Other Reality Baseball 2, an online collaboration

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Other Reality Baseball 2

I know this has been tried unsuccessfully in the past but we have a fantastic group of owners in an online league I am in called the ORB2. We are a historical based league of 20 teams, starting with the 1962 season and expanding as those years come up, with each franchise aimed to be owned and operated by someone passionate about computer baseball. We are always interested in finding more people as passionate about baseball as we are, and with that we give some ways that our selection process is different than most leagues.

The ORB2 aims to attract people interested in finding out more about the league and becoming a part of the community before earning ownership. These people are affectionately referred to as "Vultures."

Vultures participate in day-to-day league activities by contributing to forum discussions, writing articles about teams and/or players, and otherwise interacting on a regular basis with current owners and other Vultures.

I like to affectionately call this incarnation of the ORB the ORBII. The league starts just after the famous 1961 season, with the start of the 1962 season. Changes are coming to the game of baseball, but will they follow the course of history? The premise is a historical replay that is only historical in player name and franchise identity. The premise has been tried many times over the course of OOTP and baseball simulation history. But, the twist, the rub, the rhubarb will be that ORB2 will not follow the path of history. 1962 is where our paths delineate. Baseball will expand and franchises will move. But will they do so according to history? Time will tell.

The initial rosters and franchises are those of 1962. But already commissioner, Matt Rectewald has instated an armature draft for players that are not yet in professional baseball. What other changes will follow? Stay tuned for a weekly recap in MORBiD, the Monthly ORB Internet Diary.

The 1962 season is currently in the books and we are currently in the off-season.

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Let’s get right into things.
Free Agency has begun for the 1962-1963 off-season. Let’s examine some of the high profile free agents. I will update this post as signing information becomes available.

Free Agents Hitters By Position:

Catcher
Sherm Lollar- Lollar comes off an nice season with the White Sox where he hit .316 with an OPS of .843 and a 23.6 VORP in just 81 games. He did get injured and he did just turn 38 so age might be a concern.

Johnny Roseboro- A solid choice for a defensive catcher, Johnny handles pitchers very well. He won’t get as much attention as others on the market so he may command a better price. He’s coming off of an off year but make no mistake Roseboro can hit. Maybe Johnny can join his friend Jaun on the Giants?

Tim McCarver- Tim is another solid defensive catcher with southern charm and the gift of gab. He should hit for average but without power or drawing walks.

Bill Freehan- ORBs version of a bonus baby. Bill is an unknown quantity in the league but has enormous potential.



1B
Ernie Banks- Mr. Cu… Yan… Congeniality is a media darling and another player with southern charms. His popularity has waned since leaving the Cubs and he tailed off in his production. Is asking less than $100K and looking for a shoot to prove he can still play but will likely be a shadow of his former self. That's right Banks was delt by the Cubs to the Yankees during the 1962 season for Joe Pepitone.

Bill Skowron- Moose is the first member of the free agent class from the ORB All-Ugly Team. (Mossi is the other) He can hit and was let go because the Yankees had a crowd at 1B. hit 14 homers last year in just 309 at-bats.

Eddie Yost- Possibly only Ted Williams can boast a better eye and ability to draw walks. Walked 111 times in 1962 and had an OBP over .400 with 18.1 VORP. If a team can suffer his defense he can also play 3B.



2B
Billy Martin- Martin is about it on a very thin class of second baggers. Barely played last season for the Champion Twins and at 34 his career is in question.



SS
Andy Rogers- Andre might be the best free agent SS and while his defense is average he will provide a nice option up the middle. Very durable, he played 160 games last season but hit only .255 with a .657 OPS.

Don Buddin- Played all 162 games for Houston hitting .168, look elsewhere.



3B
Don Hoak- Hit only .192 while playing as a backup and pinch hitter for the Pirates. Should have more in him and is worth a look for teams in need of a 3B.

Eddie Kasko- With the exception of a better performance on the Reds, hitting .254 in part time, he is nearly identical to Hoak. It will be interesting to see who gets more from the market.

Felix Mantilla- Should be able to hit in the majors and carved out a nice performance in 66 at-bats after he was finally called up to the majors.


