Bits And Pieces

The Royals have apparently offered No. 12 in the ‘09 Draft pitcher Aaron Crow a $3 million contract, half a million less than what the Nationals offered him after drafting him in the first round of the ‘08 Draft.  Crow and Boras promptly rejected the Royals’ offer, but Crow has very little bargaining leverage since he can’t reasonably go back to Independent A ball for another (partial) year and not have his stock plummet in the 2010 Draft.

The Royals’ offer is actually more than I expected.  After the Braves signed No. 7 pick Mike Minor for $2.42 million, I figured that the Royals would offer Crow between $2 to $2.5 million.  As a high school pitcher, Minor has substantially more leverage behind a threat not to sign.

Here’s an article from rotoauthority.com listing the worst closers in MLB this year based on the five worst in each of seven different statistical categories.  Somewhat to my surprise, Brian Wilson wasn’t in the worst five on any of the seven.

The big surprise for me was Francisco Rodriguez’s name appearing on two of the lists (worst WHIP and worst save percentage).  Last time I looked, which I have to admit was a while ago, he was having a great season.

In fact, K-Rod was having a great season through the end of June.  Since July 1st, he has allowed 14 earned runs in 14.1 IP over 15 appearances.

Francisco’s ERA over these 15 appearances was particularly uglied up by an appearance in San Diego on August 7 in which he allowed five earned runs without recording an out.  However, even without this appearance, he has an ugly 5.65 ERA since July 1st.

Makes me wonder whether something is wrong with Rodriguez’s arm, or if it’s just one of those bad streaks even the best players go through.  I’ve never been a particularly big fan of K-Rod’s or the free-spending Mets, so I’m not exactly heart-broken to see him playing poorly.  If nothing else, it looks like the law of averages is getting even for the 62 saves he racked up last year.

Finally, I notice that Adam LaRoche is off to a red-hot start back in Atlanta.  It’s only been ten games, so it really doesn’t mean much.  However, he is hitting .371 with three homeruns (two yesterday) and a 1.122 OPS in those ten games.

I liked this trade for the Braves, because I thought that if there was anywhere that LaRoche might regain the stroke he had for the Braves in 2006, when he hit 32 dingers and had a .915 OPS, it was back in Atlanta playing for the Braves.  Given how poorly the Mark Texiera for Casey Kotchman trade worked out for the Braves, if LaRoche regains his 2006 form now that the Braves acquired him for the same Casey Kotchman, there’s a certain justice to it, at least if you’re a Braves fan.