The Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League (MLB 2001)

[Questdog]

Sunday, October 7, 2001

National League Championship Series
Game 4
New York Giants (2-1 Champions of the NL East) at
Atlanta Crackers (1-2 Champions of the NL West)

NY: Jim Nicoson (23-L 3-5 2.61) Rookie vs. ATL: Larry Kinch (26-L 15-10 3.62)

The Crackers won, 4 to 3

Atlanta scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th, highlighted by a 2 run double by CF Cliff Reynolds (35-L).

WP - SP Tom McCoy (25-R) (1-0)
SV - Jimmy Taylor (28-R) (1)

LP - SP Jim Nicoson (23-L) (0-1) Rookie

ATL: C Johnny Scott (30-R) went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

NY: SS Tony Ackerley (25-R) went 1 for 3 with a 2 run HR. C Ed Przybylski (30-R) went 2 for 2 with a walk and scored a run.

Pacific Coast League Championship Series
Game 5
Kansas City Royals (2-2 Champions of the PCL East) at
Los Angeles Angels (2-2 Champions of the NL East)

KC: Graham Pethel (24-R 12-7 2.85) vs. LA: Mike Bennett (30-L 8-2 2.55)

The Royals won this pitching matchup in Game 1 in KC, 6 to 5.

The Angels won, 3 to 0

SP Mike Bennett (30-L) pitched 7 shutout innings.

WP - SP Mike Bennett (30-L) (1-1)
SV - RP Dave Reeder (25-R) (1) Rookie

LP - SP Graham Pethel (24-R) (0-1)

LA: 1B Oscar Trejo (28-R) went 3 for 3 with a HR and scored all 3 Angel runs. 3B Dale Schafer (28-R) went 2 for 3 and had 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Monday, October 8, 2001

National League Championship Series
Game 5
New York Giants (2-2 Champions of the NL East) at
Atlanta Crackers (2-2 Champions of the NL West)

NY: Billy Fritts (27-L 20-6 2.33) All-Star vs. ATL: Dan Wilcox (24-R 16-8 2.67) Rookie All-Star

Fritts is pitching with a tender shoulder.

The Giants won, 3 to 1

New York scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th. The Crackers scores a run the 1st, but then could not score again.

WP - SP Izzy Rodarte (34-R) (1-0)
SV - Wes Lightner (30-R) (1)

LP - SP Dan Wilcox (24-R) (0-2) Rookie

NY: Rookie 3B/SS John Sasko (25-R) went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

ATL: LF Steve Fisher (26-R) went 2 for 4 with a triple and scored a run. CF Cliff Reynolds (35-L) went 2 for 4 with a double and had an RBI.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, October 9, 2001

Pacific Coast League Championship Series
Game 6
Los Angeles Angels (3-2 Champions of the PCL West) at
Kansas City Royals (2-3 Champions of the PCL East)

LA: John Guss (30-R 5-9 3.55) vs. KC: Al Johnson (21-R 22-8 2.00) Rookie All-Star

The Royals won this pitching matchup in Game 2, 2 to 1.

The Angels won, 4 to 2

Los Angeles wins the series, 4-2.

Los Angeles was shut out for 7 innings by rookie Al Johnson (21-R), but then scored 4 times in the 8th capped by a 2 run error by Royal CF Larry Laramie (27-L).

WP - SP John Guss (30-R) (1-0)
SV - Hal Ockey (26-R) (2)

LP - SP Al Johnson (21-R) (0-1) Rookie

LA: 2B Britt Snyder (26-R) went 2 for 5, scored a run and had an RBI.

KC: LF Ken Manning (22-R) went 3 for 4 and had an RBI.

1B Oscar Trejo (28-R) of Los Angeles was named the series MVP. He went 9 for 23 (.391) with a HR and 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, October 10, 2001

National League Championship Series
Game 6
Atlanta Crackers (2-3 Champions of the NL West) at
New York Giants (3-2 Champions of the NL East)

ATL: Jerry Cunningham (31-L 10-8 2.75) vs. NY: Bobby Brown (28-R 20-8 2.77)

The Crackers won this pitching matchup in Game 2, 5 to 1.

