 |
 Home | Webstore
|
|
Latest News:
OOTP 26 Available
- FHM 12 Available
- OOTP Go! Available
Out of the Park Baseball 26 Buy Now! |
|
|
||||
| ||||
09-21-2025, 03:58 PM
|
#321 | |
|
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,612
|
Oakland A's., 78-84, 4th AL West
1973 Recap: The A's, not exactly a franchise with a long history of success, opened the year super strong, finishing April with 11 wins in 12 games and a 15-5 record. Then the bottom pretty much dropped out and they looked like a .500ish team the rest of the way. Unfortunately for them, even though .500ish was good enough to stay within a game of the AL West in 1972, in 1973 it put them deep in the back of the division, in the "second division" even (is that a thing anymore with 6-team divisions?). The pitching was dead last in the AL in strikeouts and struggled all year long, and the offense, in spite of a 4th-in-the-AL average (.262) struggled as well. 1974 Outlook: In spite of the 90 win season 2 years ago this just isn't a team with a lot of big upside, at least that we can see. They're not super young on offense (the pitching staff does, to be fair, have its share of youth), the influx of veterans last year - they helped pick Cleveland pretty clean - didn't pan out super-hugely, and the pitching staff outside of Vince Akright is not it. It's hard to see this team getting far enough over the hump to contend in the West now that there are two legit teams in there. Vince Akright RHP No. 2 SR, 5'9" 187 lbs. Born 1943-06-06 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 TEX MLB | 18 | 13 | 0 | 2.25 | 37 | 37 | 13 | 295.1 | 234 | 88 | 74 | 86 | 195 | | 1972 OAK MLB | 14 | 17 | 0 | 2.95 | 35 | 35 | 10 | 256.0 | 220 | 88 | 84 | 91 | 201 | | 1973 OAK MLB | 19 | 10 | 0 | 2.70 | 36 | 35 | 12 | 266.0 | 245 | 93 | 80 | 86 | 152 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Akright's Ks were down but the thing that wasn't down for him - in fact, the thing he is known for more than anything else - was his ability to get weak outs in the field. In that respect, things were "down" for him as much as ever, as in down in the strike zone. His HR rate, which is never high, was only 11 in 266 IP last year, his lowest total since 1968 when he threw 84 fewer innings to get 9 HR allowed. Akright doesn't have insane stamina but he doesn't throw very many pitches in your average inning and that allows him to pretty consistently finish about a third of his starts. Ks were down across the board last year so we do expect those to rise back up a bit. Akright is a guy who leads by example: he's got an extensive workout regimen and while he's not a guy to call other players in to work out with him, other pitchers see his success and want to emulate it. He's still only 30 and his career 110-95 record underestimates his real value to a team: he's a legitimate #1 starter. Lee Barnard LHP No. 10 LL, 6'2" 199 lbs. Born 1943-07-19 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 OAK MLB | 11 | 13 | 0 | 3.45 | 35 | 35 | 8 | 250.0 | 240 | 112 | 96 | 80 | 150 | | 1972 OAK MLB | 15 | 12 | 0 | 2.61 | 35 | 35 | 6 | 255.0 | 207 | 79 | 74 | 67 | 153 | | 1973 OAK MLB | 11 | 11 | 0 | 4.73 | 35 | 30 | 4 | 201.2 | 231 | 107 | 106 | 69 | 98 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Barnard has never quite generated the Ks you'd expect a guy with his profile to get but, well, he's already generated more than 4.4. Even in a down year for strikeouts league-wide, that's getting close to "you have to replace this guy now" level. And indeed the rest of his stats reflected the awfulness: the second worst opponents' BA in the AL (.293, behind just KC's Chris Regan), the 3rd worst ERA (behind Regan (5.54) and Baltimore's William Hart (4.97)), and the 2nd most HRs allowed with 40, behind only the "historical" season of Edgsar Molina. Barnard could really be on his last legs in Oakland. Within the space of a year he went from a good, solid, middle of the rotation guy to one of the worst pitchers in the league. To say he needs to turn that around is underselling how dire his situation is. Alex Canales 1B/3B No. 38 SR, 6'1" 200 lbs. Born 1945-03-01 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 SD MLB | .260 | 144 | 572 | 73 | 149 | 24 | 0 | 14 | 72 | 43 | 79 | 0 | | 1972 SD MLB | .296 | 23 | 81 | 11 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 0 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .263 | 120 | 422 | 35 | 111 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 54 | 51 | 46 | 2 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .265 | 131 | 475 | 52 | 126 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 60 | 48 | 67 | 1 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + As a hitter, Canales tries to hit the ball to all fields but sometimes falls a little too much in love with the low inside fastball. The 7 triples he hit in 1972 seem to have been a huge blip and in fact last year he seemed reticent to even stretch singles into doubles a lot of the time. All the power and that are... fine, probably not enough for a first baseman but he's not killing the A's or anything. Canales played 29 games at third base although 11 errors and an .875 fielding average probably put the end to that experiment (and might even cost him the GG at first base this year). Canales is in the prime of his career and just kind of is who he is at this point: a 5/6 order hitter who's a little bit above average at everything and the best fielder in the AL at first base. Mithun Chakraborty RHP No. 46 RR, 6'1" 175 lbs. Born 1950-06-11 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 APP A | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | | 1971 ASH AA | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4.42 | 29 | 8 | 3 | 75.1 | 81 | 39 | 37 | 41 | 47 | | 1971 TUC AAA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 1972 KNO AA | 12 | 8 | 0 | 3.63 | 23 | 23 | 15 | 188.1 | 197 | 85 | 76 | 110 | 89 | | 1972 TUC AAA | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4.79 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 30.0 | 34 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | | 1973 TUC AAA | 9 | 8 | 0 | 3.30 | 23 | 23 | 3 | 166.0 | 186 | 68 | 61 | 69 | 91 | | 1973 OAK MLB | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4.16 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 71.1 | 82 | 38 | 33 | 28 | 32 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Chakraborty throws gaaaaaaaaas. Scouts say that if he works at it, he could one day hit triple digits on the radar gun. So far his offerings have been a bit too straight for the majors; he'll definitely want to work with major league pitching coaches to try and add a bit of "pizazz" to his repertoire. He also had a liiiitle bit of a problem keeping his pitches out of the dirt, which is almost to be expected from a guy whose primary exposure to bat-and-ball games is the one where you get to throw the ball on a hop (cricket). With that stuff, you could definitely see this guy moving into short relief if starting doesn't work out for him. Ian Charleson RHP No. 19 SR, 6'0" 183 lbs. Born 1949-08-09 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 APP A | 3 | 6 | 0 | 4.23 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 89.1 | 81 | 48 | 42 | 37 | 61 | | 1971 ASH AA | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7.65 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 20.0 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 7 | | 1972 KNO AA | 6 | 11 | 0 | 3.07 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 152.0 | 118 | 60 | 52 | 88 | 63 | | 1972 TUC AAA | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2.17 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 74.1 | 52 | 19 | 18 | 32 | 34 | | 1973 TUC AAA | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2.26 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 95.1 | 77 | 26 | 24 | 29 | 59 | | 1973 OAK MLB | 4 | 10 | 0 | 3.53 | 24 | 24 | 3 | 165.2 | 170 | 82 | 65 | 64 | 68 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + The more concerning thing, frankly, about Charleson was his ability, or rather lack thereof, to get major leaguers to swing and miss at his pitch offerings. Charleson throws a fantastic circle change and a curveball with some good late break which, combined with a cut fastball that hits the high 80s, ought to create at least *some* swings and misses. It really didn't and it seemed like things got worse as the year progressed. It also left him having to play a really close-run game out there, nibbling at the edges like an old veteran and doing his best to avoid long hits (which to his credit he did: just 7 HRA in the majors). Charleson threw 10 wild pitches last year, 10th most in the AL, which might indicate that he won't be able to keep up the control if left in games for longer. The A's clearly want him to be a future part of their rotation but if he's going to be that guy for them he needs to do more. Willis Chavez LHP No. 25 LL, 6'1" 198 lbs. Born 1939-01-04 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 WAS MLB | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10.0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | | 1971 OAK MLB | 10 | 5 | 18 | 2.33 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 77.0 | 70 | 27 | 20 | 36 | 34 | | 1972 OAK MLB | 7 | 4 | 27 | 2.74 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 95.0 | 86 | 34 | 29 | 45 | 66 | | 1973 OAK MLB | 9 | 11 | 23 | 2.90 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 80.2 | 65 | 33 | 26 | 37 | 46 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Chavez doesn't throw very fast but, in a weird move for a reliever, throws 5 pitches, 4 of them consistently for strikes. Last year he held opponents to a .223 batting average and he hasn't allowed one higher than .250 in the 1970s. With his profile and his stamina - Chavez has the "bounce-back" ability to appear in multiple innings in consecutive games - you'd have thought he'd be a starter but it just neer worked out that way for him and he's doing well enough in his current role, isn't he? Last season the A's heeeeavily relied on him to get them out of jams: he inherited *49* baserunners last season, more than 50% higher than his previous career high (30 in 1971), and for the 2nd straight year he had a leverage index of at least 2. Chavez isn't getting any younger and I don't know that I want to call him "reliable", exactly, but he's a huge cog in the engine of this pitching staff. Fans love it when he comes in because they know things are going to be exciting for good or for bad. Doug Ellis RHP No. 34 RR, 6'0" 200 lbs. Born 1945-05-21 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 WIC AAA | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | | 1971 CLE MLB | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2.81 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 16.0 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 11 | | 1971 TUL AAA | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2.34 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 15.1 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | | 1971 OAK MLB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | 1971 STL MLB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.18 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 12.1 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 | | 1972 TEX MLB | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1.18 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 60.2 | 41 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 38 | | 1973 OAK MLB | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3.90 | 39 | 5 | 0 | 78.1 | 87 | 37 | 34 | 20 | 45 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Ellis throws a mix of pitches that includes a nice curveball and a good 2-seamer. What he doesn't do particularly well is last long into games. It's curious that the A's chose to start him as much as they did; even the 2 spot starts he made later in the year required him to rest for a quite a while to get back up to snuff afterwards. In many ways the raw numbers you see above, which already aren't that good (a league-average ERA for a reliever?) tell a better tale than what actually happened, as Ellis came into games inheriting 39 runners and allowed more than half of them - 20! - to score. By the end of the season Ellis was finding himself pitching in some of the lowest of low leverage situations the A's could find. That's not a great trend for a guy who cost them so much and who should be in his prime. At least some of the blame should be placed on the manager for starting him 5 more times than he ever should start. Still, you have to go by the results and the results were not great. Matt Evenson 2B/SS No. 11 RR, 6'2" 201 lbs. Born 1946-02-21 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 OAK MLB | .257 | 125 | 381 | 23 | 98 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 44 | 41 | 76 | 0 | | 1972 IOW AAA | .250 | 10 | 32 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .271 | 41 | 96 | 6 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 0 | | 1973 TUC AAA | .250 | 56 | 152 | 15 | 38 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 23 | 25 | 1 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .203 | 39 | 69 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Everyone needs a guy like this on their roster. This was Evenson's last option season so the A's won't be to let him ride on the train again. If he can hit like he did last year or the year before he's a solid change of pace from the good-field, no-hit Wilcox. Sean Gabel 3B No. 8 RR, 6'2" 202 lbs. Born 1944-05-11 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 CHC MLB | .290 | 144 | 601 | 80 | 174 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 46 | 19 | 61 | 30 | | 1972 CHC MLB | .280 | 148 | 626 | 71 | 175 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 19 | 60 | 28 | | 1973 CHC MLB | .284 | 124 | 503 | 61 | 143 | 29 | 7 | 3 | 44 | 8 | 46 | 3 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .286 | 17 | 70 | 7 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 3 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Gabel still has good natural speed on the basepaths that he can use to beat out base hits although truth be told everything that comes off his bat goes in a straight line so he's not a big leg-out-grounders guy. In Chicago it looks like they got tired of his caught stealing mistakes - he had 19 of them in 1972 and at the time of his traade to Oakland he was 3/11 on steal attempts - so hey, you know, maybe Chicago just nailed his foot to the bag. He was 3/3 in Oakland. Gabel doesn't hit for power and doesn't draw all that many walks so the average is pretty much all you're going to get. Well, that's unfair: Gabel is also a 5-time Gold Glove award winner at third - perhaps a 6th if the NL doesn't feel too sore about his leaving - with an 80-grade arm and soft hands that led to only 14 errors in 139 starts between two teams and a .965 FA. Gabel will face a challence in the spring from Bobby Scott (see below) because he's at a point in his career where he can't keep his job for granted but if the A's are at all wise, it'll be his name in the lineup every day. Zackery Hadley LF/RF No. 18 RR, 5'8" 199 lbs. Born 1939-01-04 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 SD MLB | .254 | 95 | 362 | 47 | 92 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 27 | 62 | 30 | | 1972 SD MLB | .273 | 67 | 176 | 22 | 48 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 32 | 19 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .385 | 9 | 26 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 8 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .237 | 91 | 266 | 39 | 63 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 21 | 44 | 19 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Hadley also isn't a really good defender for all of that speed. You'd expect a guy like this to be Gold Glove level or at least pretty decent but Hadley just plain doesn't get a good jump in the outfield and although he tries to study hitters to make up for it, he just seems to have a lot of natural clumsiness out there that makes him a minus fielder even in the corners. If 1973 wasn't already Hadley's final chance, 1974 will surely be if he doesn't suddenly hit a whole lot better than he did this year. Ray Hawkinson 1B/PH No. 36 LR, 5'12" 201 lbs. Born 1942-10-03 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 MIL MLB | .333 | 26 | 45 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | | 1971 OAK MLB | .369 | 51 | 179 | 28 | 66 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 11 | 24 | 3 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .250 | 66 | 132 | 11 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 19 | 0 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .264 | 86 | 197 | 26 | 52 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 8 | 25 | 1 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + He's an okay defensive 1B I guess. On the other hand, for a guy who is barely hanging onto a job, he sure talks a big game in the locker room. This is a guy still riding the laurels of what was clearly a fluke 1971 and probably won't be around much longer. Brian Jackson RF No. 14 RR, 5'11" 205 lbs. Born 1944-06-28 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 PIT MLB | .285 | 114 | 473 | 59 | 135 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 50 | 35 | 43 | 8 | | 1972 PIT MLB | .267 | 131 | 524 | 65 | 140 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 50 | 45 | 38 | 10 | | 1973 PIT MLB | .258 | 61 | 233 | 20 | 60 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 24 | 18 | 2 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .283 | 49 | 180 | 28 | 51 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 2 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Jackson is a guy who always tries to make the most out of RBI opportunities. He's one of the hardest men to strike out in baseball - actually, by the numbers, he was *the* hardest with a 5.3% K rate (Minnesota's Matt