Tuesday, December 05, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
Raleigh Aitchison BRO b. 1887, played 1911, 1914-1915, d. 1958-09-26
Scott Lewis CAL b. 1965, played 1990-1994
Gus Mancuso BRO b. 1905, played 1940, All-Star: 1935, 1937, d. 1984-10-26. Slow on the basepaths, cheerful, and steady behind the dish, Mancuso caught for five different Hall of Fame pitchers (Pete Alexander, Dizzy Dean, Burleigh Grimes, Jesse Haines, and Carl Hubbell), playing in five World Series, winning two rings, one each with the Cardinals and Giants. With the Dodgers, he was a 34-year-old reserve catcher during the talent-starved war years.
A moment in time:
Giants shortstop Dick Bartell recalled a doubleheader in brutal heat in St. Louis several years later. Mancuso had to catch both games because his backup was hurt. Parmelee was his usual scatter-armed self in the second game, and the exhausted catcher dropped to his knees in a prayerful pose and wailed, "Please, Roy, please, it's so hot. Get the ball over, Roy, so we can all get out of here. Just tell me you'll try, Roy, please."
Ray Moss BRO b. 1901, played 1926-1931, d. 1998-08-09
Don Padgett BRO b. 1911, played 1946, d. 1980-12-09
Steve Rachunok BRO b. 1916, played 1940, d. 2002-05-11
Chico Ruiz CAL b. 1938, played 1970-1971, d. 1972-02-09
Billy Shindle BRO b. 1860, played 1894-1898, d. 1936-06-03
Bob Sprout LAA b. 1941, played 1961
Roster Notes
- The Dodgers want Juan Pierre to lead off, which is a huge mistake; just ask the Cubs.
- The Dodgers are near to deals for Takashi Saito to return to the bullpen, and Mike Lieberthal as a backup catcher.
- Toby Hall "has generated some interest" in trades.
- Greg Miller is healthy and is expected to remain in the bullpen.
- Arte Moreno might have to "eat duck" (opposite crow?) on his earlier prediction that the team would do something big this offseason.
"I'm an optimistic person, and so I'd like to think we'll still get a call to make something like that happen," Moreno said. "But listen, I think we can win 90 games next season with the team we have right now — and win our division."
I tend to agree. - The Red Sox went into last-minute blitz mode trying to trade Manny; no deal so far.
- Bill Stoneman and the Braves are talking a deal for Adam LaRoche. The Braves are interested in Casey Kotchman and Chone Figgins.
- The A's have hired former Angel Ty Van Burkleo as their major league hitting coach. Oakland AGM David Forst said, "He's got a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm, and the Angels have turned out a lot of good young hitters over the years." Number one, where are they, and number two, so long, OBP.
- Darin Erstad is getting interest from three clubs, the Rockies, Orioles, and Devil Rays.
- Ken Rosenthal has backed off his earlier report that Greg Maddux has signed with the Padres. Scott Boras is working for a better deal, and neithe the Dodgers nor the Padres want to give him a second year.
- The Padres have signed Jose Cruz, Jr., on a one-year, $650,000 deal.
- Former Giant LaTroy Hawkins has a one-year/$3.8M deal with Colorado pending a physical.
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