Baseball Prospectus 1996
Of course, it's important to keep in mind that a lot of the complaining about how unprofitable major league teams are is absolute nonsense. Witness the latest claim by an owner, Houston's Drayton McLane, who stated recently that his Astros had lost $60 million over the last three years. This is a remarkable statement; it means that if Doug Drabek, Greg Swindell, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell had all been paid the major league minimum over that time, the Astros' losses would have still reached eight figures.
Nevertheless, not every team is a gold mine, and there is perhaps no other team as financially insecure as the Expos. A combination of the weak Canadian dollar and public apathy has meant that the Expos have earned as little revenue in recent years as any franchise in baseball. Every year rumors circulate that the team is moving to Tampa, or Northern Virginia, or a stadium near you. And now, with the Expos apparently forced to trade Wil Cordero, a player who just a year ago seemed to be the core of the franchise, at least partly for financial reasons, it may seem that baseball in Montreal is doomed to be a losing effort until the team leaves town.
But are the Expos destined to pack up and move, or can they survive north of the border? There are a number of factors which affect a franchise's profitability (and therefore stability), but three stand out:
Of course, if population alone guaranteed attendance, the Dodgers would be whining about their small market in the face of such giants as Sao Paulo and Cairo. The Cincinnati Reds, playing in one of the smallest markets in the country, consistently draw well because they play in a baseball hotbed.
This is perceived to be Montreal's problem; the Quebecois would rather watch a Zamboni go by than watch baseball. What people have failed to notice, however, is that this is as ripe a time as any to change that; the Montreal Canadiens are enduring one of the worst eras in their hallowed existence. And unless you're a big CFL fan, there are no other major sports teams to take away potential customers, although junior hockey is extremely popular.
The Expos have been sitting on a mostly untapped resource for a quarter-century, and rather than abandoning it, they should be finding ways to tap it. One of the surest ways to do so is to build:
Still, few teams would appear to benefit more from a new pad than the Expos. As beneficial as a new park might be, getting out of Olympic Stadium is reason enough to invest in a new home. Olympic Stadium is arguably the worst ballpark in the major leagues: it features a retractable roof that won't retract (but will collapse, as the Expos found in 1993), artificial turf, and the cookie-cutter dimensions fashionable in the 70s. It was such a debt-ridden enterprise during its construction that it became known for a time as the Big Owe. The Expos' old Jarry Park was probably a better place to see a game; any new park built with some degree of common sense should increase attendance by at least 20-25%.
Financing a new stadium is a problem, but its potential benefits are so great that even if government support can't be obtained, the Expos could secure private funding, as the Giants are doing with their latest stadium proposal, and still make out like bandits. But if the Expos are to achieve a stable existence in Montreal, a new ballpark is a necessity.
This is perhaps the biggest irony of the strike; that the labor discord, which was supposedly forced by the owners to help small-market clubs compete, lay waste to the Expos' finest season, one in which they possessed the best record in baseball. The strike wiped out a potential windfall; the Expos were beginning to draw huge crowds during the homestand preceding the strike, proof that even Montrealers are attracted by a winning team.
Of course, a winning tradition would seem to be a self-propagating cycle, and without the resources to build a winning team, the Expos may be stuck. But the Expos have had good teams before with the same resources that they have today. The franchise has always been known for a strong scouting and development operation, which has more than compensated for their lack of action on the free-agent market.
If the Expos are looking for a blueprint of how to turn their "small market" into a big one, they need look no farther than Cleveland, where the Indians have been running a clinic on Franchise Management for the last five years. Forgotten in the Indians' meteoric rise is just how bad this franchise appeared just four short years ago.
It was amidst the ashes of the 1991 Indians, an outfit that went 57-105 and scored just 576 runs, that John Hart began to implement the most brilliant scheme devised by a GM since Branch Rickey invented the farm system. Other organizations watched on in disbelief as Hart signed the Indians' best players to long-term deals years before those players would be eligible for free agency, or in some cases, arbitration. The result is evident to even the most myopic of observers; the Indians ran roughshod over the American League last year, and more notably, every important player on the team, except Albert Belle, is signed to a long-term deal.
Even more amazing than the success of the Indians' blueprint is that not one other major league team has tried to copy it until this past winter. Most of the men running big league franchise are individuals so conservative and content with the time-honored ways of doing business that many of them are convinced that personal computers are just a passing fad. Still, nothing overcomes a GM's inertia like a good old-fashioned butt-kicking by one of his rivals, and the Indians have left some big welts on derri‚res all around baseball.
This is the plan the Expos need to follow; this is the plan that can enable the Expos to succeed. The Expos are as good at developing players as any team in baseball, and it's time they start putting that strength to good use. They need to lock away their best players to long-term deals, now. They need to offer Rondell White a six-year, $18-million contract; they need to hand Pedro Martinez $12 million over four years. They need to have the patience to pay their best young players slightly more than their market value now, in anticipation of huge savings in the future. But more importantly, they need to sift through their roster, find those players who have the youth and the talent to help this franchise win throughout the rest of this decade, and sign them up. They shouldn't wait until Carlos Perez is eligible for arbitration or Tony Tarasco hits 35 homers or Cliff Floyd wins an MVP award; they need to have the wisdom to give these players a long-term home in Montreal. They need to have the courage to take risks which might pay off handsomely two or three years from now.
There are other benefits to following the Indians Guide to Baseball Management. By guaranteeing a long-term relationship between their players, the Expos can avoid the prolonged contract negotiations and flared tempers that are a staple of every team's diet in the early spring. Think about it: all season long a team hypes its players, but during the offseason the team spends most of its time pointing out his weaknesses in an effort to sign him to the best possible deal.Arbitration rewards a team which does a good job of ripping its players apart. More than one player has come out of the ordeal with a lot less respect for his front office than when he went in. Just two years ago, Marquis Grissom was so shaken by what the Expos said in his hearing that he vowed never to forget.
Entering into a long-term partnership with their players would also help the Expos at the turnstile. Teams tend to forget that fans show considerably more loyalty to their players than they do, and enjoy watching players that have been with the team for years a lot more than hired guns. In Cleveland, Indians fans can watch Jim Thome and remark how much he's improved since he first came up, or compare the Sandy Alomar of today and the one they saw win a Rookie of the Year award six years ago. In Montreal, fans watch Moises Alou and only wonder how long it is before he leaves town.
Sadly, the trade of Cordero only proves that the Expos haven't caught on yet. Instead of committing to their best players, they seem resigned to losing them after a few years, and indeed appear to be afraid a player might have too much success in Montreal, because it will merely speed his departure. A team which has no ties to its best players ends up focusing on their weaknesses instead of their strengths, and this situation is no different. Instead of focusing on what Cordero can do, which is hit like a monster in his early twenties, they focus on what he can't, which is play shortstop well. Meanwhile, the Red Sox and their brilliant GM Dan Duquette (who, by the way, used to call the shots in Montreal) look at Cordero and see a guy who can play an adequate second base, and hit like Carlos Baerga but with more patience.
As long as the Expos lack the boldness to change their direction and steer a new course towards building a team which doesn't need to be rebuilt every three years, they are likely to continue to teeter on the edge of ruin. But it doesn't have to be that way, and they alone have the power to choose what direction they will take.
He's a bit of a wild card in the Expos' infield plans. If Grudzielanek falters, he could step in, and if he gets off to a hot start could garner 350 AB's and carve out a nice career for himself.
The Expos have more potential All-Stars in their outfield than perhaps any team in baseball. Even with the trade of Cordero, there are just three spots open for Alou, Floyd, White, and Tarasco. The situation resembles the Cardinals with Gilkey, Lankford, Jordan, and Whiten a few years ago. A trade is the only sure way to clear things up, and since Alou earns the most...
Traded to Baltimore during spring training,where he'll be at least a platoon outfielder. Recommended.
Organizational Pitching Report
Based strictly on his on-field performance, Cormier is a talented left-hander who can start or relieve. He doesn't have a chance at attending a dozen All-Star games, however, which is what the Expos traded to get him.
Pedro is as important to the Expos' pitching staff as White is to the offense, and apparently is more than willing to live in Montreal long-term he's talked openly about one day marrying a French-Canadian woman. Given the circumstances, the Expos would be absolute morons to not sign him to a long-term deal now. When he's on his game, there may not be a more dominating pitcher in the game. Who else has come as close as he has to a perfect game twice?
The Expos appear unlikely to come up with a better closer anytime soon (though they are grooming Scott Gentile for the role), so Rojas and Alou better patch up their differences, unless they want Tim Scott to start racking up saves.
Teams see this as a panacea ever since Camden Yards opened four years ago. It is certainly true that a well-designed, modern stadium located in a revitalized downtown area has done wonders financially in Baltimore, Cleveland, and Denver (although the Rockies were doing just fine at Mile High); it is less clear whether this would hold true for every team. The Rangers have yet to see the same kind of success at The Ballpark in Arlington, but then, the Rangers have had a knack over the years of screwing up even the best-laid plans.