Highfield was 2nd with a 5.8%). He might benefit from hitting a little further down in the order, as last year he hit just 245/318/355 in the 3 hole. With all the good hitters on the Athletics roster that shouldn't be a problem. Jackson won a Gold Glove last year for his work with Pittsburgh but it was one of those sneaky Gold Gloves you win when there aren't 3 truly amazing fielders in the league. He's certainly the best defensive corner outfielder on his current team, at least. Jackson's been something of a stolen base threat in years past but it looks like he slowed up a bit last year with just 4 steals in 8 tries. The speed and his predilection for line drives did help to cut down his GIDP rate; just 9 last year in spite of all those balls in play. Jackson is maybe just a bit below the level where you'd call a guy a star but he's still a really good player and getting him for cash was a major coup for the A's. Ben Lamar RHP No. 20 RR, 5'12" 189 lbs. Born 1947-07-12 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 CHW MLB | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2.51 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 64.1 | 51 | 22 | 18 | 25 | 59 | | 1972 OAK MLB | 6 | 1 | 6 | 2.42 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 78.0 | 49 | 21 | 21 | 30 | 56 | | 1973 OAK MLB | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5.61 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 73.2 | 74 | 51 | 46 | 39 | 46 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Lamar is still only 26 and could really easily bounce back. That bounceback might not come with the A's; Charlie Finley has as big a reputation as a miser as the White Sox do. Josh Lewis C/DH No. 5 SR, 6'4" 203 lbs. Born 1948-08-23 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 OAK MLB | .293 | 128 | 508 | 62 | 149 | 31 | 1 | 14 | 66 | 35 | 49 | 0 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .288 | 119 | 480 | 58 | 138 | 19 | 1 | 18 | 73 | 39 | 32 | 3 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .290 | 128 | 500 | 60 | 145 | 30 | 4 | 10 | 52 | 51 | 51 | 1 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Lewis lost a bit of the power he'd established his first two seasons but he still had some and overall it's hard to be anything but impressed by his hitting ability as a catcher. Lewis was unquestionably the best player on the team. Whatever small advantages Tommy Pron or Casey Satterfield might have provided at the plate, Lewis made up for by playing one of the hardest positions in the field. He improved his walk totals for a 3rd straight year and now seems to be a much more selective hitter than the "hit everything that moves" guy he was as a prospect. He's slow but come on, he's a catcher. As a fielder, too, he's come into his own: he won the last 2 Gold Gloves, which is more of a sign of the lack of truly great backstops in the AL, but he was just as good this year. Lewis handles pitchers well, doesn't get on the bad side of umpires, and also blocks the plate pretty well, all of which help to make up for an only average throwing arm (average for a catcher! Still great for anyone else!). Lewis only turned 25 in August and likely has another decade in this league at least. How many All-Star Games will this man play in when all is said and done? David Mesa CF No. 30 LL, 6'0" 201 lbs. Born 1948-05-04 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 IOW AAA | .333 | 7 | 27 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | | 1971 OAK MLB | .282 | 67 | 252 | 32 | 71 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 16 | 45 | 9 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .231 | 100 | 407 | 46 | 94 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 23 | 66 | 14 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .259 | 99 | 413 | 47 | 107 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 20 | 57 | 18 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Mesa's a solid centerfielder. He's never going to win a Gold Glove but he won't kill you out there either. Possibly he looks a bit less than "all right" because the A's have a bad habit of surrounding him with guys who don't cover a lot of ground; however, it needs to be remembered that when a ball lands on the right-field side of right-center, even if Mesa is the closest guy to it, it's probably on the right fielder for not getting to that ball before it hits the wall. Mesa killed 14 baserunners in just 97 starts in center last year. Unfortunately for all the flash Mesa hasn't shown an ability or willingness to work on his obvious offensive flaws and even at the young age of 25 he's probably a "what you see is what you get" guy for this roster. Tommy Pron RF/LF No. 9 LR, 6'1" 202 lbs. Born 1942-08-02 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 CLE MLB | .273 | 136 | 494 | 51 | 135 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 48 | 65 | 52 | 0 | | 1972 CLE MLB | .326 | 141 | 506 | 77 | 165 | 18 | 1 | 16 | 58 | 73 | 51 | 0 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .304 | 138 | 493 | 62 | 150 | 27 | 0 | 12 | 76 | 85 | 41 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Pron is a liability on defense. Weirdly, since it usually goes the other way around, he's a bigger liability in left than in right because in right he gets to use his cannon of an arm. Last year he only threw out 7 baserunners in 82 RF starts as runners just plain know not to run on him. The A's issue is that their stadium is so, so big that a guy who lacks range and natural speed like Pron is going to be giving up a lot of extra base hits wherever he plays, and for now DH is owned by an even worse fielder in Casey Satterfield. Pron is very slow and hasn't stolen a base since 1969 (when he had 1); he's 0-6 in attempts since then. Pron provides a good amount of leadership to a clubhouse as well. Although the A's slipped a bit last year they definitely benefitted from his experience and hitting ability. Bobby Scott 3B/OF No. 35 LR, 5'12" 191 lbs. Born 1947-12-13 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 ASH AA | .191 | 36 | 110 | 10 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 29 | 0 | | 1971 TUC AAA | .253 | 71 | 162 | 20 | 41 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 40 | 32 | 1 | | 1972 KNO AA | .224 | 34 | 107 | 13 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 27 | 22 | 0 | | 1972 TUC AAA | .196 | 58 | 51 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 0 | | 1973 TUC AAA | .253 | 72 | 194 | 26 | 49 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 18 | 22 | 50 | 1 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .300 | 65 | 200 | 30 | 60 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 33 | 34 | 47 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + With this performance and the fact that the A's finally cut bait on Chase Jones (.207, 2, 15) in September, Scott looks like a contender for the starting 3B job or, failing that, something in the outfield. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya 1B/DH No. 12 LR, 6'1" 200 lbs. Born 1950-01-12 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 LEW S A | .337 | 72 | 255 | 39 | 86 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 61 | 54 | 60 | 1 | | 1972 LEW S A | .340 | 77 | 297 | 53 | 101 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 63 | 35 | 47 | 0 | | 1973 BIR AA | .307 | 54 | 199 | 40 | 61 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 30 | 36 | 24 | 0 | | 1973 TUC AAA | .330 | 35 | 91 | 10 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 0 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .227 | 23 | 66 | 11 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Rambhadracharya is, it should be said, a guy who tends to insist that his methods of physical fitness are the best and that was reportedly something that annoyed his teammates in the minors. As he gets older, perhaps he'll get a bit less... strident. Still, if that's the worst you can say about the guy, he's still looking pretty good to me. Casey Satterfield DH/OF No. 39 RR, 5'12" 204 lbs. Born 1946-02-24 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 STL MLB | .302 | 144 | 526 | 72 | 159 | 30 | 4 | 13 | 70 | 71 | 80 | 2 | | 1972 STL MLB | .270 | 110 | 440 | 57 | 119 | 14 | 0 | 18 | 56 | 45 | 53 | 0 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .219 | 34 | 128 | 12 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 22 | 0 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .261 | 153 | 579 | 70 | 151 | 26 | 1 | 19 | 82 | 56 | 93 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Although he played just 12 games all year in the field, Satterfield actually set personal highs in games and plate appearances last year, and, thanks to that, RBIs. 82 is still a low-ish total for a cleanup hitter in our book but even the 19 HRs worth of power was by far the best on the team so perhaps it was the park that suppressed the ribbies. Only Tommy Pron and Josh Lewis truly hit better than he did, even with the awful September. Satterfield could probably play left field if he had