of joy riding through Mudville with Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams, I plan to chronicle and profile the first round of selections for my league's 2008 draft in Part 2 of this series as well as highlight some sleepers selected in later rounds in the final installment.

For now, I offer descriptions of four players I consider marginalized top prospects. These players may or may not be drafted. In Part 3, we'll explore the trends and schools of thought that may dictate their fates on draft day.

For the sake of clairty, I present these following players as exhibits so as not to confuse the list with a ranking.

A) Tyler Robertson, Starting Pitcher (Minnesota Twins)

Of the four players listed here, Robertson perceivably has the brightest future. At the tender age of 19, he breezed through hitters at single-A Beloit of the Midwest League in 2007. Showing exceptional control for a pitcher his age, he improved in every statistical category, posted a 3.72 K-to-BB ratio and only surrendered three home runs in more than 102 innings pitched. So why doesn't Tyler appear on Baseball Prospectus' Top 100 list and why is he only considered the Twins' fourth-best prospect by Baseball America? Is the Twins' system that good? Eh, I think not.

Questions are raised by the pundits about Robertsons' throwing motion and the velocity on his fastball. Many believe that a sloppy/deceptive delivery is to credit for his success last year. At the same time, such a delivery, they argue, may heighten his chances of a severe arm injury. As for his fastball, some scouts have noted it actually has lost velocity since he was scouted in high school while others report it is consistently around 89-92 mph.

Fantasy teams are wont to shy away from young arms to begin with. Will that mentality combined with the doubts that surround Robertson prevent his talents from being heralded in this year's draft? We'll find out...

B) John Jaso, Catcher (Tampa Bay Rays)

John Jaso is the least known of the prospects in this article, but that doesn't mean one shouldn't pay him some attention. Jaso has a career .300 average and .836 OPS in nearly 1,500 at-bats throughout the minors. In each of his seasons, his K-to-BB ratio has improved coming in at 1.16 for his career and a staggering 0.83 in 2007. With plate discipline like this, you might think his power numbers would suffer. Although not overwhelming, he averaged 12 home runs and 24 doubles the past three years. For all that, the only accolade awarded him by Baseball America in their annual breakdown of Tampa Bays' prospects: Best Strike Zone Discipline.

There are few things that keep John Jaso from getting noticed. One, he is buried deep within Tampa Bays' farm system, which is arguably the best in all of baseball. Two, he is a catcher, which should help his fantasy baseball value, but which rather brands him with the purgatorial question: Will this catcher remain a catcher? He doesn't win awards for his defense, which at some point, may warrant a change of position. Then, his average power becomes an issue if, like most catchers, he moves 90 feet down the line to play first base. And three, he is an older prospect. By the end of this year he will be 25 years old, and to say that Minor League analysts aren't ageist is like saying Billy Beane isn't a sabermetric.

Some of these categorizations shouldn't hurt Jaso's chances of being drafted, but they still do.

C) Josh Rodríguez, Shortstop (Cleveland Indians)

A product of perennial college powerhouse, Rice University, the 23-year-old Rodríguez spent the past two seasons in A-ball honing his hitting approach while leaving his mark with above average athletic ability. In 493 at-bats last season, Josh managed 20 doubles, nine triples and 20 homeruns. He also stole 21 bases in 29 attempts. Given his athleticism, their is talk of moving Rodríguez to second base, third base or the outfield—changes that may eventually lead to better and more opportunities in the big leagues

The knocks on Rodríguez have been his long, pull-heavy swing, which he and his coaches have worked extensively on the past two years. As he made adjustments, his batting average has wallowed out around .263, down from his consistent mid-.300s batting average in college. Injury concerns have also kept him from reaching the top prospect limelight although that issue seems to have dissipated being that he has demonstrated a clean bill of health during the past two Minor League seasons.

Optimistically, Josh has the potential to be a Craig Biggio / Brian Roberts-type player, but he'll have to show he can hit for more average in AA during 2008. His 1.39 K-to-BB ratio along with a second half batting average of .287 would suggest he is moving in the right direction. He is one of the more coveted late-round players on my Minor League draft board.

