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April 30, 1999 The Extra Guys, Part 2More players you won't find in this year's bookHITTERS
Glen Barker PS Age 28 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Fayettvl SAL 138 31 0 0 1 10 9 7 6 3 110 .225 .277 .246 .182 8 36-OF 113 1996 Jacksnvl Sou 121 15 0 1 0 5 3 3 3 2 108 .124 .159 .140 **** -3 40-OF 107 1996 Toledo Int 79 16 1 1 0 8 6 3 4 4 67 .203 .276 .241 .176 4 21-OF 117 1997 Lakeland Fla 56 14 1 0 1 4 6 4 3 1 43 .250 .300 .321 .223 5 1997 Jacksnvl Sou 254 53 4 1 4 21 19 15 10 5 206 .209 .269 .280 .191 16 63-OF 102 1997 Toledo Int 48 8 0 0 1 4 3 2 4 2 42 .167 .231 .229 .159 2 1998 Jacksnvl Sou 453 105 17 2 5 37 43 32 17 5 353 .232 .290 .311 .214 37 108-OF 116 1999 Houston NL 412 90 11 2 6 33 44 32 20 7 329 .218 .276 .299 .214 35 After leaving the Tigers' organization as a six-year free agent, he was a mild shock to make the Astros out of spring training. As a switch-hitting outfielder who can get to first (.362 OBP last year) and steal second (31 last year), Barker is a nice fit for the 25th roster spot on a National League team. Clay Bellinger 3B Age 30 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Rochestr Int 453 117 19 2 11 30 43 48 5 3 339 .258 .304 .382 .237 46 21-2B 90 41-1B 74 1997 Columbus Int 415 101 20 2 9 26 39 38 8 3 317 .243 .288 .366 .226 39 36-OF 98 45-3B 83 1998 Columbus Int 393 70 11 1 6 28 17 16 3 2 325 .178 .233 .257 .154 15 19-3B 117 25-SS 98 1999 NY Yanks AL 403 94 17 1 11 29 42 46 5 2 311 .233 .285 .362 .225 37 Organizational soldier getting his reward. Unlike many infielders in the Yankee system, Bellinger is not good enough to play every day, and isn't a good enough hitter or defensive shortstop to warrant the roster spot. Jacob Brumfield OF Age 34 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Pittsbrg NL 79 19 5 0 3 6 9 9 3 1 61 .241 .294 .418 .246 9 15-OF 103 1996 Toronto AL 302 74 19 2 11 22 37 34 12 3 232 .245 .296 .430 .251 37 67-OF 105 1997 Toronto AL 172 35 6 1 2 15 12 10 4 4 141 .203 .267 .285 .187 11 42-OF 100 1998 Charlott Int 227 29 4 0 3 28 7 5 4 1 199 .128 .224 .185 .119 5 72-OF 83 1999 LosAngls NL 221 38 9 0 5 21 18 15 6 2 185 .172 .244 .281 .193 15 Brumfield doesn't do enough to justify his spot on a team with right-handed hitters on the outfield corners and a good defensive player in center. He's only got the roster spot until Todd Hollandsworth returns, but will probably bounce up and down a few times this year, contributing very little. Tripp Cromer IF Age 31 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Louisvil AA 245 48 3 2 3 21 14 13 2 1 198 .196 .259 .261 .174 13 75-SS 90 1997 Albuquer PCL 132 31 5 2 3 10 12 13 3 1 102 .235 .289 .371 .229 13 37-SS 93 1997 LosAngls NL 87 26 4 0 4 6 10 14 0 1 62 .299 .344 .483 .277 12 1998 Albuquer PCL 29 8 0 0 1 1 2 3 0 1 22 .276 .300 .379 .221 3 1999 LosAngls NL 125 29 4 1 4 8 12 15 1 1 97 .232 .278 .376 .235 13 Cromer is an unusual utility infielder, in that he has pretty good power and no speed. He's going to play a lot, as the Dodgers bat their shortstop eighth (Grudzielanek usually, occasionally Vizcaino) and Davey Johnson will double-switch liberally. Cromer is a good example of what teams should try to do with their sixth infielder. In Davey We Trust. Carlos Garcia 2B Age 31 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Pittsbrg NL 387 107 18 4 6 26 45 40 13 6 286 .276 .322 .390 .249 44 66-2B 93 1997 Toronto AL 347 76 19 2 3 16 27 20 11 3 274 .219 .253 .311 .194 23 