to but he's very slow and doesn't do anything special in the outfield to make up for that. He's willing to do whatever the A's want him to do though. Satterfield has a core spot in the middle of the lineup every single day. Hopefully that September isn't a harbinger of things to come... Alberto Sepulveda 2B/SS No. 15 RR, 6'1" 196 lbs. Born 1948-08-29 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 STP A | .348 | 6 | 23 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 1972 OKC AAA | .293 | 119 | 440 | 57 | 129 | 20 | 7 | 11 | 57 | 38 | 49 | 8 | | 1973 BIR AA | .141 | 17 | 71 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 1973 TUC AAA | .243 | 91 | 333 | 36 | 81 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 32 | 10 | 30 | 3 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .350 | 34 | 103 | 14 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + It seems like the most wishful of wishful thinking to think that this guy will hit anywhere near .350 again but scouts do think he has at least above-average contact, his minor league stats from this season notwithstanding. The A's aren't really headed anywhere any time soon; perhaps this is a good opportunity to take a season to see what they have in the Columbian. Rick Shelton RHP No. 16 LR, 5'11" 189 lbs. Born 1940-12-09 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 OAK MLB | 15 | 15 | 0 | 3.71 | 36 | 36 | 6 | 259.1 | 227 | 125 | 107 | 144 | 174 | | 1972 OAK MLB | 5 | 6 | 1 | 4.43 | 35 | 15 | 0 | 130.0 | 124 | 66 | 64 | 62 | 94 | | 1973 OAK MLB | 11 | 14 | 0 | 4.34 | 33 | 30 | 9 | 215.1 | 223 | 108 | 104 | 77 | 111 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Shelton throws heat and in the past has been able to use that velocity to rack up a lot of strikeouts. His fastball seemed a bit straighter than it's been in the past few years and the results weren't pretty: a K rate that was his lowest since he was put into rotations and a career-high 29 HRs allowed. The one upside, I guess, is that where Shelton has a reputation for being really, really wild sometimes - he even led the league in BBs in 1970 with 141 - his walk rates were pretty close to league average last year. Shelton's now 32 years old and has pretty clearly established himself as a below average back of the rotation starter. The A's could probably still use his veteran presence but if he can't hitters to miss his pitches or if his control goes bye-bye again, his career could be coming to an end soon. Cat Stevens CF/RF No. 29 SR, 6'2" 205 lbs. Born 1948-07-13 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 LEW S A | .334 | 79 | 302 | 56 | 101 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 44 | 56 | 35 | 25 | | 1972 LEW S A | .348 | 76 | 319 | 67 | 111 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 48 | 29 | 22 | 24 | | 1973 TUC AAA | .234 | 48 | 171 | 16 | 40 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 19 | 25 | 5 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .268 | 79 | 276 | 39 | 74 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 32 | 47 | 4 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Stevens stole only 4 bases in 11 tries and probably will not ever have true leadoff man speed. That said, he does things that David Mesa and Hoss Hadley simply don't or can't do, namely get on base. Stevens posted a .343 OBP last year, which is "only" above average but looks fantastic compared to those guys. He also has an interesting amount of power for a guy who mostly excels in slapping at the ball and legging out base hits. Defensively he's a stud: in addition to covering a lot of ground in center, like David Mesa he caught a lot of runners as they tried to take extra bases on him: 8 OF assists in just 57 starts in centerfield (he had another 12 starts in the OF corners but somehow didn't record any further assists). Stevens will lay down a bunt to move his fellows along but strangely isn't very good at dropping a good drag bunt to help get himself on base. You look at a guy with this kind of history and that early cutdown and you think "oh no, he must be a problem". All I can think is, the Angels hate peace and holy rollers. Stevens' lively play is already winning him fans locally. Frederick Sumaye OF/2B No. 22 SR, 5'12" 163 lbs. Born 1950-06-10 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 BUR A | .333 | 10 | 33 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 1 | | 1971 BIR AA | .264 | 51 | 182 | 32 | 48 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 3 | | 1971 IOW AAA | .185 | 68 | 243 | 30 | 45 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 44 | 53 | 2 | | 1972 BIR AA | .148 | 8 | 27 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | | 1972 IOW AAA | .271 | 124 | 435 | 77 | 118 | 30 | 3 | 25 | 100 | 60 | 109 | 2 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .091 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | | 1973 TUC AAA | .236 | 75 | 276 | 38 | 65 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 35 | 33 | 46 | 5 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .343 | 20 | 70 | 16 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Sumaye is, well, a prospect. It's easy to project him into 20 HRs, which would be some real power for a middle infielder. One could just as easily project him into going back to his native Tanzania and starting a long career in politics. Philip Trapasso LHP No. 26 LL, 6'4" 200 lbs. Born 1944-03-07 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 IOW AAA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.97 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 27.1 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 23 | | 1971 OAK MLB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | | 1972 IOW AAA | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2.25 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 20.0 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 20 | | 1972 OAK MLB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.48 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 59.1 | 41 | 23 | 23 | 36 | 63 | | 1973 OAK MLB | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2.35 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 49.2 | 38 | 16 | 13 | 34 | 25 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Trapasso could definitely - maybe should - get a look-see in the rotation even though he doesn't have much experience there. The dancer is a hard pitch to capture and harder to capture when you're only pitching an inning or so every outing. Brian Wilcox SS No. 3 RR, 5'10" 190 lbs. Born 1942-03-15 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 NYM MLB | .230 | 110 | 365 | 36 | 84 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 31 | 31 | 67 | 5 | | 1972 STL MLB | .182 | 109 | 302 | 24 | 55 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 26 | 29 | 50 | 8 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .093 | 22 | 43 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 1 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .219 | 132 | 406 | 31 | 89 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 44 | 19 | 78 | 18 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + 1. Khalil Tabb, C NYY 54 2. Mike Perez, C KC 62 3. Brian Wilcox, SS OAK 63 4. Justin Ramey, SS MIN 64 5. Justin Hearl, CF PIT 66 Most if not all of those guys are in serious jeopardy of losing their job next year, as well they should. The reason Wilcox stays in the lineup, of course, is the defense. At 31, he's a 5 time Gold Glover who could probably win one in the AL if it wasn't for the reputation of Oniji Handa. He's got the softest of hands, with just 16 errors all year and a .977 FA, and wound up with a +24.7 zone rating at short, which, frankly, is a lot, enough all by itself to turn a replacement level to worse than that bat into a league average player or better. Wilcox is surprisingly not great at laying down the bunt; you'd think with his offensive "abilities" that would be something he works on. He is pretty fast; in spite of just 10 doubles and triples, he actually stole a career high 18 bases last year. Wilcox is an offensive black hole but is an awwwwfully good defensive player. This is far from the weakest link on this team. Emanuel Zamarripa RF/LF No. 15 RL, 6'1" 194 lbs. Born 1948-03-28 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 DEC A | .260 | 37 | 123 | 10 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 27 | 0 | | 1971 AMA AA | .235 | 76 | 162 | 9 | 38 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 19 | 40 | 1 | | 1972 AMA AA | .273 | 76 | 183 | 26 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 37 | 40 | 29 | 2 | | 1972 PHO AAA | .333 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | | 1973 TUC AAA | .261 | 44 | 115 | 16 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 3 | | 1973 OAK MLB | .289 | 28 | 76 | 8 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + It's really hard to project stardom or even a long major league career out of this man but stranger things have happened to guys without his work ethic.