LF
Frank Thomas- I love this guy! He is big and knows how to draw a walk. Was once a standout football player at Au… Oops wrong guy. Thomas had a solid season in New York but was aided by hitting in a park that allowed even the worst hitter to perform well. 32 homers might turn into a number in the low 20s depending on where he lands. At 33 managed a .787 OPS and can still play solid baseball. Lucky for us we don't have to deal with his abrasive personality.

Minnie Minoso- Slowing with age Minnie is still a solid outfielder and might take a discount after playing just part time in St Louis last season.

Bob Cerv- What about Bob? Well I wish I had the Yankees free agents. The Stripers in New York let players walk that I would have like starting for me last season. Cerv looks to have revived his career and will play in somebody’s outfield next season.



CF
Lenny Green- Plays hard, Green post solid back to back seasons for the Twins and helped them to the world series. Great Eye, he will draw walks.

Jim Landis- Only wants to be a bench player, only should be a bench player.

Bill Bruton- Could be a solid contributor in the right situation. Hard worker. Great Defense.



RF
Richie Ashburn- Might be the Crown Jewel of the free agent market. Ashburn is 35 but can hit with the best leadoff men in the game. Will get on base and will score! One of the most popular players on the market despite an injury plagued season in 1962.
Whitey Herzog- I hate Rats but could live with Whitey, had a nice turnaround last season after joining the Braves. Will get paid good money by somebody with an outfield need.

Gene Woodling- At 40 years old Gene want way too much money for way too many seasons. Look for him to sign late and for much less than he wants.

Roberto Mejias- Had an decent season playing in an expansive home ballpark. Modest but good numbers considering his situation, mostly attributable to his hard work and baseball smarts.


Free Agnet Pitchers:

SPs
Bob Friend- The leagues politician. It’s been said that he will hold public office one day, and having the last name Friend does not hurt. Unfortunately for Friend, in the 1950s and 1960s your worth is determined by wins and losses and he has more of the losing variety. Is coming off of an injury plagued season.

Turk Farrell- His numbers are bolstered playing in a pitchers park but he was one of the few brightspots on the Astros. Very smart pitcher. It will be interesting to see which expansion franchise digs its way out sooner.

Jack Sanford- Jack’s numbers benefited from playing on the best team in baseball. He’s a solid starter but don’t count on him to turn your franchise around, his numbers won’t translate well to a losing team.

Don Cardwell- Cardwell is young and greedy. He wants more money that he should receive after a fairly non-descript 1962 performance.

Don Mossi- One of the few Left-handed starters on the market. Mossi has great control, good work ethic, and one of the best WHIPs in the AL. A solid addition to any staff his services should be in demand.

Hal Woodeshick- Slow, dumb and lazy there are worse options than Woodeshick but not many. Is a borderline starter.



Pitchers-RP
Art Fowler- One of the best closers in the AL last season. Art wants a sizeable payday but unlike some of the other free agent relievers might be worth the asking price.

Tom Sturdivant- An inning eater that wants to play for a winner. He’s popular in New York.

Don Ferrarese- Traded from the NL he posted a .54 ERA before the deal and a 2.92 ERA after the deal. Either way a solid reliever.

Bill Fischer- Another reliever KC let walk. I’m not sure Moneyball will work in the ORB. Works hard. Bolstered by a .225 BABIP, he will not pitch as well in 1963.

Roy Face- If Roy played in the 1920s or 1930s we might be naming the Roy Face award for the best reliever. He’s 34, smart, and can still pitch. Should get a nice contract somewhere despite an off year in 1962.

Harvey Haddix- Everybody knows about the not so perfect perfect game but that is a lifetime ago. He’s a three time all-star but no longer a starter. Will work hard but at age 37 his best years are behind him.

Chet Nichols- Like Haddix he is a lefty, but look elsewhere.

Roy Kline- A smart innings eater, had 10 saves for the Tigers last season. 31Ks/30BBs enough said.

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The draft pool is also out! Piladelphia Owner Brain Marshall has been kind enough to run the first round of a mock draft:

Why a mock draft, because everyone loves a mock draft. You all sit at home salivating for the next pundit to come along and tell you, yes you, who your favorite team will draft. Not everyone is qualified to give such insightful analysis as to whom will be selected, though a reading of the futuristic device known as the internet will tell you every Tom, Dick and Henrietta is capable of putting three phrases or 1.72 sentences and tell you that the first pick overall will be some obscure pitcher with limited speed and stamina, because he has heart or a good press agent. Without further ado, here are the players each of these fine teams will be drafting.