This would seem to be a no-brainer if the Expos want to draw fans, they need to win. This has always been a problem in Montreal; while the Expos were a consistently competitive ballclub from 1979 through 1987, the team's only postseason appearance ever was in strike-torn 1981. And the ascendancy of the neighbor Blue Jays in the mid-'80s relegated the Expos to the role of Canada's Second Team, exacerbating the problem.
ISRAEL ALCANTARA 1973 3B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1993 BUR 472 98 10 1 12 10 4 4 .208 .224 .309 .179 85 26
1994 WPB 474 126 16 1 15 20 7 2 .266 .296 .399 .245 116 52
1995 WPB 136 34 5 1 3 6 2 0 .250 .282 .368 .231 31 13
1995 HAR 240 50 8 2 8 16 1 1 .208 .258 .358 .212 51 20
The Expos like his power potential, but his lack of plate discipline is positively scary. If he's to find any kind of major league success, he's going to have show more selectivity than your typical hyena.
MOISES ALOU 1967 LF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1992 MON 343 102 27 2 11 28 16 2 .297 .350 .484 .294 101 57
1993 MON 484 142 28 4 17 38 18 6 .293 .345 .473 .285 138 76
1994 MON 418 143 26 4 20 41 8 6 .342 .401 .567 .325 136 85
1995 MON 345 98 17 1 13 28 4 3 .284 .338 .452 .274 94 49
1996 PRJ 451 130 25 3 17 38 4 4 .288 .344 .470 .281 127 68
Suffered the worst season of his career, which means it's the ideal time for the Expos to sign him to a long-term deal. Don't hold your breath.
CLEMENTE ALVAREZ 1968 C
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 SAR 200 38 7 1 2 14 2 1 .190 .243 .265 .170 34 10
1992 BIR 172 24 4 0 2 9 1 1 .140 .182 .198 .065 11 1
1993 BIR 113 23 2 0 1 9 1 2 .204 .262 .248 .168 19 5
1994 NAS 221 44 5 1 2 16 0 1 .199 .253 .258 .169 37 10
1995 OTT 144 32 3 0 4 9 0 0 .222 .268 .326 .206 30 11
If you can't tell from the numbers that Alvarez is no prospect, this book isn't going to do you any good.
SHANE ANDREWS 1972 3B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 SUM 372 66 6 2 8 43 2 2 .177 .263 .269 .179 67 21
1992 AGA 478 101 7 1 17 80 4 2 .211 .324 .337 .234 112 50
1993 HAR 447 109 14 1 15 53 8 4 .244 .324 .380 .248 111 53
1994 OTT 469 118 18 2 12 71 6 4 .252 .350 .375 .257 120 59
1995 MON 220 49 10 1 7 17 1 1 .223 .278 .373 .226 50 21
1996 PRJ 398 102 20 1 15 54 3 2 .256 .345 .425 .269 107 56
With the trade of Sean Berry, third base is his to lose, and he just might. Has a great defensive reputation, but he strikes out an incredible amount (664 K's in 642 games over his career), and he's going to have to make more contact if he's ever going to hit. He's young and talented enough that a breakout season is possible, but it's far from a sure thing.
TONY BARRON 1967 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 SAN 202 44 1 1 7 20 5 2 .218 .288 .337 .221 45 18
1992 SAN 100 39 2 1 6 5 6 2 .390 .419 .610 .347 35 22
1992 ABQ 278 73 11 1 6 11 5 3 .263 .291 .374 .234 65 28
1993 ABQ 245 54 9 1 5 21 5 3 .220 .282 .327 .214 52 20
1994 JAX 403 110 12 1 14 23 13 3 .273 .312 .412 .258 104 50
1995 HAR 105 31 3 0 8 7 0 0 .295 .339 .552 .300 31 18
1995 OTT 148 36 7 0 8 13 0 2 .243 .304 .453 .255 38 19
Tempting power, but he's old, and the Expos' outfield is set. If Alou moves on, Barron may have a shot as a backup, but don't count on it.
YAMIL BENITEZ 1972 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1992 JAM 168 39 4 2 2 9 8 1 .232 .271 .315 .215 36 14
1992 AGA 81 12 1 1 1 3 0 1 .148 .179 .222 .085 7 1
1993 BUR 414 96 9 2 10 17 10 4 .232 .262 .336 .211 87 33
1994 HAR 476 108 9 2 12 28 15 9 .227 .270 .330 .211 100 39
1995 OTT 478 120 16 3 16 40 14 5 .251 .309 .397 .250 119 57
1995 MON 39 15 2 1 2 1 0 2 .385 .400 .641 .326 13 8
1996 PRJ 501 125 17 2 20 36 14 5 .250 .300 .411 .251 126 60
Barron's a better player, but Benitez has the benefit of age and a great September debut. Could be in Montreal in April; could be out by August.
RAFAEL BOURNIGAL 1966 SS
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 VRO 67 14 3 0 0 0 1 0 .209 .209 .254 .151 10 2
1991 SAN 65 18 2 0 0 0 1 2 .277 .277 .308 .201 13 4
1991 ABQ 207 49 3 2 1 10 3 1 .237 .272 .285 .196 41 14
1992 ABQ 382 107 11 2 1 14 4 2 .280 .306 .327 .227 87 34
1993 ABQ 443 92 6 1 4 22 2 3 .208 .245 .253 .163 72 19
1994 ABQ 198 54 2 0 1 7 2 2 .273 .298 .298 .211 42 15
1994 LAD 117 28 2 1 0 9 0 0 .239 .294 .274 .199 23 8
1995 HAR 97 20 3 1 0 8 1 0 .206 .267 .258 .181 18 5
1995 ABQ 31 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 .097 .125 .129 **** -5 -1
1995 OTT 54 10 4 0 0 2 0 0 .185 .214 .259 .148 8 2
His one major league chance came when the Dodgers decided that anybody could play better defense than Offerman. Unfortunately, when the job calls for more than just anybody, Bournigal is out of his depth.
JAMES BUCCHERI 1969 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 HUN 356 76 11 1 1 58 25 6 .213 .324 .258 .221 79 33
1992 RNO 247 69 7 1 3 36 15 6 .279 .371 .352 .265 65 33
1992 HUN 61 9 0 1 1 8 5 2 .148 .246 .230 .171 10 3
1992 TAC 126 36 3 2 1 22 8 4 .286 .392 .365 .275 35 19
1993 TAC 286 66 5 1 2 32 9 6 .231 .308 .276 .209 60 23
1994 TAC 434 112 3 1 2 35 29 11 .258 .313 .283 .223 97 39
1995 OTT 474 120 9 3 1 45 37 9 .253 .318 .291 .231 110 47
Speedy. If only his other four tools were so good.
KEVIN CASTLEBERRY 1968 2B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 MIA 67 15 2 1 1 7 5 1 .224 .297 .328 .233 16 7
1991 SAR 359 91 11 1 6 42 12 5 .253 .332 .340 .242 87 39
1992 SAR 101 25 1 0 1 12 5 2 .248 .327 .287 .227 23 10
1992 BIR 396 100 7 3 3 43 12 6 .253 .326 .308 .229 91 38
1993 ELP 323 80 5 2 2 23 8 2 .248 .298 .294 .214 69 26
1994 ELP 250 59 4 5 1 21 9 4 .236 .295 .304 .216 54 21
1995 OTT 433 121 14 2 6 47 9 5 .279 .350 .363 .256 111 52
The Expos need a left-handed hitting middle infielder, so he could find a spot on the bench. He's unlikely to garner much playing time, though, or do much with it.
MARK CHARBONNET 1971 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 WTT 175 38 3 1 2 0 5 2 .217 .217 .280 .171 30 8
1991 CGA 119 23 2 1 1 2 1 1 .193 .207 .252 .142 17 4
1992 CGA 419 97 8 2 9 6 5 2 .232 .242 .325 .197 83 28
1993 KIN 321 67 6 2 5 8 6 5 .209 .228 .287 .173 56 16
1994 WPB 326 79 13 4 2 20 6 4 .242 .286 .325 .216 70 27
1995 HAR 412 98 10 2 7 12 3 4 .238 .259 .323 .201 83 29
His strikeout-to-walk ratio last year was 8-to-1. Say goodnight, Mark.
RAUL CHAVEZ 1973 C
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 BUR 426 86 5 1 4 11 1 2 .202 .222 .246 .146 62 14
1992 ASH 352 82 12 1 2 8 0 0 .233 .250 .290 .184 65 20
1993 OSC 197 37 2 1 1 6 1 0 .188 .212 .223 .127 25 5
1994 JAC 253 50 4 0 1 13 1 0 .198 .237 .225 .145 37 8
1995 JAC 186 47 3 0 4 6 1 2 .253 .276 .333 .212 39 15
1995 TUC 99 21 4 0 0 7 0 1 .212 .264 .253 .171 17 5
Chavez was thrown into the Berry deal, but with Tim Laker out for the year, the Expos may be thinking of using him as Fletcher's backup. For their sake, I hope not.