94-2B 104 1998 Vancouvr PCL 159 33 3 0 2 8 7 7 2 4 130 .208 .246 .264 .159 7 39-SS 81 1998 Anaheim AL 35 5 1 0 0 3 2 1 2 0 30 .143 .211 .171 .116 1 1999 San Dieg NL 260 61 10 1 3 13 23 22 7 4 203 .235 .271 .315 .212 21 Yeah, yeah, he's 31, but with a standard deviation of 9. He was mediocre his last year in Pittsburgh and useless in his two seasons in the AL, but the unfortunate decision to DFA Ed Giovanola in the spring - followed by a series of injuries - left the Padres short. With Phil Nevin back, Garcia was sent packing. Dave Hansen 3B Age 30 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 LosAngls NL 105 24 2 0 0 11 8 6 0 0 81 .229 .302 .248 .192 7 1997 ChiCubs NL 149 44 8 2 3 31 27 22 1 2 107 .295 .417 .436 .300 26 29-3B 95 1999 LosAngls NL 55 14 2 0 1 10 8 7 0 1 42 .255 .369 .345 .267 8 Back from a year making good money in Japan. Hansen is an excellent left-handed hitter, with patience and some power. He's not the best third baseman on the team anymore, as he was for years, so there's no longer the expectation that he should play more. As Beltre insurance and a lefty stick, he's a tremendously valuable bench player. Brian Hunter PH Age 31 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Tacoma PCL 91 29 4 1 5 7 13 17 1 0 62 .319 .367 .549 .308 16 18-OF 81 1996 Seattle AL 195 51 6 0 8 14 18 25 0 1 145 .262 .311 .415 .247 22 21-OF 112 23-1B 83 1997 Indianap AA 507 130 26 2 15 36 52 57 8 5 382 .256 .306 .404 .244 56 53-OF 92 76-1B 96 1998 Calgary PCL 31 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 29 .065 .094 .065 **** -2 1998 St Louis NL 111 22 10 1 4 8 10 11 1 1 90 .198 .252 .414 .222 10 1999 Atlanta NL 258 64 14 1 9 20 31 36 4 2 196 .248 .302 .415 .248 30 Six years after leaving Atlanta, he returns as the same player: a useful right-handed pinch-hitter, nothing more. Bobby Cox is smart enough to know how to maximize Hunter's value and prevent the roster spot from being completely wasted. Jeff Huson IF Age 34 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 ColSprin PCL 59 13 3 0 0 2 5 2 4 0 46 .220 .246 .271 .188 4 1996 Baltimor AL 28 9 2 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 19 .321 .321 .393 .245 3 1997 Milwauke AL 142 28 4 0 0 5 5 5 3 0 114 .197 .224 .225 .135 4 11-1B 75 19-2B 95 1998 Tucson PCL 79 17 2 0 1 4 4 4 0 1 63 .215 .253 .278 .169 4 1998 Seattle AL 48 7 1 0 1 6 2 2 1 1 42 .146 .241 .229 .152 2 Journeyman utility infielder whose primary asset is a left-handed bat. Huson is sixth-infielder material, and really can't even aspire to Bill Spiers status. That said, he's the best sixth infielder in a division that houses Domingo Cedeno, Jorge Velandia and Raffy Bournigal. Huson would also be a reasonable $1 pickup in a hypercompetitive AL roto league. Scott Leius IF Age 33 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Buffalo AA 124 29 1 1 3 11 9 12 0 0 95 .234 .296 .331 .218 10 1996 Clevelnd AL 43 6 3 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 37 .140 .159 .279 .106 1 1997 Nashvill AA 104 22 0 0 5 9 7 11 0 0 82 .212 .274 .356 .215 9 1998 Omaha PCL 252 63 4 0 10 15 23 27 6 3 192 .250 .292 .385 .233 25 58-3B 97 1998 KansasCy AL 45 7 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 38 .156 .191 .156 **** 0 1999 KansasCy AL 213 49 4 0 7 16 20 24 2 1 165 .230 .284 .347 .214 17 Leius had just a brief - and unimpressive - cameo with the Royals last year, but the Royals went into spring training with half a dozen open roster spots and the injury to Jeremy Giambi widened things