Around the majors reports--Nov 21

[nyy26wc]

1) Ichiro Suzuki won the AL MVP award.

The BBWAA never ceases to amuse me with their stupidity.

Suzuki was not the best candidate on his own team. He wasn't the best when we limit the pool to players with 6 letter first names, nor 6 letter last names. He wasn't even the best player who wasn't born in the US, although he does get that distinction for the AL. He wasn't the best at his position. He wasn't the best among players who bat left handed and throw right handed. He wasn't the best among candidates born in the month of October.

But, the MVP has nothing to do with being the best among any subset of the league, let alone the entire league. It has to do with who the voters decide they want to vote for. They choose to believe the hype they gave Suzuki, which makes sense considering they were the ones doing the hyping, and gave him the award.

Here's Suzuki's league rankings--

AT BATS 1ST 692
RUNS 2ND 127
HITS 1ST 242
SINGLES 1ST 192
TRIPLES T7TH 8
STOLEN BASES 1ST 56
CAUGHT STEALING T2ND 14
AVERAGE 1ST .350
RUNS CREATED 9TH 129
RCAA 10TH 46
RCAP 8TH 41
OWP 9TH .690
TOTAL BASES T9TH 316
INTENTIONAL WALKS T8TH 10
PLATE APPEARANCES 1ST 738
OUTS 9TH 475

2) The Redsox claimed 1B Tony Clark off waivers from the Tigers.

Clark hit .481 SLG, .374 OBA, .856 OPS, 15 RCAA, .600 OWP, 6.29 RC/G, 76 RC in 126 games in 2001. It was the 4th time in the past 5 years that he had a double digit RCAA. Clark has a .857 career OPS, compared to his league average of .778 and 1B average of .861, 69 RCAA and -34 RCAP.

3) Pirates P Mike Fetters, who was traded in the middle of a multi year contract, exercised his right to demand a trade.

4) The Tigers released Ps Chris Holt and Heath Murray.

Holt had a 5.77 ERA and -22 RSAA in 30 games (22 starts) in 2001. It was the 3rd consecutive year he had a negative RSAA and the 4th time in his 5 year career. Holt has a 4.76 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.47, and -25 RSAA.

Murray had a 6.54 ERA and -15 RSAA in 40 games (3 starts) in 2001. It was the 3rd time in his 3 year career that he had a negative RSAA (he's been in the majors every other year, starting in 1997). Murray has a 6.32 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.45, and -33 RSAA.

5) The Cardinals signed C Mike DiFelice to a 1 year, $800,000 contract and sent INF Stubby Clapp and P Jason Karnuth outright to the minors.

DiFelice hit .265 SLG, .239 OBA, .504 OPS, -17 RCAA, .152 OWP, 2.02 RC/G, 11 RC in 60 games in 2001--48 with the Devil Rays and 12 with the Diamondbacks. It was the 5th time in the past 6 years that he had a double digit negative RCAA and OPS under .700. DiFelice has a .647 career OPS, compared to his league average of .776 and C average of .731, -64 RCAA and -39 RCAP.

6) The A's signed OF Mike Colangelo and released OF Billy McMillon and utilityman F.P. Santangelo.

Colangelo hit .405 SLG, .310 OBA, .717 OPS, -2 RCAA, .426 OWP, 4.13 RC/G, 11 RC in 50 games as a rookie, with the Padres, in 2001.

McMillon hit .359 SLG, .284 SLG, .643 OPS, -3 RCAA, .405 OWP, 4.01 RC/G, 11 RC in 40 games in 2001--20 with the Tigers and 20 with the A's. It's small sample sizes for both teams, but McMillon was much better with the A's (.802 OPS, .354 OBA, 2 RCAA) than the Tigers (.368 OPS, .162 OBA, -5 RCAA). He has a .712 career OPS, compared to his league average of .774 and positional average of .799, -4 RCAA and -8 RCAP in 406 career PA. His career has plagued by respectable minor league numbers, but not doing much in his limited major league opportunities.

Santangelo hit .254 SLG, .341 OBA, .594 OPS, -4 RCAA, .302 OWP, 3.10 RC/G, 7 RC in 32 games in 2001. He has a .715 career OPS, compared to his league average of .771 and positional average of .777, -9 RCAA and -26 RCAP.

7) The Whitesox claimed OF Brian Simmons off waivers from the BlueJays and designed 3B Herbert Perry and OF Julio Ramirez for assignment.

Simmons hit .280 SLG, .239 OBA, .520 OPS, -10 RCAA, .183 OWP, 2.43 RC/G, 8 RC in 60 games in 2001. He has a .638 career OPS, compared to his league average of .776 and positional average of .765, -15 RCAA and -15 RCAP in 271 career PA.

Perry hit .411 SLG, .326 OBA, .736 OPS, -8 RCAA, .410 OWP, 4.30 RC/G, 36 RC in 92 games in 2001. Perry has a .774 career OPS, compared to his league average of .781 and positional average of .773, -19 RCAA and -11 RCAP.

Perry's departure opens up the 3B spot for prospect Joe Crede.

8) The Padres claimed P Rob Ramsay off waivers from the Mariners.