The Giants won, 7 to 6

New York wins the series, 4-2.

Atlanta scored all 6 of their runs in the first two innings. Rookie RP John Yakubov (25-R), who only pitched 10.1 innings in the regular season, went 5 scoreless innings in relief. The Giants were down still, 6 to 4, going into the bottom of the 9th. But a walk and 5 singles off Cracker closer Jimmy Taylor (28-R). 1B Mark Stone (33-S) ended the game with the 3rd straight 2 out single by the Giants.

WP - RP Juan Romero (26-R) (1-0)

LP - RP Jimmy Taylor (28-R) (1-1) (BS 1)

NY: Rookie LF Enrique Ramos (22-L) went 2 for 6 with a home runs and 4 RBI. 1B Mark Stone (33-S) went 2 for 5 with a home run and 2 RBI, including the game ender. Rookie SS/3B/CF Ed Hardy (26-R), who did not start the game, went 2 for 2 with 2 walks and scored 2 runs.

ATL: C Johnny Scott (30-R) went 2 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBI.

Rookie LF Enrique Ramos (22-L) of New York was named the series MVP. He went 6 for 25 (.240) with 2 HR and 8 RBI.

[Questdog]

Friday, October 12, 2001

World Series
Game 1
Los Angeles Angels (92-70 .568 Champions of the PCL) at
New York Giants (95-67 .586 Champions of the NL)

LA: Sam Henderson (27-R 16-10 2.53) All-Star vs. NY: Dennis Rack (27-R 8-9 3.62)

The Giants won, 2 to 0

SP Dennis Rack (27-R) pitched a 5 hit shutout. He walked 5 and struck out 10.

WP - SP Dennis Rack (27-R) (1-0)

LP - SP Sam Henderson (27-R) (0-1)

The Giants also only had 5 hits, but 3 of them came in the 2nd inning when they scored both of their runs.

[Questdog]

Saturday, October 13, 2001

World Series
Game 2
Los Angeles Angels (0-1 Champions of the PCL) at
New York Giants (1-0 Champions of the NL)

LA: Mike Bennett (30-L 8-2 2.55) vs. NY: Billy Fritts (27-L 20-6 2.33)

Fritts' shoulder has been pronounced pain free.

The Giants won, 7 to 1

SP Billy Fritts (27-L) allowed 4 hits in 8.2 IP and the Giants scored 4 times in the 6th.

WP - SP Billy Fritts (27-L) (1-0)

LP - SP Mike Bennett (30-L) (0-1)

NY: RF Duane Bailey (26-R) went 3 for 4 with a double, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. 1B Mark Stone (33-S) went 2 for 4 with a home run and scored 2 runs. SS Tony Ackerley (26-R) went 2 for 4 with 2 double, scored a run and had an RBI.

LA: Rookie LF Fernando Vargas (25-L) went 2 for 3 with a walk.

[Questdog]

Monday, October 15, 2001

World Series
Game 3
New York Giants (2-0 Champions of the NL) at
Los Angeles Angels (0-2 Champions of the PCL)

NY: Bobby Brown (28-R 20-8 2.77) vs. LA: John Guss (30-R 5-9 3.55)

The Giants won, 6 to 3

The Giants score 5 times in the 6th inning.

WP - SP Bobby Brown (28-R) (1-0)
SV - RP Wes Lightner (30-R) (1)

LP - SP John Guss (30-R) (0-1)

NY: C Ed Przybylski (30-R) went 3 for 5 with a HR. Rookie LF Enrique Ramos (22-L) went 2 for 3 with 2 2B and 2 BB and scored 2 runs. SP Bobby Brown (28-R) went 2 for 2.

