6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog: Pickoff Moves

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Thursday, June 15, 2006

Pickoff Moves

Today's Birthdays

And some humdingers today, too...

Dusty Baker LAN b. 1949, played 1976-1983, All-Star: 1981-1982. A Top 40 Dodger, he was probably one of the more underrated Dodger outfielders because of his late-career struggles. Certainly a commendation by Hank Aaron that he had "more potential than any outfielder I've seen in all my seasons with the Braves" was a high mark to live up to; most of his best years turned up in a Dodger uniform. After a decade as the Giants' manager — culminated with the frustrations of 2002 — he's busy collecting hatemail in Chicago, where his status beyond this year is uncertain.

Brett Butler LAN b. 1957, played 1991-1997, All-Star: 1991. Playing for the Braves, Indians, Giants, Dodgers, and Mets, Butler was a left-handed, singles-hitting outfielder whose career spanned 17 seasons, managing — probably by dint of the Dodger patina — to get an All-Star berth in 1991. But he was a fantastic centerfielder, despite being only 5'10" and 160 lbs.; in his '91 season, he made no errors. He also had tremendous plate discipline, a trait that improved as he got older, and once drew five walks in a April 12, 1990 contest between the Giants and Braves, getting on base a perfect six times.

Babe Dahlgren BRO b. 1912, played 1942, All-Star: 1943, d. 1996-09-04. A solid first baseman, but the Red Sox knew good from great, and so eventual Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx displaced him at Fenway. He also became the first man to play first base for the Yankees at the other end of Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak. He spent only a few at bats in a Dodger uniform on his way to Philadelphia, then Pittsburgh, and finally the St. Louis Browns.

Lance Parrish CAL b. 1956, played 1989-1992, All-Star: 1980, 1982-1986, 1988, 1990. A top 100 Angel, an eight-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove winner, a six-time Silver Slugger, and a three-time MVP, Parrish was a nearly indestructable catcher for the very good Tigers teams of the 1980's, including the 1984 champions. He briefly held the record for home runs hit by a catcher in 1984; in 1985 the record was broken again by Carlton Fisk. Following an injury-plagued 1986 campaign, the Tigers let him go to free agency, and he signed with the Phillies; he never did figure out the NL, and took over behind the dish for the Angels in 1989, succeeding Bob Boone.

Ed Pipgras BRO b. 1904, played 1932, d. 1964-04-13

Bret Prinz LAA b. 1977, played 2005. Waiver-wire fodder most of his career, he had one very good year with Arizona (unsurprisingly, 2001), but a 5.63 K/9 and 1.42 K/BB foretold his coming collapse. He currently toils for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox after an unsuccessful stint with the Yankees and a second try with the Snakes.

Ed Wheeler BRO b. 1878, played 1902, d. 1960-08-15

Hank Winston BRO b. 1904, played 1936, d. 1974-02-04

Roster Notes

The Dodgers have no plans to dump Odalis Perez's contract.
Brett Tomko claims to not be concerned about losing his rotation spot; who'd they put in his place, anyway?
Joel Guzman will now play outfield for the 51's with the arrival of Andy LaRoche.
Eric Gagné has a confirmed diagnosis of nerve irritation, and some new medication to go with it. He won't pitch again until the irritation subsides.
Jae Seo will sit a couple days until his shoulder soreness dies down.
Jeff Weaver may end up in the bullpen according to the latest reports in the Times. The Angels have tried to move Weaver, even offering to pay some of his contract, but have found no takers.
The Angels signed fourth-round pick Clayton Fuller for a $200,000 bonus.