Ramsay spent 2001 in the minors. He has 43 games of major league experience, with the 1999-2000 Mariners, with a 4.19 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.91, and 3 RSAA.

9) The Twins set 3B Casey Blake outright to the minors.

10) The Marlins designated P Juan Acevedo for assignment.

Acevedo had a 4.18 ERA and 4 RSAA in 50 games in 2001--38 with the Rockies and 20 with the Marlins. He has a 4.41 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.39, and 12 RSAA.

[nyy26wc]

1) According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants made a 3 year offer to free agent P Jason Schmidt. The team has claimed re-signing Schmidt is a higher priority than bringing back Bonds.

2) The Diamondbacks signed Ps Eddie Oropesa and Jose Parra to minor league contracts and sent P Troy Brohawn outright to the minors.

Oropesa had a 4.74 ERA and -1 RSAA in 30 games as a rookie in 2001.

Parra has a 6.62 ERA, compared to his league average of 4.80, and -30 RSAA in 53 career games (19 starts) with the Dodgers, Twins and Pirates, in 1995-96 and 2000.

3) The Devil Rays designated RF Jose Guillen and P Jeff Wallace for assignment.

Guillen hit .378 SLG, .317 OBA, .695 OPS, -5 RCAA, .379 OWP, 3.89 RC/G, 15 RC in 41 games in 2001. He's had a negative RCAA every year of his 5 year career. Guillen has a .709 career OPS, compared to his league average of .774 and RF average of .818, -70 RCAA and -81 RCAP.

Wallace had a 3.40 ERA and 6 RSAA in 29 games (1 start) in 2001. He has a 4.20 career, compared to his league average of 4.52, and 5 RSAA.

4) According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Yankees are interested in free agent P Dave Burba.

5) According to the LA Times, free agent P Jason Isringhausen rejected a 4 year, $24 million offer from the A's, "in part because of the Dodgers' interest in him." Meanwhile, the paper reports he wants a 5 year deal for more than $7 million a season.

Meanwhile, according to that report, Royce Clayton and Neifi Perez are among the Dodgers's trade targets, while David Weathers is on their free agent want list.

6) According to the Los Angeles Times, the Rangers made an offer to Chan Ho Park that was believed to be in the neighborhood of $14 million a season.

Meanwhile, "General Manager John Hart recently downplayed the Rangers' interest in Park, saying he planned to focus on acquiring relievers. However, many expected the Rangers to aggressively pursue the right-hander because of their pitching problems in 2000 and Boras' strong relationship with Hicks."

7) The Brewers signed OF Robert Perez, INF Rob Sasser and Ps Gus Gandarillas Jimmy Osting to minor league contracts.

8) According to the Newark Star Ledger, the Yankees are working on making a 7 year offer to Jason Giambi that would average between $17 and $18 million per year, while the New York Post reports 7 years, $119 million.

Meanwhile, Giambi says it's too early in his career for him to become a DH and there are rumors that he would share the 1B and DH spots with Nick Johnson, if he went to the Yankees.

9) The Yankees fired bullpen coach Tony Cloninger.

10) The Royals sent C A.J. Hinch outright to the minors.

11) According to the Washington Post, "Many observers across the game predict the Orioles will be among the most active teams this winter. However, with a labor battle brewing and the contraction of two teams still a possibility, [Sid] Thrift said he has gotten the sense the action might occur deeper into the winter this year."

Among their potential free agents targets are Barry Bonds, although "the consensus remains that Bonds will re-sign with the San Francisco Giants," Tino Martinez, Johnny Damon, Moises Alou, Juan Gonzalez and John Smoltz.

Meanwhile, "The Orioles also are expected to be active on the trade front and have made it known around the leagues that young right-handers Jason Johnson and Sidney Ponson are available. The Orioles hope to use them to lure an elite player such as Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez or Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Scott Rolen."

12) According to the New York Times, "General Manager Steve Phillips has stressed that the Mets' payroll concerns might make them more active in trades than in free agency this winter. But the free-agent market is intriguing to the Mets, who want to be involved as talks move along with several prominent players."

The Mets are interested in John Smoltz, but "the Mets would probably not sign Smoltz unless they had a deal in place involving another of their starters, probably Glendon Rusch. The Mets are interested in Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, whose $6.5 million salary for next year would fit in the Mets' payroll. Burnitz will make $11 million in 2003, which would be after the Mets had shed several high salaries."

13) According to the New York Daily News and the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers are interested in free agent P David Wells.

14) According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, free agent 2B Bret Boone was not impressed with the Mariners's 3 year, about $23 million offer. Boone is looking for a longer contract, with more money per year, while the Redsox are also reportedly interested in him.

15) The Rangers signed P Anthony Telford to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Telford had a 10.29 ERA and -4 RSAA in 8 games with the Expos in 2001 and has a 4.04 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.35, and 13 RSAA in 313 games.

16) The Orioles sent utilityman Mike Kinkade outright to the minors.

17) Former Orioles and Rangers MGR Johnny Oates was listed in good condition, after having surgery for a brain tumor.

[hmrsf]

long term contract, too much $$$ and Red Soxs are always linked together?!