Baseball Prospectus 1996
Thankfully, for me as unabashed A's fan, and you as a reader, I can't really do that now. Over the past three months, the A's have undergone a drastic transformation from a top-heavy geriatric ward to a relatively young team. They've had the talent to replace the geezers for some time, but with the arrival of the Hofmann/Schott regime, the management team now has the motivation to do so. As each week passes, it seems that the rookie aversion disease the A's have suffered from for so long was primarily a symptom of Tony LaRussa's presence. Alderson has a lot more freedom to make player moves now, and the A's can finally begin the rebuilding process that should have started after 1988. (Actually, rebuilding should be constant, but that's another essay.)
A quick synopsis of the past several weeks, in order of importance:
The A's have two relievers coming back from nasty injuries in Todd Revenig and Billy Taylor, either of whom has the capacity to dominate right-handed batters. Briscoe, Acre, and Corsi may not have the luxury of filling out a 21-man pitching staff now that LaRussa's gone. Briscoe and his alleged control are the ones on the bubble. Like most bullpens, the A's need a reliable lefty, and inexplicably dumped Dave Leiper last year. If Revenig and/or Taylor is ready, it'll be a serviceable pen, partially populated by the also-rans in the rotation race.
The A's starting batting order could be the best in the AL West, depending on how much playing time goes to Jason Giambi and George Williams, both of whom are significantly better hitters at this point than their competition for 3B and C. The A's outfield looks like a collection of younger Geronimo Berroas guys that can most definitely hit, as they've amply demonstrated in the minors, but whose exposure to leather work is mostly theoretical. The A's have acquired Matt Stairs, Derek Lee, Pedro Munoz, and Allen Battle, and still have Ernie Young and Scott Lydy in the minors. All of these guys can hit, some of them quite well. The only ones without strongly negative defensive reputations are Young and Battle. Considering the A's will have a young starting rotation, it could be a bit demoralizing for the gaps in the Oakland Coliseum to have more ball traffic than a Marilyn Chambers film. Someone has to run down those balls out there, and with Stan Javier gone, the only OF in the organization who can really pick it is Kerwin Moore, a light hitting speed merchant who draws a ton of walks. There's an outfield there, but Art Howe will have to juggle it to make it work well.
The infield has three regulars Bordick, Gates, and McGwire. McGwire, if healthy, is the best 1B in the AL, bar none. Bordick's an acceptable if unspectacular shortstop, and Gates is a potentially great 2B whose development has been stunted by freak injuries. Mark McGwire's a monster, and someone who has shown development as a hitter at a very late stage of his career. If he's healthy, he'll post great numbers, play great defense, and generally cause fans of other teams to live in fear of the thigh-high fastball. If he goes to Colorado in the next three years, Maris' record will fall by September 15th. At 3B, there's going to be a battle between Giambi, who's a very good left-handed hitter with a questionable glove, and Brosius, a fairly good right-handed batter with a better glove that can play five positions. But the acid test for the A's is behind the plate. The A's have George Williams, an excellent 27-year-old hitter who'll be 25-30 runs better than Steinbach with the bat over the course of a season, and they have Terry Steinbach, a good catcher. Williams has a bad defensive rep, but how much of that is due to Nichols' Law of Catcher Defense? If the A's are truly dedicated to rebuilding, Steinbach will be traded by June 1st. If not, then this talk of understanding the value of youth and the need to rebuild could be just that talk.
Sandy Alderson has done an absolutely fantastic job with this team over the past several months. Now that an austerity program has been forced upon him, and Tony LaRussa's penchant for arthritic joints has relocated to Busch Stadium, he's made a number of good moves. Given Art Howe's demonstrated ability to work with young players, I see no reason whatsoever why the A's can't win the AL West in 1996. As of right now, they're my pick to do just that. However, if you hear of a Dave LaPoint comeback in the Oakland Tribune, you might want to look into October lodging in Seattle.
TONY BATISTA 1974 SS YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1994 MOD 465 111 14 1 11 39 5 4 .239 .298 .344 .225 105 43 1995 HUN 423 102 14 1 13 24 7 5 .241 .282 .371 .228 97 41Looks like a real prospect. Reminds me of Kurt Abbott, who was basically written off by the organization because of alleged defensive problems. Young, and maintained his EqA when moving up a level that's a good sign that someone may be able to contribute at the major league level. Depending on Bordick's contract situation, may be called up in September for a quick once over by Art Howe and the new regime in Oakland. Defensive reputation is unremarkable, and the A's have a long history of shifting their shortstops to less demanding defensive positions (e.g. Brent Gates).
ALLEN BATTLE 1969 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 SAV 176 36 4 1 0 18 5 2 .205 .278 .239 .182 32 10 1992 SPR 242 59 4 2 3 28 11 6 .244 .322 .314 .230 56 24 1992 STP 233 66 8 1 2 30 13 6 .283 .365 .352 .261 61 30 1993 ARK 395 97 18 7 2 39 15 7 .246 .313 .342 .235 93 41 1994 LOU 511 149 31 4 5 53 21 6 .292 .358 .397 .272 139 71 1995 LOU 163 42 8 1 2 26 8 1 .258 .360 .356 .264 43 22 1995 STL 118 33 3 0 0 14 3 3 .280 .356 .305 .238 28 12 1996 PRJ 319 89 21 3 3 52 14 2 .279 .380 .392 .282 90 49Acquired in the deal that sent the Toad to Busch. Will probably share time with his soulmates, Ernie Young and Matt Stairs, in the corners of the Oakland outfield. Gets on base and has earned a shot. I like him, especially because it means Stottlemyre's gone.
GARRETT BEARD 1969 C YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 BAK 153 36 7 0 4 17 0 0 .235 .312 .359 .236 36 16 1992 MOD 346 76 6 1 7 31 2 3 .220 .284 .303 .204 70 26 1993 MOD 282 61 9 1 4 43 2 1 .216 .320 .298 .220 62 25 1993 HUN 62 15 2 1 0 5 1 1 .242 .299 .306 .213 13 5 1993 TAC 49 6 3 0 0 3 1 1 .122 .173 .184 **** -2 0 1994 HUN 285 67 8 0 6 33 3 3 .235 .314 .326 .226 64 27 1995 HUN 128 22 1 0 1 13 2 2 .172 .248 .203 .139 18 4 1995 EDM 60 12 2 0 0 2 0 0 .200 .226 .233 .141 8 2No prospect may hang around as a catcher if his knees can hold up, but has an extremely limited future.
GERONIMO BERROA 1965 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 CSP 459 125 18 2 14 24 2 1 .272 .308 .412 .252 116 54 1992 NAS 458 144 22 2 18 27 9 7 .314 .353 .489 .289 132 72 1993 EDM 310 84 17 1 11 28 1 1 .271 .331 .439 .267 83 42 1993 FLA 34 4 1 0 0 2 0 0 .118 .167 .147 **** -4 -1 1994 OAK 338 107 16 2 10 37 9 2 .317 .384 .464 .299 101 57 1995 OAK 546 162 20 3 20 57 9 5 .297 .363 .454 .285 156 84 1996 PRJ 610 167 24 2 22 51 8 4 .274 .330 .428 .266 162 81Another example of the myth of the minor league hitter. Berroa had the rap of being another guy who could hit in the minors, but couldn't do the job in the majors. One of Sandy Alderson's strengths is pulling guys like this out of the minor league system, scraping the goop off, and giving them a chance to play. Now that he's been given a chance to play, he's been hitting the snot out of the ball. Vicious, slashing batting stroke. Will be productive for three to four more years. Not as bad an outfielder as say, Jose Feliciano, but comparable to Ruben Sierra.
MIKE BORDICK 1966 SS YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 TAC 80 19 1 1 2 14 0 1 .237 .351 .350 .246 20 9 1991 OAK 238 62 3 2 0 13 4 4 .261 .299 .290 .208 50 18 1992 OAK 508 162 18 4 4 39 14 6 .319 .367 .394 .274 139 69 1993 OAK 548 146 20 2 2 57 14 9 .266 .336 .321 .237 130 56 1994 OAK 390 103 13 3 1 34 9 2 .264 .323 .321 .234 91 38 1995 OAK 429 121 10 1 6 30 15 4 .282 .329 .352 .248 106 48 1996 PRJ 511 134 17 1 4 51 11 4 .262 .329 .323 .237 121 52A good, steady, major league shortstop. Very reliable. I suspect LaRussa didn't rest him enough. Will begin the downslope of his career at this point. Might pick up a few more walks and home runs, but most of his value is on defense. Would fit best on a very good team who wants a dependable short-term solution at SS. A comparable player to Omar Vizquel, with a smidgen more power.