D) Nick Hagadone, Pitcher (Boston Red Sox)

This 6'5" 230-pound lefty who was lights out last year in 10 starts for the Lowell Spinners of the NY-Penn League, has perhaps the worst designation for a pitching prospect on draft day. He's a "tweener". The Red Sox are unsure if Hagadone projects better as a starter or reliever.

Hagadone spent his career at the University of Washington closing games, but since he had developed three plus pitches (fastball >94, slider, changeup) the Red Sox gave him a chance at starting. He baffled short-season A-ball hitters, so one is inclined to believe the Red Sox will start Hagadone out in Greenville of the Sally League or even Lancaster of the advanced-A California League to see if he can keep up his pace from 2007.

History has shown that fantasy drafts are not the place to find your team's future closer. Unheralded relievers come out of the woodwork in the Major Leagues more often than a Manny Ramírez trade request. Keeper league owners tend to shy away from tweeners like Hagadone until their role is solidifed. However, the fact that Baseball America ranks Hagadone as the number eight prospect in a Red Sox system oozing with talent speaks tremendously to his upside. Right now, if his remains on the track of a starting pitcher, I believe he projects out as John Maine quality. It will be interesting to see if one team takes their chances with that.

Washington Nationals Look to Turn Other Teams' Trash Into Their Own Treasure

n.p. Rinaldi — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:04:52 -0500

With the christening of their new ballpark only weeks away, the Nationals finally look like they're beginning to take root in D.C. Long gone are the days of contraction talks and chartered flights from Montreal to San Juan back when it was the shame of the league to call yourself an Expo and the organization's motto was "Anywhere else or bust."

And although the pall of mediocrity has haunted the team since its move to the nation's capital in 2005, they kept their heads held high, employing one of the game's most revered legends, Frank Robinson, as manager for their first two years in D.C. before bringing upstart manager, Manny Acta into the fold last year to help move the organization toward a positive future.

Acknowledging that the team still has a long way to go in one of the most competitive and cut-throat divisions in baseball, the NL East, the Nats made three relatively minor trades this past off-season that illustrate the organization's willingness to go where others will not and ability to act upon creative baseball thinking.

TRADE #1—November 30, 2007

Nationals receive Lastings Milledge from Mets for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church

In the first of their "jail break" trades, the Nationals acquired Mets' problem child, outfielder Lastings Milledge, who had fallen out of good graces in Queens due to his reputation as the resident punk in the Mets' mostly-veteran clubhouse.

Add to that Milledge's lackadaisical approach in the outfield, which made even Manny Ramírez look like Roberto Clemente, as well as his inability to provide immediate potency to the Mets' lineup, and it became clear that his days in Flushing were numbered.

Recognizing a good opportunity when they saw one, the Nats struck while the iron was hot and claimed the once top prospect in exchange for a lifetime .252 catcher, Schneider, and a 29-year old outfielder, Church, who in his first shot at a starting job in 2007 demonstrated the ability to post mid-level power numbers.

In what I would call a win-win trade for both teams, the Nationals fortified their long-term outfield situation with the soon-to-be 23-year old Milledge, who, although often stigmatized by New York fans and media, made strides last year in improving his OBP and SLG.

With a likely starting job lined up for him in center field, Milledge should continue to steadily improve while gaining a year to mature on a club removed from the glare and criticism of New York City.

Also, trading Schneider allowed the Nationals to slightly upgrade at catcher with the off-season signing of Paul LoDuca.

TRADE #2—December 3, 2007

Nationals receive Elijah Dukes from Devil Rays for Glenn Gibson

A few days after adding Milledge, the thrill of trading for another bad boy was too much to resist, and the second of the Nationals' "jail break" trades brought Elijah Dukes north from Tampa Bay.