PHIL DAUPHIN 1969 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 PEO 437 109 11 2 10 48 8 4 .249 .324 .352 .241 105 47
1992 CHR 521 122 17 1 9 49 14 6 .234 .300 .322 .222 116 47
1993 ORL 301 72 11 1 8 24 6 6 .239 .295 .362 .229 69 29
1993 IOW 54 11 2 1 1 9 2 0 .204 .317 .333 .237 13 6
1994 HAR 333 78 9 3 7 34 9 6 .234 .305 .342 .229 76 33
1995 HAR 405 94 14 2 4 34 14 5 .232 .292 .306 .215 87 34
Doesn't do anything particularly well. Minor league filler material.
JUNIOR FELIX 1968 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 PSP 64 20 0 0 2 11 4 1 .312 .413 .406 .300 19 11
1991 CAL 233 72 10 2 2 11 10 6 .309 .340 .395 .262 61 29
1992 CAL 510 130 21 5 10 31 3 5 .255 .298 .375 .234 119 51
1993 EDM 29 8 2 0 0 3 0 0 .276 .344 .345 .247 7 3
1993 FLA 213 51 9 1 6 11 2 1 .239 .277 .376 .228 49 20
1994 DET 296 91 19 1 11 22 2 7 .307 .355 .490 .285 84 46
1995 OTT 161 35 6 2 2 14 1 1 .217 .280 .317 .207 33 12
There is wide-spread speculation that Felix may be a lot older than he claims to be. It really doesn't matter anymore; Felix's major league career appears to be over.
DARRIN FLETCHER 1967 C
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 SWB 304 80 7 1 7 15 1 2 .263 .298 .362 .231 70 29
1991 PHI 138 34 5 0 2 5 0 1 .246 .273 .326 .207 29 10
1992 IND 51 12 1 0 1 4 0 0 .235 .291 .314 .212 11 4
1992 MON 223 57 9 2 3 15 0 2 .256 .303 .354 .229 51 21
1993 MON 397 103 16 1 9 35 0 0 .259 .319 .373 .244 97 43
1994 MON 283 74 15 1 9 25 0 0 .261 .321 .417 .258 73 35
1995 MON 351 104 18 1 10 31 0 1 .296 .353 .439 .277 97 50
1996 PRJ 462 127 22 1 13 42 0 0 .275 .335 .411 .263 122 59
Fletcher's improvement over the last five years is almost eerily consistent. Playing in Montreal isn't going to earn him any endorsement deals, but playing as well as he has does earns him a nod as one of the NL's better catchers.
CLIFF FLOYD 1973 1B/OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1992 AGA 530 145 12 6 14 29 17 6 .274 .311 .398 .252 134 63
1993 HAR 383 119 11 2 20 44 22 7 .311 .382 .507 .308 118 71
1993 OTT 125 27 3 1 1 15 2 1 .216 .300 .280 .206 26 9
1993 MON 31 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 .226 .226 .323 .187 6 2
1994 MON 331 93 14 3 4 24 12 3 .281 .330 .378 .256 85 40
1995 MON 69 9 1 0 1 7 3 0 .130 .211 .188 .121 8 2
1996 PRJ 276 84 16 1 10 34 34 6 .304 .381 .478 .310 86 53
Floyd is the second Expo in three years to suffer a gruesome, potentially career-threatening injury. Of course, Alou came back better than ever, and Floyd stunned everyone when he was activated in September. Of course, he went hitless after his return, and there's still no evidence that he's back at 100%. He spent the winter clearing off the rust in Puerto Rican winter ball, and hit .260 with limited power. Floyd is an incredibly important player to Montreal's future, and the Expos desperately need him to turn into the MVP candidate that once seemed his birthright. Right now, though, there's no way to tell.
TOM FOLEY 1960 IF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 MON 172 41 10 1 1 14 2 0 .238 .296 .326 .222 38 15
1992 MON 115 21 4 1 0 9 3 0 .183 .242 .235 .162 19 5
1993 PIT 194 49 9 1 3 11 0 0 .253 .293 .356 .228 44 18
1994 PIT 123 30 5 0 3 13 0 0 .244 .316 .358 .238 29 13
1995 OTT 63 18 4 0 0 7 1 0 .286 .357 .349 .258 16 8
Foley has played major league baseball for 13 years, an astonishing career for a guy who's hit like a backup catcher for most of that period. Unlikely to make it 14 years.
ANTONIO GRISSOM 1970 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 BAT 215 39 3 2 2 13 9 5 .181 .228 .242 .157 34 9
1991 SPA 98 14 0 0 0 13 5 2 .143 .243 .143 .112 11 2
1992 ALB 502 126 18 3 5 67 45 15 .251 .339 .329 .249 125 60
1993 BUR 275 57 6 2 4 24 11 6 .207 .271 .287 .197 54 19
1993 WPB 142 30 1 1 2 15 6 3 .211 .287 .275 .201 29 10
1994 WPB 314 63 4 1 6 29 13 7 .201 .268 .277 .192 60 21
1995 HAR 243 59 5 0 4 26 11 6 .243 .316 .313 .227 55 23
His skills are similar to his brother Marquis. Similar, not identical.
MARK GRUDZIELANEK 1970 IF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 JAM 279 55 4 1 2 7 6 2 .197 .217 .240 .148 41 9
1992 ROK 504 102 5 2 5 10 12 3 .202 .218 .250 .155 78 19
1993 WPB 305 75 10 4 2 10 11 5 .246 .270 .325 .212 65 24
1994 HAR 488 140 23 1 8 33 24 7 .287 .332 .387 .260 127 61
1995 OTT 182 52 6 1 1 9 10 1 .286 .319 .346 .249 45 20
1995 MON 269 68 8 2 1 14 9 3 .253 .290 .309 .217 58 22
1996 PRJ 411 106 18 1 5 23 18 3 .258 .297 .343 .235 97 41
Mike Lansing, two years later. Had an impressive 1994, but in the context of the rest of his career, it stands out quite a bit, and it wasn't that good a season. Penciled in as the starting shortstop, and with Cordero out of the way, no one looms as a potential eraser.
BERT HEFFERNAN 1965 C
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 ABQ 156 29 6 1 0 17 1 2 .186 .266 .237 .165 26 7
1992 JAX 200 52 5 0 2 26 4 4 .260 .345 .315 .236 47 21
1992 CLG 44 11 1 0 1 6 1 1 .250 .340 .341 .241 11 5
1993 SHV 100 20 2 0 0 8 1 0 .200 .259 .220 .159 16 4
1993 PHX 47 10 2 0 0 7 1 1 .213 .315 .255 .201 9 3
1995 OTT 103 21 3 0 1 6 1 0 .204 .248 .262 .173 18 5
He must be Alvarez's tutor.
LOU HYMEL 1968 C
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 SUM 118 19 2 1 1 2 0 0 .161 .175 .220 .086 10 1
1992 AGA 295 47 5 1 3 21 1 2 .159 .215 .214 .117 35 6
1993 BUR 182 44 5 1 7 0 1 0 .242 .242 .396 .222 40 16
1993 WPB 114 28 5 1 3 5 2 1 .246 .277 .386 .232 26 11
1994 HAR 233 53 7 0 9 6 1 0 .227 .247 .373 .215 50 19
1995 HAR 307 57 5 2 9 16 3 2 .186 .226 .303 .177 54 17
He must be Alvarez's tutee.
FRANK JACOBS 1968 1B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 PTS 297 56 4 1 6 27 2 1 .189 .256 .269 .178 53 16
1992 SLU 445 101 11 1 12 30 2 2 .227 .276 .337 .213 95 36
1993 BIN 347 83 11 2 7 34 2 2 .239 .307 .343 .229 79 33
1994 BIN 435 113 11 1 10 40 2 1 .260 .322 .359 .242 105 46
1995 BIN 68 19 2 0 3 8 0 0 .279 .355 .441 .278 19 10
1995 HAR 275 84 10 1 8 39 1 2 .305 .392 .436 .291 80 44
1995 OTT 33 8 3 1 0 10 0 1 .242 .419 .394 .281 9 5
A late bloomer, but Jacobs actually had a fine season, especially considering he played for four different teams. Too old to be considered a prospect, and with the acquisition of Ryan McGuire, there's very little hope for him in Montreal.
TONY KOUNAS 1968 C
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 PEN 394 91 11 1 5 25 2 1 .231 .277 .302 .202 80 28
1992 SBR 375 79 12 1 7 22 1 2 .211 .254 .304 .190 71 23
1993 JAX 157 39 6 0 4 12 2 1 .248 .302 .363 .235 37 16
1994 JAX 213 50 6 0 6 13 0 1 .235 .279 .347 .217 46 18
1995 HAR 199 43 1 0 2 15 1 1 .216 .271 .251 .178 35 10
The Expos must be anticipating a rules change which forces backup catchers to bat for the opposing team. If they can push the rule through, they can starting printing those postseason tickets now.
