[USML Announce] Republcans for Sale

SpringKerb at aol.com SpringKerb at aol.com
Thu Jun 10 11:36:03 EDT 2004


In a message dated 6/10/2004 9:32:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, JHWinick writes:

> K-Rod is $13 and only the closer until Percival returns.  At $13, he'd have to be the closer to be of any interest whatsoever.  And let's see - he's closed how many games now?  Lew Ford is having a nice season, but is on a team with lots of competition and given a lack of pedigree, he's definitely not an A quality keeper.  Frasor is this year's Aquilino Lopez (I'm surprised he's not on the list).  Nuff said.  Ugie has only 8 saves for a bad team and is as likely as not to be in the NL next year.  Matos - come on, that .249 batting average reflects thoroughly mediocre skills.  Juan Dominguez is a rookie pitcher for TEXAS....next.  Matt LeCroy was, in fact, acquired for the price of a used piece of chewing gum and you overpaid.  Freddy Garcia???  $11 Freddy Garcia??  I recall there's one team that traded away a boatload of talent for Gil Meche - so there's hope.  But I'd say outside of that, you're 
> unlikely to find any takers.

K-Rod is Anaheim's best relief pitcher, and one of the best in baseball.  Anyone who thinks Percival will still be closing there next year (let alone by the end of this year) is smoking something really strong.  Next year, or maybe some time this year, K-Rod joins Mariano Rivera and Keith Foulke at the very top of the AL closer list.

Ford's lifetime numbers, in about 260 at-bats (half a season), are as approximatly as follows:  .325 BA, .401 OBA, .525 SLG, 10 HR, 44R, 46 RBI, 7 SB.  Jacque Jones won't be back, either, if he even stays around past July.

Matos hit .303 last year, and he's been hitting about that over the past few weeks. And he's only 25 years old, so it's not at all likely that we've seen his best yet.

Going into this year, Garcia had averaged more than 14 wins per year, a 3.97 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, even after a couple of down years.  Those numbers are only going to get better.  He only turned 28 today.

As for Frasor and Dominguez, they are indeed young and unproven at the major league level.  But their minor league numbers demonstrate genuine talent and they are only $5 apiece.  Jeff:  If Dominguez is so useless, would you like to explain why you bid on him when you thought he was an FA?

Ugie has a 2-year deal in Detroit, which he signed for below market value to be with his longtime friend, Pudge Rodriguez.  So it's hardly obvious that he's going anywhere soon, and even if he does, there's roughly a 50/50 chance it's in the AL.  You're also looking at a proven major league closer (through 2003, a 3.32 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 206 saves), at $15.

Matt LeCroy will almost certainly qualify as a catcher again next year.  Let me know when you find another catcher who gives you 15-20 HR, 65-75 RBI, and a .275 or better BA for five bucks.  As for the trade with Andy, all I can say is "Dave Fleming."

I'll be more than happy to keep all of these guys for next year.  I enjoy being in first place.

Mark



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