1. New York (N) - 2B Joe Morgan - Let’s be honest, any player is going to help this sad-sack outfit. At second base last year, the Mess started Rod Kanehl, whose nickname should be something like Inanimate Rod rather than “Hot Rod”, which might suffice as a comparison between himself and a rock in a freezer. Joe Morgan is an obvious pick. One of the two most talented players in the draft, he fills a major need for the Mets and provides the first and perhaps most important building block for this hapless crew.

2. Boston - SP Denny McClain - McClain is certainly the best pitcher in this draft, though I think everyone aside from Denny McClain, his immediate family and his various hangers on have doubts about his ability to dominate. Of course, even if he does not dominate, he would be a vast improvement over the odds and ends filling the Red Sox rotation. Of course, dear reader, you too might be an improvement so take it for what it is worth.

3. Washington - LF Dick Allen - All the Don Lock fans are going to be disappointed by this pick, but all the Senators’ fans will surely be pleased. Lock was a far cry from atrocious last year and that is even more damning than it sounds. With Allen in the fold, the middle of the lineup will have a tremendous bat to fill the heart of the lineup.

4. Houston - SP Mickey Lolich - Replacing the nameless, faceless, armless phantom, Lolich should provide a big boost over the current non-existent fourth starter right away. Going forward, he should provide above average innings in an environment which will make him look even more valuable than he is.

5. Chicago (N) - SS Rico Petrocelli - A reach, but a necessary reach. With only in-house options a mother could love, the Cubs need to fill the hole in their infield. Petrocelli should be a fine hitter, but he is unlikely to be the superstar that could put the Cubs right into contention.

6. Milwaukee - LF Rico Carty - A fortunate fall for the Milwaukee Braves. The outfield is a real weakness for this team and to get a true impact bat like Rico Carty with the sixth pick in the draft will surely improve the Braves’ fortunes going forward.

7. Cincinnati - LF Jimmy Wynn - Cincinnati is in a tough spot. Pete Rose is certainly the best player on the board, but Cookie Rojas looks like he can hit a bit. On the other hand, left field looks like a place where improvement is needed. Wynn would provide that improvement, though with better hitters on the board, the team will take some grief for not taking the best player on the board, or even the second as Cleon Jones looks like he should be a better pro.

8. Baltimore - 2B Pete Rose - Baltimore wishes there was someone, anyone who can throw strikes and improve the team on the board, but that is unlikely from the motley crew left on the board. Rose fills a major hole and would be considered a steal at the eighth pick overall. And it always takes a few steals to get back into contention.

9. Chicago (A) - CF Cleon Jones - Jones will provide a major league bat mixed with a little league glove. He lacks the range to be a true CF, but will probably never learn to play another position adequately. Despite these flaws, he brings a lot to the table offensively and sometimes you have to turn a blind eye to someone’s defects.

10. San Franciso (via Kansas City) - SP Tommy John - The rich get richer with this pick. With no obvious holes to fill, the Giants will likely draft some young insurance for their rotation, since pitchers have a way of disintegrating when faced with Marvin the Martian’s disintegration gun or arm trouble. Tommy John, ironically is good insurance against arm trouble for the defending NL champions.

11. Cleveland - LF Willie Horton - Sometimes you just need a new power hitter for your corner outfield. Sometimes you just want to take the player the Phillies really want right ahead of them. Either way, Horton would be an asset for the Indians, adding to their improving talent base.

12. Philadelphia - 1B Rusty Staub - With almost half their salary tied up in two first basemen, neither of whom will be the opening day starter, the best place to look to fill the hole their departures will create is to add another 1B. Rusty Staub qualifies as another 1B and would improve the Phillies in the long term.

13. Detroit - SP Bob Sadowski - Detroit needs pitching like Mars needs women. Well, actually, we do not know how much Mars needs women and I suspect early science fiction movies overstate this fact. Nonetheless, Sadowski would be an improvement over the back of the rotation and adding him could be the final piece of the puzzle to get the Tigers to the top.