TIM LAKER 1970 C
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 WPB 345 79 9 1 7 15 6 1 .229 .261 .322 .206 71 26
1992 HAR 417 98 10 1 15 33 2 1 .235 .291 .372 .232 97 41
1992 MON 46 11 3 0 0 2 1 1 .239 .271 .304 .200 9 3
1993 OTT 204 43 6 0 3 19 3 2 .211 .278 .284 .196 40 14
1993 MON 86 17 2 1 0 2 2 0 .198 .216 .244 .153 13 3
1994 OTT 430 131 22 2 9 41 11 5 .305 .365 .428 .281 121 63
1995 MON 141 34 6 1 3 14 0 1 .241 .310 .362 .234 33 14
1996 PRJ 253 62 8 1 6 18 2 1 .245 .295 .356 .230 58 24
Here, at least, is a backup catcher who can hit a little. Or could: he's out for the year. This happened at a real inopportune time for Laker; before the injury, there was talk the Expos might move Fletcher and give him the full-time job. Success is timing, and Timmy doesn't have it.
MIKE LANSING 1968 2B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 MIA 398 111 15 3 9 30 16 4 .279 .329 .399 .262 104 51
1992 HAR 494 132 15 4 7 43 34 7 .267 .326 .356 .253 125 59
1993 MON 493 143 24 1 3 47 24 5 .290 .352 .361 .263 129 63
1994 MON 391 105 16 2 4 30 14 9 .269 .321 .350 .240 94 41
1995 MON 468 123 26 2 9 27 29 4 .263 .303 .385 .252 118 56
1996 PRJ 410 111 23 3 8 33 27 8 .271 .325 .400 .262 108 54
Lansing is a terrific base stealer and has more power than your typical second baseman; in fact, the only major difference between him and his predecessor, Delino DeShields, is that DeShields reaches base more often. A lot more often. His age 27 season has come and gone, so don't look for any sudden improvement from Lansing. He's a useful but not irreplacable cog in the Expos' lineup.
JALAL LEACH 1969 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 FTL 484 116 13 5 5 32 15 7 .240 .287 .318 .216 105 41
1992 PRW 476 111 13 3 4 35 12 6 .233 .286 .298 .208 99 36
1993 ABY 460 119 13 4 12 37 12 8 .259 .314 .383 .245 113 52
1994 COH 445 108 11 5 5 32 13 9 .243 .294 .324 .218 97 39
1995 COH 270 59 9 2 5 20 10 3 .219 .272 .322 .213 58 22
CHRIS MARTIN 1968 SS/3B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 HAR 298 60 4 0 6 13 1 2 .201 .235 .275 .168 50 14
1992 HAR 392 84 13 1 6 42 7 4 .214 .290 .298 .207 81 31
1993 HAR 398 107 14 1 6 32 11 4 .269 .323 .354 .244 97 43
1994 OTT 379 88 12 1 3 30 5 3 .232 .289 .293 .205 78 28
1995 OTT 416 102 12 1 3 42 26 4 .245 .314 .300 .231 96 41
Important only if Andrews falls on his face. And pulls Grudzielanek and Lansing down with him.
RAY MCDAVID 1972 CF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 CSC 447 94 8 3 8 73 25 8 .210 .321 .295 .227 101 44
1992 HDS 418 93 8 1 16 63 22 5 .222 .324 .361 .248 104 51
1993 WIC 450 108 10 2 9 60 24 9 .240 .329 .331 .241 108 50
1994 LVG 455 97 14 2 8 55 22 11 .213 .298 .305 .217 99 40
1995 LVG 160 37 3 1 4 25 6 1 .231 .335 .338 .245 39 19
1996 PRJ 290 69 9 2 9 47 16 6 .238 .344 .376 .259 75 39
Kerwin Moore with some power. He has great tools, but has had only one good season despite playing his entire career in terrific hitter's parks. If he can raise his average into the .260-.270 range, he might become a decent fourth outfielder, but he has no star potential.
RYAN MCGUIRE 1972 1B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1993 FTL 213 60 8 1 4 21 2 2 .282 .346 .385 .259 55 26
1994 LYN 491 107 12 1 5 60 7 5 .218 .303 .277 .205 101 37
1995 TRN 426 138 19 1 7 47 10 6 .324 .391 .423 .289 123 66
1996 PRJ 518 147 26 2 8 89 8 5 .284 .389 .388 .279 144 77
He wasn't worth Cordero, but he had a terrific season, and may prove to be more valuable to the Expos than Cormier. Consider: five years ago the Red Sox traded away another would-be first baseman who hit .333 at AA Jeff Bagwell. Before we get too carried away, keep in mind that Bagwell was a year younger and played in a worse hitter's park.
CURTIS PRIDE 1969 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 SLU 407 104 13 3 12 32 14 4 .256 .310 .391 .250 102 48
1992 BIN 397 85 8 1 11 39 12 8 .214 .284 .322 .213 85 34
1993 HAR 180 61 4 2 11 9 15 5 .339 .370 .567 .319 58 35
1993 OTT 262 72 6 2 5 31 27 9 .275 .352 .370 .266 70 36
1994 OTT 305 78 13 2 7 34 20 5 .256 .330 .380 .259 79 40
1995 OTT 155 41 7 2 3 11 7 3 .265 .313 .394 .251 39 19
1995 MON 63 11 1 0 0 5 3 2 .175 .235 .190 .134 8 2
1996 PRJ 224 60 8 2 6 18 9 3 .268 .322 .402 .259 58 28
Attained some fame for making it to the major leagues in 1993 despite being almost entirely deaf, which obscured the fact that he actually had a pretty damn good year. Unfortunately, he had the misfortune of blossoming at the same time as Rondell White and Cliff Floyd, and has been buried in AAA the last two years. He would be a terrific bench player for the Expos: he hits for a good average, shows some power, and is an intelligent, fleet baserunner.
HENRY RODRIGUEZ 1968 OF/1B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 ABQ 432 96 12 2 8 17 3 3 .222 .252 .315 .195 84 28
1992 ABQ 354 95 13 2 13 23 1 3 .268 .313 .427 .255 90 43
1992 LAD 148 36 7 0 4 9 0 0 .243 .287 .372 .230 34 14
1993 ABQ 170 39 7 2 3 10 1 1 .229 .272 .347 .215 37 14
1993 LAD 176 40 7 0 8 12 1 0 .227 .277 .403 .236 42 18
1994 LAD 308 88 13 2 7 17 0 1 .286 .323 .409 .257 79 37
1995 LAD 81 23 3 1 1 5 0 1 .284 .326 .383 .247 20 9
1995 MON 58 12 0 0 1 6 0 0 .207 .281 .259 .185 11 3
Acquired essentially straight-up for Roberto Kelly. Kelly isn't the greatest player in the world, but trading him for an outfielder who's never had even an average offensive season is not a shrewd move. There's no spot for him in Montreal, and the Expos would be better served by cutting their losses now.
MATT RUNDELS 1970 2B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1992 JAM 287 59 4 1 3 16 12 6 .206 .248 .258 .176 51 15
1993 BUR 207 46 3 2 3 28 7 4 .222 .315 .300 .220 46 19
1993 HAR 118 38 2 0 5 11 6 1 .322 .380 .466 .302 36 20
1994 HAR 334 65 4 3 5 41 14 5 .195 .283 .269 .198 66 24
1995 HAR 470 112 20 2 10 36 17 9 .238 .292 .353 .229 108 46
1995 OTT 37 9 0 1 0 6 1 1 .243 .349 .297 .231 9 4
The Expos aren't looking for more middle infielders, and if they were, Castleberry is a much more qualified player.
FRANK SANTANGELO 1968 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 HAR 469 104 8 4 6 55 13 5 .222 .303 .294 .215 101 40
1992 IND 463 117 13 1 5 56 13 8 .253 .333 .317 .234 108 47
1993 OTT 454 114 13 1 3 53 16 6 .251 .329 .304 .231 105 45
1994 OTT 420 103 18 1 4 52 7 7 .245 .328 .321 .231 97 41
1995 OTT 270 65 11 2 2 29 7 3 .241 .314 .319 .227 61 26
1995 MON 98 30 3 1 1 12 1 1 .306 .382 .388 .275 27 14
Despite an unimpressive minor league career, the Expos decided to take a look at him last year, and he responded with one of the best stretches of his career. That bit of serendipity should keep Santangelo in the majors for a few years and earn him a nice-sized nest egg for the future.
DAVID SEGUI 1967 1B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 ROC 95 23 1 0 1 12 1 1 .242 .327 .284 .218 21 8
1991 BAL 214 64 3 0 3 11 1 1 .299 .333 .355 .246 53 23
1992 BAL 190 47 7 0 2 20 1 0 .247 .319 .316 .227 43 18
1993 BAL 445 124 20 1 10 54 2 1 .279 .357 .396 .267 119 59
1994 NYM 333 81 12 1 9 33 0 0 .243 .311 .366 .238 79 35
1995 MON 384 121 18 3 9 27 1 4 .315 .360 .448 .281 108 56
1995 NYM 74 26 2 1 2 12 1 3 .351 .442 .486 .314 23 14
1996 PRJ 507 154 26 3 19 62 1 2 .304 .380 .479 .298 151 86
Although it isn't shown above, in 1989-90 Segui was a terrific hitter for average in the minor leagues, and projected as a Mark Grace-type player in the majors. The Orioles' trade for Glenn Davis gave Segui little opportunity to play, though, and his skills atrophied without regular playing time. On that note, last year's excellent showing shouldn't be considered a fluke, though at age 29 it's likely we've seen his peak. He should hit close to .300 for the next few years, and he needs to if he wants to play, since he doesn't hit for power or walk much.