Over the past two seasons, Dukes' status as a top prospect has suffered while his well-publicized criminal rap sheet has grown. Once considered an all-around athlete with the potential to produce 15-20 HR, 30+ 2B, and 15+ SB per year, the doubts that surround Elijah's composure left the Devil Rays feeling frustrated. The fact that the organization has one of the deepest minor league systems in the league, gave the Rays the luxury of moving Dukes.

In return, the Nationals parted ways with 20-year old prospect, Glenn Gibson.

Gibson started 15 games over the past two seasons for Vermont of the NY-Penn League. He is known to have a low 90s fastball, plus curve, and relentless work ethic, which he enlisted to impress in nearly every statistical category during those 15 starts. Gibson is still far from seeing Major-league action, but could continue to raise his projected ceiling this upcoming year.

Don't be surprised to see him start in A-ball with a mid-season promotion to AA.

Meanwhile, Dukes will compete with Wily Mo Peña to start in left field for the Nationals this spring.

Peña had an above average showing in 2007 with limited plate appearances, but is prone to inconsistency and is generally a dodgy fielder. Some have tipped Dukes to get the starting nod although his spring training performance is likely to go a long way in deciding whether or not that actually happens. Like Milledge, Duke's could be a case where a change of scenery makes all the difference.

TRADE #3—December 4, 2007

Nationals receive Tyler Clippard from Yankees for Jonathan Albaladejo

Twenty-four hours after acquiring Elijah Dukes, Washington pulled the trigger on their third trade in just five days. In return for Jonathan Albaladejo, a reliever who was lights out for the Nationals in 14 appearances at the end of last season, they received Tyler Clippard, a now 23-year-old soft-throwing right-hander.

Clippard made his big league debut for the Yankees in 2007, but failed to impress New York's unforgiving management due to his inability to translate four average pitches into practical success. Going into last season, Clippard had strung together four consecutive minor league seasons where he posted strong K-to-BB ratios, low WHIPs, and solid ERAs. However, Tyler couldn't seem to find his groove in 2007, going through AA, AAA and finally the Majors without putting his stamp on the mound.

At 6'4" and 170 pounds, Clippard is still young enough and still has plenty of room to fill out his frame, which could add velocity to his fastball that hovers around 91 mph. Scouting reports complement his change-up but remain lukewarm about his third and fourth pitches—a two-seam fastball and a curveball.

At this point in baseball's history, logic dictates that any pitcher will find more success going against National League lineups than those of the American League—especially those of the AL East. This should give the Nationals hope enough, and they will probably assign Clippard to AAA to get his confidence back and provide a reliable call-up for what has been an oft-injured rotation.

Best-case scenario—Clippard reserves a spot in Washington's 2009 rotation.

Worst-case scenario—He becomes the next Mark Hendrickson.

While Washington's bullpen loses depth minus the bulky Albaladejo, any time a team can get a former top prospect (just one year removed for this status) for a reliever, you can't blame them for jumping at the chance.

Without surrendering much talent, the Nationals gave themselves a shot to revive three former top prospects. While losing an arm like Glenn Gibson's may prove costly in the long run, one has to believe that overall the Nats received much more than they dealt away.

While the national media drooled this past winter over the Johan Santana and Miguel Cabrera trades (and rightly so), which seemed to blind everything in the periphery, the Nationals deserve credit for taking a chance and thinking creatively.

K.C. Royals Go from Odious to Trey-mendous

n.p. Rinaldi — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:25:38 -0500

As everyone knows, the Royals have been the kind of team that, when they go on the road, an opponent's most die-hard season ticket holders plan their summer vacations. Their attraction value has been nil (unless you count Joey Gathright jumping over cars as an attraction) since the early 90's. But the truth is, like a foul-faced pug or a dorty Himalayan cat, the Royals have been so ugly that they're actually beginning to look good.

Years of mediocrty have left the farm system with high draft picks which have resulted in a fresh crop of young, highly-talented Major league-ready players. Quality prospects are beginning to line up like the rows of corn so prevalent around Kansas City.

