Edmonds excited for shot to earn job
January 30, 2010Jim Edmonds is a four-time All-Star and an eight-time Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder, so he doesn't have a lot of experience competing for a job in Spring Training. He understands that he'll have to do precisely that beginning next month.
Melvin Discusses Parra, Edmonds
January 30, 2010
Following up on some topics of recent posts here, Brewers GM Doug Melvin discussed expectations for Manny Parra for this season and the Jim Edmonds signing on 540 ESPN Milwaukee yesterday.
Here are his quotes on Manny:
“Manny is still young in experience. Again, when you talk about young pitchers, you do have to talk about being patient. We sent Manny out to the minor leagues last year. When he came back, he was 8-3. After he came back from the minor leagues, he did have a high ERA. So, he’s going to have to get deeper into the ballgames, give us a chance to pitch in the games.”
“He’s so talented. He’s got such good stuff, he’s a good arm, he’s big, he’s physical. He reminds me in some sense of a left-handed pitcher that we had here in our system and we grew a little impatient with him. We gave up on him. We were in the early stages of his development. He went to Colorado last year and won 16 ball games. That was Jorge De La Rosa, and that. So, you never want to give up on a young pitcher that has good stuff, especially being left handed, being physical.”
“And we recognize that this is a big year for Manny and I think he does too. So, we’re hoping that he and Rick Peterson will get together and put all that ability on the right path to success.”
He didn’t come out and say it, but I think it’s pretty obvious Melvin expects Parra to be in the rotation next season. That would leave the battle for the last rotation spot between Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan. Bush should win if it’s based on performance alone, but, unfortunately, Suppan’s hefty contract might have the final word there…
And here are Melvin’s quotes on Edmonds:
“Well, I talked to Jim Edmonds’ agent at the end of last year and he told me just to keep him in mind. He said that he expressed interest in getting back in the game and playing after sitting out a year. He has the same agent that represented Gabe Kapler. With Gabe Kapler that worked well for us. We took Gabe after a year of retirement, he came back and performed very well for us. He’s now in his second year with Tampa Bay.”
“So, you know, Jim Edmonds is an individual with a lot of experience, 15 years of experience. He has a number of Gold Gloves. He’s a .290 career hitter with 380-some home runs. But as the offseason went on, his agent said that he continued to work out. He continued to show a desire and an interest to play. He had the fires burning. And we were one of the teams that were on his short list of teams to play for. And if we had interest, he would be interested. So, we were able to convince Jim that this is a good place to play. He wants to stay in this division, the National League. He is familiar with the Cubs, where he had a year, with the Cardinals for most of his career.”
“He’ll come to camp and try to win a job. It’s not a lot of money. That wasn’t the issue with him. The fires were burning. He wants to get back in and play the game and play it at a level with a team that he can compete.”
“So, we’re looking forward to it. I think that it’s an opportunity that brings experience to our line-up, to our ball club and to the clubhouse because our outfield is all right handed with Hart, Gomez and Ryan Braun. So, there could be some playing time here for Jim Edmonds if he’s able to play.”
It sounds like Melvin feels Edmonds could be a valuable left-handed bat off the bench with the chance to spell all three outfielders at times. That’s the pinnacle of what I’d expect Edmonds to be able to contribute. I think the idea that he would be able to start regularly against right handers is a pipe dream for Edmonds. I hope he’s OK with a fourth or fifth outfielder role if he makes the team.
The Brewer Advent Calendar #21: LaTroy Hawkins
January 30, 2010
Open door #4 and you will soon see, One LaTroy Hawkins for Milwaukee! (It rhymes!)
It may seem like LaTroy Hawkins has been pitching in MLB for the last 25 years, but in reality, LaTroy has been toeing the rubber for only the last 15. Here are some fun facts about LaTroy which you can share with your family and friends.
- LaTroy is 37 years old, and a tall dude at 6'5" 195 lbs. He is right-handed, and wisely chooses to wear his glove on his left-hand.
- LaTroy is the first and only LaTroy to play MLB
- The Brewers signed LaTroy to a 2 yr. $7.5M contract, which is roughly about what he made in the last 2 seasons in New York (Yankees) and Houston.
- The Brewers will be LaTroy's 8th team, having played previously for the Twins, Cubs, Giants, Orioles, Rockies, Yankees and Astros.
LaTroy started his career with the Twins in 1995, at the age of 22, where until 1999 he was employed exclusively by the Twins, as a starting pitcher/souvenir generator. In 2000 the Twins decided to move him into the bullpen, where he then became one of MLB's most reliable setup men.
From 1995 to 1999, LaTroy had the second highest ERA of all pitchers that had 50 or more decisions, (6.16).
Interestingly #1 Jason Bere, #4 Jimmy Haynes, #5 Jamey Wright and #6 Jim Abbott (Highest ERA, 50+ decisions 1995-99) all have something in common, can anyone guess what that is?
While as a starter, (50 or more decisions) LaTroy also had the worst SLGag. and OPSag. in MLB. After a beastish 6.66 ERA in 1999, the Twins astutely heralded the sign, and moved Troy to the bullpen (The 6.66 ERA was the worst ERA in 1995-99 from a starter making 30+ starts in MLB).
It is safe to say, LaTroy found his groove coming out of the bullpen since 2000.