14. Milwaukee (via New York (A)) - SP Wally Bunker - Bunker provides youth and a quality arm. This means he will either become one of the best pitchers in the league or shaving with his left arm by 20. I suspect the latter, but you never know with these young pitchers. As a second pick in the first round, the Braves can gamble to see if he can become the former.

15. St. Louis - C Jerry Grote - Grote does not look like a great catcher, but he certainly looks like a good catcher. He could be a fine addition to the Cardinals and improve their chances of seeing the Giants from their position in the standings.

16. Pittsburgh - SP Billy Culp - Culp would likely be trade bait, but with none of the second basemen left in the draft being first round contributors, the Pirates will likely go out and grab a prospect to trade to fill some of their needs.

17. Los Angeles (A) - CF Jose Cardenal - The Angels made a surprising run at the top last season, but fell short. With the outfield filled with Daddy Wags and a few good, but not great outfielders, grabbing a player like Cardenal will greatly help the Angels fill any voids which might appear in the near future.

18. Los Angeles (N) - 3B Jim Ray Hart - A lucky stroke for the Dodgers. Third base is a real need for them going forward and Hart is a long term solution and a player with the value of a mid first round pick, selected at the end of Round 1. He could help the Dodgers close the gap with the seemingly invincible Giants.

19. San Francisco - SP Bill Landis - Like before, the Giants could use some pitching depth and Landis, who is a high risk, high reward pitcher would be an excellent selection for the Giants in bolstering their depth for the arms race with the Reds…oh and the other teams in the National League.

20. Minnesota - CF Jimmie Hall - The defending champions are not full of weaknesses, but Hall could fill the hole forming in Center Field. Defending as world champion is always a daunting task, but one made more daunting by not having the necessary players to fill the gaps which form the year after winning it all.

I had a different take during the regular season before the draft pool was announced.

Here is a list of player that will appear in next seasons draft. Keep in mind many or most of these players will be able to instantly step into the lineup or rotation and be stars. Added at the bottom is my top 20 (just for fun but please discuss.)

Hitters with 4,000 or more career at bats:
Dick Allen - Serious power, bad attitude in real life won't matter in the ORB.
Jose Cardinal - Probably well known becasue he has a cool name and played on a couple post-season teams. Might be rated well.
Jesus Alou- Lot's of promise. Didn't live up to his talent.
Rico Carty- Power hitter, probablly one of the five best hitters in the draft
Don Buford- Due to a short career, most people won't know this guy but he is underrated.
Vic Davalillo- Speed and Contact
Dick Green- Not sure about this guy dispite long career
Jerry Grote- Thin draft at Catcher will get Grote attention
Willie Horton- Not quite as good but see Carty
Ron Hunt- After Morgan might be the best 2B remaining
Cleon Jones- Hit .340 for the miracle Mets
Joe Morgan- Complete package, arguably the best 2B ever
Rico Petrocelli- See Horton/Carty. Power hitter somewhere below these two.
Pete Rose- Good contact and speed, hit king will slide due to lack of power
Rusty Staub- Underrated hitter with a long career; he should be a great overall player and go quite high
Jimmy Wynn- The Toy Cannon has a great nickname, will hit for power, get on base and run, but won't be flashy

Pitchers with 1,000 or more career innings:
Wally Bunker- might be the best of the pitchers to start
Tommy John- Best pitcher in the draft in my opinion, will take time to develop and will be a control/movement pitcher
Denny McLain- Two time Cy Young winner won't be as good as you think
Mickey Lolich- Should have serious stuff number. Underrated, and should be one of the top three starters
Ray Culp- In a dead heat with Bunker, both pitchers should be ready to start for any team in the league

Just for fun...
My top 10:
1. Joe Morgan
2. Dick Allen
3. Tommy John
4. Rusty Staub
5. Denny McLain
6. Mickey Lolich
7. Rico Carty
8. Wally Bunker
9. Pete Rose
10. Willie Horton
11. Ray Culp
12. Don Buford
13. Jim Ray Hart
14. Ron Hunt
15. Jimmy Wynn
16. Rico Petrocelli
17. Jose Cardinal
18. Cleon Jones
19. Vic Davalillo
20a. Frank Linzy
20b. Al Ferrara

Other noteables: Jimmy Hall, Pete Ward


After veiwing the players in the draft pool it appears very hitter friendly. In fact I would say my 3-6 selections are completely wrong and drop them down 6-8 places. A pitcher might not get selected in the top ten. Stay tuned to find out!