Add to that a fresh-faced and hungry general manager, Dayton Moore, who cut his teeth assisting one of the finest general managers in the game, Atlanta's Jon Schuerholz, and the Royals have at least put a swagger back in their step if not put the league on notice that they're for real.

If it was new general manager, Moore and the hope of the team's young prospects that brought back that swagger in 2007 then it was the hiring of manager Trey Hillman that brought the muscle this past fall.

Hired in October, not many people outside of baseball (or Japan's Hokkaido island) knew much about this journeyman Texan who never played or managed at the Major-league level.

Hillman had spent the previous five seasons as manager of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, going toe-to-toe in Japan's Pacific League with fellow ex-pat and Chiba Lotte manager, Bobby Valentine. Two of those five seasons, the Ham Fighters won the pennant and once went on to be crowned champions of Japan.

Like Valentine did in 1996 with the Mets, Hillman now returns from the Far East tasked with awaking the Royals from their decade-long slumber. For a team that has been mired in old school managing and dried-up baseball legacy (see managers Bell, Peña, Boone), Hillman comes with no pretenses.

As a minor league player in the Twins' and Indian's systems, he never hit a home run during his three seasons of play. He was caught stealing more times than he was successful and posted a career .179 batting average.

After hanging up his cleats, Hillman went on to scout for the Indians in 1988 before joining the Yankees as a minor league coach in 1990. In his first year as coach of the Oneonta Yankees of the NY-Penn League, Hillman claimed the league's best record and championship. The Yankees promoted him the very next year to signle-A Greensboro where he coached Derek Jeter during the young shortstop's first two professional seasons.

He continued his minor league coaching career in 2001 and took a position in player development with the Texas Rangers, having been revered as the Yankees' best minor league mentor of the previous decade. And for all those years, Joe Torre and George Steinbrenner took the credit.

Now, with the job that perhaps no one else would want, Hillman might be the only one who can succeed. It certainly won't be easy. He'll have to start slowly, give Alex Gordon confidence to take his game to the next level, get Billy Butler's bat in the lineup everyday, help Zach Greinke not to worry so much, inspire RF Mark Teahen to hit more than 7 homeruns, find consistency in the bullpen, get enough Sunday matinee tickets for all Mark Grudzielanek's friends at the retirement home, keep José Guillén honest, and of course, make sure Joey Gathright doesn't hurt himself playing with those cars.

Shea Stadium: Did It Ever Feel Like Home?

n.p. Rinaldi — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:04:52 -0500

Yes, I will admit it does bear resemblance to a toilet bowl. And you're right, I haven't forgotten about the time my seat fell out from under me or how for five years straight I couldn't land a player's autograph to save my rotator cuff.

I do, in fact, recall sitting in traffic for three hours after games and asking myself, "Was all this worth coming to watch Pete Harnisch and Rico Brogna?" Or sitting in the upper deck for three hours wondering, "Doesn't Pat Tabler look a heck of a lot like David Hasselhoff?"

But there I was every year, on the telecharge booking Opening Day tickets, on the Whitestone Bridge paying outrageous tolls, on the seat of my pants trying to convince Howie, the 80-year old usher that we did in fact have box seats behind home plate.

Yet, I have to say I will miss that old bum, Shea Stadium—the jazzy neon baseball players tacked to its facade, the primary, multi-colored levels that make each seating section look like a different Fischer Price world.

Although this relic of a stadium holds fond memories for me, I have to think that few outside of the New York Metropolitan area will ever miss its graces. While uptown Yankee Stadium will be forever commemorated and bedazzled, Shea seems to cry out for the wrecking ball. Even the Mets' website heralds the new Citi Field with no shame. Practically every day the latest update appears, revealing in what pattern bricks will be laid or from where the porcelain used to make the urinals comes. The changing of the guard cannot come soon enough.

The Yankees have nary a mention of their soon-to-be home, Macombs Dam Park's "New Yankee Stadium" on their website. After all, why should they? They still are proud to claim Yankee Stadium as the home where players become legends.

