Wednesday, October 18, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
Andy Carey LAN b. 1931, played 1962. A prodigious eater who convinced the Yankees to end the practice of allowing players to sign for meals. He refused a trade to the White Sox and ended up getting shipped to the Dodgers, where he split time with Daryl Spencer at third before retiring after 1962.
Terry Clark CAL b. 1960, played 1988-1989. It's one thing to get Wally Pipp'd by an actual Hall of Famer, but to do so at the end of his career? Clark got bumped from the rotation by an aging but still-darn-effective Top 100 Angel Bert Blyleven (at least, in 1989; he fell apart in the last two years of his contract). Clark actually ended up having a really good year in 1995 as a 34-year-old, but never revisited that level of success.
Alex Cora LAN b. 1975, played 1998-2004. Where is he now? Last I checked, still with the Red Sox.
Roy Cullenbine BRO b. 1913, played 1940, All-Star: 1941, 1944, d. 1991-05-28. Walked more than he struck out every single year in the majors; he was granted emancipation when commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis granted free agency to 91 Detroit minor leaguers, citing cover-ups in the organization. Played for Brooklyn for a part of the 1940 season.
Andy Hassler CAL b. 1951, played 1971, 1973-1976, 1980-1983. Owns the franchise record for consecutive losses, at 17 (from May 4, 1975 through July 2, 1976), yet he came back in his later career to have two and a half very effective years with the team.
George Hendrick CAL b. 1949, played 1985-1988, All-Star: 1974-1975, 1980, 1983. A rightfielder/first baseman who played with the Angels in the twilight of his career; the Top 100 Angel came to California mainly due to a salary dump by the Pirates. His 1986 season helped the Angels to win the division, but he fell apart in subsequent years. He also coached with the Angels, and last year was the Dodgers' minor league hitting coordinator.
Bobby Knoop CAL,LAA b. 1938, played 1964-1969, All-Star: 1966. It's Top 100 Angel day! Knoop was a slick-fielding, no-hit player whose value came mostly from his glove toward the end of an era when such luxuries could be excused; Alex Cora (q.v.) must curse his luck to have been born when he was.
Wally Millies BRO b. 1906, played 1934, d. 1995-02-28
Alan Mills LAN b. 1966, played 1999-2000. The Dodgers under Kevin Malone made mistakes both great and small, and you have to place Mills' three-year deal as one of the latter; why give a guy with a mixed-at-best track record $6.5M when he's about to turn 32?
Jerry Royster LAN b. 1952, played 1973-1975. Most recently the Las Vegas 51's manager until he was fired/resigned last month.
Notes
- Akinori Iwamura, third baseman with the Yakult Swallows, has been posted.
- The Giants will talk to Bud Black about their open managerial position.
- Turner Broadcasting System will broadcast the LCS's starting in 2007. Oh, and did anyone mention they don't have HD? No? <slaps forehead>
: 10/18/2006 10:55:00 AM
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