further. He can play the corners and second base in a pinch, and has occasionally been known to hit left-handed pitching. Not a bad 25th player; as the Royals 20th or 21st player, well, insert your own punchline here. Eric Owens 2B/3B/OF Age 28 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Indianap AA 129 38 6 2 3 10 18 16 5 3 94 .295 .345 .442 .270 18 1996 Cincnnti NL 204 39 6 0 0 24 19 7 14 2 167 .191 .276 .221 .187 13 38-OF 93 1997 Indianap AA 393 100 12 2 8 36 45 37 18 8 301 .254 .317 .356 .239 42 82-2B 96 1997 Cincnnti NL 57 15 0 0 0 4 5 3 2 2 44 .263 .311 .263 .199 4 1998 Louisvil Int 251 72 7 2 4 27 36 27 13 5 184 .287 .356 .378 .263 33 26-3B 86 35-OF 98 1998 Milwauke NL 40 5 2 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 35 .125 .167 .250 .092 0 1999 San Dieg NL 351 92 12 2 7 34 52 41 19 7 266 .262 .327 .368 .259 45 An outstanding pickup for the Pads, given the question marks at third base and Quilvio Veras' epoxy-filled shoulders at second. Owens has a solid glove at second and in left and is passable at third in a pinch; he draws a few walks and has a little pop. A great fifth infielder who would be more than adequate if an injury gave him 400 PA at second. Scott Pose OF Age 32 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Syracuse Int 419 93 7 3 1 51 42 23 18 11 337 .222 .306 .260 .204 32 107-OF 93 1997 Columbus Int 227 62 7 4 2 25 30 23 9 4 169 .273 .345 .366 .254 27 55-OF 99 1997 NY Yanks AL 86 19 2 1 0 10 8 5 3 1 68 .221 .302 .267 .207 7 35-OF 81 1998 Columbus Int 480 115 14 5 3 42 53 32 28 11 376 .240 .301 .308 .220 43 99-OF 89 1999 KansasCy AL 397 101 16 4 2 43 58 39 15 7 303 .254 .327 .330 .233 40 Glad to see he made the team; he's not a superstar, but the first-ever hitter in Marlins history has a career .390 OBP in the minor leagues, and having a bench player who can pinch-hit to begin an inning is the kind of common sense planning that the Royals have been lacking for years. He's 32 years old with no future potential; he'll likely be back in Omaha when Giambi returns. Steve Scarsone IF Age 33 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 San Fran NL 282 60 11 1 5 27 21 21 1 3 225 .213 .282 .312 .202 21 68-2B 91 1997 Louisvil AA 27 3 0 0 1 6 2 1 0 0 24 .111 .273 .222 .177 2 1997 LasVegas PCL 243 38 6 0 6 30 13 12 1 2 207 .156 .249 .255 .166 12 17-3B 87 41-2B 100 1998 Vancouvr PCL 404 98 16 2 14 29 37 45 3 2 308 .243 .293 .396 .236 42 42-3B 100 60-2B 90 1999 KansasCy AL 347 77 14 1 12 34 38 43 2 2 272 .222 .291 .372 .225 33 Like Leius, he would have had no hope of making the roster of a normal team, but the Royals are funny like that. In fairness, having a backup shortstop with double-digit home run power is a much better use of a roster spot than having an Ozzie Guillen clone on your bench. Yes, we're reaching for a silver lining. Tim Spehr C Age 32 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Montreal NL 44 4 0 0 1 3 1 1 1 0 40 .091 .149 .159 **** -1 1997 Richmond Int 120 19 3 0 2 10 4 4 0 0 101 .158 .223 .233 .135 3 1997 KansasCy AL 35 6 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 29 .171 .216 .257 .140 1 1998 St Lucie Fla 39 5 0 0 1 6 2 1 0 0 34 .128 .244 .205 .144 1 1998 KansasCy AL 25 6 1 0 1 8 5 4 0 0 19 .240 .424 .400 .301 5 1998 NY Mets NL 51 7 2 0 0 7 2 1 1 0 44 .137 .241 .176 .132 1 1999 KansasCy AL 135 23 3 0 3 17 10 9 1 0 112 .170 .263 .259 .175 7 Before cutting out his entry in this year's book, we poked fun of the Royals' fascination with Spehr, saying "he's been released, so