JIM BOWIE 1965 1B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 JAX 457 133 14 1 10 26 3 2 .291 .329 .392 .255 117 54 1991 CLG 48 14 1 0 1 1 0 0 .292 .306 .375 .242 12 5 1992 JAX 282 77 8 1 9 36 0 1 .273 .355 .404 .267 75 38 1992 CLG 168 34 1 0 2 16 2 1 .202 .272 .244 .176 30 9 1993 HUN 510 162 20 1 12 46 6 2 .318 .374 .431 .286 146 76 1994 TAC 397 109 14 1 5 43 2 2 .275 .345 .353 .249 99 45 1995 EDM 518 121 17 1 3 46 4 1 .234 .296 .288 .207 107 39
SCOTT BROSIUS 1967 3B/OF/2B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 TAC 241 62 9 2 7 13 3 2 .257 .295 .398 .242 58 26 1991 OAK 69 18 6 0 2 3 4 1 .261 .292 .435 .258 18 9 1992 TAC 235 53 7 0 9 18 7 4 .226 .281 .370 .228 54 23 1992 OAK 88 21 3 0 4 2 3 0 .239 .256 .409 .238 21 9 1993 TAC 204 53 6 1 6 16 7 4 .260 .314 .387 .247 50 24 1993 OAK 214 57 9 1 6 13 7 0 .266 .308 .402 .256 55 26 1994 OAK 324 81 13 1 12 20 3 7 .250 .294 .407 .239 77 35 1995 OAK 388 109 17 2 16 37 5 3 .281 .344 .459 .278 108 57 1996 PRJ 425 116 17 2 16 37 6 2 .273 .331 .435 .269 114 58Finally arrived in 1995. Had a fantastic year at Huntsville in 1990 that's just out of reach of the chart above. Useful spare part. Can play corner outfield positions passably, as well as third, and in a pinch, second. Is the major leaguer that most resembles a mountie. If he gets a chance to do anything on defense consistently, could take a big step forward offensively and defensively, a la Tony Phillips. A great guy to have on a ballclub.
SCOTT BRYANT 1968 OaF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 CHT 313 89 11 3 8 26 2 2 .284 .339 .415 .265 83 41 1992 IOW 315 78 17 2 15 21 0 2 .248 .295 .457 .256 81 40 1993 OTT 365 96 11 1 9 48 1 1 .263 .349 .373 .256 93 45 1994 CLG 395 106 18 2 12 32 1 2 .268 .323 .415 .257 102 49 1995 EDM 395 101 19 2 9 42 1 3 .256 .327 .382 .248 98 46Some guys just can't play defense. They're better than Bryant.
FAUSTO CRUZ 1972 SS YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 MOD 59 9 1 0 0 5 1 1 .153 .219 .169 .086 5 1 1992 RNO 474 117 13 4 7 43 4 3 .247 .309 .335 .228 108 45 1993 MOD 165 30 1 0 1 16 3 2 .182 .254 .206 .147 24 6 1993 HUN 255 80 9 1 3 16 2 2 .314 .354 .392 .266 68 32 1993 TAC 73 15 0 1 0 4 3 2 .205 .247 .233 .163 12 3 1994 TAC 211 59 7 0 2 14 2 2 .280 .324 .341 .237 50 21 1994 OAK 28 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 .107 .219 .107 **** -3 0 1995 EDM 436 108 14 1 9 29 7 4 .248 .295 .346 .227 99 41 1996 PRJ 400 105 13 2 7 28 5 4 .262 .311 .357 .237 95 411972 might be pure fiction. If he's really 24 next year, then he's a prospect. If the real age is closer to Junior Felix's, well, then he's no prospect. Will get a shot to make the club in spring training. Very slick hands turns the deuce exceptionally well, and is extremely acrobatic. Even if he's 30, he could catch on and help a team as a defensive replacement.
PAUL FARIES 1965 2B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 HDS 41 10 2 1 0 1 0 0 .244 .262 .341 .210 9 3 1991 LVG 72 18 2 1 0 9 5 2 .250 .333 .306 .237 17 8 1991 SDP 132 26 3 1 0 14 3 1 .197 .274 .235 .177 23 7 1992 LVG 443 111 13 3 2 30 19 4 .251 .298 .307 .222 99 39 1993 PHX 315 77 8 2 2 16 13 7 .244 .281 .302 .209 66 24 1993 SFG 36 8 2 1 0 1 2 0 .222 .243 .333 .214 8 3 1994 PHX 487 115 11 1 2 23 28 8 .236 .271 .275 .201 98 34 1995 EDM 412 106 10 2 0 29 13 6 .257 .306 .291 .216 89 34
DAVID FRANCISCO 1972 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1992 MAD 138 23 2 1 0 10 1 1 .167 .223 .196 .113 16 2 1993 MAD 494 115 14 4 2 33 14 8 .233 .281 .289 .202 100 36 1994 MOD 498 114 10 2 6 44 18 11 .229 .292 .293 .208 104 39 1995 HUN 482 126 11 1 4 32 23 6 .261 .307 .313 .229 110 45
BRENT GATES 1970 2B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 SOR 221 45 4 0 2 15 3 1 .204 .254 .249 .170 38 11 1992 MOD 496 130 20 1 8 54 5 3 .262 .335 .355 .246 122 55 1993 HUN 46 15 2 0 1 6 0 0 .326 .404 .435 .298 14 8 1993 TAC 43 13 3 0 1 3 2 0 .302 .348 .442 .285 12 7 1993 OAK 537 166 27 2 7 53 9 3 .309 .371 .406 .278 149 76 1994 OAK 232 68 8 1 1 19 4 0 .293 .347 .349 .254 59 27 1995 OAK 525 143 21 3 4 40 4 4 .272 .324 .347 .238 125 54 1996 PRJ 566 163 33 3 7 48 4 3 .288 .344 .394 .262 148 71Oh, what might have been. Gates played shortstop in the Oakland farm system, hit well almost immediately out of college, and has been consistently improving on defense. Unfortunately, his development has been stunted by nagging and freak injuries. He may still develop into something really special, but that 1994 campaign may have cost Mr. Gates an awful lot of money. I still think he's a got a year or two of hitting .330 in him. His platoon splits have really moved around a lot. His stroke reminds me a lot of Tony Gwynn's, and that's as high a compliment as I can pay the man. A keeper.
JASON GIAMBI 1971 3B/1B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1992 SOR 42 10 2 0 1 5 0 0 .238 .319 .357 .238 10 4 1993 MOD 309 74 9 1 7 50 1 1 .239 .345 .343 .245 76 35 1994 HUN 197 41 5 0 5 24 0 0 .208 .294 .310 .211 42 16 1994 TAC 170 48 8 0 4 21 1 0 .282 .361 .400 .271 46 23 1995 EDM 183 56 16 1 3 29 0 0 .306 .401 .454 .300 55 31 1995 OAK 176 48 7 0 5 26 3 1 .273 .366 .398 .272 48 25 1996 PRJ 366 98 17 2 11 59 2 2 .268 .369 .415 .276 101 54One of Tony LaRussa's MediaTargets [tm]. Hit like crazy in the minors, with a bunch of walks, some occasional power, and a generally looping stroke. Will hit like crazy in the majors, too. The only question is whether or not his glove will survive the test of fire at 3B, or whether or not he'll be stuck behind McGwire. His release of the ball is a bit slow on his throws; sometimes, the fix for this causes a lot of elbow and shoulder injuries. See also Molitor, Paul. I'd put him at third, and I hope Art Howe does the same.
CREIGHTON GUBANICH 1972 C YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 SOR 135 22 2 1 2 10 0 2 .163 .221 .237 .133 18 4 1992 MAD 416 86 9 1 7 26 0 3 .207 .253 .284 .180 75 23 1993 MAD 384 92 10 1 12 45 2 2 .240 .319 .365 .240 92 42 1994 MOD 377 76 10 1 10 40 3 2 .202 .278 .313 .205 77 29 1995 HUN 280 60 4 1 10 41 1 0 .214 .315 .343 .232 65 28No sign of progress here, but he's young, and apparently has a "stunning" arm behind the plate. The walk rate looks very promising.