__________________
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
11-22-2025, 02:28 PM
|
#322 | |
|
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,612
|
1973 Recap: The Rangers - look, this is an evil team in an evil city, there's just no two ways about it - was in the catbird seat as of the end of July with a 63-40 record and a 3 game lead on the Chicago White Sox in the AL West. Everything was coming up Milhouse, as in Richard Milhouse Nixon, for the former Washington Senators who were also celebrating their first season in their new division. Sadly for their fans but happily for everyone else, the Rangers went 13-17(! 30 games!) in August and 15-14 in September to lose a total of 5 games to the Chisox, who weren't exactly amazing (16-13 and 16-12) but did keep their heads above water at least. You'd expect a park located in the mdidle of Texas - at least one where they play their games outside - to favor hitters but nope, that's not the case for Texas. Arlington Stadium's HRs allowed rate was a stingy 0.88, with base hits being about average in the (fairly) roomy (I guess) park (alleys to 380 ft, 330 down the lines). Point being, the NARRATIVE is that this was the best defense in the AL (3.05 ERA) but the league worst offense (630 runs scored). That's already pretty crazy for a contending team but... at least it can be said that maybe the pitching wasn't *quite* as good and the offense ways maaaaybe not the worst. 1974 Outlook: The rotation is young, with Chad Daugharty the "old man" of the staff at 28, and the hitting... can't be as bad two years in a row, right? You've got to think these Rangers will be right there again in '74. John Bonham C No. 1 SR, 6'2" 202 lbs. Born 1948-05-18 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 PFD AA | .256 | 49 | 164 | 10 | 42 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 0 | | 1971 DEN AAA | .206 | 43 | 141 | 18 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 0 | | 1972 DEN AAA | .258 | 92 | 302 | 37 | 78 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 45 | 28 | 62 | 0 | | 1972 TEX MLB | .267 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .224 | 85 | 210 | 15 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 36 | 1 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + The best thing about Bonham is athleticism behind the plate. He doesn't have the kind of arm that would win you Gold Gloves - kind of a big "but" for a catcher - but otherwise he's as good as anyone in the league at framing pitches, handling bunts, preventing wild pitchees, and so on. The vagaries of the game are such that he caught 30% of all stealers, 2% more than batterymate Andres Gamez, but that's just because guys ran on him a lot more. He does a good job as a field general as well, perhaps informed by his "day job" drumming for some English blues band named Led Zeppelin or something or other. Bonham could easily play in the league for the next decade and if that doesn't sound ominous I don't know what to tell you. Robbie Coltrane SP No. 20 RR, 6'5" 201 lbs. Born 1950-05-30 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 JAX AA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1.28 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 28.0 | 27 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 18 | | 1971 WIC AAA | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2.24 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 192.1 | 145 | 63 | 48 | 57 | 101 | | 1971 CLE MLB | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3.33 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 56.2 | 60 | 29 | 21 | 14 | 34 | | 1972 CLE MLB | 10 | 10 | 0 | 3.71 | 28 | 28 | 9 | 208.1 | 208 | 92 | 86 | 39 | 140 | | 1973 CLE MLB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5.20 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 36.1 | 40 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 11 | | 1973 TEX MLB | 21 | 8 | 0 | 2.51 | 34 | 34 | 16 | 275.2 | 213 | 84 | 77 | 68 | 170 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Coltrane throws a mid-90s fastball and likes to mix in a forkball that comes in looking just enough like the heater that pitchers swing over it a lot. Last year, in spite of spending a month with another team, Robbie finished just 6 Ks behind Chad Daugharty for the team lead (and finished 5th overall with 181). Unlike most power pitchers, "Hagrid" gets those whiffs without wildness, having finished 2nd and 4th in the league in fewest walks per 9 innings in his 2 full years as a starter. Coltrane prides himself on being a "doer" more than a "thinker", although reporters don't ask him a lot of questions because that Scottish brogue of his can be impenetrable. I kind of wrote up Crystal and Daugharty before getting to this guy and I have to say, he might just be their top pitcher right now. 1974 will tell us for sure. Billy Crystal SP No. 23 LR, 5'11" 187 lbs. Born 1948-07-01 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 IOW AAA | 9 | 17 | 0 | 3.35 | 27 | 27 | 15 | 217.0 | 193 | 97 | 81 | 102 | 106 | | 1971 OAK MLB | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6.89 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 15.2 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | | 1972 TEX MLB | 13 | 15 | 0 | 2.85 | 34 | 34 | 10 | 255.0 | 197 | 85 | 81 | 94 | 164 | | 1973 TEX MLB | 18 | 18 | 0 | 2.85 | 37 | 37 | 18 | 286.2 | 261 | 106 | 91 | 122 | 156 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Crystal did wear down from all the use, admittedly, finishing the season 1-5, 3.55 and 3-4, 3.78 as the team fell apart around him. At one point he was 14-7, 2.48, and that All-Star choice he got was much deserved. Crystal hypes himself up before entering games by telling himself that "you look mahvelous", which might be a bit but even if so it's endearing to fans. Still just 25 years of age, one more little move forward in his development makes him the top pitcher on this loaded staff. Josh Damon LF/RF No. 15 RR, 5'11" 195 lbs. Born 1940-10-29 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 ATL MLB | .259 | 122 | 459 | 61 | 119 | 18 | 1 | 18 | 61 | 44 | 67 | 3 | | 1972 ATL MLB | .261 | 115 | 387 | 48 | 101 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 47 | 37 | 42 | 2 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .264 | 118 | 435 | 53 | 115 | 22 | 5 | 8 | 43 | 30 | 40 | 11 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Somehow Damon once upon a time earned the nickname "Dynamo" but there's really nothing hugely dynamic about his game. He's a good enough fielder to play some center if needs arose but with Norm Hodge as one of the best men in the game at the position, the needs didn't arise for that. Instead, he played some really, really nice left field, nice enough that he might have won the Gold Glove if I awarded it on a per-position basis instead of just handing it to the top 3 defensive outfielders in each league. Damon was one of three Rangers to top double figures in steals, albeit barely, and was... fine, I guess. I wouldn't exactly call Josh Damon a leader per se but he's a good enough player that even with the diminishing power he should be able to do this for Texas for a few more years. Chad Daugharty SP No. 35, RR 6'4" 201 lbs. Born 1945-03-01 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 TEX MLB | 16 | 14 | 0 | 3.46 | 36 | 36 | 8 | 273.0 | 245 | 112 | 105 | 88 | 164 | | 1972 TEX MLB | 18 | 10 | 0 | 2.36 | 34 | 34 | 15 | 266.0 | 223 | 74 | 70 | 77 | 144 | | 1973 TEX MLB | 18 | 15 | 0 | 3.03 | 39 | 39 | 9 | 290.2 | 275 | 114 | 98 | 110 | 176 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Daugharty does a good job of holding runners and had 10 men caught stealing under his watch in 25 attempts. He's not the best guy in the world at defending the bunt but then I guess he's not the worst either. He's not really the leader-y type, exactly, but when you're considered the first man up all year, you kind of are whether you like it or not. Look for another good, solid year for Daugharty in 1974 although he miiiight just lose his #1 starter mantle. Donald Fagen IF No. 14 RR, 5'12" 194 lbs. Born 1948-01-10 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 BIR AA | .270 | 59 | 233 | 28 | 63 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 32 | 1 | | 1971 IOW AAA | .226 | 86 | 261 | 32 | 59 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 41 | 31 | 0 | | 1972 BIR AA | .296 | 24 | 81 | 13 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 20 | 9 | 1 | | 1972 IOW AAA | .294 | 32 | 109 | 