JOE SIDDALL 1968 C
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 HAR 238 49 5 1 1 15 5 2 .206 .253 .248 .171 41 12
1992 HAR 294 64 8 0 3 24 3 3 .218 .277 .276 .191 56 18
1993 OTT 137 27 2 0 1 17 2 2 .197 .286 .234 .177 24 7
1994 OTT 111 19 2 1 2 9 1 1 .171 .233 .261 .160 18 5
1995 OTT 250 51 8 2 1 21 3 2 .204 .266 .264 .181 45 14
Jerry Lewis needs to run a Telethon for Montreal's backup catchers. "Ma'am, won't you donate five dollars to help little Joey find a job outside of baseball."
DAVE SILVESTRI 1968 SS
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 ABY 523 131 19 4 18 62 14 7 .250 .330 .405 .258 135 68
1992 COH 426 116 20 3 11 52 19 10 .272 .351 .411 .269 115 60
1993 COH 432 111 17 2 16 62 7 7 .257 .350 .417 .266 115 60
1994 COH 397 95 12 1 19 73 17 9 .239 .357 .418 .271 108 60
1995 MON 72 20 5 0 2 9 2 0 .278 .358 .431 .281 20 11
1996 PRJ 322 83 14 1 12 45 2 2 .258 .349 .419 .268 86 45
If the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays were starting play in 1996, and wanted to field teams that could play .500 on a shoestring budget, Silvestri should be the first guy they call to fill the shortstop position. He's a good defensive infielder who hits better than a lot of major league outfielders. His problem is that his skills aren't what most managers expect at shortstop. He doesn't use a fungo bat to hit with, swing at everything in his area code, or hit .280; he hits .250 or .260 but has more patience and power than all but a few shortstops in baseball today. One of Kevin Malone's better acquisitions during his time in Montreal.
TIM SPEHR 1967 C
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 OMA 217 59 9 1 6 19 3 1 .272 .331 .406 .260 56 27
1991 KCR 74 15 5 0 3 9 1 0 .203 .289 .392 .238 18 8
1992 OMA 338 85 13 1 13 55 4 2 .251 .356 .411 .269 91 48
1993 OTT 141 26 3 1 3 13 2 1 .184 .253 .284 .183 26 8
1993 MON 87 21 4 0 2 6 2 0 .241 .290 .356 .232 20 9
1994 MON 36 9 2 1 0 4 2 0 .250 .325 .361 .255 9 4
1995 MON 35 9 5 0 1 6 0 0 .257 .366 .486 .291 10 6
A pretty good hitter for a catcher, but he's gone to bat a total of 85 times in the last two years, which hasn't done his batting eye any good. His season ended with surgery for testicular cancer; thankfully, the cancer does not appear to have spread, and he may be back this year to claim Laker's old job.
ANDY STANKIEWICZ 1965 SS
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 COH 372 93 9 3 1 19 27 11 .250 .286 .298 .216 80 31
1992 NYY 400 111 23 2 2 37 10 5 .278 .339 .360 .251 100 46
1993 COH 333 74 7 2 1 26 12 6 .222 .279 .264 .193 64 22
1994 HOU 54 15 2 0 1 12 1 1 .278 .409 .370 .280 15 8
1995 TUC 83 18 2 0 1 12 3 1 .217 .316 .277 .216 18 7
1995 HOU 53 7 1 0 0 12 4 2 .132 .292 .151 .159 8 2
Three years ago, he was drafted ahead of Kenny Lofton in a Strat-O-Matic league by the creator of the DTs. Many of you undoubtedly want your money back now.
TONY TARASCO 1971 RF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 DUR 252 55 4 1 8 12 7 5 .218 .254 .337 .205 52 19
1992 GRN 495 133 14 1 13 24 28 11 .269 .303 .380 .246 122 56
1993 RIC 371 116 9 4 12 33 19 9 .313 .369 .456 .289 107 59
1993 ATL 35 8 2 0 0 0 0 1 .229 .229 .286 .163 6 2
1994 ATL 132 37 6 0 4 9 6 0 .280 .326 .417 .270 36 18
1995 MON 439 113 17 4 12 50 25 3 .257 .333 .396 .265 117 60
1996 PRJ 511 136 25 3 17 44 36 6 .266 .324 .427 .272 139 73
Had a bit of trouble making the adjustment from minor leaguer to bench player to full-time major leaguer, but appears ready to ascend to the next level offensively; he is still 25, after all. An excellent baserunner and a good defensive outfielder.
EDGAR TOVAR 1974 SS
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1992 JAM 286 58 2 0 3 6 5 4 .203 .219 .241 .146 42 9
1993 WPB 473 99 18 1 3 11 3 3 .209 .227 .271 .164 77 20
1993 HAR 42 9 1 0 0 1 0 0 .214 .233 .238 .149 6 1
1994 SBR 337 91 8 1 6 15 8 4 .270 .301 .353 .234 79 33
1994 WPB 123 37 5 1 3 4 3 0 .301 .323 .431 .270 33 16
1995 HAR 251 48 5 1 3 11 1 2 .191 .225 .255 .152 38 9
His 1994 season was very promising for a 20-year-old shortstop. Obviously, something went very wrong in 1995, but he still has plenty of time to come back.
JEFF TREADWAY 1963 2B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 ATL 307 100 16 2 3 23 2 2 .326 .373 .420 .281 86 44
1992 ATL 127 31 7 1 0 10 1 2 .244 .299 .315 .214 27 10
1993 CLE 222 72 12 1 2 13 1 1 .324 .362 .414 .276 61 30
1994 LAD 67 21 2 0 0 6 1 1 .313 .370 .343 .257 17 8
1995 MON 50 12 2 0 0 5 0 1 .240 .309 .280 .202 10 4
Retired. Had a nice little career as a singles-hitting second baseman, because he hit a lot of them. Got out at the right time; he's made a handsome sum of money playing baseball, but his major league playing days were over, and he knew it.
GUILLERMO VELASQUEZ 1968 1B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 WIC 497 131 15 1 16 31 3 1 .264 .307 .394 .247 123 55
1992 LVG 495 134 31 2 7 32 2 1 .271 .315 .384 .247 122 55
1993 LVG 122 33 4 0 3 8 0 0 .270 .315 .377 .245 30 13
1993 SDP 143 30 1 0 3 13 0 0 .210 .276 .280 .191 27 9
1994 NBR 72 14 1 0 0 10 0 1 .194 .293 .208 .165 12 3
1994 CHR 52 10 1 0 1 9 0 0 .192 .311 .269 .204 11 4
1995 OTT 113 27 2 0 1 7 1 1 .239 .283 .283 .198 22 8
After the Padres traded away Fred McGriff, those writers who didn't understand the PCL effect were calling Velasquez a prospect. They sure aren't calling him that anymore.
JOSE VIDRO 1975 2B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1993 BUR 291 56 9 0 2 18 2 1 .192 .239 .244 .157 46 12
1994 WPB 471 115 20 2 5 42 6 1 .244 .306 .327 .226 107 44
1995 WPB 165 49 11 1 3 5 0 1 .297 .318 .430 .260 43 20
1995 HAR 250 62 12 2 3 15 3 5 .248 .291 .348 .221 55 22
Not a very good hitter yet, but he's a 21-year-old switch-hitting middle infielder. All those hyphens demand that he be watched for the next year or two.
RONDELL WHITE 1972 CF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 SUM 480 106 10 2 9 34 22 10 .221 .272 .306 .207 99 38
1992 WPB 470 137 9 7 6 40 27 10 .291 .347 .379 .264 124 61
1992 HAR 90 26 5 1 2 5 5 1 .289 .326 .433 .272 25 13
1993 HAR 373 114 9 5 11 16 15 4 .306 .334 .445 .277 103 53
1993 OTT 149 54 7 1 5 11 9 1 .362 .406 .523 .329 49 30
1993 MON 73 19 3 1 2 7 1 2 .260 .325 .411 .251 18 9
1994 OTT 171 46 6 0 5 13 8 2 .269 .321 .392 .257 44 21
1994 MON 96 27 7 1 2 9 1 1 .281 .343 .438 .271 26 13
1995 MON 475 145 30 4 11 40 26 5 .305 .359 .455 .290 138 76
1996 PRJ 631 196 39 5 17 57 37 8 .311 .368 .469 .298 188 107
Probably the Expos' best player right now, and he just turned 24. Excels at every aspect of the game, and while he has yet to show serious power yet, those doubles and his age suggest he could be hitting 20-25 shots annually as soon as this year. The Expos need to build their lineup around him, because he's a special player, and needs to be treated as such. His upside is to turn out like Kirby Puckett, but with more patience and better defense.