JOSE HERRERA 1973 CF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1993 HAG 389 96 10 2 4 14 18 10 .247 .273 .314 .210 82 31 1994 MOD 369 89 12 1 7 26 13 7 .241 .291 .336 .223 82 34 1995 HUN 362 95 9 2 5 22 8 5 .262 .305 .340 .229 83 34 1995 OAK 70 19 1 1 0 5 2 4 .271 .320 .314 .216 15 6 1996 PRJ 428 114 8 4 6 21 11 7 .266 .301 .346 .231 99 41Part of the GMAC Rickey Henderson SmartLease, along with "Gnocchi" Karsay. A "tools" player, which is a nice way of saying that he's really strong, runs real fast, has a very strong arm, and won't ever be all that great of a ballplayer. Amazing arm, yes. Good speed, yes. Strike zone judgment? Uh no, but thanks for asking. Needs a year of AAA before he gets a chance to be Roberto Kelly.
TYRONE HORNE 1971 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 SUM 440 96 10 1 7 23 10 6 .218 .257 .293 .191 84 28 1992 ROK 494 115 12 2 9 41 12 7 .233 .292 .320 .217 107 42 1993 WPB 297 83 11 1 10 32 9 6 .279 .350 .424 .270 80 42 1993 HAR 129 43 5 1 3 18 2 1 .333 .415 .457 .308 40 23 1994 HAR 314 78 7 1 6 40 10 8 .248 .333 .334 .237 75 33 1995 HAR 301 87 12 2 12 48 12 6 .289 .387 .462 .295 89 52 1995 NRW 173 50 13 1 2 21 4 2 .289 .366 .410 .275 48 25Acquired from the Yankee system. Another pretty decent outfielder that can fight for time with Stairs, Young, Lee and the bunch. Is Sandy Alderson turning into Dan Duquette?
DEREK LEE 1967 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 BIR 165 54 7 1 6 39 7 3 .327 .456 .491 .332 55 36 1991 VAN 314 85 19 2 6 26 3 2 .271 .326 .401 .256 80 38 1992 VAN 377 96 15 3 8 45 14 5 .255 .334 .374 .254 96 46 1993 POR 371 103 17 2 9 48 12 4 .278 .360 .407 .274 102 53 1993 MIN 33 5 1 0 0 1 0 0 .152 .176 .182 **** -2 0 1994 OTT 471 140 25 6 11 58 11 5 .297 .374 .446 .288 136 75 1995 NOR 356 89 9 1 15 44 11 5 .250 .333 .407 .260 93 47The A's have started stocking up on guys like this. Lefty hitting outfielder, can most definitely hit major league pitching. Along with Stairs and Young, one of three guys who have never really gotten the chance to show what they can do in the bigs. Fought through the Minnesota and Montreal systems the last couple of years. Can absolutely hit, glove questionable, not unlike Matt Stairs, but I'd be more than happy to have those two in the corner OF spots in Oakland, with Ernie Young patrolling CF. It'd be a half-million dollar outfield that would outproduce at least half the clubs in baseball.
BRIAN LESHER 1971 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1992 SOR 138 18 3 1 1 6 1 3 .130 .167 .188 **** -9 -1 1993 MAD 403 94 7 2 4 31 10 5 .233 .288 .290 .206 83 30 1994 MOD 394 95 8 1 9 61 7 6 .241 .343 .335 .241 95 44 1995 HUN 479 119 14 2 15 55 7 5 .248 .326 .380 .248 119 56
SCOTT LYDY 1969 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 MAD 481 109 11 1 10 43 13 6 .227 .290 .316 .216 104 41 1992 RNO 117 36 9 1 1 17 4 2 .308 .396 .427 .292 34 19 1992 HUN 400 118 14 2 9 60 13 3 .295 .387 .407 .286 115 62 1993 TAC 332 84 12 2 8 41 9 3 .253 .335 .373 .253 84 41 1993 OAK 102 25 2 0 3 8 3 0 .245 .300 .353 .237 24 10 1994 TAC 491 136 22 2 11 48 21 5 .277 .341 .397 .266 131 66 1995 EDM 389 101 18 3 14 28 16 4 .260 .309 .429 .261 102 51 1996 PRJ 318 86 18 2 9 35 19 5 .270 .343 .425 .275 87 47A lefty OF who should be in the majors. A step up from the Mike Aldretes of the world. Tall, lanky hitter. Might be good enough to start for a couple of major league clubs for the next three to four years. Not considered as good a prospect as Herrera, but is probably a better choice for the next three years. Sold to Japan.
MIKE MAKSUDIAN 1966 C YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 KNX 237 56 8 2 5 30 2 1 .236 .322 .350 .238 56 25 1991 SYR 96 30 5 2 1 8 0 0 .312 .365 .438 .283 27 14 1992 SYR 343 95 12 1 11 28 4 1 .277 .332 .414 .263 90 44 1993 POR 257 72 8 2 9 36 4 1 .280 .369 .432 .282 73 39 1994 IOW 196 61 12 1 7 31 1 1 .311 .405 .490 .310 61 36 1994 CHC 26 7 2 0 0 10 0 1 .269 .472 .346 .294 8 5 1995 EDM 316 74 16 2 3 40 5 1 .234 .320 .326 .232 73 31 1996 PRJ 268 67 9 1 7 37 3 0 .250 .341 .369 .255 68 33A refugee from several other organizations. Can hit, and is considerably better than a lot of the catchers in the majors. Probably the next incarnation of Jerry Willard.
DAMON MASHORE 1970 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 SOR 267 54 5 2 4 17 6 3 .202 .250 .281 .183 49 15 1992 MOD 467 108 9 1 13 46 15 8 .231 .300 .338 .227 106 45 1993 HUN 257 57 4 1 3 21 13 3 .222 .281 .280 .206 53 20 1994 HUN 212 44 7 1 3 11 4 1 .208 .247 .292 .187 40 13 1995 EDM 327 85 14 3 1 36 16 4 .260 .333 .330 .245 80 36
MARK MCGWIRE 1964 1B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 OAK 489 109 21 1 24 93 3 1 .223 .347 .417 .266 130 69 1992 OAK 471 135 23 2 44 90 0 1 .287 .401 .624 .335 158 109 1993 OAK 84 30 6 0 9 21 0 1 .357 .486 .750 .391 33 26 1994 OAK 134 35 3 0 8 35 0 0 .261 .414 .463 .305 41 26 1995 OAK 314 91 21 1 34 85 1 1 .290 .441 .688 .361 113 88 1996 PRJ 399 103 20 0 30 100 0 2 .258 .407 .534 .316 126 84If that heel can stay even marginal for the next four years, he'll continue to be excellent. Not quite as excellent as 1995, when he hit like Lou Gehrig, but he'll still pop quite a number of home runs, play good to excellent defense, and get on base at a Hendersonesque clip. Should really lose the goatee, though, and may run into troubles due to his union allegiance. Outspoken about labor issues, and was rude enough to actually discuss the issues with Roy Firestone, and some owners have long memories. Will hit 400 career HR. Tore other heel, out until mid-season.
IZZY MOLINA 1971 C YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 MAD 322 76 8 1 3 6 3 2 .236 .250 .295 .188 61 19 1992 RNO 430 86 8 1 7 19 4 3 .200 .234 .272 .168 72 20 1992 TAC 36 7 1 0 0 1 1 0 .194 .216 .222 .142 5 1 1993 MOD 442 93 16 2 4 23 2 4 .210 .249 .283 .179 79 24 1994 HUN 390 78 10 1 7 15 3 1 .200 .230 .285 .172 67 19 1995 HUN 304 74 9 1 7 22 3 3 .243 .294 .349 .225 68 28
KERWIN MOORE 1971 CF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 BCY 506 105 14 1 3 61 32 9 .208 .293 .257 .204 103 39 1992 BCY 259 55 3 1 1 33 15 5 .212 .301 .243 .202 52 19 1992 MEM 184 42 2 2 4 21 12 3 .228 .307 .326 .234 43 19 1993 HDS 495 97 9 4 4 77 34 9 .196 .304 .255 .209 104 41 1994 HUN 508 114 10 3 5 84 36 11 .224 .334 .285 .233 118 53 1995 MOD 54 11 2 1 0 8 2 2 .204 .306 .278 .205 11 4 1995 EDM 258 63 10 2 2 40 9 3 .244 .346 .322 .244 63 29 1996 PRJ 264 61 7 4 2 45 40 13 .231 .343 .311 .252 66 34Unlike another author of this tome, I like him. You can learn to hit. It's been known to happen. Moore already does everything else. The A's latest incarnation of Lance Blankenship, whom I miss dearly. Lance can lead off for my team anytime.