Sounds nice, right? Wouldn't you want to go there?

Now, if the Mets had a stadium like that—a shrine—then things might be different. The only legends I know of to ever come out of Shea Stadium were Pete Flynn and Sidd Finch.

Maybe it will be different this year. Maybe the Mets ride that chunk of steel and concrete into late October and take the World Series home for game seven (cross your fingers that the NL wins the All-Star game this year). They rise victoriously to the occasion and give everyone a little something to remember... something that they hopefully won't forget in the time it takes them to get out of the parking lot.

Our Man From Havana: A Snapshot of Alexei Ramírez

n.p. Rinaldi — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:50:56 -0500

When the White Sox announced the signing of Cuban international, Alexei Ramírez to a four-year, $4.75 million contract late last year, the amateur baseball world was abuzz with opinion and doubt over the long-term prospects of this relatively unknown slugger.

Looking at the general lack of superstar success that Cuban hitters have encountered, my own support for Yuniesky Betancourt notwithstanding, as they transition to the Major Leagues, should we consider Ramírez a legitimate candidate to help the White Sox solidify their offense or a product of baseball's hype machine?

While preliminary reports from White Sox camp laud Ramirez' glove work, judgment on his approach at the plate seems to be guarded for the moment.

General comparisons made over the winter likened Ramírez' swing to that of the Cubs' Alfonso Soriano and Detroit's Edgar Renteria.

Curiously enough, Ramírez is listed at 6'1" and 180 pounds—exactly the same as Soriano. And although the White Sox will be dreaming about Alexei posting Soriano-like power numbers, one Chicago Sun-Times reporter has already joked that Ramírez looks more like an athlete training to run the Boston Marathon than compete for a spot on the 25-man roster.

All physical exaggerations aside, Alexei does have a history of hitting for power as he posted a .338 BA while slugging .578 with 20 HR last year for Pinar del Río of the Cuban National League, which some pundits have equated to the single-A, Midwest League or single-A Short Season, NY-Penn League.

However, with what has been described as a long, loopy, fastball swing, Ramírez will most likely have his work cut out for him as he learns to handle Major League-quality off-speed pitches and attempts to replicate his power achievements from Cuba.

The growing pains that are sure to come with his adjustment period will undoubtedly show throughout spring training. In turn, the White Sox will have to ponder whether or not to break camp with Alexei or assign him to AAA for a couple months to accumulate experience.

What makes this decision harder—or easier, depending on how you look at it—is the lack of a formidable option at second baseman to open the year.

With Danny Richar stuck for the time being in the Dominican Republic with US visa issues, Ramírez is competing with two underwhelming and familiar players, Pablo Ozuna and Juan Uribe, for 2B duties.

The more face-time Ramírez accrues in front of coaching staff and media, the more you have to think that he'll become Chicago's 'Great Havana Hype.' Starting the season in platoon with Richar and filling Ozuna's roster spot (since Ramírez can also double as a fourth or fifth OF) may be the most likely result with a mid-season move to become the starter if he can adapt and weather the possibility of a tumultuous first half.

Because I have a soft spot for player-parallels, I'm tempted to compare Ramírez with another 2B, Orlando Hudson. I would not be surprised to see Alexei follow the same age 26+ growth curve as Hudson, eventually becoming a top-tier 2B/SS in the American League, contributing all-around positive numbers in a diverse set of statistical categories.

The Case for Asdrubal Cabrera and Yuniesky Betancourt, Part Two

n.p. Rinaldi — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:05:20 -0500

In Part One of this fantasy baseball note, we set the scene for our headline players, Asdrubal Cabrera and Yuniesky Betancourt.

As I try to convince myself and the throngs of skeptical fantasy owners out there about the value of these players, I think it will be helpful to do some statistical comparisons.

Beginning with Asdrubal and comparing him with another young American League 2B, Robinson Canó, I believe we'll start to see some similarities between their first Major League experiences.