in all likelihood you won't see him in a Royals' uniform again. Or at least until April." It was a joke. He not only was re-signed by the team, but despite a torrid spring by Sal Fasano (including 3 homers in a game), Spehr and his .195 career average was kept as a platoon caddy for the equally punchless Chad Kreuter. In case you were all wondering what David Howard did with those pictures of Herk Robinson... Tim Unroe 3B Age 28 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 New Orln AA 404 100 17 3 18 34 45 52 8 3 307 .248 .306 .438 .255 50 14-1B 102 92-3B 103 1997 Tucson PCL 225 51 8 1 5 7 13 17 2 3 177 .227 .250 .338 .193 14 16-OF 107 29-3B 108 1998 WestTenn Sou 54 10 3 0 0 5 3 2 0 0 44 .185 .254 .241 .161 2 1998 Iowa PCL 103 12 2 0 1 9 2 2 1 0 91 .117 .188 .165 **** 0 25-3B 103 1999 Anaheim AL 220 50 10 1 8 16 24 28 3 1 171 .227 .280 .391 .229 21 Not as good a player as Chris Pritchett, but his borderline ability to play three positions and right-handed bat make him a better fit for the current Angel roster. A healthy Todd Greene and an effective Troy Glaus could really render him useless. Rick Wilkins C Age 32 Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA EQR Defense 1996 Houston NL 256 56 7 2 7 47 30 28 0 1 201 .219 .340 .344 .245 30 1996 San Fran NL 157 45 7 0 9 22 22 28 0 2 114 .287 .374 .503 .294 27 1997 Tacoma PCL 66 18 4 0 1 6 7 7 0 0 48 .273 .333 .379 .249 7 1997 San Fran NL 190 37 6 0 6 18 13 15 0 0 153 .195 .264 .321 .199 14 1998 Norfolk Int 156 32 7 1 1 11 10 8 1 0 124 .205 .257 .282 .181 9 26-C 91 1998 Seattle AL 40 7 1 1 1 5 3 3 0 0 33 .175 .267 .325 .203 3 1999 LosAngls NL 260 57 10 1 7 31 28 30 0 1 204 .219 .302 .346 .238 28 Wilkins hit 30 home runs in 1993. We should all be able to get good jobs based on our performance six years ago under optimal conditions. Wilkins is done, and was only supposed to be on the roster until Todd Hundley proved he's healthy enough to catch 40 innings a week. Johnson couldn't even wait that long. PITCHERS
Jason Grimsley RHP Age 31 Year Team Lge IP H ER HR BB K ERA W L H/9 HR/9 BB/9 K/9 KWH PERA 1996 Calfrnia AL 134.3 144 84 12 60 81 5.63 5 10 9.65 0.80 4.02 5.43 0.57 4.56 1997 Omaha AmA 34.0 39 24 3 31 19 6.35 1 3 10.32 0.79 8.21 5.03 0.22 6.62 1997 Tucson PCL 81.3 100 62 5 40 51 6.86 2 7 11.07 0.55 4.43 5.64 0.49 5.20 1998 Buffalo Int 87.3 86 38 10 54 55 3.92 5 5 8.86 1.03 5.56 5.67 0.49 4.95 Proof that anything can come back if given enough time. Grimsley is just another failed pitching prospect with enough skill to steal an 11th-man spot. There is no upside with him, and the hope is that his spot will be turned over to Todd Erdos, or even Ryan Bradley or Darrel Einertson, later this year. Brian Williams RHP Age 30 Year Team Lge IP H ER HR BB K ERA W L H/9 HR/9 BB/9 K/9 KWH PERA 1996 Toledo__ Int 19.0 26 13 1 9 17 6.16 1 1 12.32 0.47 4.26 8.05 0.93 5.68 1996 Detroit_ AL 126.0 139 82 19 69 71 5.86 4 10 9.93 1.36 4.93 5.07 0.39 5.57 1997 Rochestr Int 68.7 77 32 8 22 61 4.19 4 4 10.09 1.05 2.88 8.00 1.65 4.59 1997 Baltimor AL 24.3 22 7 0 15 14 2.59 2 1 8.14 0.00 5.55 5.18 0.45 3.70 Where the heck did he come from? He was completely out of baseball in 1998. His game was always marred by too many homers and too many walks, although pitching in the Astrodome will help the former, and working for Dierker may help the latter. Dierker is great with pitchers, but expecting him to coax a decent season out of Williams may be unreasonable.
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