CRAIG PAQUETTE 1969 UTIL YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 HUN 389 98 12 1 8 20 1 3 .252 .289 .350 .222 87 34 1992 HUN 457 115 16 2 15 26 12 5 .252 .292 .394 .242 110 50 1992 TAC 66 17 5 0 2 1 3 1 .258 .269 .424 .245 16 7 1993 TAC 179 41 2 0 6 24 3 2 .229 .320 .341 .234 42 19 1993 OAK 395 93 19 5 12 11 5 2 .235 .256 .400 .228 90 38 1994 TAC 238 62 8 2 11 12 3 3 .261 .296 .450 .256 61 30 1994 OAK 49 7 2 0 0 0 1 0 .143 .143 .184 **** -4 0 1995 OAK 285 69 14 1 12 8 7 2 .242 .263 .425 .240 68 31 1996 PRJ 328 85 16 1 15 18 5 3 .259 .298 .451 .259 147 72Has a great defensive rep, and LaRussa even ran him out to short a few times last year. Doesn't walk, won't hit for a huge average, has some pop in the bat. Good be a good platoon partner for someone in another organization. Absolutely crushes mediocre high fastballs from left-handers, but is that really a rare skill?
SCOTT SHELDON 1969 3B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 SOR 232 41 2 1 1 10 3 2 .177 .211 .207 .115 27 4 1992 MAD 288 66 6 0 5 21 3 2 .229 .282 .302 .204 59 21 1993 MAD 439 80 11 1 5 33 4 4 .182 .239 .246 .157 69 18 1994 HUN 272 57 5 1 1 25 4 1 .210 .276 .246 .182 49 15 1995 HUN 238 49 6 2 3 20 4 0 .206 .267 .286 .195 46 16 1995 EDM 125 28 5 1 3 13 4 2 .224 .297 .352 .230 29 13
MARK SOBOLEWSKI 1970 2B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1992 SOR 264 54 5 0 4 18 1 2 .205 .255 .269 .175 46 14 1993 MOD 507 93 13 1 4 21 0 2 .183 .216 .237 .135 68 14 1994 HUN 510 119 25 3 7 43 2 3 .233 .293 .335 .220 112 44 1995 HUN 310 60 8 1 6 18 2 1 .194 .238 .284 .175 54 16
SCOTT SPIEZIO 1973 3B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1993 SOR 125 32 4 1 2 8 0 0 .256 .301 .352 .230 29 12 1993 MOD 110 22 6 1 0 15 1 2 .200 .296 .273 .195 21 8 1994 MOD 454 109 19 2 9 67 3 0 .240 .338 .350 .246 112 52 1995 HUN 536 145 24 5 11 57 8 2 .271 .341 .396 .262 140 69 1996 PRJ 567 147 24 3 17 60 11 5 .259 .330 .402 .259 147 72Yet another Oakland prospect who does a bit of everything. Great strike zone judgment, and was right near the top of the Southern League in extra-base hits Probably should be the A's starting third baseman in 1996, but unfortunately, that may come at the expense of Giambi, who has a similar bat. One of them might end up doing an OF conversion. Spiezio is a better long term prospect by a big margin.
MATT STAIRS 1969 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 HAR 508 154 21 5 13 47 15 7 .303 .362 .441 .283 144 77 1992 IND 402 103 16 2 10 44 12 9 .256 .330 .381 .250 100 48 1992 MON 30 5 3 0 0 7 0 0 .167 .324 .267 .209 6 2 1993 OTT 125 33 4 1 2 10 4 1 .264 .319 .360 .245 31 14 1994 NBR 326 95 17 1 7 44 9 5 .291 .376 .414 .280 91 49 1995 PAW 270 71 8 1 10 26 3 2 .263 .328 .411 .258 70 34 1995 BOS 88 24 5 1 1 2 0 1 .273 .289 .386 .234 21 9 1996 PRJ 356 100 13 0 16 37 4 1 .281 .349 .452 .280 100 53Way to go, Sandy. Matt Stairs is another Geronimo Berroa, but from the left side. Has been beating up on pitching in AAA and AA for a few years in the Montreal and Boston chains, but a bad rep in terms of defense and attitude have kept him from getting the MLB playing time he deserves. Realistically, if he gets the starting LF job in Oakland, I expect him to hit something like .275/.335/.450 or so. Very quick hands. Suffers from the phantom first step on defense a slight lifting of the lead foot before taking that first step. That can cost you 3-5 feet on all the edges of your range, and major league hitters will eat that kind of mistake alive.
TERRY STEINBACH 1962 C YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 OAK 462 138 28 2 7 20 3 2 .299 .328 .413 .261 121 57 1992 OAK 442 131 19 1 14 44 3 3 .296 .360 .439 .279 123 65 1993 OAK 391 119 18 1 10 22 4 3 .304 .341 .432 .271 106 53 1994 OAK 368 109 17 2 9 22 3 1 .296 .336 .427 .269 99 49 1995 OAK 407 121 23 1 14 20 1 4 .297 .330 .462 .272 111 56 1996 PRJ 421 121 19 0 12 26 1 2 .287 .329 .418 .262 110 53Consistently above average offensively, steady defense, cannon arm. A dead ringer for Viv Savage, but with straight hair. Probably should be traded. By the time the A's are serious World Series contenders again, Steinbach won't be helping, and he could really help a lot of other clubs. Kills pitches low in the strike zone. The A's would be better off with George Williams behind the plate for the next four years, and Steinbach will probably have a better chance for a championship somewhere else. If Joe edits the Viv Savage line, I'm going to fly down and work him over with a Flowbee.
Actually, I wanted to take out the Savage reference, but with the wedding in three weeks, decided not to take chances with my ever-dwindling head of hair.--J.S.
DANNY TARTABULL 1963 OF/DH YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 KCY 486 162 33 3 32 64 8 3 .333 .411 .611 .340 165 110 1992 NYY 421 117 18 1 26 101 2 2 .278 .418 .511 .317 134 87 1993 NYY 514 138 30 3 32 89 0 0 .268 .376 .525 .305 157 96 1994 NYY 397 106 20 1 17 61 1 1 .267 .365 .451 .283 112 62 1995 NYY 190 44 8 0 6 30 0 0 .232 .336 .368 .248 47 22 1995 OAK 88 25 3 0 2 9 0 3 .284 .351 .386 .251 22 10 1996 PRJ 400 100 15 0 18 70 1 1 .250 .362 .423 .274 110 59Acquired in a brilliant trade with New York, in which the A's jettisoned the waste of skin that is Ruben Sierra, and picked up a guy who is fairly likely to bounce back. Even if he doesn't, his contract's a year shorter, and he doesn't make everyone in the stadium think "Mr. Clean" the second he steps on the field.
ANDY TOMBERLIN 1967 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 RIC 330 72 10 1 2 31 10 4 .218 .285 .273 .199 66 23 1992 RIC 410 106 12 3 8 36 12 10 .259 .318 .361 .239 98 44 1993 BUF 221 64 9 4 10 17 4 0 .290 .340 .502 .291 64 36 1993 PIT 42 12 0 1 1 2 0 0 .286 .318 .405 .255 11 5 1994 PAW 187 58 9 1 9 18 9 1 .310 .371 .513 .309 58 34 1994 BOS 36 7 0 1 1 5 1 0 .194 .293 .333 .224 8 3 1995 EDM 51 11 1 0 2 4 0 0 .216 .273 .353 .217 11 4 1995 OAK 85 19 2 0 3 4 5 1 .224 .258 .353 .223 19 8Left-handed competent OF. Should catch on somewhere, but teams insist on giving five times the money he would cost to guys like Joe Orsulak. Brings the bat head through the hitting zone very quickly. If some club were to stick him in CF against right handed pitching, he could be very valuable it wouldn't surprise me to see him hit something like .290/.350/.500 in such a situation. It'd be a gamble, but why settle for known mediocrity when you could have a chance at some value? Oh, I forgot the GM in question would be crucified, burned in effigy, hung, shot, and hired by Steinbrenner.