LA: 1B Oscar Trejo (28-R) went 1 for 4 with a HR. Rookie CF Rodolfo Rosado (24-R) went 3 for 4. Rookie LF Fernando Vargas (25-L) pulled a muscle and will miss the rest of the series.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, October 16, 2001

World Series
Game 4
New York Giants (3-0 Champions of the NL) at
Los Angeles Angels (0-3 Champions of the PCL)

NY: Jim Nicoson (23-L 3-5 2.61) Rookie vs. LA: Rich Carlsen (31-R 5-12 3.92)

The Giants won, 7 to 5

New York wins the series, 4 to 0

Rookie SP Jim Nicoson (23-L) went 7 innings, allowed 2 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks and struck out 7.

WP - SP Jim Nicoson (23-L) (1-0)
SV - RP Wes Lightner (30-R) (2)

LP - SP Rich Carlsen (31-R) (0-1)

NY: 1B Mark Stone (33-S) went 2 for 5 with a HR and 2 RBI. Rookie 3B John Sasko (25-R) went 2 for 5 with a 2B and 2 RBI. Rookie SP Jim Nicoson (23-L) went 2 for 3 and scored a run.

LA: RF Bruce Lundvall (35-L) went 3 for 4 with a 2B and a BB, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. 3B Jorge Prado (30-R) went 2 for 4 with a 2B, scored a run and had an RBI.

P Dennis Rack (27-R) of New York was named the series MVP. He pitched a 5 hit shutout in his only start.

[Questdog]

Friday, October 26, 2001

The Gold Gloves were announced today:

National League
P Billy Wright, Baltimore (26-L)
C Ken Chadwick, Brooklyn (27-R)
1B Alex Urias, Boston (36-L)
2B Danny Paul, New York (29-R)
3B John Sasko, New York (25-R) Rookie
SS Roberto Blanco, Atlanta (24-S)
LF Enrique Ramos, New York (22-L) Rookie
CF Jim Sanders, Brooklyn (24-R)
RF George Strange, Atlanta (27-L)

Pacific Coast League
P Steve Muir, Portland (26-R)
C Dennis Allen, Dallas (26-R)
1B Glenn Snowden, Portland (24-R)
2B Jim Holberton, Sacramento (23-L)
3B Rick Potter, San Diego (29-R)
SS Del Hall, San Diego (30-S)
LF Fernando Martinez, Milwaukee (26-L)
CF Dave Bafaro, San Diego (27-L)
RF Clay Laurence, San Francisco (22-R)

[Questdog]

Saturday, October 27, 2001

The Fireman Trophy's were announced today.

National League
Rod Walker, Cleveland (23-R) 3-4 1.19 ERA 34 SV (Votes: 20-129)

Others receiving votes:
Don Moore, Washington (28-R) 5-3 1.75 ERA 26 SV (12-110)
Ramon Andrade, Miami (27-R) 9-9 1.58 ERA 34 SV (0-46)
John Bullock, Chicago (30-R) 4-5 2.20 ERA 42 SV (0-3)

Pacific Coast League
Hal Ockey, Los Angeles (26-R) 6-9 1.23 ERA 41 SV (32-160)

Others receiving votes:
Danny Mathies, Kansas City (28-R) 6-12 1.84 ERA 35 SV (0-84)
Jesse Borley, Seattle (33-R) 6-7 1.94 ERA 34 SV (0-32)
Duane Rokita, Seattle (27-R) 4-5 1.97 ERA 41 SV (0-9)
Dawson Winslow, Dallas (25-L) 8-5 1.92 ERA 34 SV (0-3)

[Questdog]

Sunday, October 28, 2001

The Silver Slugger teams were announced today.

