An interesting record holder re-signs

[nyy26wc]

At ESPN.com Rob Neyer recently used the sabermetric baseball encyclopedia to look at the chances of Tom Glavine continuing to be successful. But, does the encyclopedia also contain another sign that helps us predict his future? What are the odds of Mike Hampton making a comeback? Where do Barry Bonds/Jeff Kent, Jeff Bagwell/Craig Biggio, Bernie Williams/Derek Jeter, Greg Maddux/Tom Glavine rank among all time great teammate combinations and what does Ryan Klesko have to do with great teammate combos? The answers to these questions, and so much more, can be found in my latest project--the player comments book. The book can be preordered at
http://www.baseball-encyclopedia.com

Player comments book update--I just got the proofs back from the printer yesterday and things on schedule for me to have the final copies back within the next 2-3 weeks.

1) The Mets re-signed P Scott Strickland to a 1 year, $950,000 contract.

After 3.00 ERA/9 RSAA and 3.21 ERA/13 RSAA seasons in his first couple of full years in the majors, Strickland had a 3.54 ERA/2 RSAA in 69 games in 2002 (first 1 with the Expos, last 68 with the Mets). He has a 3.38 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.36, and 25 RSAA in 212 games.

Strickland tied the major league record for most games in a season with a team the pitcher didn't start the year with--

     PITCHER             YEAR  G   TEAM        STARTED WITH (G WITH 1ST TEAM)
T1   Phil Regan          1968  68  Cubs        Dodgers (5)
T1   Scott Strickland    2002  68  Mets        Expos (1)
3    Gabe White          2000  67  Rockies     Reds (1)
T4   Dick Tidrow         1979  63  Cubs        Yankees (14)
T4   Willie Hernandez    1983  63  Phillies    Cubs (11)
T6   Ed Roebuck          1964  60  Phillies    Rangers (2)
T6   Ferguson Jenkins    1966  60  Cubs        Phillies (1)
8    Jerry Spradlin      1999  59  Giants      Indians (4)
T9   Clay Carroll        1968  58  Reds        Braves (10)
T9   Butch Metzger       1977  58  Cardinals   Padres (17)
T9   Kent Tekulve        1985  58  Phillies    Pirates (3)
T9   Xavier Hernandez    1996  58  Astros      Reds (3)

2) The Devil Rays signed 1B Lee Stevens and P Bob Wells to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

After 0 RCAA/.790 OPS and -10 RCAA/.694 OPS seasons, Stevens hit .377 SLG, .305 OBA, .682 OPS, -14 RCAA in 116 games (first 63 with the Expos, last 53 with the Indians). He has a .772 career OPS, compared to his league average of .767, and -53 RCAA in 1012 games.

Stevens is closing in on the top 10 list for worst career RCAA by a lefthanded hitting 1B--

RCAA  
1    Phil Todt                  -138   
2    Jack Burns                 -105   
3    Doc Johnston                -89   
4    Frank Isbell                -77   
5    Lou Finney                  -76   
6    Bud Clancy                  -64   
T7   Larry Biittner              -61   
T7   Charlie Grimm               -61   
9    Julio Becquer               -59   
10   Preston Ward                -57   
T11  Jim Spencer                 -54   
T11  Lee Stevens                 -54  

After 3.65 ERA/16 RSAA and 5.11 ERA/-4 RSAA seasons, Wells had a 5.90 ERA/-10 RSAA in 48 games with the Twins. He has a 5.03 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.75, and -15 RSAA in 414 games.

3) The Brewers signed P Chuck Smith to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training, and claimed OF Brady Clark off waivers from the Mets.

Smith had a 3.84 ERA/12 RSAA in 34 games with the 2000-01 Marlins.

4) The Angels placed P Lou Pote on waivers. He's planning on signing with a Japanese team.

Pote has a 3.49 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.63, and 30 RSAA in 127 games, including a 3.22 ERA/6 RSAA in 31 games in 2002.

He's 1 of just 6 pitchers in Angels history to have at least 4 consecutive years with 5+ RSAA--

1    Chuck Finley             1993-99    7   
T2   Frank Tanana             1974-78    5   
T2   Troy Percival            1995-99    5   
T4   Andy Messersmith         1968-71    4   
T4   Mike Witt                1984-87    4   
T4   Lou Pote                 1999-02    4   

5) The Cubs signed utilityman Charles Gipson to a minor league contract and outrighted INF Augie Ojeda to the minors, which removed him from the 40 man roster.

After 0 RCAA/.808 OPS and -5 RCAA/.594 OPS seasons, Gipson hit .361 SLG, .329 OBA, .690 OPS, -1 RCAA in 79 games (just 84 PA). He's spent his entire career with the Mariners, before they nontendered him, and he has a .643 career OPS, compared to his league average of .772, and -17 RCAA in 331 games (just 335 PA).

After starting his career with .670 OPS/-3 RCAA and .540 OPS/-12 RCAA seasons, Ojeda hit .243 SLG, .247 OBA, .490 OPS, -8 RCAA in 30 games in 2002. He has a .563 career OPS, compared to his league average of .757, and -23 RCAA in 136 games.