DANE WALKER 1970 OF/DH YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 MOD 66 13 1 1 0 10 1 1 .197 .303 .242 .190 13 4 1992 MAD 298 74 7 1 3 28 11 5 .248 .313 .309 .225 67 28 1992 RNO 119 24 4 0 0 15 4 3 .202 .291 .235 .184 22 7 1993 MOD 437 102 9 1 6 64 9 8 .233 .331 .300 .225 98 41 1994 MOD 27 10 1 0 1 7 0 0 .370 .500 .519 .361 10 7 1994 HUN 156 38 4 0 1 22 5 3 .244 .337 .288 .227 35 15 1995 HUN 377 81 10 2 1 49 7 4 .215 .305 .260 .201 76 27
GEORGE WILLIAMS 1969 C/Martyr YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 SOR 179 29 2 0 2 22 3 2 .162 .254 .207 .146 26 6 1992 MAD 366 94 10 1 4 55 5 3 .257 .354 .322 .244 89 41 1993 HUN 444 126 15 1 12 56 5 2 .284 .364 .403 .273 121 62 1994 WMI 229 64 9 1 6 34 4 2 .279 .373 .406 .276 63 33 1995 EDM 280 77 10 1 10 44 1 3 .275 .373 .425 .278 78 42 1995 OAK 79 25 4 1 3 10 0 0 .316 .393 .506 .310 25 14 1996 PRJ 458 128 15 1 17 63 1 1 .279 .367 .428 .279 128 68Should, in a perfect world, start for the A's in 1996. Probably won't, but he's demonstrated that he's a top-flight hitter, and his defense has improved in the last two years. Over the next four years, if he plays full time, will probably be one of the top two or three catchers in the AL. This guy can just flat out hit. Another product of the A's farm system: most of the hitters that come up know the strike zone.
JOEL WOLFE 1970 1B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 SOR 251 55 9 1 1 11 7 3 .219 .252 .275 .184 46 14 1992 RNO 457 87 11 3 1 34 9 5 .190 .246 .234 .159 73 19 1993 MOD 292 82 14 1 4 33 10 7 .281 .354 .377 .260 76 37 1993 HUN 136 38 2 0 3 11 5 2 .279 .333 .360 .251 34 16 1994 HUN 445 113 19 2 4 54 18 6 .254 .335 .333 .243 108 49 1995 HUN 406 98 9 1 10 46 19 8 .241 .319 .342 .238 97 44 1995 EDM 38 7 2 0 0 2 0 2 .184 .225 .237 .124 5 1
JASON WOOD 1970 3B YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 SOR 143 32 1 1 2 16 2 1 .224 .302 .287 .209 30 11 1992 MOD 454 86 16 1 5 20 3 2 .189 .224 .262 .157 71 18 1993 HUN 376 81 15 2 2 27 2 2 .215 .268 .282 .189 71 23 1994 HUN 475 118 19 2 5 41 3 3 .248 .308 .328 .225 107 43 1995 EDM 412 84 14 3 2 25 2 3 .204 .249 .267 .172 71 20
ERNIE YOUNG 1970 OF YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR 1991 MAD 376 85 9 1 11 39 11 6 .226 .299 .343 .227 85 37 1992 MOD 252 53 6 1 8 32 6 2 .210 .299 .337 .226 57 24 1993 MOD 296 78 9 2 14 50 13 4 .264 .370 .449 .288 85 49 1993 HUN 123 24 3 0 4 21 7 3 .195 .312 .317 .227 28 13 1994 HUN 263 87 11 2 12 32 4 4 .331 .403 .525 .316 83 50 1994 TAC 99 25 1 0 4 11 1 4 .253 .327 .384 .240 24 11 1994 OAK 30 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .067 .097 .100 **** -5 -2 1995 EDM 338 84 13 2 12 42 2 2 .249 .332 .405 .257 87 43 1995 OAK 50 11 2 0 2 8 0 0 .220 .328 .380 .248 12 6 1996 PRJ 360 87 13 2 13 49 2 1 .242 .333 .397 .256 92 46Another A's prospect who isn't particularly young, but can hit with some power and average, draw a few walks, and doesn't get much press. Appears to have a very good arm. Could be the fourth outfielder in Oakland this season, or could go somewhere else in a trade. He's got very good power against left-handers, and plays competently at the corner outfield spots. Deserves a shot.
Organizational Pitching Report
OPR Points: 28 Rank in MLB: 12th (T) Rank in AL West: 2nd
Name Lvl Age IP Work H/G K/BB K/G ERA Adj Ttl Grade Adams, Willie 7 4 7 0 2 8 3 2 +1 35 A- Wasdin, John 8 5 9 0 0 6 1 0 +3 32 B Rigby, Brad 3 1 8 0 4 6 6 2 +1 31 B- Manning, Derek 4 -1 6 0 2 8 6 4 +1 30 C+ Witasick, Jay 4 1 6 0 4 5 7 2 -1 28 C Haught, Gary 3 -1 3 0 4 7 6 4 +1 27 C- Wagner, Bret 4 1 6 0 5 3 2 5 -1 25 D Chouinard, Bob 6 1 8 0 3 4 1 2 0 25 D Rossiter, Mike 3 1 2 0 2 8 7 1 +1 25 D Walsh, Matt 3 1 4 0 3 5 8 0 +1 25 D Best Prospect in 1994: John Wasdin (A) Best Rookie Starter in 1995: Doug Johns (C-)
MARK ACRE 1969 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1992 RNO 70.3 58 44 11 49 48 5.63 3 5 7.42 6.27 6.14 1993 MAD 29.7 14 5 2 16 27 1.52 3 0 4.25 4.85 8.19 1993 HUN 21.0 24 10 3 3 17 4.29 1 1 10.29 1.29 7.29 1994 TAC 26.7 27 8 0 12 30 2.70 2 1 9.11 4.05 10.12 1994 OAK 33.7 26 11 3 22 23 2.94 3 1 6.95 5.88 6.15 1995 OAK 51.3 51 26 6 25 51 4.56 3 3 8.94 4.38 8.94Heir apparent to Dennis Eckersley in the Oakland bullpen. Looks unhittable one minute, and then just completely loses the strike zone and has to groove one. Will break out big, but is still half a year away from finding his control. A gigantic human being. Think of him as a right-handed Randy Johnson and you'll have a good visual image. Needs to get more regular work to develop, and might get it under Art Howe.
WILLIAM ADAMS 1973 RSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1993 MAD 16.0 31 16 3 9 15 9.00 0 2 17.44 5.06 8.44 1994 MOD 41.7 55 26 9 9 31 5.62 2 3 11.88 1.94 6.70 1994 HUN 56.3 68 38 6 28 29 6.07 2 4 10.86 4.47 4.63 1995 HUN 75.7 87 37 12 19 61 4.40 4 4 10.35 2.26 7.26 1995 EDM 64.3 74 32 4 16 41 4.48 3 4 10.35 2.24 5.74I like any 23-year-old pitcher who continually drops his hit and walk rates, ups his K rate, and stays healthy. Will probably have a hard time playing his way onto the team in spring training, but he's got an outside shot at making the club. The A's have historically had two different tracks through their minor league system either let them rot, a la Ernie Young, or rush them up, a la Todd Van Poppel. That may change now that LaRussa's gone. I'd expect Adams to make the team as a midseason callup.