[railroad_ross]

Flashback! Great Moments From the Past.

Some things don't happen like they are supposed to in the ORB. Or rather they don't happen like they did in real life. One of those occurances was on July 3rd, 1962 in a game the Detroit Tigers hosted against the Chicago White Sox.

Let's take you to late in that game:

As a runner crossed home plate, the crowd roared and Cam Carreon raised his arms in the air to hold the throw. J.C. Martin, Gus’ normal battery mate, was on the bench, resting sore knees just three days removed from his second player of the week award of the season. It didn’t matter, Gus was focused and not going to let anything get in the way of this historic day. “Four more outs,” he thought, “one at a time now.” He stared in to Cam and wiping the sweat from his brow he took the sign. Young Tiger Norm Cash swung his bat thru the zone before settling into his batting stance. Already 1 for 3 against Gus on the day, Cash presented the talented and crafty veteran a challenge. “This kid is a tough nut to crack,” thought the pitcher earlier in the game. Reflecting on film from before the game, he knew to look out for the twenty-seven year old who hit forty-one homers the season before. To contain Cash and Kaline was his game plan; this was made easier since the latter young Tiger was out of the lineup for a rare off-day.

Gus brought his thick leg back and went into his wind up. Moments later the snap of Carreon’s glove was all the pitcher heard. Strike one signaled the home plate umpire. “This is it, no pressure,” Gus told himself. The game was well in hand if Wynn could just finish the game. 5 to 2 was the score, but the unearned run that just scored still bothered the competitive forty-two year old. Pitch number two was a ball running the count to 1 and 1. “Keep it out of the wheelhouse,” thought Wynn, now starting to tire. He reared back and gave Cash a weak fastball, missing high and away.

On the bench the mood was just as nervous. “Good thing that was off the plate,” said one-time-teammate-turned-pitching-coach, Jim Wilson from the dugout. He rocked back and forth nervously like an oil rig pumping the ground. “You can do this Gus, rock’n fire baby!” shouted teammate Joe Cunningham, who started the offense with a two out-two run homer in the top of the first. Wynn wheeled and threw, this time a screwball. Cash swung and met the ball with a crack and the Sox bench held their breath. A solid drive to left, charging in came Floyd Robinson, whose three run blast in the 5th accounted for the rest of the team’s offense. The stadium fell silent as Robinson made the grab and the Tigers where down to three outs.

Early “Gus” Wynn strode triumphantly off the mound and took one quick look at the scoreboard. As he stepped into the dugout he found his pitching coach who was a full two years his junior. “I’m done Jim,” Wynn told Wilson, “I’d like to stay in there but I’m not 27 anymore.” Wilson nodded his head and signaled down the third base line to the bullpen where closer Turk Lown began throwing. Having thrown one-hundred-one pitches Wynn put his arm on ice and took a seat. Getting a few pats on the back from teammates, Gus stopped the fan fare, “Easy now boys, it ain’t over yet.” Manager, Al Lopez walked past the resting pitcher, “don’t get too comfortable, you’re on deck. Don’t think I’m not making you take your last at-bat for number 300.” The veteran hurler smiled, grabbed a bat and went to the on deck circle.

One out later, the switch hitter was standing in against Don Mossi, who quickly got ahead on two strikes, one swinging and one called. Battling back, Wynn worked the count to 3 and 2, before fouling a pitch down the right field line. “I got you now,” thought the career .213 hitter. Mossi reeled and fired. Wynn swung and ball met bat for a line drive into left center. As the pitcher rounded first he looked towards third and smiled at the bench. Mossi, dejected, bore down to retire the next two Sox hitters and end his half of the inning.

