Thursday, August 10, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
Rocky Colavito LAN b. 1933, played 1968, All-Star: 1959, 1961-1962, 1964-1966. A six-time All Star with the Indians, Tigers, and A's, Colavito was inexplicably traded to Detroit following the 1959 season, an error the Indians lived to regret — and repair, as they got him back from Kansas City in 1965. He became the first Indian to hit 40 homers twice, and there exists a contingent who consider his first trade to be the key mistake that led to years of mediocrity in Cleveland.
Colavito was drafted as a pitcher/outfielder, and was one of the last non-pitchers to record a win until former Dodger (and then-Rocky) Brent Mayne did so in an August 22, 2000 game against the Braves, which saw Colorado employ no fewer than ten pitchers over twelve innings. Colavito's win was in an August 25, 1968 game against the Tigers, and unlike the Rockies' bullpen-waster, he got the call in the fourth, and held on for two and two third scoreless frames, surrendering only a hit and two walks. On the 1968 Dodgers, he was in his last season as a major leaguer, a fourth outfield type, and ended up traded to the Yankees, where he fulfilled the same role until he retired.
Sal Fasano ANA b. 1971, played 2002. The man with the porn-star moustache was holding down a job in Philadelphia, but now toils for the Yankees as a backup to Jorge Posada. Update: and of course you're right, Brian, he deserves a 2002 World Series ring even less than Julio Ramirez, below.
Al Osuna LAN b. 1965, played 1994. Update: Just for Jon: here's a couple pages that mention his exploits on the 1987 College World Series.
Julio Ramirez ANA b. 1977, played 2002-2003. I had completely forgotten this guy existed, yet he ended up getting a ring with the Angels in 2002. Sheer, dumb, blind luck — it explains all of my successes, and who am I to knock it?
Roster Notes
- "You know what they say," says Tim Salmon, who isn't above making stuff up. "Once an Angel, always an Angel." The possibility of Jim Edmonds coming back to finish his career in an Angel uniform has been opened by the Cards refusal to discuss picking up Edmonds' $3M option.
"We've essentially heard nothing from the Cardinals, so we're moving forward with a game plan," said Paul Cohen, Edmonds' agent. "We've made a list of 10-12 teams Jim would play for, and the Angels are one of them. He always loved playing there."
Edmonds will undergo offseason surgery for a rotator cuff problem, and for bone spurs in his right (non-throwing) shoulder. - If Jered Weaver or Joe Saunders need extra rest during the season because of their youth and inexperience, they'll get it, says Mike Scioscia. But mental outlook isn't a problem:
"There are some things that concern us, but youth is not one of them," Scioscia said. "They've shown they're going to make their pitches and not scare off. … You're never going to know until a guy gets in there, but they've shown they're going to pitch their game, not be afraid of contact and go after guys with their best stuff.
- Chone Figgins won't change his approach at the plate despite a 4-32 slump.
- Nomar Garciaparra is playing injured, and won't be able to run the bases at full speed.
Honesestly, if they sign Edmonds, and there's no mea culpa from the comments he made in 2002, I may quit rooting for the Angels, at least as long as he's on the team.
This came the day after Paul Carey's game-winning grand slam off Ben McDonald when Stanford was down 5-2 in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the day before the championship game victory over top-ranked Oklahoma State. All three were elimination games.
: 8/10/2006 11:08:00 AMBut...did they get playoff shares? I just don't remember.
: 8/10/2006 02:10:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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