SCOTT BAKER 1970 LSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 SAV 41.0 55 38 4 30 26 8.34 1 4 12.07 6.59 5.71 1991 STP 83.3 121 58 9 47 39 6.26 3 6 13.07 5.08 4.21 1992 STP 136.3 157 70 11 72 97 4.62 6 9 10.36 4.75 6.40 1993 HUN 117.0 152 72 10 93 78 5.54 4 9 11.69 7.15 6.00 1994 HUN 102.0 106 39 5 56 58 3.44 6 5 9.35 4.94 5.12 1995 EDM 97.7 118 60 13 44 56 5.53 4 7 10.87 4.05 5.16
SCOTT BANKHEAD 1964 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 SEA 59.7 79 32 7 20 32 4.83 3 4 11.92 3.02 4.83 1992 CIN 70.3 60 26 6 31 59 3.33 5 3 7.68 3.97 7.55 1993 BOS 63.3 63 25 7 28 54 3.55 4 3 8.95 3.98 7.67 1994 BOS 37.3 33 15 5 10 27 3.62 2 2 7.96 2.41 6.51 1995 EDM 17.0 28 16 2 8 15 8.47 0 2 14.82 4.24 7.94 1995 NYY 38.7 47 22 7 14 22 5.12 2 2 10.94 3.26 5.12
BOB BENNETT 1971 RSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1992 SOR 41.3 69 47 12 23 22 10.23 1 4 15.02 5.01 4.79 1993 MAD 95.3 151 72 15 23 69 6.80 3 8 14.26 2.17 6.51 1994 WMI 22.0 31 11 1 6 16 4.50 1 1 12.68 2.45 6.55 1994 MOD 72.7 100 43 3 27 53 5.33 3 5 12.39 3.34 6.56 1995 HUN 110.3 136 67 19 31 59 5.47 4 8 11.09 2.53 4.81
BRAD BRINK 1965 RBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 SPA 14.3 21 9 2 5 10 5.65 1 1 13.19 3.14 6.28 1991 CLR 12.3 7 3 2 4 8 2.19 1 0 5.11 2.92 5.84 1991 REA 32.0 38 17 6 4 23 4.78 2 2 10.69 1.12 6.47 1992 REA 12.7 16 7 0 3 10 4.97 0 1 11.37 2.13 7.11 1992 SWB 105.7 120 56 20 37 85 4.77 5 7 10.22 3.15 7.24 1992 PHI 41.7 56 27 3 14 18 5.83 2 3 12.10 3.02 3.89 1993 SWB 101.3 120 58 12 31 80 5.15 4 7 10.66 2.75 7.11 1994 PHX 120.3 138 59 16 43 75 4.41 6 7 10.32 3.22 5.61 1995 EDM 22.7 23 17 4 17 15 6.75 1 2 9.13 6.75 5.96 1995 PHX 41.7 51 28 4 31 33 6.05 2 3 11.02 6.70 7.13
JOHN BRISCOE 1968 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 TAC 70.0 77 35 8 46 64 4.50 4 4 9.90 5.91 8.23 1991 OAK 14.0 13 10 4 10 10 6.43 1 1 8.36 6.43 6.43 1992 TAC 72.3 81 61 13 69 67 7.59 2 6 10.08 8.59 8.34 1993 HUN 36.7 30 15 5 18 50 3.68 2 2 7.36 4.42 12.27 1993 TAC 11.3 13 6 1 10 14 4.76 0 1 10.32 7.94 11.12 1993 OAK 24.0 26 20 3 25 27 7.50 1 2 9.75 9.38 10.12 1994 OAK 48.7 33 21 7 38 49 3.88 3 2 6.10 7.03 9.06 1995 OAK 17.7 24 14 2 20 20 7.13 0 2 12.23 10.19 10.19Has hired three teams of private investigators to help him find the strike zone, and they may not be enough. Has faced an average of five batters per inning over the past three years. The A's are likely running out of patience with him, despite his extremely live arm.
BOBBY CHOUINARD 1972 RSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 KNE 29.3 55 29 10 3 11 8.90 1 2 16.88 .92 3.38 1992 KNE 165.3 188 80 14 37 70 4.35 8 10 10.23 2.01 3.81 1993 MOD 131.3 180 82 22 48 64 5.62 5 10 12.34 3.29 4.39 1994 MOD 130.0 200 72 6 32 55 4.98 5 9 13.85 2.22 3.81 1995 HUN 156.7 178 88 15 56 89 5.06 7 10 10.23 3.22 5.11
ARCHIE CORBIN 1968 RBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 MEM 145.0 148 91 16 96 129 5.65 5 11 9.19 5.96 8.01 1992 MEM 102.3 133 71 12 84 83 6.24 3 8 11.70 7.39 7.30 1993 HAR 68.3 50 36 2 66 77 4.74 3 5 6.59 8.69 10.14 1994 BUF 21.7 15 9 0 18 23 3.74 1 1 6.23 7.48 9.55 1995 CLG 56.7 64 43 8 54 51 6.83 2 4 10.16 8.58 8.10
JIM CORSI 1962 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 HOU 77.3 80 35 8 24 57 4.07 4 5 9.31 2.79 6.63 1992 TAC 27.7 25 9 1 9 21 2.93 2 1 8.13 2.93 6.83 1992 OAK 43.3 48 16 2 18 23 3.32 3 2 9.97 3.74 4.78 1993 FLA 20.0 29 14 2 10 7 6.30 1 1 13.05 4.50 3.15 1994 BRV 10.7 10 4 0 0 10 3.38 1 0 8.44 .00 8.44 1994 EDM 20.7 26 11 2 10 14 4.79 1 1 11.32 4.35 6.10 1995 OAK 44.3 31 11 2 24 29 2.23 4 1 6.29 4.87 5.89I love this guy. Throws variations on one pitch, a hard, heavy, tantalizing sinker. Opposing batters pound the ball into the turf for weak ground balls. Has been effective everywhere he's pitched, but with a low K rate like that, he could be in real trouble at any given moment. Could probably switch ID photos with Chris Bosio and only their parents would notice.
JIMMY DASPIT 1970 RBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 BAK 57.0 69 34 3 36 33 5.37 2 4 10.89 5.68 5.21 1992 VRO 134.7 164 90 27 76 85 6.01 5 10 10.96 5.08 5.68 1993 SAN 73.3 103 52 8 41 45 6.38 2 6 12.64 5.03 5.52 1994 JAC 66.7 59 29 3 26 60 3.92 4 3 7.97 3.51 8.10 1995 TUC 60.0 57 23 4 23 48 3.45 4 3 8.55 3.45 7.20
DENNIS ECKERSLEY 1955 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 OAK 74.7 66 25 11 8 100 3.01 5 3 7.96 .96 12.05 1992 OAK 78.3 68 17 6 10 112 1.95 7 2 7.81 1.15 12.87 1993 OAK 66.0 68 26 6 11 91 3.55 4 3 9.27 1.50 12.41 1994 OAK 43.3 52 22 4 11 51 4.57 2 3 10.80 2.28 10.59 1995 OAK 50.0 53 22 4 8 44 3.96 3 3 9.54 1.44 7.92Man, oh, man, what a great pair of runs he had. He gets my HoF vote, but I hope to God he's been traded away from Oakland by the time you read this. Can still help a team as a platoon righty out of the pen, but the average AL left hander hit approximately like Tony Gwynn against him. That slider just moves right into the old bathead, and Bang!, it's time to head for the BART station.
RAMON FERMIN 1973 RBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 MOD 10.7 20 9 2 2 4 7.59 0 1 16.88 1.69 3.38 1992 MAD 68.0 89 47 7 42 24 6.22 2 6 11.78 5.56 3.18 1992 MOD 38.0 58 35 10 17 14 8.29 1 3 13.74 4.03 3.32 1993 MOD 61.0 84 57 12 36 36 8.41 1 6 12.39 5.31 5.31 1994 MOD 122.0 166 94 20 45 90 6.93 3 11 12.25 3.32 6.64 1995 HUN 92.3 121 57 6 51 49 5.56 3 7 11.79 4.97 4.78A's are very high on him. I'm not. He's got two trials by fire to go through: He has to learn to pitch, and he has to survive learning to pitch in the "Land of the Julienned Shoulder Sinew", the Oakland farm system. Both are Herculean tasks, and Ramon is no Lou Ferrigno.
PAUL FLETCHER 1967 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 CLR 27.0 28 10 3 9 21 3.33 2 1 9.33 3.00 7.00 1991 REA 110.7 132 67 22 56 77 5.45 4 8 10.73 4.55 6.26 1992 REA 119.0 117 52 17 54 88 3.93 7 6 8.85 4.08 6.66 1992 SWB 22.0 20 10 2 2 24 4.09 1 1 8.18 .82 9.82 1993 SWB 133.0 165 106 27 69 105 7.17 4 11 11.17 4.67 7.11 1994 SWB 131.0 151 71 14 56 83 4.88 6 9 10.37 3.85 5.70 1995 SWB 59.3 51 35 11 32 45 5.31 3 4 7.74 4.85 6.83 1995 PHI 13.0 16 8 2 9 10 5.54 0 1 11.08 6.23 6.92
BENJI GRIGSBY 1971 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1993 MOD 81.7 103 53 18 39 56 5.84 3 6 11.35 4.30 6.17 1994 MOD 60.0 77 38 7 19 37 5.70 2 5 11.55 2.85 5.55 1994 HUN 42.7 52 22 2 28 26 4.64 2 3 10.97 5.91 5.48 1995 HUN 72.7 74 44 10 23 46 5.45 3 5 9.17 2.85 5.70Pitchers simply need more work than this to develop, and considering the amount of physical strain that pitching puts on the body, I'm amazed guys ever become major league starters.