National League
(Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
P Jerry Landry, Boston (27-R .307-75-1-9-.667)
C Gene Snyder, Philadelphia (33-R .242-487-15-67-.706)
1B Alex Urias, Boston (36-L .312-538-27-87-.916) Gold Glove
2B Xuan-ling Pei, Miami (26-L .295-596-13-85-.842 27 SB) 111 R 127 BB
3B Steve Potters, Chicago (23-S .280-617-31-97-.792)
SS Fernando Medina, Toronto (30-S .292-459-17-80-.817)
LF Steve Ward, Toronto (32-R .294-603-38-100-.921) 118 R 40 2B
CF Buddy Jacobson, Philadelphia (24-L .312-642-13-64-.810 37 SB) 119 R
RF Alex Paduani, Cincinnati (30-L .325-618-13-103-.834 31 SB)

Pacific Coast League
P Bill Foley, Seattle (26-L .351-74-1-12-.796)
C Dennis Allen, Dallas (26-R .280-554-24-96-.792) Gold Glove
1B Luis Hernandez, Seattle (32-R .298-617-41-132-.926) 98 R 40 2B
2B Bill Webber, San Francisco (24-S .327-652-21-97-.873) 104 R 36 2B 9 3B
3B Jim Jaeger, San Antonio (34-R .334-595-31-109-.960)
SS Greg Hobbs, Milwaukee (27-R .305-640-46-148-.938 25 SB) 107 R
LF Javy Puente, Oakland (30-S .322-630-41-131-.964) 102 R
CF Dave Bafaro, San Diego (27-L .358-650-11-98-.904 50 SB) 99 R 38 2B 14 3B
RF Clay Laurence, San Francisco (22-R .341-656-26-107-.951 32 SB) 109 R 46 2B 13 3B

[Questdog]

Monday, October 29, 2001

The Rookie of the Year awards were announced today.

National League
LF Enrique Ramos, New York (22-L .295-583-22-88-.844) (Voting: 29-154)

Others receiving votes:
SP Dan Wilcox, Atlanta (24-R 16-10 2.67 ERA 29 GS 212.2 IP 165 H 17 HR 48 BB 161 SO) (3-85)
SP George Mitchell, Brooklyn (21-L 13-11 2.65 ERA 32 GS 210.2 IP 182 H 8 HR 61 BB 154 SO) (0-19)
3B Cecil Leithner, Cincinnati (25-R .267-566-12-64-.746) 32 2B (0-18)
CF Tony Ruiz, Cleveland (26-L .323-504-3-49-.766) 15 XBH (0-8)
2B Ron Keaveney, Baltimore (25-R .282-525-9-62-.755) 35 2B (0-2)
3B Fred Howell, Washington (25-L .247-473-18-83-.723) (0-1)
LF Mark Montana, Baltimore (23-R .285-540-11-54-.750 30 SB) (0-1)

Pacific Coast League
SP Al Johnson, Kansas City (21-R 22-8 2.00 ERA 36 GS 279.1 IP 237 H 11 HR 34 BB 160 SO) (27-144)

Others receiving votes:
3B Fernando Mexicano , Portland (21-L .297-478-30-73-.920) 35 2B (5-106)
CF Tom Boyles, Denver (22-R .293-604-19-85-.851 31 SB) 16 3B (0-38)

[Questdog]

Tuesday, October 30, 2001

The Cy Young Awards were announced today.

National League
SP Kevin Houde, Detroit (27-R 19-10 2.06 ERA 36 GS 262 IP 195 H 7 HR 49 BB 259 SO) (Voting: 32-224)

Others receiving votes:
SP Bob Showalter, Brooklyn (28-R 13-12 2.05 ERA 33 GS 250 IP 200 H 11 HR 50 BB 184 SO) (0-102)
SP Raul Alvarado, Montreal (25-L 18-11 2.69 ERA 36 GS 257.1 IP 186 H 20 HR 91 BB 317 SO) (0-78)
SP Billy Fritts, New York (27-L 20-6 2.33 ERA 33 GS 247 IP 204 H 11 HR 59 BB 193 SO) (0-69)
SP Jerry Sullivan, Washington (27-L 19-9 2.25 ERA 34 GS 263.2 IP 221 H 10 HR 46 BB 177 SO) (0-69)
SP Brian Nordmann, New York (26-R 13-10 2.55 ERA 32 GS 226 IP 180 H 19 HR 53 BB 195 SO) (0-1)
SP Sergio Peralta, Boston (26-R 19-11 2.69 ERA 35 GS 264.1 IP 228 H 11 HR 80 BB 174 SO) (0-1)

