Thursday, September 21, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
Manuel Barrios LAN b. 1974, played 1998
Max Butcher BRO b. 1910, played 1936-1938, d. 1957-09-15
Jason Christiansen LAA b. 1969, played 2005. Another canary in the left-handed part of the Angels' minor league coal mine. The bullpen has needed strengthening for about three years now, and the fact that guys like him keep showing up (see also J.C. Romero) is a leading indicator that the team's minor leagues aren't producing usable relievers anymore.
Cecil Fielder ANA b. 1963, played 1998, All-Star: 1990-1991, 1993. An enormous, powerful, immobile slugger, perhaps the ultimate cariacature of the unidimensional first baseman. After four undistinguished years with Toronto and a one-year stint in Japan, in 1990 with Detroit he had a huge breakout year to became the first man to hit 50 homers in a single season since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle did it in 1961. His weight was the subject of much ridicule; Bill James famously quipped that he was "listed at 250 pounds but one must wonder what would happen if he put his other foot on the scale." A three-time All Star with Detroit, where he holds numerous franchise records, he hit the ball very, very hard and very, very far, generating prodigious strikeout totals — which still only amounted to 26% of his career at bats. (Dallas McPherson and Brandon Wood, take note.)
He played a partial season with the Angels in 1998. Despite being on pace for a 95 RBI season, Fielder was released in August partly due to a roster crunch caused by the callup of Troy Glaus and the return of Todd Greene from the DL, and partly because of a renewed team emphasis on speed rather than power. He signed with the Indians three days later, but it was the last stop in the majors for the big man. His son Prince is now a top prospect with the Brewers, but they have become estranged since Cecil negotiated his contract.
Bill Joyce BRO b. 1865, played 1892, d. 1941-05-08
Frank McManus BRO b. 1875, played 1903, d. 1923-09-01
Scott Spiezio ANA b. 1972, played 2000-2003. A Top 100 Angel for his three-run bomb in 2002 World Series Game 6, he's otherwise an unremarkable utilityman who had good pop at second base but not enough to be a regular first baseman — a job the Angels gave him in 2003. Letting him go was not a mistake; so long, Scott, and thanks for the memories.
A Different Solomon Torres Game: Pirates 6, Dodgers 4
Am I supposed to be excited that the Dodgers finally applied some pressure to the Pirates in the bottom of the ninth? This game was almost a replay of the previous day's loss, save for the non-rally at the end. They can win some exciting games. And they lose ones they ought to win against cellar dwellers.Frankie Overburdened: Angels 3, Royals 0
I hate the series against the Royals because they always make the Angels look so much worse than they are. Frankie loading up the bases? The Angels scoring only one run through eight, against pitchers with ERAs in the 5's, 6's, and 7's? Thank God that's over. At least they got a sweep out of it.Meta: Slow
I'm trying to catch up on some long overdue things around here (backing up my server here, plus getting the slideshow from Monday's game put together), and so posting will be kind of slow for a while.
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