BUDDY GROOM 1966 LRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 LON 48.3 57 25 10 9 33 4.66 2 3 10.61 1.68 6.14 1991 TOL 70.7 79 36 10 22 47 4.58 3 5 10.06 2.80 5.99 1992 TOL 104.3 109 41 11 24 64 3.54 7 5 9.40 2.07 5.52 1992 DET 38.0 50 25 5 22 18 5.92 1 3 11.84 5.21 4.26 1993 TOL 96.3 106 34 4 34 69 3.18 7 4 9.90 3.18 6.45 1993 DET 36.0 48 21 4 12 17 5.25 1 3 12.00 3.00 4.25 1994 DET 31.3 32 11 2 12 29 3.16 2 1 9.19 3.45 8.33 1995 TOL 31.3 36 16 6 5 23 4.60 1 2 10.34 1.44 6.61 1995 DET 39.7 50 23 5 22 24 5.22 1 3 11.34 4.99 5.45 1995 FLA 15.0 25 11 2 6 12 6.60 1 1 15.00 3.60 7.20Well, if there's one thing the Oakland A's desperately needed, it was Buddy Groom. I mean, it takes us out of having to bid in the Randy St. Claire sweepstakes, or trying to find out where Tony Fossas is these days.
STACY HOLLINS 1973 RSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1993 MAD 138.7 194 154 51 59 71 10.00 2 13 12.59 3.83 4.61 1994 MOD 128.7 178 77 14 61 98 5.39 5 9 12.45 4.27 6.85 1995 HUN 77.3 90 55 15 48 52 6.40 3 6 10.47 5.59 6.05 1995 EDM 28.0 45 37 8 22 25 11.89 0 3 14.46 7.07 8.04
DOUG JOHNS 1968 LSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 MAD 116.0 133 77 18 58 68 5.97 4 9 10.32 4.50 5.28 1992 RNO 163.3 188 81 22 51 74 4.46 8 10 10.36 2.81 4.08 1992 HUN 14.7 24 12 1 6 3 7.36 0 2 14.73 3.68 1.84 1993 HUN 84.7 89 43 5 34 45 4.57 4 5 9.46 3.61 4.78 1994 HUN 13.7 19 10 1 14 8 6.59 1 1 12.51 9.22 5.27 1994 TAC 127.0 121 56 11 52 63 3.97 7 7 8.57 3.69 4.46 1995 EDM 123.7 153 54 7 45 71 3.93 7 7 11.13 3.27 5.17 1995 OAK 54.0 44 24 6 23 27 4.00 3 3 7.33 3.83 4.50Came up late in 1995 and filled in when LaRussa finally figured out that Dave Stewart and Ron Darling couldn't pitch anymore. Did a respectable job. A nibbling lefty that doesn't strike out many guys, he'll have to improve his control and keep the ball down. Occasionally, a guy like that can be John Tudor, but usually, the clock strikes midnight and they become Eric King.
STEVE LEMKE 1970 RBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1992 SOR 43.7 78 42 4 6 22 8.66 1 4 16.08 1.24 4.53 1993 SOR 13.7 14 11 6 4 7 7.24 0 2 9.22 2.63 4.61 1993 MAD 31.0 61 26 3 5 15 7.55 1 2 17.71 1.45 4.35 1994 WMI 39.7 51 18 3 5 20 4.08 2 2 11.57 1.13 4.54 1994 MOD 107.0 125 52 12 23 47 4.37 5 7 10.51 1.93 3.95 1995 HUN 116.7 165 76 8 32 55 5.86 4 9 12.73 2.47 4.24
MIKE MOHLER 1969 LRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 MOD 110.3 138 63 12 38 70 5.14 5 7 11.26 3.10 5.71 1991 HUN 48.7 64 30 8 21 21 5.55 2 3 11.84 3.88 3.88 1992 HUN 74.7 83 47 9 46 47 5.67 3 5 10.00 5.54 5.67 1993 OAK 63.3 57 37 10 42 47 5.26 3 4 8.10 5.97 6.68 1994 MOD 27.3 28 13 1 6 22 4.28 1 2 9.22 1.98 7.24 1994 TAC 60.0 70 31 7 23 48 4.65 3 4 10.50 3.45 7.20 1995 EDM 42.3 40 15 1 22 28 3.19 3 2 8.50 4.68 5.95 1995 OAK 22.7 16 6 0 17 16 2.38 2 1 6.35 6.75 6.35Left-handed warm body. Will be bouncing from organization to organization relatively soon. Could be the next Randy St. Claire.
STEVE ONTIVEROS 1961 RSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 SWB 29.0 31 11 2 9 20 3.41 2 1 9.62 2.79 6.21 1993 POR 97.7 98 43 8 20 66 3.96 6 5 9.03 1.84 6.08 1993 SEA 17.7 18 5 0 6 15 2.55 1 1 9.17 3.06 7.64 1994 OAK 114.3 100 34 5 21 61 2.68 9 4 7.87 1.65 4.80 1995 OAK 127.7 144 57 10 31 84 4.02 7 7 10.15 2.19 5.92I have no idea how this guy gets people out, but he's a damn good pitcher. Of course, that implies that he can take the mound, and those days are few and far between. Changes speeds well. His conditioning appears to be questionable; he looks out of shape, and seems to pull groins more often than the cast of "Friends" changes hairstyles.
STEVE PHOENIX 1968 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 MAD 17.7 33 14 0 11 12 7.13 0 2 16.81 5.60 6.11 1991 MOD 75.7 108 58 21 29 46 6.90 2 6 12.85 3.45 5.47 1992 HUN 161.3 212 81 14 43 104 4.52 8 10 11.83 2.40 5.80 1993 HUN 18.7 14 6 0 5 12 2.89 1 1 6.75 2.41 5.79 1993 TAC 27.7 41 23 5 28 18 7.48 1 2 13.34 9.11 5.86 1994 HUN 44.7 52 18 2 19 35 3.63 3 2 10.48 3.83 7.05 1994 TAC 21.0 18 6 0 4 16 2.57 1 1 7.71 1.71 6.86 1995 EDM 60.3 66 32 8 30 28 4.77 3 4 9.85 4.48 4.18Probably deserves a shot at making the team in long relief. Could fill the bullpen out. Not going to be a star, but why pay more for a Bob Wickman-type?
ARIEL PRIETO 1970 RBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1995 OAK 57.7 56 27 3 29 40 4.21 3 3 8.74 4.53 6.241970, my ass. He knows how to pitch, but he's probably getting paid more than he deserves. Showed no progress at all over the course of a half-season. May take him a little time to adjust to the culture and the physical demands. When he was good, he sure looked like a good pitcher, but usually he looked like that proverbial fifth starter.
TODD REVENIG 1969 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 MAD 27.7 15 9 5 11 18 2.93 2 1 4.88 3.58 5.86 1991 HUN 17.7 13 4 2 4 8 2.04 2 0 6.62 2.04 4.08 1992 HUN 62.0 37 19 13 13 41 2.76 5 2 5.37 1.89 5.95 1995 EDM 52.0 53 29 8 16 29 5.02 2 4 9.17 2.77 5.02Those numbers are no lie. Before suffering the injury that caused him to miss two seasons, was the most dominating thrower I had ever seen in my life. Threw a forkball that would make Bryan Harvey weep. Absolutely unhittable. Hitters would weakly drub the ball either back to the mound or pull a dribbler to the corners. Will have to learn to pitch again, but what a sight Mr. Revenig was. I'll be rooting for him. Hopefully, he'll be able to come at least part way back, and a few more people might get to see what this guy can do.
CARLOS REYES 1969 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1992 MCN 53.3 75 27 5 10 37 4.56 3 3 12.66 1.69 6.24 1992 DUR 37.3 40 15 3 11 24 3.62 2 2 9.64 2.65 5.79 1993 GRN 64.3 74 28 5 26 46 3.92 4 3 10.35 3.64 6.44 1993 RIC 26.7 32 12 2 12 26 4.05 1 2 10.80 4.05 8.78 1994 OAK 77.0 76 33 8 41 62 3.86 5 4 8.88 4.79 7.25 1995 OAK 68.0 71 33 8 24 52 4.37 4 4 9.40 3.18 6.88Changeup artist acquired in 1994 from Atlanta in the Rule V draft. He's a keeper. Survives by changing speeds, but occasionally leaves a pitch at Brady Anderson's mid-thigh. Will compete with 10 other pitchers for five spots in the rotation.