Pacific Coast League
SP Al Johnson, Kansas City (21-R 22-8 2.00 ERA 36 GS 279.1 IP 237 H 11 HR 34 BB 160 SO) (32-224) Rookie

Others receiving votes:
SP Bill Wertz, Salt Lake City (30-R 25-4 2.36 ERA 35 GS 270.2 IP 225 H 13 HR 60 BB 172 SO) (0-115)
SP Hal Kestler, Dallas (24-R 20-7 2.49 ERA 36 GS 281.2 IP 242 H 13 HR 72 BB 170 SO) (0-70)
SP John Riley, San Diego (26-R 16-11 2.20 ERA 35 GS 270.1 IP 216 H 16 HR 64 BB 181 SO) (0-52)
SP Bud Fields, Los Angeles (25-R 12-5 2.42 ERA 25 GS 189.2 IP 161 H 8 HR 26 BB 152 SO) (0-34)
RP Hal Ockey, Los Angeles (26-R 6-9 1.23 ERA 41 SV 78 G 87.2 IP 59 H 2 HR 26 BB 104 SO) (0-33)
SP Sam Henderson, Los Angeles (27-R 16-10 2.53 ERA 34 GS 245.1 IP 212 H 11 HR 43 BB 149 SO) (0-16)

[Questdog]

Wednesday, October 31, 2001

The MVP Awards were announced today.

National League
SP Kevin Houde, Detroit (27-R See Cy Young voting) (Voting: 16-340)

Others Receiving Votes:
LF Michael Guerrero, Detroit (30-L .300-624-36-126-.901) (10-287)
LF Don Long, Miami (29-L .331-611-1-59-.850 109 R 32 2B 11 3B 65 SB) (3-156)
LF Steve Ward, Toronto (32-R .294-603-38-100-.921 118 R 40 2B) (0-146)
LF Salvador Oceguera, Philadelphia (34-R .357-647-3-83-.840 41 2B 25 SB) (0-129)
SP Billy Fritts, New York (27-L See Cy Yong voting) (1-117)
SP Bob Showalter, Brooklyn (28-R See Cy Young voting) (0-103)
1B Alex Urias, Boston (36-L .312-538-27-87-.916 32 2B) Gold Glove (0-100)
LF Enrique Ramos, New York (22-L .295-583-22-88-.847 31 2B) Rookie Gold Glove (2-89)
SP Raul Alvarado, Montreal (25-L See Cy Young voting) (0-70)
SP Jerry Sullivan, Washington (27-L See Cy young voting) (0-69)
CF Buddy Jacobson, Philadelphia (24-L .312-642-13-64-.810 119 R 37 SB) (0-60)
RF Alex Paduani, Cincinnati (30-L .325-618-13-103-.834 31 SB) (0-55)
2B Xuan-ling Pei, Miami (26-L .295-596-13-85-.842 111 R 127 BB 27 SB) (0-41)
RF Bob Stout, Detroit (30-R .323-648-9-66-.843 102 R 18 3B 45 SB) (0-27)
CF Cliff Reynolds, Atlanta (35-L .315-569-11-74-.776) (0-19)
1B Hilton Delaney, New York (40-R .305-377-28-85-.925) (0-17)
3B Steve Potters, Chicago (23-S .280-617-31-97-.792) (0-17)
RF George Strange, Atlanta (27-L .315-622-13-73-.802 21 SB) (0-17)
1B Tony Pena, Chicago (33-R .277-566-38-112-.865) (0-15)
SP Brian Nordmann, New York (26-R See Cy Young voting) (0-6)
LF Steve Fisher, Atlanta (26-R .293-566-12-82-.787 34 SB) (0-5)
SP Sergio Peralta, Boston (26-R See Cy Young voting) (0-2)
SP Dan Wilcox, Atlanta (24-R See Rookie voting) Rookie (0-1)