16 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 18 | 0 | | 1972 OAK MLB | .237 | 30 | 93 | 7 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 0 | | 1972 TEX MLB | .217 | 42 | 143 | 17 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 0 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .179 | 73 | 173 | 13 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 24 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Hey, there's a use for a guy like this. If he comes back next year with 40 HR power or something, you'll know that the creator got tired. William Faure LF/RF No. 27 RL, 5'10" 176 lbs. Born 1949-07-18 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 ORL AA | .297 | 56 | 175 | 23 | 52 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 2 | | 1972 REN A | .333 | 131 | 465 | 104 | 155 | 24 | 1 | 25 | 108 | 106 | 64 | 2 | | 1972 SPO AAA | .095 | 5 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | | 1973 SPO AAA | .328 | 70 | 122 | 20 | 40 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 20 | 13 | 0 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .227 | 21 | 66 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Here Faure is a corner outfielder with nice pop who, like Tom Petty, got rushed a bit and maybe didn't show all that he's capable of in the major leagues last year. He's a bit older than Petty and he's got those old man skills so he'd probably better show things quickly if he's going to stick around. Andres Gamez C No. 33 RR, 6'3" 203 lbs. Born 1948-07-16 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 ATL MLB | .318 | 81 | 173 | 22 | 55 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 32 | 15 | 30 | 1 | | 1972 TEX MLB | .278 | 121 | 449 | 41 | 125 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 44 | 20 | 73 | 0 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .197 | 105 | 314 | 22 | 62 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 19 | 37 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + In the past, Gamez has been adept at going with the pitch and concentrating more on getting the ball into gaps than ever hitting for power. What little power he had in the past just plain disappeared in Arlington Stadium last year and what used to be line drives or hard ground balls off his bat turned into a lot of pop-outs. Gamez still did a decent job of avoiding strikeouts but, like, is that really so great when the end result is a quiet out anyway? Defensively he's in the upper tier of catchers. He only threw out 28% of base-stealers last season but that was arguably due to his staff. He's not a guy to hype pitchers up but his calmness even when fans are screaming can be contagious. Gamez has to be considered a backup going into this year. With John Bonham not exactly burning down the house last year, that's still an open question. Dennis Green 3B/SS/OF No. 22 LR, 6'1" 209 lbs. Born 1949-02-06 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 AND A | .312 | 77 | 292 | 42 | 91 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 45 | 28 | 73 | 2 | | 1971 PFD AA | .375 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 1972 PFD AA | .328 | 35 | 119 | 16 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 10 | 19 | 0 | | 1972 DEN AAA | .323 | 45 | 167 | 27 | 54 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 23 | 23 | 36 | 1 | | 1972 TEX MLB | .248 | 65 | 210 | 27 | 52 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 35 | 37 | 44 | 0 | | 1973 SPO AAA | .297 | 71 | 212 | 26 | 63 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 29 | 17 | 23 | 0 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .200 | 33 | 70 | 8 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Roberto Hernandez 1B/3B No. 13 RR, 5'11" 201 lbs. Born 1942-04-19 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 CLE MLB | .252 | 63 | 127 | 13 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 7 | 17 | 0 | | 1972 CLE MLB | .319 | 82 | 207 | 21 | 66 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 6 | 17 | 0 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .269 | 150 | 579 | 64 | 156 | 22 | 4 | 14 | 81 | 13 | 66 | 0 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Hernandez swings at most anything that looks like it could one day be a strike. He's an especially big fan of pitches above the waist and on the inside half of the zone but he's not patient enough to wait for that particular pitch. He'll still get those just often enough to remind pitchers of his power. He's got a gun and really the only reason he's not the starting 3rd baseman is that the front office preferred to keep Bobby Ramirez in a regular, every day role. He's got good hands, which does well for him at either spot, and it's a lack of range that keeps him from playing the middle infield. For a guy who doesn't walk, he's awfully smart out there. I'm not saying he'll pull the hidden ball trick on someone, but he could. Hernandez fills a role for this team. First base / DH is a prime spot for an upgrade, at least on paper, but Hernandez is clutch and gets the job done. Norm Hodge CF No. 4 LL, 6'0" 202 lbs. Born 1941-10-18 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 CAL MLB | .232 | 138 | 488 | 52 | 113 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 48 | 36 | 75 | 21 | | 1972 TEX MLB | .206 | 116 | 437 | 38 | 90 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 26 | 71 | 15 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .247 | 120 | 470 | 62 | 116 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 43 | 39 | 100 | 17 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Hodge isn't, like, "Death to Flying Things" levels of centerfield play but the 8 time Gold Glove Award winner is still very good, probably good enough to get number 9 in a couple weeks. He's still got excellent range - outstanding range, really, for a 31 year old - good hands and a great arm that led to 12 baserunner kills in center. Speed-wise he's not the demon on the paths that he used to be but 17/21 is pretty, pretty good for steals. About the only thing he can't do that you'd expect a guy with his skills to do is bunt: Hodge is just not good at it either to move runners along or to get on base himself. Any year now you could see Hodge take that final step where he turns into a merely above average CF or a downright bad instead of just kind of below average hitter. Some thought it would be 1973 already. Curtis Hope OF No. 30 LR, 6'0" 195 lbs. Born 1945-10-16 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 NYM MLB | .287 | 152 | 565 | 80 | 162 | 33 | 8 | 22 | 85 | 67 | 109 | 11 | | 1972 NYM MLB | .211 | 145 | 508 | 55 | 107 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 46 | 56 | 130 | 22 | | 1973 NYM MLB | .190 | 31 | 79 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 0 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .224 | 21 | 58 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 3 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Bill Iverson CF No. 28 RR, 5'11" 188 lbs. Born 1945-01-10 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 DEN AAA | .269 | 124 | 443 | 50 | 119 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 38 | 49 | 60 | 12 | | 1971 TEX MLB | .167 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | | 1972 DEN AAA | .289 | 52 | 197 | 31 | 57 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 24 | 9 | | 1972 TEX MLB | .240 | 52 | 171 | 18 | 41 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 18 | 28 | 5 | | 1973 SPO AAA | .300 | 56 | 140 | 10 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 1 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .213 | 26 | 80 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 1 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Nate Kemp MR No. 12 LL, 6'3" 201 lbs. Born 1948-10-26 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 PFD AA | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2.76 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 81.1 | 81 | 28 | 25 | 17 | 41 | | 1971 DEN AAA | 10 | 9 | 0 | 3.60 | 22 | 22 | 13 | 179.2 | 179 | 77 | 72 | 44 | 90 | | 1971 TEX MLB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.92 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 14.0 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | | 1972 DEN AAA | 6 | 10 | 0 | 3.94 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 139.0 | 149 | 63 | 61 | 27 | 70 | | 1972 TEX MLB | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3.93 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 