SCOTT ROSE 1970 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 MOD 60.7 78 54 15 38 22 8.01 1 6 11.57 5.64 3.26 1992 MAD 32.7 44 30 6 11 10 8.27 1 3 12.12 3.03 2.76 1992 RNO 56.3 86 52 18 32 20 8.31 1 5 13.74 5.11 3.20 1993 SBR 159.3 196 106 28 51 56 5.99 6 12 11.07 2.88 3.16 1994 HUN 66.7 103 51 4 30 38 6.89 2 5 13.91 4.05 5.13 1995 HUN 74.3 84 28 3 25 30 3.39 5 3 10.17 3.03 3.63 1995 EDM 9.3 12 6 1 7 0 5.79 0 1 11.57 6.75 .00
CURTIS SHAW 1970 RBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 MAD 85.0 103 56 7 93 57 5.93 3 6 10.91 9.85 6.04 1992 MOD 158.0 178 86 12 98 120 4.90 7 11 10.14 5.58 6.84 1993 HUN 140.7 147 96 14 98 106 6.14 5 11 9.41 6.27 6.78 1994 HUN 38.7 46 26 3 24 29 6.05 1 3 10.71 5.59 6.75 1994 TAC 76.0 101 65 11 65 44 7.70 2 6 11.96 7.70 5.21 1995 EDM 91.3 91 54 6 91 52 5.32 4 6 8.97 8.97 5.12
STEVE SHOEMAKER 1970 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1992 MAD 74.0 127 75 14 18 36 9.12 1 7 15.45 2.19 4.38 1992 MOD 55.7 73 31 10 10 39 5.01 2 4 11.80 1.62 6.31 1993 SBR 115.3 154 87 26 49 88 6.79 3 10 12.02 3.82 6.87 1994 HUN 57.7 78 36 4 26 41 5.62 2 4 12.17 4.06 6.40 1995 HUN 71.7 71 37 12 34 53 4.65 3 5 8.92 4.27 6.66
TIM SMITH 1969 RSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 LYN 162.0 186 80 15 26 73 4.44 8 10 10.33 1.44 4.06 1992 NBR 142.7 208 110 12 60 60 6.94 4 12 13.12 3.79 3.79 1993 NBR 168.0 217 95 15 45 68 5.09 7 12 11.62 2.41 3.64 1994 NBR 144.3 189 99 24 39 81 6.17 5 11 11.79 2.43 5.05 1995 EDM 35.0 45 24 4 24 22 6.17 1 3 11.57 6.17 5.66
DAVE STEWART 1957 RSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 OAK 222.0 269 127 25 103 167 5.15 9 16 10.91 4.18 6.77 1992 OAK 195.7 193 93 28 77 157 4.28 10 12 8.88 3.54 7.22 1993 TOR 159.7 148 71 22 68 109 4.00 9 9 8.34 3.83 6.14 1994 TOR 130.7 146 65 20 55 118 4.48 7 8 10.06 3.79 8.13 1995 OAK 79.7 100 49 9 34 63 5.54 3 6 11.30 3.84 7.12
DAVE TELGHEDER 1967 RBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 WPT 156.0 202 81 16 21 75 4.67 7 10 11.65 1.21 4.33 1992 TID 161.0 190 89 22 39 107 4.98 7 11 10.62 2.18 5.98 1993 NOR 72.0 88 31 5 21 46 3.88 4 4 11.00 2.62 5.75 1993 NYM 74.7 82 36 11 23 37 4.34 4 4 9.88 2.77 4.46 1994 NOR 150.7 184 72 17 26 77 4.30 8 9 10.99 1.55 4.60 1994 NYM 10.0 11 7 2 8 4 6.30 0 1 9.90 7.20 3.60 1995 NOR 88.7 88 39 10 10 71 3.96 5 5 8.93 1.02 7.21 1995 NYM 25.0 35 16 4 7 16 5.76 1 2 12.60 2.52 5.76
TODD VAN POPPEL 1972 RBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 HUN 120.7 135 76 6 99 91 5.67 4 9 10.07 7.38 6.79 1992 TAC 41.7 48 23 3 35 29 4.97 2 3 10.37 7.56 6.26 1993 TAC 73.7 64 49 11 57 63 5.99 2 6 7.82 6.96 7.70 1993 OAK 82.7 76 40 9 59 53 4.35 4 5 8.27 6.42 5.77 1994 OAK 114.7 114 68 17 86 91 5.34 5 8 8.95 6.75 7.14 1995 OAK 136.7 125 59 14 49 134 3.89 8 7 8.23 3.23 8.82One of the major criticisms that a lot of analysts have of organizations is overreliance on scouting. Scouts can fall in love with a player's physical talents, and somehow overlook the fact that the guy is just not a ballplayer. Glenn Braggs leaps to mind. But watching Van Poppel, it's easy to see how one could fall into that trap. His motion is very fluid, and his fastball just zips. Took a huge leap forward in 1995, and now has the even tougher task of building on that. I think Todd would be great as a long reliever, but the game has changed in such a way that jobs like that don't seem to exist anymore. Personally, I'd give Todd 140 innings or so, 3 to 4 innings at a time, twice a week.
JOHN WASDIN 1973 RSP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1993 MAD 44.7 48 20 3 8 27 4.03 2 3 9.67 1.61 5.44 1993 MOD 15.3 19 10 0 3 9 5.87 1 1 11.15 1.76 5.28 1994 MOD 25.3 22 9 4 5 22 3.20 2 1 7.82 1.78 7.82 1994 HUN 133.0 148 75 23 38 94 5.08 6 9 10.02 2.57 6.36 1995 EDM 166.3 193 105 35 40 113 5.68 6 12 10.44 2.16 6.11 1995 OAK 17.3 14 7 4 2 7 3.63 1 1 7.27 1.04 3.63This is the A's #1 starter for the next seven to ten years if they're smart and/or lucky. I'd describe him as a younger Mike Mussina, but I like him more than that. Throws a variety of pitches, good sense on the mound, has a great command of the strike zone, has generally good stuff, and knows how to use his defense. His confidence may fade if he's forced to go back to the PCL, though. The Man.
DON WENGERT 1970 RRP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1992 SOR 32.7 44 16 3 6 16 4.41 2 2 12.12 1.65 4.41 1992 MAD 34.0 57 27 5 20 18 7.15 1 3 15.09 5.29 4.76 1993 MAD 68.3 118 48 8 19 31 6.32 2 6 15.54 2.50 4.08 1993 MOD 63.7 86 45 13 25 33 6.36 2 5 12.16 3.53 4.66 1994 MOD 38.3 55 21 2 11 39 4.93 2 2 12.91 2.58 9.16 1994 HUN 92.3 102 53 21 41 80 5.17 4 6 9.94 4.00 7.80 1995 EDM 36.3 55 28 6 17 20 6.94 1 3 13.62 4.21 4.95 1995 OAK 29.0 30 11 2 10 17 3.41 2 1 9.31 3.10 5.28Another of the guys that will be fighting for a spot in the Oakland rotation, but he's a long shot to even make the team. If he can bring his K rate back up, he'll improve enough to warrant a midseason callup.
STEVE WOJCIECHOWSKI 1971 LBP YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9 1991 SOR 57.3 93 55 14 29 28 8.63 1 5 14.60 4.55 4.40 1992 MOD 60.0 72 38 5 24 41 5.70 2 5 10.80 3.60 6.15 1993 MOD 78.0 76 35 6 33 41 4.04 4 5 8.77 3.81 4.73 1993 HUN 61.0 97 48 8 33 42 7.08 2 5 14.31 4.87 6.20 1994 HUN 164.7 176 89 13 76 99 4.86 7 11 9.62 4.15 5.41 1995 EDM 74.3 76 34 7 22 40 4.12 4 4 9.20 2.66 4.84 1995 OAK 47.3 51 21 5 25 14 3.99 3 2 9.70 4.75 2.66Along with Doug Johns, was part of the Edmonton taxi squad last year. Another lefty nibbler, he got hit pretty hard in a couple of games, and is a long shot to have any long-term success. If Kirk Dressendorfer comes back and makes the A's rotation, it's entirely possible that a shortage of letters for athletic uniforms could break out in the East Bay.