RC: .297 BA/.320 OBP/.458 SLG/4.25 K-to-BB with ~33% of hits for extra bases
AC: .283 BA/.354 OBP/.421 SLG/1.71 K-to-BB with ~31% of hits for extra bases

Of course, it can be argued that Canó produced those numbers in 522 AB and that Cabrera's sampling was only 159 AB in his first season.

However, with Cabrera's impressive K-to-BB ratio against Major League pitching and a Minor League ratio of 1.83 accumulated over nearly 1,500 AB, a patient approach at the plate and ability to make contact provides a great opportunity to translate itself into an even higher OBP and SLG as he continues to mature against Major League pitching.

Cabrera might not hit for as much power as Canó, who racked up 41 doubles and 19 HR in 2007, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him consistently bat above .300 and perhaps even tickle a .400 OBP, which might contribute to making both these players All-Star regulars at 2B in the American League for years to come.

Plus, if the Indians open up their running game (only 72 SB last season as a team), Cabrera's high OBP could pay dividends in the stolen base department. He stole 23 bases in 96 games last season while with Akron of the Eastern League (AA).

In my team's case, it made much more sense to sign Asdrubal Cabrera for $13 per year over four years than try to sign Canó who now commands $34 per year in my particular league.

For reference, since Cabrera qualifies at both 2B and SS (and we already covered SS in Part One), here are the contracts awarded to this year's crop of free agent 2B in my league:

Robinson Canó (4 years, $34 per year)
Brian Roberts (1 year, $25 per year)
Aaron Hill (2 years, $21 per year)
Asdrubal Cabrera (4 years, $13 per year)

At first glance it may seem more difficult to defend Yuniesky Betancourt than it was to do so for Cabrera. I ran into the same problem when it came time to sign him. Can this guy actually produce or is he another Cristian Guzman or Omar Infante-type?

Betancourt has been consistent over his first two Major League seasons, hitting .289 with a .310 OBP and 8 HR in 2006 and .308 OBP, 9 HR in 2007.

Although consistent, these stats don't jump out at you. He is most glaringly hindered by an inability to draw walks, which in turn damages his runs scored and stolen bases.

However, given my team's situation as described in Part One, I realized that I wasn't in need of a "six tool" player but rather had to look at what Betancourt does well in order to see if he can produce in at least three statistical categories. If he could do that for my team and cost one-third as much as Jhonny Peralta, he would be a worthy replacement.

Taking a look at Yuniesky's situational hitting stats, I became much more optimistic:

Runners On: .325 BA / .344 OBP / .439 SLG
RISP (<2outs): .345 BA / .365 OBP / .476 SLG
RISP (2outs): .290 BA / .319 OBP / .420 SLG

Each of these situational stats are above his season totals and go a long way to explaining why he drove in 20 more runs in 2007 than he did in 2006 with 22 less at-bats. Since it is Spring Training and hope does spring eternal, I see no reason why Betancourt will not hit just as well in these same situations in 2008, boosting his RBI total once again.

Furthermore, the talk coming out of Mariners camp this spring is that the they will be a team on the run. Manager, John McLaren has stated he hopes that Betancourt will steal between 20 and 40 bases this year, which would also indicate he anticipates Yuniesky will raise his OBP to a level that would allow him to run so often.

I may be accused of drinking the Yuni-Aid since Betancourt's OBP actually declined last year and he did only steal five bases, but with the prospect of a season that could resemble .315 OBP / .430 SLG / 75+ R / 10+ HR / 70+ RBI / 15+ SB, I'd be crazy not to give Betancourt a shot given the lack of depth amongst American League SS.

The moral of this fantasy note is that by finding the positives in Yuniesky and Asdrubal, I saved my team $37 to allocate to other more prestigious players instead of chasing Peralta or Canó who may produce only marginally better statistics than Cabrera or Betancourt.

It can be a tough balancing act evaluating talent in a contractual keeper league where the stakes area bit higher. Of course if it works out, then you've paved the way for a league championship. If it doesn't, at least in this case, you have a choice of handsome names for your first-born.