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| Wednesday, February 14 | |||||||||||||
| Rumblings and Grumblings ESPN.com | |||||||||||||
If we're wishing happy birthday to Abe Lincoln, you know what that means:
No more 72-page A-Rod books. No more Manny Ramirez appearances on Outside
the Lines. No more agents burning up the phone lines, trying to find a home
for Kevin Sefcik and Jeff Tabaka.
1. Cardinals 2. Astros 3. Rockies The Cardinals traded for a 28-year-old starter (Dustin Hermanson) with a lower career ERA than Darryl Kile or Todd Stottlemyre. They added depth with Quinton McCracken, Bobby Bonilla, Bernard Gilkey, Shane Andrews and John Mabry – all for a total of $4.05 million. Now if Rick Ankiel and that Big Mac guy make it back, GM Walt Jocketty can just retire the executive-of-the-year trophy. Most improved teams (AL) 1. Athletics 2. Red Sox 3. White Sox Johnny Damon might not be as good as he looked in that 127-hit second half. But he's a one-man makeover for Oakland's lineup, its leadoff hole and its outfield defense. And when was the last time a team added a player who stole more bases the year before (46) than its entire roster (40)? Most unimproved teams (NL) 1. Giants 2. Mets 3. Braves The rich didn't get richer in this league. Ellis Burks and Bill Mueller drove off the Giants' exit ramp, and only Tim Worrell, Eric Davis and Shawon Dunston found the on-ramp. The Mets replaced Mike Hampton and Bobby J. Jones with Kevin Appier and Steve Trachsel – and never addressed the least productive outfield (only 59 HR, 231 RBI) of any of the eight playoff teams. The Braves got shut out by the Hampton/A-Rod tag team – and lost their cleanup hitter (Andres Galarraga). And despite all that, it wouldn't shock anybody if all three made the playoffs again. Most unimproved teams (AL) 1. Twins 2. Blue Jays 3. Tigers The answer: Tom Prince. The question: Name the only major leaguer added by the Twins all winter – a winter in which they also non-tendered their cleanup hitter (Ron Coomer), by the way. Least recognizable teams 1. Cubs 2. Orioles 3. Rangers If Sammy Sosa gets traded, even Kerry Wood will need to buy a program in Chicago. Move-a-minute GM Andy MacPhail roadblocked Mark Grace's return, signed 13 free agents and traded for Matt Stairs and Mueller. No truth to the rumor he also sneaked the ivy vines through waivers. Checkbook champs 1. Rangers ($268.45 million) 2. Rockies ($181.6 million) 3. Red Sox (178.95 million) How 'bout them Rangers? For $268.45 million, they could have had A-Rod, Galarraga, Ken Caminiti, Mark Petkovsek, Jeff Brantley, Mike Munoz and Pat Mahomes – or 53 million 12-ounce jars of Texas Best Hot Jerky Marinade. Tough call. Best free-agent signings 1. Ellis Burks, Indians 2. Mike Mussina, Yankees 3. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox If you've only got $20 million to spend, as opposed to $160 million, you might as well spend it on Burks, who hit .344 (to Manny's .351), drove in a run every 4.1 at-bats (to Manny's 3.6) and slugged .606 (to Manny's .697). So don't write off those Manny-less Indians too fast.
1. Denny Neagle, Rockies 2. Jeffrey Hammonds, Brewers 3. Mark Grace, Diamondbacks The pitcher who gave up more fly balls than anyone in baseball gets $51.5 million to pitch in a place where the pop-ups break windows in the parking lot. The Brewers pay $21.75 million to a guy no one else seemed to want -- even after he had a career year. And as witty and charming a line-drive factory as Grace is, it's still hard to figure why the Diamondbacks didn't think they would have been better off with Erubiel Durazo. Best trades 1. White Sox get David Wells from Blue Jays for the Orthopedic Surgery All-Stars. 2. Astros get an All-Star catcher (Brad Ausmus), premier set-up man (Doug Brocail) and quadruple-A right-hander (Nelson Cruz) for a 16-game loser (Chris Holt), a catcher who finished last in fielding percentage (Mitch Meluskey) and center fielder who doesn't like playing center field (Roger Cedeno). 3. Cardinals get Dustin Hermanson and Steve Kline from Expos for doghouse-occupant Fernando Tatis and Britt Reames. Best free-agent signings (under $2 million division) 1. Braves take a $1.5-million gamble on Rico Brogna, who needed two fewer surgeries this winter than he needed last winter (0-2). 2. For a million bucks, Yankees get Henry Rodriguez (off five straight 20-homer seasons) to take aim on the right-field bleachers. 