6) The Twins re-signed 1B Doug Mientkiewicz to a 1 year, $1.75 million contract and signed P Jose Cabrera to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

After -24 RCAA/.655 OPS and 23 RCAA/.851 seasons in his first 2 years as a starter (1999 and 2001--he spent almost all of 2000 in the minors), Mientkiewicz had a much closer to average season in 2002, hitting .392 SLG, .365 OBA, .756 OPS, 5 RCAA in 143 games. He has a .766 career OPS, compared to his league average of .766, and 2 RCAA in 423 games.

After 5.92 ERA/-6 RSAA and 2.88 ERA/10 RSAA seasons, Cabrera had a 6.79 ERA/-33 RSAA in 50 games (11 starts) with the Brewers. He has a 4.95 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.34, and -19 RSAA in 198 games.

Cabrera had one of the worst ERA vs. the league average figures of any NL pitcher with 100+ IP since 1900--

ERA                           YEAR     DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1    Flint Rhem               1933    -3.24     6.57     3.33   
2    Andy Benes               2001    -3.02     7.38     4.36   
3    Benny Frey               1935    -2.85     6.87     4.02   
4    Jack Knight              1926    -2.79     6.61     3.82   
5    Andy Ashby               1993    -2.76     6.80     4.05   
6    Leo Sweetland            1930    -2.74     7.71     4.97   
7    Hal Elliott              1930    -2.72     7.69     4.97   
8    Scott Elarton            2001    -2.69     7.06     4.36   
9    Ralph Head               1923    -2.69     6.68     3.99   
10   Jose Cabrera             2002    -2.68     6.79     4.11   

7) According to both the LA Times and NY Times, Dave Checketts, the former president of Madison Square Garden, has made a $650 million offer to buy the Dodgers, while the LA paper reports that Checketts requires the cable station that televises Dodgers games to be included as part of the deal.

8) Mets OF Roger Cedeno pled guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to 6 months probation, 50 hours of community service and must complete a DUI course.

Cedeno kept his streak intact of going 4 for 4 in having negative RCAAs in even numbered years, when he hit .346 SLG, .318 OBA, .664 OPS, -11 RCAA in 149 games. Other than a 40 G/46 PA season in 1995,
he's also 3 for 3 in having positive RCAA's in odd numbered years. Cedeno has a .721 career OPS, compared to his league average of .755, and -1 RCAA in 820 games. His -11 RCAA was a career worst figure and gave him a spot on the leader list for the worst figure by a Mets LF--

RCAA                          YEAR    RCAA    
1    George Altman            1964      -18   
T2   Mark Carreon             1991      -13   
T2   Joe Christopher          1965      -13   
T4   George Foster            1983      -12   
T4   Rod Kanehl               1963      -12   
T4   Joe McEwing              2000      -12   
T7   Todd Hundley             1998      -11   
T7   Danny Napoleon           1965      -11   
T7   Bernard Gilkey           1998      -11   
T7   Gene Clines              1975      -11   
T7   Roger Cedeno             2002      -11 

9) According to the New York Times, the Orioles want the Mets to take Scott Erickson as part of a Jeromy Burnitz for Tony Batista trade. Meanwhile, according to the Baltimore Sun, an Orioles source says these trade talks are "not hot right now."

10) According to the Denver Post, the Rockies may be turning their attention to free agent Ps Robert Person and Chuck Finley. Meanwhile, GM Dan O'Dowd says the team prefers free agent Julian Tavarez, but the paper reports Tavarez turned down the Rockies offer of a minor league contract.

11) According to the Washington Times, the Orioles could hear from free agents Ivan Rodriguez and Jose Cruz Jr. by the end of the week, possibly today.

12) The Yankees are reportedly close to signing free agent P Jon Lieber, who's going to miss the 2003 season, after having Tommy John surgery.

13) The Yankees signed 1B-OF Fernando Seguignol to a minor league contract.

Seguignol had a .761 OPS/-10 RCAA in 173 games with the 1998-2001 Expos.

14) Former Astros P and MGR Larry Dierker was treated, and released, at a Houston hospital after having a "mild reaction" to his medication.

[JamesI]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
9) According to the New York Times, the Orioles want the Mets to take Scott Erickson as part of a Jeromy Burnitz for Tony Batista trade. Meanwhile, according to the Baltimore Sun, an Orioles source says these trade talks are "not hot right now."

why would the Orioles make this trade? They have no one else to play 3rd, have no need for another below average corner outfielder.

[gyb13]

they're the orioles. sorry james

[pathogan]

...Stricklnad was not bad,though the whispers were that the expos knew he had lost velocity due to arm trouble...what the hell are the O's thinking?????

[JamesI]

Originally posted by pathogan
...Stricklnad was not bad,though the whispers were that the expos knew he had lost velocity due to arm trouble...what the hell are the O's thinking?????

I think they're thinking that they claimed they were going to make some big moves. Now no one wants to sign with them (can't blame em). I recall Syd Thrift saying "It feels like we're offering Confederate Money, no one wants it."

So the Burnitz move is to show, yes we are alive and doing stuff. Of course its dumb stuff...