Pacific Coast League
LF Dave McDowell, San Francisco (31-R .314-599-42-122-1.010 124 R 32 2B 12 3B 21 SB) (11-326)

Others receiving votes:
LF Javy Puente, Oakland (30-S .322-630-41-131-.964 102 R) (7-299)
RF Clay Laurence, San Francisco (22-R .341-656-26-107-.951 109 R 224 H 46 2B 13 3B 32) Gold Glove (8-295)
SS Greg Hobbs, Milwaukee (27-R .305-640-46-148-.938 107 R 25 SB) (5-273)
CF Dave Bafaro, San Diego (27-L .358-650-11-98-.904 233 H 38 2B 14 3B 50 SB) Gold Glove (0-192)
3B Jim Jaeger, San Antonio (34-R .334-595-31-109-.960 32 2B) (0-129)
2B Bill Webber, San Francisco (24-S .327-652-21-97-.873 104 R 36 2B 9 3B) (0-91)
CF Steve Rizkallah, Salt Lake City (31-R .310-633-37-100-.910 118 R) (0-87)
SP Al Johnson, Kansas City (21-R See Cy Young voting) Rookie (1-46)
2B Russ Jimenez, Houston (31-R .332-555-17-71-.907 101 R 10 3B) (0-37)
1B Luis Hernandez, Seattle (32-R .298-617-41-132-.926 98 R 40 2B) (0-32)
LF Jose Naranjo, Hollywood (27-R .334-668-24-107-.911 97 R 223 H 43 2B 23 SB) (0-24)
CF Marco Manga, Minnesota (22-L .312-628-25-97-.920 109 R 36 2B 15 3B 31 SB) (0-18)
3B Jeff Galka, Salt Lake City (32-R .304-612-39-125-.915 99 R 32 2B) (0-17)
1B Glenn Snowden, Portland (24-R .316-579-35-113-.954) 96 R 32 2B) (0-11)
SP Bill Wertz, Salt Lake City (30-R See Cy Young voting) (0-4)
3B Ronaldo Entrevinhas, Seattle (30-R .294-620-27-101-.882 101 R 42 2B) (0-3)
RP Hal Ockey, Los Angeles (26-R See Cy Young voting) (0-3)
CF Larry Laramie, Kansas City (27-L .294-619-28-95-.810) (0-1)

Editor's Note: I do not pick any of the awards, nor do I vote for them. They are all strictly chosen by the A.I.

[Questdog]

Saturday, December 8, 2001

SS Melvin Rodarte (32-L) has asked to be traded, so I accommodated him.

Trade #19:
SS Melvin Rodarte (32-L) to Salt Lake City for RF Jose Julio (27-R).

Julio hit .310 with 3 HR and 25 RBI in 174 AB this year and .315 in 257 AB in A Ball. He was 13-0 as a base stealer. He plays solid D. The only knock on him is he does not like to walk much.

[Questdog]

Monday, January 7, 2002

Time for the B Leagues draft!

We came into the draft with a plan. We had the #5 pick. Portland's needs are many and varied. We desperately need a catcher and we desperately need more starting pitchers. We need outfielders that can hit their weight. We need relief pitching. Our infield is acceptable as is, as long as no one gets hurt. We have stars at the corners in 1B Glenn Snowden and 3B Fernando Mexicano. SS Dave Risinger and 2B Shannon Kuchta are not that great, but there are worse double play combos in the Majors. Kuchta had a better rookie year than we had any right to expect, but I am not a fan of his mediocre range and his impatience at the plate. But we do not have the luxury of drafting a replacement for Risinger or Kuchta when we have so many other pressing needs.

I focused on two players: C Joe Taylor (21-R) and SP Dennis Rollo (21-L). If given the opportunity to choose between the two, I would pick Taylor because a good catcher is a lot harder to find when you refuse to accept players who cannot run at all. Taylor cannot run much, but he is not immobile. The only knock on him is that his arm is weak. But the rest of his defense is superior and his bat would be such a huge upgrade over the bums we ran out there last season. Also, there is the fact that there is not another single catcher available in the draft who is acceptable. The ones who are not immobile are either slackers or injury prone...