3. Padres guarantee only $625,000 to Bobby J. Jones, 16 weeks after his October one-hitter. Best free-agent signings (under $5 million division) 1. Hideo Nomo, Red Sox 2. Bret Boone, Mariners 3. Frank Castillo, Red Sox For one year, $4.5 million, the Red Sox get a guy (Nomo) who had as many quality starts as Tim Hudson. For another $4.5 million over two years, they get Castillo, who went 5-1 against the AL East (losing only to the Sox). And for $3.25 million, Seattle gets Boone, whose 63 homers over the last three years are more than any AL second baseman. Most outrageous contracts 1. Darren Dreifort gets more millions ($55) from the Dodgers than he owns lifetime wins (39). What a country. 2. Derek Bell gets a $9.75 million reward from the Pirates for his .187 second half. 3. And as terrifying an offensive force as Ramirez may be, if the Red Sox stay in Fenway and average the same 31,926 fans a game they drew this year, it will essentially cost $7.73 a game just to see Manny. (Parking – and Pedro – not included). Most intriguing spring stories 1. Rick Ankiel searches for the strike zone in Jupiter. 2. Umpires search for the strike zone beneath the palm trees. 3. John Smoltz, Mark McGwire and Craig Biggio search for health and happiness. Miscellaneous rumblings YEAR OLD CONTRACT NEW CONTRACT 2001 $10 million $11 million 2002 $16 million $13 million 2003 $19 million $14 million 2004 $19.5 million $17 million 2005 $19.75 million $18 million 2006 $19.75 million $19 millionSigning bonus: Old contract – $6.5 million (paid out over first three seasons); New contract – $12 million (paid out over all six seasons). Useless information dept. Age: 26 years, 9-plus months Full seasons: 5 200-hit seasons: 3 Total hits: 1,008 Pete Rose on Opening Day 1968: Age: 26 years, 11-plus months Full seasons: 5 200-hit seasons: 2 Total hits: 899 Year Pitcher W Team W-L Next W-L GB 1971 Steve Carlton 20 St. Louis 90-72 1972 75-81 -12 1974 Catfish Hunter* 25 Oakland 90-72 1975 98-64 +8 1975 Jim Kaat 20 Chicago (AL) 75-86 1976 64-97 -11 1975 Mike Torrez 20 Baltimore 90-69 1976 88-74 -3.5 1976 Wayne Garland* 20 Baltimore 88-74 1977 97-64 +9.5 1985 Joaquin Andujar 21 St. Louis 101-61 1986 79-82 -21.5 1991 John Smiley 20 Pittsburgh 98-64 1992 96-66 -2 1992 Greg Maddux* 20 Chicago 78-84 1993 84-78 +6 1998 Roger Clemens 20 Toronto 88-74 1999 84-78 -4 1999 Mike Hampton 22 Houston 97-65 2000 72-90 -25(* – changed teams as free agent) Year Batter HR Team W-L Next W-L GB 1946 Hank Greenberg 44 Detroit 92-62 1947 85-69 -7 1959 Rocky Colavito 42 Cleveland 89-65 1960 76-78 -13 1996 Albert Belle* 48 Cleveland 99-62 1997 86-75 -13 1997 Andres Galarraga* 41 Colorado 83-79 1998 77-85 -6 1998 Albert Belle* 49 Chicago (AL) 80-82 1999 75-86 -4.5 1998 Jose Canseco* 46 Toronto 88-74 1999 84-78 -4 1998 Rafael Palmeiro* 43 Baltimore 79-83 1999 78-84 -1 1998 Greg Vaughn 50 San Diego 98-64 1999 74-88 -24 1998 Mo Vaughn* 40 Boston 92-70 1999 94-68 +2 1999 Shawn Green 42 Toronto 84-78 2000 83-79 -1 1999 Ken Griffey Jr. 48 Seattle 79-83 2000 91-71 +12 1999 Greg Vaughn* 45 Cincinnati 96-67 2000 85-77 -10.5(* – changed teams as free agent)
2) Moises Alou, 1998-99, 38 T3) Mo Vaughn, 2000-01, 36 T3) Ted Williams, 1942-43, 36 T3) Ron Gant, 1994-95, 36 Athletics: Barry Zito, Tim Hudson Indians: Bartolo Colon, Jaret Wright Dodgers: Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park And (surprise), the Phillies: Robert Person, Bruce Chen Erubiel Durazo, Mexico .455 (10 for 22) Carlos Beltran, Puerto Rico .409 (9 for 22) Luis Sojo, Venezuela .391 (9 for 23) David Ortiz, Dominican Republic .381 (8 for 21) Ramon Hernandez, Venezuela .364 (8 for 22) Blast from the Past Caribbean Series Box Score Line Fernando Valenzuela, Feb. 4, for Mexico vs. Dominican Republic: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K Trivia answer NL East – Greg Maddux (240). AL East – Roger Clemens (260). NL Central – Andy Benes (143). AL Central – Chuck Finley (181). NL West – Randy Johnson (179). AL West – Jamie Moyer (131). Runners-up: NL East – Tom Glavine (208). AL East – Mike Mussina (147). (Dwight Gooden and David Cone both have more wins but signed minor-league contracts). NL Central – Kevin Tapani (134). AL Central – David Wells, assuming he stays with the White Sox (161). NL West – Kevin Brown (170). AL West – Kenny Rogers (127). Special note to Tim Belcher Fan Club: Belcher would lead the AL West with 146, but he's in the Angels' camp on a minor-league contract. Jayson Stark is a Senior Writer at ESPN.com.  Send this story to a friend | ALSO SEE Jayson Stark archive AUDIO/VIDEO  What teams helped themselves most? ESPN.com's Jayson Stark weighs in.wav: 905 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 ESPN.com's Jayson Stark runs down his list of "most unimproved" teams.wav: 499 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | ||||||||||||