50.1 | 52 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 19 | | 1973 SPO AAA | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2.12 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 67.2 | 63 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 25 | | 1973 TEX MLB | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2.34 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 61.1 | 47 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 34 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Kemp's still just 24 and the fact that he pitched so much in relief was due less to any lack of stamina or pitches that can carry him through games and more of a straight-up numbers game. When he did get the chance to start in the majors, he was excellent: 3-1, 1.67 with 2 complete games and a shutout in 4 starts in June and July. Really, you've got to look at this guy as a starter next year, either with these Texas Rangers or with a new team after Texas send him out to shore up something on their offense. Pr they'll keep him. Yeah, look at me, Mister Commitment. It's just, he's the only lefty in the bullpen and this team needs a lefty reliever something awful. Tanzan Kihara CL No. 17 SR, 6'2" 200 lbs. Born 1940-09-20 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 CAL MLB | 2 | 7 | 10 | 3.49 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 77.1 | 78 | 33 | 30 | 18 | 71 | | 1972 CAL MLB | 8 | 8 | 18 | 3.69 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 70.2 | 62 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 57 | | 1973 CAL MLB | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1.19 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 15.0 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | | 1973 TEX MLB | 1 | 3 | 18 | 3.40 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 42.1 | 40 | 19 | 16 | 7 | 35 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + Kihara throws gas which he mixes with a 12-to-6 curve that keeps hitters from sending everything they can make contact with out of the park. Arlington probably helps out a bit too. He still allowed 6 HRs in 42.1 IP during his time in Texas - 5 of those dingers were on the road! - so this was and is an issue for the 33 year old. His 25 saves combined were far and away a career high; Kihara, who came up with the Angels all the way back in 1963, wasn't even really considered for the closer role until midway through 71. At this point, the Rangers will probably ride him for as long as that fastball holds up. Michael Luna SS No. 25 RR, 6'3" 200 lbs. Born 1947-11-05 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 PFD AA | .241 | 68 | 228 | 34 | 55 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 34 | 45 | 1 | | 1971 DEN AAA | .255 | 63 | 216 | 28 | 55 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 33 | 37 | 1 | | 1971 TEX MLB | .203 | 25 | 74 | 6 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 0 | | 1972 TEX MLB | .230 | 136 | 440 | 43 | 101 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 38 | 47 | 86 | 2 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .224 | 139 | 402 | 42 | 90 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 41 | 79 | 6 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + If he gets right - or maybe he just has to get good, period - Luna was kind of sort of close to a league average hitter in '72, which is good for a shortstop. He also had a bit of an off season in the field, speaking of which, with under 100 DPs turned (95) in 132 starts and a negative ZR (which hey let's pretend that's a thing people know about in the 70s) along with 18 errors. He's a guy you ideally want to kind of set and forget in his role, which isn't so great if he's not good enough to start. For now though, it's either him or Donald Fagen and somehow even Luna's a better hiter than that. He's currently one of the few Rangers who played in Washington, which is saying something about the roster turnover. Robert Mchugh MR/CL No. 19 RR, 6'0" 174 lbs. Born 1946-12-22 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 TUL AAA | 6 | 13 | 0 | 2.73 | 22 | 22 | 10 | 171.0 | 132 | 74 | 52 | 91 | 119 | | 1971 STL MLB | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4.60 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 27.1 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 25 | | 1972 DEN AAA | 15 | 9 | 0 | 3.45 | 26 | 26 | 9 | 200.2 | 169 | 79 | 77 | 62 | 214 | | 1972 TEX MLB | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2.21 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 44.2 | 28 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 44 | | 1973 TEX MLB | 15 | 15 | 0 | 3.44 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 251.0 | 225 | 112 | 96 | 95 | 170 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + McHugh posted a nearly 2-1 K/W ratio on the basis of a splitter that hitters tend to miss instead of top out - he had a GB rate of just 44% last year - and a fastball that moves a lot and is trickier than the high-80s velo might suggest. The K rate was actually 4th in the league. He's got the reputation for holding runners well but man oh man the stats do not back that up: he allowed 18 out of 23 would-be base thieves to get their new sack. McHugh is another Senators/Rangers acquisition, being part of the trade that sent Raul Mendoza (17-12, 3.14) to St. Louis. Mendoza has turned into the staff ace in the Gateway City but as a salary dump for an owner looking to sell his team, this move still worked out pretty, pretty well. Billy Munoz MR No. 3 RR, 6'1" 200 lbs. Born 1941-06-11 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 STL MLB | 10 | 6 | 24 | 2.69 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 100.1 | 86 | 30 | 30 | 35 | 80 | | 1972 STL MLB | 6 | 6 | 17 | 3.29 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 87.1 | 76 | 39 | 32 | 39 | 50 | | 1973 STL MLB | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3.17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 22.2 | 25 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 14 | | 1973 TEX MLB | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2.76 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 39.0 | 41 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 15 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + The Rangers, presumably, have learned the lesson to not use this guy, who I guess technically can throw three pitches (a 2-seam fastball, a change, and a slider, although the change only comes out when he has to pitch more than an inning), in the starter role. If anything, his success in the middle relief role might entice them to use their pen more in general. Kojiro Nakazawa POS No. 18 RR, 6'1" 193 lbs. Born 1946-06-12 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 BOS MLB | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3.21 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 75.2 | 65 | 30 | 27 | 14 | 54 | | 1972 NYY MLB | 3 | 8 | 11 | 4.47 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 50.1 | 55 | 26 | 25 | 13 | 35 | | 1972 TEX MLB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | | 1973 TEX MLB | 6 | 3 | 8 | 4.22 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 55.1 | 45 | 26 | 26 | 17 | 37 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + As a reliever, Nakazawa mixes low to mid 90s heat with a solid enough slider. He hasn't started in a couple years now but he's got a couple of change of pace pitches he mixes in when that happens. Last year that slider sometimes didn't slide and the fastball, while good, just isn't the kind of pitch he can rely on all by itself. He also throws from a steep angle and might be more suited as a guy who faces righty hitters only. That's, um, not a role in the 1970s so instead Nakazawa might find himself out of a job if he can't figure things out. Tom Petty OF No. 56 LL, 5'10" 172 lbs. Born 1950-10-25 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1972 PAR R | .354 | 74 | 268 | 59 | 95 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 55 | 64 | 50 | 17 | | 1973 SPO AAA | .298 | 107 | 383 | 57 | 114 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 33 | 55 | 74 | 3 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .252 | 41 | 119 | 10 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 24 | 20 | 2 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Petty played a bunch of centerfield in the minors, enough to convince the organization that Norm Hodge's job is safe for now (at least from a Petty-sized challenge). He's