TED WOOD 1967 OF
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 PHX 498 134 23 2 10 68 10 5 .269 .357 .384 .264 131 66
1992 PHX 412 116 17 3 9 38 8 6 .282 .342 .403 .262 108 53
1992 SFG 59 14 3 0 1 6 0 0 .237 .308 .339 .228 13 6
1993 OTT 232 55 8 2 1 35 11 2 .237 .337 .302 .238 55 25
1994 OTT 418 116 19 6 10 42 4 4 .278 .343 .423 .267 112 57
1995 OTT 329 84 10 1 7 34 8 2 .255 .325 .356 .245 81 37
Didn't Johnny Depp star in a movie about this guy? Good AAA credentials, but peaked just shy of major league status.
JULIAN YAN 1966 1B
YEAR TEAM AB H DB TP HR BB SB CS BA OBA SA EQA EQH EQR
1991 KNX 357 95 11 1 14 14 2 3 .266 .294 .420 .247 88 40
1992 KNX 397 103 15 2 14 25 2 3 .259 .303 .413 .248 99 46
1993 SYR 278 70 6 2 6 13 3 2 .252 .285 .353 .224 62 25
1994 SYR 81 19 2 1 2 8 2 1 .235 .303 .358 .234 19 8
1995 OTT 373 103 14 2 18 14 5 1 .276 .302 .469 .267 100 50
Very few position players make their major league debuts after they turn 30. Julian shouldn't be an exception.
OPR Points: 16 Rank in MLB: 25th Rank in NL East: 5th
Name Lvl Age IP Work H/G K/BB K/G ERA Adj Ttl Grade
Urbina, Ugueth 7 6 2 0 8 5 5 4 0 37 A
Falteisek, S 6 1 9 0 4 3 2 4 0 29 C
Stull, Everett 6 1 6 0 4 2 8 0 0 27 C-
Moraga, David 0 5 8 0 3 4 3 4 -1 26 D+
Henderson, Rod 6 0 1 0 4 6 6 1 0 24 D
Best Prospect in 1994: Carlos Perez (C+) Best Rookie Starter in 1995: Carlos Perez (C+)
TAVO ALVAREZ 1972 RSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 SUM 132.0 194 83 15 61 96 5.66 5 10 13.23 4.16 6.55
1992 WPB 123.3 179 63 4 36 66 4.60 6 8 13.06 2.63 4.82
1992 HAR 44.0 60 23 5 10 37 4.70 2 3 12.27 2.05 7.57
1993 OTT 131.3 186 83 11 62 69 5.69 5 10 12.75 4.25 4.73
1995 HAR 15.0 19 8 0 5 12 4.80 1 1 11.40 3.00 7.20
1995 OTT 20.3 21 7 2 5 10 3.10 1 1 9.30 2.21 4.43
1995 MON 37.0 46 26 2 14 17 6.32 1 3 11.19 3.41 4.14
A very talented pitcher who has suffered from a weight problem throughout his career, which contributed to his missing the entire 1994 season. He pitched quite well last year considering the long layoff, and if he limits himself to Slim-Fast during Spring Training is a sleeper candidate for Rookie of the Year.
BOB BAXTER 1969 LBP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 ROK 58.3 75 29 6 15 34 4.47 3 3 11.57 2.31 5.25
1992 WPB 58.0 66 23 5 14 43 3.57 3 3 10.24 2.17 6.67
1993 WPB 54.7 66 27 4 4 25 4.45 3 3 10.87 .66 4.12
1994 HAR 97.3 131 75 17 36 46 6.93 3 8 12.11 3.33 4.25
1995 OTT 93.7 147 56 6 29 37 5.38 4 6 14.12 2.79 3.56
A junk pitcher who has yet to pitch even remotely well above A-ball. He's left-handed, but I don't care if he throws with his teeth, he's not a prospect.
DENIS BOUCHER 1968 LBP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 CSP 14.0 14 8 3 1 9 5.14 1 1 9.00 .64 5.79
1991 SYR 53.3 61 23 5 16 27 3.88 3 3 10.29 2.70 4.56
1991 CLE 22.3 33 16 4 7 14 6.45 1 1 13.30 2.82 5.64
1991 TOR 34.7 46 21 5 16 19 5.45 1 3 11.94 4.15 4.93
1992 CSP 117.3 119 45 7 25 40 3.45 7 6 9.13 1.92 3.07
1992 CLE 40.3 49 25 9 19 20 5.58 1 3 10.93 4.24 4.46
1993 LVG 64.3 90 43 13 27 39 6.02 2 5 12.59 3.78 5.46
1993 OTT 40.7 42 15 1 12 20 3.32 3 2 9.30 2.66 4.43
1993 MON 28.0 26 7 2 4 15 2.25 2 1 8.36 1.29 4.82
1994 OTT 108.3 119 50 12 38 45 4.15 6 6 9.89 3.16 3.74
1994 MON 18.7 25 15 6 7 18 7.23 0 2 12.05 3.38 8.68
1995 OTT 51.3 75 42 2 36 21 7.36 1 5 13.15 6.31 3.68
Even being a native Canadian doesn't figure to win Boucher a job in Montreal after his performance the last two years. Besides, Cormier is the new golden boy.
KIRK BULLINGER 1970 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1992 HAM 44.0 40 18 2 20 36 3.68 3 2 8.18 4.09 7.36
1993 SPR 49.0 30 22 12 24 47 4.04 2 3 5.51 4.41 8.63
1994 STP 50.3 43 20 1 23 42 3.58 3 3 7.69 4.11 7.51
1995 HAR 62.3 69 25 5 25 35 3.61 4 3 9.96 3.61 5.05
Acquired in the Ken Hill dump, Bullinger is not a great prospect despite his career 1.79 ERA in the minors. He's already 26, and had some trouble making the jump from A-ball to AA. His brother Jim was a late bloomer, so that may help Kirk, along with the fact that Felipe Alou manages relievers as well as any manager in the game. First, though, he has to win a job, which won't be easy.
RHEAL CORMIER 1967 LBP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 LOU 121.3 146 58 8 26 69 4.30 6 7 10.83 1.93 5.12
1991 STL 67.3 81 36 6 9 41 4.81 3 4 10.83 1.20 5.48
1992 STL 185.3 215 91 22 38 133 4.42 9 12 10.44 1.85 6.46
1993 STL 143.3 163 70 20 30 79 4.40 7 9 10.23 1.88 4.96
1994 LOU 21.0 22 10 3 8 13 4.29 1 1 9.43 3.43 5.57
1994 STL 39.3 38 19 6 7 26 4.35 2 2 8.69 1.60 5.95
1995 BOS 114.0 128 44 9 24 75 3.47 7 6 10.11 1.89 5.92
Frankly, the Expos' fixation on Cormier because they think his French-Canadian roots will help draw fans to the ballpark is rather insulting to their fans. Do the Expos consider Montrealers so insecure about their identity that they'll shell out money to watch an athlete just because he's one of them? Please. People in Montreal are just like the rest of us; they like to see their team win. That is what's going to draw them to see baseball, not getting to listen to one of their players conduct an interview entirely in French.
OMAR DAAL 1972 LRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1992 SAN 52.7 69 45 7 40 41 7.69 1 5 11.79 6.84 7.01
1992 ABQ 9.0 13 7 1 11 9 7.00 0 1 13.00 11.00 9.00
1993 LAD 34.7 37 18 5 23 20 4.67 2 2 9.61 5.97 5.19
1994 ABQ 32.7 34 16 4 17 26 4.41 2 2 9.37 4.68 7.16
1994 LAD 13.7 12 4 1 5 9 2.63 1 1 7.90 3.29 5.93
1995 ABQ 50.0 54 24 4 27 46 4.32 3 3 9.72 4.86 8.28
1995 LAD 20.0 31 15 1 15 11 6.75 1 1 13.95 6.75 4.95
The Expos are talking about using him in the rotation. I hear Jeff Ballard is still available.
RICK DEHART 1970 LBP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1992 AGA 105.3 122 65 26 47 88 5.55 4 8 10.42 4.02 7.52
1993 SBR 48.0 61 28 7 22 34 5.25 2 3 11.44 4.12 6.38
1993 WPB 37.3 51 20 1 19 28 4.82 2 2 12.29 4.58 6.75
1993 HAR 31.0 51 33 8 21 15 9.58 0 3 14.81 6.10 4.35
1994 WPB 126.7 151 69 23 37 74 4.90 6 8 10.73 2.63 5.26
1995 HAR 87.7 101 59 20 40 54 6.06 3 7 10.37 4.11 5.54
JOSE DELEON 1961 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 STL 161.7 161 62 16 64 129 3.45 10 8 8.96 3.56 7.18
1992 PHI 15.0 17 7 0 5 8 4.20 1 1 10.20 3.00 4.80
1992 STL 102.3 107 61 11 46 82 5.36 4 7 9.41 4.05 7.21
1993 CWS 10.3 5 2 2 3 7 1.74 1 0 4.35 2.61 6.10
1993 PHI 46.3 39 23 6 28 36 4.47 2 3 7.58 5.44 6.99
1994 CWS 66.3 52 25 5 29 74 3.39 4 3 7.06 3.93 10.04
1995 CWS 66.3 59 30 9 24 58 4.07 3 4 8.01 3.26 7.87
One of the most underachieving pitchers of our generation appears to be near his end. At age 35, a comeback is unlikely, but he has still has the talent to be an excellent pitcher. Advice for Jose: get one of those backyard tires that you hang from a tree, and practice throwing every pitch in your arsenal through the hole. If you can cut your walks in half, you could still turn into Rick Aguilera.
