[USML Announce] DUMP DUMPING REPORT #2 - The Bombers

[JHWinick at aol.com]

With the unbelievable response to DUMP?s review of Brad  Lee?s rebuilding 
efforts, there was really no alternative but to continue with  the program of 
reviewing each of the dumping team?s efforts so far.  Next up is PT/KR.   
2006 marked a bit of a departure for PT/KR as he is usually loathe to  
concede defeat until much later in the season.  And this may be the first time in as 
 long as this author can recall that PT/KR has forgone a hard fought campaign 
for  that cherished first pick in the rotation draft. 
All of this, of course, begs the question ? ?Was it worth it??  Well, lets 
take a closer  look. 
The centerpiece of the Bomber rebuilding effort is Nick SWISHER.  Though 
angrily chastised by Andy Klein  for passing on the downright moribund Jhonny 
Peralta (.253 BA, 7HR, 34 RBI, 0  SB), DUMP proclaims that PT/KR made the right 
choice.  He?s currently batting .286, 19 HR, 49  RBI and 1 SB that is supported 
by an OBP of .402.  These are elite numbers that all mark  continued growth on 
the path to a long All-Star career.  DUMP expects Mr. Swisher to spend a long 
 and productive career with the Bombers. 
In the very same trade PT/KR was also able to pick up a solid infielder  in 
Jorge CANTU.  Jorge?s a very nice  player and at $10 will be a nice keeper for 
the Bombers, but there is some  reason for caution here.  Jorge has  only 
walked 37 times??IN HIS CAREER!!  Sure he?s young and sure he had a great season 
last year.  But DUMP says this guy is walking a very  fine line (pun 
intended).  This one  may not turn out so well.  DUMP  would advise serious caution 
when determining the length of this guy?s contract  extension. 
Jason GIAMBI is having a fairly nice season and at $12 is certainly worth  
keeping.  But do you really think  that he?s clean?  DUMP doesn?t.  And DUMP 
sees some major names facing  the fire when the Grimsley affidavit is released.  
Don?t be too surprised if this guy is  one of them.  DUMP says its hard to  
get too excited about anything here. 
Juan RIVERA was a popular off-season choice among the touts for a  break-out 
season.  Hasn?t happened  and now looks increasingly unlikely to happen.  On 
an $8 contract, DUMP says this guy  should go back into the pool. 
Yunieski BETANCOURT?  At  $6?  Need we say more?  Didn?t think so. 
And gentlemen, that?s it on the offense side.  I can hear you all murmering ?
Surely  there must be more?.  If only it  were so.  Those are the  
highlights.  From here on out, it  starts getting pretty ugly. 
Not only has Cliff LEE been bad, but he?s doing it on a guaranteed $12  
long-term contract.  97.2 innings  pitched and a 4.61 ERA and that?s the good news. 
 Over the last ten outings, Mr. Lee has  put up a 5.34 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP 
and a meager 37 K?s.  DUMP says Mark should wait until the  moment that Lee 
puts up two consecutive decent starts and then drop him on any  victim who will 
bite. 
But what about Nate ROBERTSON?  You?re right, this guy actually looks pretty 
good.   PT/KR is sure to point out that  he?s 8-3 with a 3.14 ERA, and a 1.30 
WHIP.  Yep, he sure does look good for a $1 pitcher.  But this is likely a 
case where looks  can be deceiving.  Nate?s career  numbers are a little less 
impressive.  Over a better than 5 year career, Nate has a 4.58 ERA (including 
2006)  and a 1.41 WHIP (also including 2006).  70 K?s in 100 innings?  Well,  he?
s not overpowering the hitters.  11 home runs given up, so he hasn?t quite 
mastered the long ball  yet.  DUMP says he?s improved a bit  while his team 
appears to have improved a lot.  DUMP says there?s a solid $5-7 pitcher  here.  
Nothing more,  however. 
DUMP likes Mike MacDOUGAL.  But at $10 in year two, coming off of a  serious 
injury, with still shaky control and playing for a lousy team, DUMP says  this 
guy probably belongs back in the pool next year.   
The final pitcher worth mention is Brandon McCARTHY.  Brandon is young, he?s 
talented and he?s  playing for a great team.  DUMP says  there?s a lot to 
like here.  He  closed 2005 in terrific fashion and is doing a solid, if 
unspectacular job out  of the pen.  If he gets a shot in  the rotation before the end 
of the season, he could establish himself as a nice  $5 pitcher next season.  
If he  languishes in the bullpen all season, DUMP says to let him go and try 
again next  year since he?s not likely to go for more than $5. 
The minor leaguers are nothing short of a wasteland.  The best of the lot is 
probably Tony  GIARRANTANO.  He?s got a nice $2  salary, plays a valuable 
position (SS) and should have opportunity to make the  big club relatively soon.  
But he?s  hardly tearing up AA (.267 BA, 29 runs, 0 home runs, 19 rbi and 14 
stolen bases  with a .328 OBP that won?t support the leadoff position to which 
he is best  suited).  DUMP says this isn?t much  of a prospect.  John MAYBERRY 
is  struggling mightily at Low A (that?s right ? LOW A).  He?s currently 
batting .226, with 29  runs, 8 home runs, 27 rbis and 1 stolen base.  He?s got 
the talent, but not the  skills.  With time he may turn into  a decent prospect, 
but he sure isn?t there yet.  Wilkin RAMIREZ is also struggling,  albeit at 
least he?s doing so in High A.  He?s off to a .213 start with 27 runs, 6 home 
runs, 30 rbi and 8 stolen  bases with an awe inspiring (and not in a good way) 
.248 OBP.  Wilkin truly doesn?t know the difference  between a ball and a 
strike (69k in 248 at bats).  Unless or until he figures that out,  he?s going 
nowhere quickly.  But how  about Dernard SPAN?  Anyone who?s  talked trade with 
PT/KR this year has certainly heard about him.  He?s the next guy that PT/KR 
will be  trotting out as a ?monster-talent?.  DUMP says this guy is no better 
than a 4th outfielder and  that?s only with a fair amount of improvement.  He?
s presently tearing things up (NOT)  in AA to the tune of .276 BA, 34 runs, 1 
home run, 17 rbi and 11 stolen bases  with a .324 OBP.  This is a guy with  
absolutely no power and not nearly enough speed to justify an outfield position 
 in the absence of power.   Nothing here, despite protestations to the 
contrary from PT/KR.  There are two pitchers worth mention,  but barely.  Cliff 
NAGEOTTE is a  Bomber favorite that seems like he?s been around forever.  He?s 
struggling in AA with a 5.14 ERA  and a 1.50 WHIP.  NEXT.  DUMP thinks Edinson 
VOLQUEZ is going to  be a very fine pitcher some day.  This guy has been 
throwing nothing but smoke since he added the ?n? to  his first name.  
Unfortunately, he?s  $10 and in the first year of his contract and is still pitching in 
the minor  leagues, so the ever conservative PT/KR isn?t going to retain this 
guy.  DUMP expects to see him in the pool at  next year?s draft. 
And that?s it!!! 
So, what have you got?  You?ve got a few decent offensive players, little 
returning pitching and  no prospects worth note.  DUMP says  the effort so far is 
worthy of no better than a C-.  There?s clearly more work that needs to  be 
done here, even if only to put this team back in line for another Drive for  
Five. 
That is all. 
Jeffrey WinickDUMP
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