got decent range for a corner guy although his arm probably slots him into left field if not DH. He's also flashed good speed, albeit with less than great judgment - in 1972 he stole 17 bases in 36 attempts down in the rookie leagues. He works as hard as he sings and Tom Petty sings hard. Pretty soon you can expect to see baseballs free falling off his bat and he won't back down. Okay, I'll stop now. Bobby Ramirez 3B No. 29 LR, 5'12" 189 lbs. Born 1947-11-27 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 CLE MLB | .344 | 142 | 515 | 84 | 177 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 67 | 66 | 54 | 32 | | 1972 CLE MLB | .241 | 132 | 435 | 62 | 105 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 56 | 52 | 47 | 27 | | 1973 CAL MLB | .368 | 33 | 114 | 20 | 42 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 11 | 8 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .312 | 119 | 445 | 68 | 139 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 49 | 67 | 40 | 28 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + I'd say the trade worked out really, really well for the Rangers. Although Ramirez, the 1971 AL batting champ, lost out this year to Seek, he still finished 2nd in the league with a .327 average and - especially notable on a team with so many agressive hitters - led the AL in on-base percentage with a .415 mark. He also finished in the top 10 in hits (181, 9th), total bases (264, 10th), walks (90, 7th), and OPS (.888, 3rd). His numbers aren't necessarily MVP-like but he could legitimately make a case for best player in baseball. The one real downside of Ramirez, I guess, is that he's only kind of an average fielder; if the Rangers keep Roberto Hernandez on, they'll probably flip-flop their positions (in Cleveland, of course, first was occupied by one Ernesto Garcia). Ramirez, true to his nickname, loves to run, and has a pretty extensive program he follows in the offseason. It must be nice! Somehow he never went to the All-Star Game before this season. Surely this won't be the last time. Geoffrey Rush 2B No. 16 RR, 5'11" 176 lbs. Born 1950-06-08 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 WIL A | .333 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 1971 AND A | .315 | 62 | 248 | 40 | 78 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 20 | 44 | 14 | | 1972 PFD AA | .303 | 80 | 310 | 34 | 94 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 29 | 34 | 28 | 11 | | 1972 DEN AAA | .333 | 48 | 192 | 30 | 64 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 29 | 11 | 27 | 4 | | 1972 TEX MLB | .303 | 18 | 66 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 3 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .317 | 137 | 536 | 73 | 170 | 30 | 12 | 10 | 54 | 28 | 69 | 8 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + I don't *think* Rush's 1972 counts as his rookie season so he's a great choice for ROY of 1973. Everything that comes off his bat is a line drive and his swing seems especially well made for Arlington Stadium with all the long hits into both the right-center and left-center gaps. He's decently fast but was just 8/16 last year in steals. That might be a bit lower than it ought to be thanks to the Rangers trying to generate offense with the hit and run but still, that's not the greatest percentage. He's a very good fielder, maybe a touch worse than teammate Donald Fagen but pretty solid in his own right with plus range and a good knack for the pivot. People often tell Rush he looks familiar, which I guess is a good quality to have for an actor. As a second baseman, he finds baseballs familiar I got nothin'. He went to the All-Star Game this year and could punch his ticket to 10 more if things play out right. Amir Sudler MR No. 6 RR, 5'12" 181 lbs. Born 1945-06-15 Code:
+ ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | yrtmlvl | w | l | sv | era | g | gs | cg | ip | h | r | er | bb | k | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + | 1971 SLC AAA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1.66 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 43.1 | 25 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 30 | | 1971 CAL MLB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | | 1972 SLC AAA | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2.84 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 19.0 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 7 | | 1972 CAL MLB | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2.99 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 21.0 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 16 | | 1973 STL MLB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4.22 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 27.2 | 29 | 15 | 13 | 25 | 18 | | 1973 TEX MLB | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6.55 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 23.1 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 11 | + ------------ + ------ + ------ + ------- + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------ + 1974 will be a real make-it-or-break-it year for the 28 year old. His splits are kind of crazy - even though lefties hit only .237 against him (.234 vs righties), he allowed all 6 of his HRs against that side and a .500 SLG (all six of those HRs were on the road as well). Conclusion? This team needs a lefty specialist. Or at least Nate Kemp needs to get used a lot more... Philippe Toussaint RF/LF No. 11 LL, 6'2" 203 lbs. Born 1949-06-25 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 WH A | .243 | 50 | 185 | 19 | 45 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 25 | 36 | 5 | | 1971 GAS A | .223 | 28 | 103 | 10 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 0 | | 1972 DEN AAA | .360 | 24 | 86 | 11 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 2 | | 1972 TEX MLB | .268 | 103 | 332 | 43 | 89 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 38 | 41 | 56 | 4 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .284 | 146 | 514 | 69 | 146 | 26 | 13 | 14 | 72 | 60 | 80 | 1 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Toussaint swings hard like a slugger but hasn't developed the power yet. It's hard to say whether he'll find that or not. As it stands, though, he'll gladly take a base and seems destined for a lineup slot near the top of the order, or at least higher up than 7th, where he spent most of last year. Toussaint's solid, if not necessarily special, as a right fielder. A first step is apparently not something you learn from golf. He's got decent speed though to make up for that. A potentially bigger issue is some stony hands last year: he had 9 errors in 149 games in right for a .967 fielding average. He also didn't learn to bunt in Belgium... but why would you ask this man to bunt? Toussaint seems pretty content finding his fame as a golfer and not a baseballist. If he doesn't watch out he might find fame in both. Jimmy Washington DH/RF No. 34 LL, 5'11" 202 lbs. Born 1943-04-25 Code:
+ ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | yrtmlvl | avg | g | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | rbi | bb | so | sb | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + | 1971 NYM MLB | .254 | 119 | 456 | 62 | 116 | 22 | 1 | 17 | 66 | 29 | 69 | 0 | | 1972 NYM MLB | .100 | 17 | 50 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 0 | | 1973 TEX MLB | .271 | 135 | 498 | 60 | 135 | 24 | 2 | 19 | 75 | 50 | 60 | 1 | + ------------ + -------- + ------ + ------- + ------ + ------ + ------- + ------- + ------- + -------- + ------- + ------- + ------- + Washington tantalizes you by showing an ability to hit the ball in any part of the zone and striking out less than you'd expect a middle of the lineup slugger to strike out. Sadly, he just hits the ball really hard to second base insteead - he grounded into 22 double plays last year. After years of the Mets just kind of living with his fielding, Washington made the transition to the new DH position and not only didn't look mediocre in the field anymore, he also for the most part avoided injury. Washington turned 30 this year, which sounds about right. It seems... unlikely that he'll make it to another All-Star Game unless things turn back around in a big hurry, but hey, maybe playing at the new "designated hitter" position will do that. In the meantime, he'll need to deal with a sudden glut of good young Texas players at the corner outfield spots.
__________________
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Bookmarks |
|
|