RALPH DIAZ 1970 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 ROK 106.7 141 69 22 45 50 5.82 4 8 11.90 3.80 4.22
1992 WPB 109.7 122 61 16 35 61 5.01 5 7 10.01 2.87 5.01
1993 HAR 85.0 100 52 7 34 52 5.51 3 6 10.59 3.60 5.51
1994 HAR 126.0 155 95 26 79 81 6.79 4 10 11.07 5.64 5.79
1994 OTT 26.7 43 22 5 15 13 7.43 1 2 14.51 5.06 4.39
1995 HAR 18.3 18 13 6 9 13 6.38 1 1 8.84 4.42 6.38
1995 OTT 45.3 58 42 11 29 29 8.34 1 4 11.51 5.76 5.76
HECTOR FAJARDO 1971 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 AUG 55.0 57 38 6 27 49 6.22 2 4 9.33 4.42 8.02
1991 CAR 56.7 70 43 9 25 43 6.83 2 4 11.12 3.97 6.83
1991 TEX 18.7 25 11 3 4 17 5.30 1 1 12.05 1.93 8.20
1992 PCH 20.0 29 13 1 11 9 5.85 1 1 13.05 4.95 4.05
1992 TUL 23.3 24 10 3 9 21 3.86 2 1 9.26 3.47 8.10
1994 OKL 49.7 43 13 5 13 42 2.36 4 2 7.79 2.36 7.61
1994 TEX 82.3 88 45 12 21 47 4.92 4 5 9.62 2.30 5.14
1995 OTT 14.3 21 10 2 7 9 6.28 1 1 13.19 4.40 5.65
1995 TEX 15.0 18 9 2 4 10 5.40 1 1 10.80 2.40 6.00
He's pitched for 15 different teams in the last five years. Career prostitutes undress in front of fewer men than he has. All that moving has made it hard for Fajardo to pitch consistently, and difficult for us to get a read on just how good a pitcher he is. If someone gives him a full year at AAA and he can stay healthy, then maybe we'll find out just how good he is.
STEVE FALTEISEK 1972 RSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1992 JAM 85.0 115 71 9 42 47 7.52 2 7 12.18 4.45 4.98
1993 BUR 68.3 97 63 9 39 40 8.30 2 6 12.78 5.14 5.27
1994 WPB 149.0 163 81 10 53 76 4.89 7 10 9.85 3.20 4.59
1995 HAR 158.0 169 74 6 64 94 4.22 9 9 9.63 3.65 5.35
1995 OTT 21.7 21 6 0 6 17 2.49 1 1 8.72 2.49 7.06
Grade B prospect. Not one outstanding feature, but he's had two good seasons in a row, which commands respect. Another year at AAA should give us an answer.
JEFF FASSERO 1963 LSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 IND 17.3 13 4 1 7 11 2.08 2 0 6.75 3.63 5.71
1991 MON 55.0 44 18 2 18 46 2.95 4 2 7.20 2.95 7.53
1992 MON 85.7 91 38 3 37 72 3.99 5 5 9.56 3.89 7.56
1993 MON 147.7 128 51 8 59 150 3.11 10 6 7.80 3.60 9.14
1994 MON 137.7 124 51 13 42 123 3.33 9 6 8.11 2.75 8.04
1995 MON 188.0 208 87 15 75 161 4.16 10 11 9.96 3.59 7.71
He's one of the most underappreciated pitchers in baseball, and coming off a poor season, but is one of the 10 best left-handed starters in the game today. He's an extreme groundball pitcher who racks up strikeouts, a rare and desirable commodity. If his control improves a little and the Expos provide him with good run support, he could surprise everyone by winning 20 games this year.
GREG A. HARRIS 1956 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 BOS 170.7 166 70 14 67 146 3.69 10 9 8.75 3.53 7.70
1992 BOS 106.0 85 33 7 58 87 2.80 8 4 7.22 4.92 7.39
1993 BOS 110.3 102 50 6 58 118 4.08 6 6 8.32 4.73 9.63
1994 BOS 44.7 57 31 6 20 46 6.25 1 4 11.49 4.03 9.27
1995 OTT 16.7 8 3 2 4 16 1.62 2 0 4.32 2.16 8.64
1995 MON 48.0 45 16 5 16 46 3.00 3 2 8.44 3.00 8.62
Achieved some notoriety for pitching left-handed to a couple of batters last season. Given the Expos' bullpen options from that side of the mound, they may want to consider using him in that role more often.
TIM LAYANA 1964 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 NAS 44.0 51 22 3 29 42 4.50 2 3 10.43 5.93 8.59
1991 CIN 20.7 24 17 2 12 15 7.40 0 2 10.45 5.23 6.53
1992 ROC 68.0 87 46 6 41 44 6.09 2 6 11.51 5.43 5.82
1993 PHX 62.3 74 33 7 24 47 4.76 3 4 10.68 3.47 6.79
1994 SBR 14.0 9 6 0 10 12 3.86 1 1 5.79 6.43 7.71
1994 OTT 55.7 75 42 7 30 32 6.79 2 4 12.13 4.85 5.17
1995 OTT 33.3 64 37 9 23 26 9.99 1 3 17.28 6.21 7.02
Unless a market suddenly opens for pitchers who give up two hits an inning, Layana should be out of baseball.
JOE MAGRANE 1965 LSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1992 STP 16.3 18 6 0 7 12 3.31 1 1 9.92 3.86 6.61
1992 LOU 50.0 63 30 7 30 35 5.40 2 4 11.34 5.40 6.30
1992 STL 31.3 39 16 3 16 23 4.60 1 2 11.20 4.60 6.61
1993 CAL 47.0 50 23 4 20 27 4.40 2 3 9.57 3.83 5.17
1993 STL 114.7 126 60 17 41 40 4.71 5 8 9.89 3.22 3.14
1994 LEL 9.7 11 4 0 4 6 3.72 1 0 10.24 3.72 5.59
1994 VAN 9.3 14 6 1 4 5 5.79 0 1 13.50 3.86 4.82
1994 CAL 72.3 85 46 13 47 35 5.72 3 5 10.58 5.85 4.35
1995 OTT 63.0 79 47 8 35 35 6.71 2 5 11.29 5.00 5.00
Some pitchers come back from serious arm surgery without any loss in effectiveness. Magrane is not one of those pitchers. Hasn't been the same since his arm gave out in the spring of 1991, and never will be.
BARRY MANUEL 1966 RBP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 TUL 62.0 75 33 7 34 38 4.79 3 4 10.89 4.94 5.52
1991 TEX 16.0 7 2 0 5 6 1.12 2 0 3.94 2.81 3.38
1992 TUL 24.7 36 21 5 19 23 7.66 1 2 13.14 6.93 8.39
1992 OKL 25.3 34 24 2 28 11 8.53 1 2 12.08 9.95 3.91
1993 OKL 22.3 26 15 1 16 18 6.04 1 1 10.48 6.45 7.25
1993 ROC 19.0 15 8 3 8 10 3.79 1 1 7.11 3.79 4.74
1994 ROC 131.7 166 77 21 60 96 5.26 5 10 11.35 4.10 6.56
1995 OTT 120.0 145 79 6 57 80 5.93 4 9 10.88 4.28 6.00
With a name like that, you'd think he'd be a lounge singer somewhere. In reality, he's a Ranger refugee who's in grave danger of being deported soon.
PEDRO MARTINEZ 1972 RSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 BAK 57.7 50 23 7 15 59 3.59 3 3 7.80 2.34 9.21
1991 SAN 71.3 64 23 2 30 62 2.90 5 3 8.07 3.79 7.82
1991 ABQ 37.0 28 17 6 16 34 4.14 2 2 6.81 3.89 8.27
1992 ABQ 119.0 103 52 16 55 124 3.93 7 6 7.79 4.16 9.38
1993 LAD 105.0 78 32 6 60 126 2.74 8 4 6.69 5.14 10.80
1994 MON 142.3 118 53 1 46 145 3.35 9 7 7.46 2.91 9.17
1995 MON 193.3 159 68 21 67 171 3.17 13 8 7.40 3.12 7.96
Remember the pundits saying that the Dodgers got the better part of the Delino DeShields trade? Of course, they also said that the Dodgers stole Eric Davis from Cincinnati for Tim Belcher and John Wetteland. Someone needs to check the effect smog has on decision-making abilities.
ALEXANDER PACHECO 1974 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1992 JAM 42.7 70 49 14 40 19 10.34 1 4 14.77 8.44 4.01
1993 JAM 12.7 13 9 3 5 8 6.39 0 1 9.24 3.55 5.68
1993 BUR 39.3 54 34 6 12 15 7.78 1 3 12.36 2.75 3.43
1994 BUR 62.3 82 47 12 24 46 6.79 2 5 11.84 3.47 6.64
1994 WPB 11.3 10 4 2 5 10 3.18 1 0 7.94 3.97 7.94
1995 HAR 82.0 83 45 13 31 74 4.94 4 5 9.11 3.40 8.12
Despite his numbers, he's still a legitimate prospect. ERA aside, his line in 1995 was quite impressive, and he's only 22. Besides, baseball players named Alexander Pacheco are good for the game.