When our pick came up, however, both Taylor and Rollo were already off the board.... So we went with an outfielder who might be a year or two away from helping us much...

This draft was very weak in pitching. Last year's was a pitching bonanza with 12 hurlers taken in the first round. Only five this time and Rollo was the only one that I thought merited a selection. Hebert and Sayers are too old and Raposo and Jackson are slackers.

Overall, I am happy with our draft, but we need to beat the bushes to get us a legitimate catcher for this season. Last year, we had assets we could trade; this year we have none. To get a good catcher will take giving up one of our Big Three (P Bobby Johnson, 1B Glenn Snowden and 3B Fernando Mexicano) and we are not going to do that. But hopefully, we have some player we can trade to get at least an acceptable backstop....

[Questdog]

Tuesday, January 8, 2002

Trade #20
P Ivan Sanchez (28-L) to Denver for C Darrell Milewski (30-R)

Milewski hit .264 with a .696 OPS as the Bears starter last year. He is very intelligent and a bit of a prankster. Since they drafted C Joe Taylor (21-R), they don't need Milewski anymore. Milewski is adequate behind the plate. He is not a top tier catcher, by any means, but the best we could get without giving up one of our Big Three.

A funny thing happened in negotiations with Denver. They offered to trade C Joe Taylor, the fellow I was hoping to draft, straight up for the fellow I did draft, LF Kim Springer. That is the only player they would take, other than one of the Big Three, though. At first, I was keen on the idea, but then I started to wonder why they would do such a thing, when they could have just drafted Springer in the first place and let us draft Taylor. It led me to suspect that they have learned some things about Taylor that they don't like very much.... So, I passed... Milewski and C Jim Shippy should be an okay catching duo to hold us over until we can find someone we really like.

Trade #21
P Jeff Frith (24-R) to Philadelphia for minor league CF Esteban Mondolfo (30-R).

Firth is garbage; Mondolfo has a good glove and speed and can take a walk, is a hard worker and a spark plug in the clubhouse. He can do it all, except hit the ball.

Trade #22
P Roy Hammond (27-R) to Sacramento for P Ken Powell (30-R)

Hammond is more garbage; Powell had a 2.52 ERA in 50 IP for the Solons, but walked 32. Only 2 HR allowed.

Trade #23
P Edwin Mares (29-R) to Minnesota for 1B Rick Woodell (30-L).

Mares is more garbage; Woodell hit .244 with 20 HR and 73 RBI and 19 SB for the Twins. He can play 3rd, but does not have much range. He will pinch hit and be injury insurance.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, January 9, 2002

Trade #24
P Bill Didion (29-R) to Seattle for minor league SS Rich Cruz (30-R)

Didion is more garbage; Cruz is a good glove, no hit shortstop with a great attitude and good work habits.

[Questdog]

Sunday, January 13, 2002

Trade #25
RF Bob Beaver (26-L) to Houston for minor league C Rick Mansoor (28-R)

Beaver is a Beaver no more... He hit better than most of our hitters, but I could not take all the errors and caught stealing.... 1 SB - 11 CS....

Mansoor is an excellent defensive catcher who cannot hit. This will finally let us purge all the stationary catchers from our roster.

And that seems to be all the trading we can accomplish.

We will hope that our youngsters from last season improve and the youngsters from this draft can contribute.

The overall goal is to get a lower draft pick each season. We had the #2 pick last year and we dropped that to #5 this year. If we can get a lower one next year, I will be happy.

[Questdog]

Monday, February 25, 2002

We began our schedule of 30 Spring Training games today with an 8 to 3 win at Milwaukee's Training Complex. Fernando Mexicano (21-L) and new Beaver Rick Woodell (30-L) each hit home runs. Fingers crossed for no serious injuries...