- Since 2000, only Dave Weathers (713) has more MLB appearances than LaTroy (654). Despite his 654 appearances, LaTroy has only 87 career saves, 50 blown saves, and 132 holds.
- Since 2000, Hawkins has allowed 31% of his inherited runners to score. As a comparison, Trevor Hoffman allows 18%, Brian Shouse 28%, and Guillermo Mota 37% (at least 400 games).
- Hawkins has a respectable BB/9 (2.77, 12th) in this timeframe, and throws strikes 65% of the time which is among the leaders. (at least 400 games).
- While he throws strikes regularly, he doesn't necessarily generate a lot of strikeouts, only 6.58 per 9IP (49th for pitchers with at least 400 games)
LaTroy Hawkins joins teammate Jeff Suppan, in a small group of active pitchers that have made a start against the Brewers in County Stadium as part of an AL game in their career. (Wakefield, Moyer, and Pettitte are others).
Here is a story where LaTroy got tossed for plunking Luke Scott. Here is a story where LaTroy gets tossed for accusing the umps of favoring the Cubs. Here is a story where LaTroy reflects on his most embarrassing moment in MLB, getting tossed for not moving his chair. Here is a story where LaTroy gets tossed for trying to kick Tim Tschida's ass.
It may be safe to assume that LaTroy may run a little hot. He has been tossed out of games 7 times since 2000. It happens though, and maybe getting tossed now and then adds to a pitcher's longevity.
Welcome to Milwaukee LaTroy!
Winter unique time for each player, coach
January 29, 2010It's a normal winter day throughout the baseball world, and away from the Hot Stove reports, buzzing Internet rumors, TV talking points and front-office plotting, there are other things going on.
Hart, Brewers appear headed for hearing
January 29, 2010With the Brewers and Corey Hart at an impasse in negotiations regarding the outfielder's salary for 2010, the issue will likely be decided at an arbitration hearing in February.
The Brewer Advent Calendar #22: Jim Edmonds
January 29, 2010
Behind the third door we find...Jim Edmonds!
(If the Brewers keep signing a new player each day, the Advent Calendar is going to be really easy.)
As I'm sure most of you know, Jim Edmonds is a former Cardinal and Cub. Before that, though, he was an Angel. In fact, he was an Angel so long ago that he's one of the last remaining California Angels.
Before the 1997 season, the Angels changed their name from the California Angels to the Anaheim Angels (before eventually becoming the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). Edmonds is one of just four active players from the 1996 team:
| Player | 2009 Team |
| Jim Edmonds | n/a |
| Garret Anderson | Braves |
| Darin Erstad | Astros |
| Troy Percival | Rays |
Edmonds: Brewers told me I’d get a chance to play everyday against right-handers, and I’d get a…
January 29, 2010Edmonds: Brewers told me I'd get a chance to play everyday against right-handers, and I'd get a chance to play when corner OF get days off.
Tim McKernan from InsideStL.com, via Twitter. McKernan also tweets: "Suppan and T. Hoffman both told me they like Miwaukee. It's a quiet place, and they said it's a great place to focus on the game." and "I'll show everybody just like I did in Chicago." He also says Edmonds had off-and-on talks with the Yankees.
“Check Me Out on Your TV-Radio”
January 29, 2010Best. Song. Ever.
“GO GOMEZ GO!”
Edmonds a Regular Starter? Please No…
January 29, 2010
The Brewers have promised Edmonds everyday starts against righties?
OK, I think I hate the Edmonds signing now.
Via Tim McKernan’s (InsideSTL.com) Twitter:
Edmonds: Brewers told me I’d get a chance to play everyday against right-handers, and I’d get a chance to play when corner OF get days off.
I’m trying to make sense of this and I’m having a hard time…
Maybe the Brewers don’t believe in Carlos Gomez or Corey Hart. There are much better ways to upgrade than relying on a 40-year-old who didn’t play last year to pick up starts three or four out of every five games though.
Maybe Melvin did tell Edmonds he’d have a “chance” to play everyday against right-handers. I mean, there’s a “chance” I could play every day against righties. Melvin could’ve just gave him the old “every player has to earn his starting position” line to sell Edmonds on the Brewers. The idea that the Brewers would have to sell a player on the chance to play on the team after no teams were even interested in adding him to their rosters last season is pretty depressing though…
Maybe the Brewers are working on a trade of Corey Hart. While there’s a part of me that would love to not have to watch Corey suck at baseball in a Brewers uniform anymore, the thought of watching the elderly Edmonds as a regular starter for a whole season is much less appealing. And Hart was an all-star just a few years ago. There’s at least some hope he could figure it out and return to form. Edmonds is not going to suddenly get younger. And, again, there are still better options than Edmonds available on the free agent market if you’re looking for corner outfielders who might have to start more than a couple games a week.
Maybe Edmonds just made the whole starting against right handers thing up. Unlikely, but there’s a chance…
I’m guessing it’s closest to the second guess. Melvin probably promised Edmonds they’d let him compete for playing time in spring training, go in with an open mind, blah, blah, blah…
All I know is that if Edmonds is a regular starter for the Brewers in 2010, it’s probably going to be a long season…
Broadcaster Anderson chats with fans
January 29, 2010Following is a transcript of a live online chat with Brewers broadcaster Brian Anderson, who took questions from fans on Friday.