JOSE PANIAGUA 1974 RSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1994 WPB 132.3 144 90 17 60 92 6.12 4 11 9.79 4.08 6.26
1995 HAR 117.0 153 80 14 62 74 6.15 4 9 11.77 4.77 5.69
He has his youth, but little else.
CARLOS PEREZ 1971 LSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 SUM 66.0 71 38 9 35 42 5.18 3 4 9.68 4.77 5.73
1993 BUR 15.0 16 7 0 10 13 4.20 1 1 9.60 6.00 7.80
1993 SBR 121.0 133 59 20 35 76 4.39 6 7 9.89 2.60 5.65
1994 HAR 75.3 68 36 9 19 56 4.30 4 4 8.12 2.27 6.69
1994 OTT 111.7 141 51 6 43 75 4.11 6 6 11.36 3.47 6.04
1995 MON 140.7 143 52 18 28 104 3.33 9 7 9.15 1.79 6.65
As the numbers show, his excellent rookie season should not have been such a surprise. The only significant improvement he made was in his control, which was phenomenal for a rookie, as was the .178 mark he held LHBs to. If he can steer clear of legal troubles, he will make an excellent #2 starter for the Expos.
LOU POTE 1972 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 EVE 25.7 34 15 5 4 15 5.26 1 2 11.92 1.40 5.26
1992 SHV 35.7 23 10 3 18 20 2.52 3 1 5.80 4.54 5.05
1993 SHV 98.0 129 61 14 56 64 5.60 4 7 11.85 5.14 5.88
1994 SHV 25.7 41 16 2 8 12 5.61 1 2 14.38 2.81 4.21
1995 HAR 26.7 35 16 5 7 20 5.40 1 2 11.81 2.36 6.75
1995 SHV 47.0 59 48 15 29 29 9.19 1 4 11.30 5.55 5.55
MEL ROJAS 1967 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 IND 50.3 57 31 7 13 52 5.54 2 4 10.19 2.32 9.30
1991 MON 47.7 47 22 5 14 41 4.15 2 3 8.87 2.64 7.74
1992 MON 100.7 79 20 3 37 79 1.79 9 2 7.06 3.31 7.06
1993 MON 87.0 86 39 7 33 52 4.03 5 5 8.90 3.41 5.38
1994 MON 83.3 74 33 11 23 87 3.56 5 4 7.99 2.48 9.40
1995 MON 66.7 69 28 2 30 60 3.78 4 3 9.32 4.05 8.10
The season ended with Rojas and Felipe Alou, his uncle, feuding with each other. Alou has done a good job of getting along with his players, so you have to wonder if the familial aspect of their relationship is straining things a bit. The argument involved Rojas' aptitude for the closer role, which is relevant because while he makes an excellent set-up man, like Stan Belinda, the role of closer appears to tax his abilities.
KIRK RUETER 1971 LSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 SUM 37.0 42 17 6 9 17 4.14 2 2 10.22 2.19 4.14
1992 ROK 159.3 191 93 16 35 96 5.25 7 11 10.79 1.98 5.42
1993 HAR 56.3 57 17 5 7 30 2.72 4 2 9.11 1.12 4.79
1993 OTT 41.0 53 21 7 4 24 4.61 2 3 11.63 .88 5.27
1993 MON 84.7 91 33 6 21 33 3.51 5 4 9.67 2.23 3.51
1994 MON 91.7 111 56 11 24 52 5.50 3 7 10.90 2.36 5.11
1995 OTT 113.7 141 57 10 27 61 4.51 6 7 11.16 2.14 4.83
1995 MON 46.7 39 15 3 9 28 2.89 3 2 7.52 1.74 5.40
Rueter had a stunning debut in 1993 but hardly struck out anyone, so not surprisingly, he's seen his career take a few steps backward. He seems to have arrested his decline, however, and he has pinpoint control, so he's as likely as anyone to turn into Butch Henry this year. 150 innings with a 3.40 ERA would not be surprising.
CURT SCHMIDT 1970 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1992 JAM 56.0 59 35 5 40 35 5.62 2 4 9.48 6.43 5.62
1993 WPB 59.3 73 40 9 29 44 6.07 2 5 11.07 4.40 6.67
1994 HAR 66.3 66 26 6 33 62 3.53 4 3 8.95 4.48 8.41
1995 OTT 49.7 48 17 2 20 36 3.08 4 2 8.70 3.62 6.52
1995 MON 10.0 15 7 1 9 7 6.30 0 1 13.50 8.10 6.30
He's steadily climbed the minor league ladder for the last three years, and while his major league audition didn't go too well, he figures to get another chance this year. Could take Jeff Shaw's place in the bullpen.
TIM SCOTT 1967 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 LVG 104.3 118 57 12 36 68 4.92 5 7 10.18 3.11 5.87
1992 LVG 27.0 20 8 2 2 28 2.67 2 1 6.67 .67 9.33
1992 SDP 38.0 39 22 5 22 33 5.21 1 3 9.24 5.21 7.82
1993 MON 33.3 34 15 4 20 38 4.05 2 2 9.18 5.40 10.26
1993 SDP 37.0 38 12 1 16 32 2.92 3 1 9.24 3.89 7.78
1994 MON 53.0 54 16 1 18 38 2.72 4 2 9.17 3.06 6.45
1995 MON 63.0 52 26 6 23 56 3.71 4 3 7.43 3.29 8.00
He might have the slowest delivery in the game today. Basestealers have averaged more than one SB for every four innings, and they've been successful 89% of the time. He's given up few enough baserunners over the last three years, though, that it hasn't mattered too much. Should continue to be effective.
EVERETT STULL 1972 RSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1992 JAM 53.0 68 67 9 83 37 11.38 1 5 11.55 14.09 6.28
1993 BUR 72.7 79 50 15 68 54 6.19 2 6 9.78 8.42 6.69
1994 WPB 136.0 132 68 8 87 138 4.50 7 8 8.74 5.76 9.13
1995 HAR 119.0 121 84 20 83 110 6.35 4 9 9.15 6.28 8.32
Stull has a great arm but has trouble distinguishing between the strike zone and a Lollapalooza festival. He's a lot like Neil Weber, only right-handed.
RICKY TORRES 1964 RBP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1995 OTT 87.3 102 65 15 31 55 6.70 3 7 10.51 3.19 5.67
Was out of baseball since 1990, and probably headed back to oblivion.
UGUETH URBINA 1974 RSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1992 AGA 130.3 140 100 36 64 66 6.91 4 10 9.67 4.42 4.56
1993 BUR 98.7 98 40 13 39 69 3.65 6 5 8.94 3.56 6.29
1993 HAR 64.7 78 36 8 35 38 5.01 3 4 10.86 4.87 5.29
1994 HAR 112.7 120 63 18 49 71 5.03 5 8 9.59 3.91 5.67
1995 OTT 65.3 53 30 4 29 52 4.13 3 4 7.30 3.99 7.16
1995 MON 23.0 26 15 5 14 15 5.87 1 2 10.17 5.48 5.87
Unquestionably the Expos' best pitching prospect. His perormance hasn't been stellar, but in light of his age and an impressive 1995 season, he's almost ready for a starting spot in Montreal, and could surprise. His arm has been used carefully, with no real sign of abuse, so he could be a durable pitcher down the road.
DAVE VERES 1967 RRP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1991 ABQ 94.3 92 51 13 53 78 4.87 4 6 8.78 5.06 7.44
1992 TUC 50.3 55 28 4 15 45 5.01 2 4 9.83 2.68 8.05
1993 TUC 122.7 146 71 11 32 106 5.21 5 9 10.71 2.35 7.78
1994 TUC 23.0 15 7 0 11 18 2.74 2 1 5.87 4.30 7.04
1994 HOU 41.0 39 12 3 7 29 2.63 3 2 8.56 1.54 6.37
1995 HOU 103.0 83 22 5 30 91 1.92 9 2 7.25 2.62 7.95
Losing Berry rips a hole out of the Expos' offense, but Veres gives Montreal the bullpen depth they used to enjoy with Wetteland and Rojas. Felipe Alou runs a bullpen better than most managers, and won't abuse Veres the way Terry Collins did in Houston last year.
NEIL WEBER 1973 LSP
YEAR TEAM IP H ER HR BB SO ERA W L H/9 BB/9 K/9
1993 JAM 82.7 102 60 10 48 45 6.53 2 7 11.10 5.23 4.90
1994 WPB 125.0 128 66 17 70 112 4.75 6 8 9.22 5.04 8.06
1995 HAR 141.7 170 93 24 94 99 5.91 5 11 10.80 5.97 6.29
Weber has a great arm but has trouble distinguishing between the strike zone and a Lollapalooza festival. He's a lot like Everett Stull, only left-handed.