Colivito grounded out to start the bottom of the ninth. Pinch hitting, Al Kaline also was sent to the bench. Three pitches and two outs, Lown was cruising when things got interesting. Fernandez lined the next pitch into the outfield for a single and Bruton reached on an error. With runners on first and second and two outs Reno Bertoia dug in against the closer. Just age twenty-seven and in his tenth major league season, the young veteran was attempting to spoil the festivities. Not known for his power, Reno had already hit four home runs this season. Lowe looked in at the Sox bench for a friendly face but met only tense glares, save for one. Gus looked back with a big grin and nodded at the thirty-eight year old, “you got this guy,” thought Wynn and Lown almost simultaneously.

Moments later the Sox were on the field celebrating “Gus” Early Wynn’s 300th victory, with the pitcher being carried on their shoulders and politely cheered by the Tigers fans.

[railroad_ross]

Well the free agents have begun to sign and the money is starting to fly fast and furious around ORB2. 21 players have signed monetary contracts (not minor-league deals) thusfar, with the majority of the league getting involved. We'll start our coverage of the free agent market by taking a look at the first 10 deals and see how they measure up.


OF Fred Valentine. New York Yankees, two years for $78,000.

The powerful Yanks add a pretty good player at a reasonable price. Good enough to be a starter (at least against righties) for many teams, Valentine won't likely see more than 150-200 at-bats as an outfield reserve who can play all three spots. He's also just 27 so if he turns into a player, this could be a serious long-term asset for the club.
Grade: B


MR Bob Anderson. Chicago Cubs, one year for $30,849.

The Cubs bring back Anderson, who has had success in the past but really struggled as a full-time reliever last year. Despite a 6.26 ERA he picked up a one-year deal 10 grand or so above the veteran's minimum. I wouldn't say it's the best use of money but he is just 27 and given what the other relievers on the market were asking, why not take a chance and hope he can be a bit better?
Grade: C-


SP Mike Lee. Chicago White Sox, one year for $20,849.

The 21 year-old southpaw inks with the ChiSox for the veteran minimum. He has the look of a swing-man who can be a spot starter and long reliever. Whether he can be good enough for big-league duty is another question. For now he'll be performing in the minors and the big (6'5 220) lefty needs to work on his command. Could be a good roll of the dice for the Sox, maybe. Surprised to see him get a cash deal though.
Grade: C


SP Hal Woodeshick. Chicago White Sox, two years for $74,400.

While it's true that he played in Houston's cavernous park last year, Woodeshick still had a solid season. He could turn out to be a nice pick-up for the White Sox who also have a pitcher-friendly park, albeit to a lesser degree. He's left-handed, he's 30 years old, he'll keep the ball down and in the park (high movement and GB%) and he's got nice velocity. Not a bad package for less than 35k per season.
Grade: B


OF Bob Cerv. Cincinnati Reds, one year for $50,000.

Cerv's most notable moment last year was getting suspending during spring training for his involvement in a brawl. Once the games started he was pretty forgettable. Which is probably why the Yankees dumped him in favor of better options. He's a pretty average fielder, but he does have a very strong arm, so he'll give you something in that regard. He also has some power, and hit lefties decently last year. As long as he's a reserve or a platoon player, you're doing okay.
Grade: C-


SS Rocky Bridges. Detroit Tigers, one year for $47,500.

My only reaction to this signing is really "huh?". Bridges just doesn't look like a big-league player to me. He got basically no burn on a crappy Milwaukee team last year. Why? He can't hit and he can't field. No clue why Detroit would want to give this guy almost 50 grand especially when they have the servicable Reno Bertoia who isn't much better but is both younger and cheaper. Probably could've gotten Bridges for an MLC.
Grade: F


3B Eddie Yost. Cincinnati Reds, two years for $340,000.

Not a bad signing here by the Reds. Yost isn't going to set the world on fire or anything (2 homers from a 3B? Ouch.) but getting out of Los Angeles can only help his hitting and the guy is a walk machine plain and simple. If he does hit slightly better, he should be able to top last year's .403 OBP and even show a bit more power. It's also a good term on the deal, as Yost will be off the books before he turns 38. A solid acquisition at a half-decent price.
Grade: B


MR Danny McDevitt. Chicago Cubs, one year for $34,800.

Again the Cubs playing the bargain bin reliever market. I can't say I'm a big fan of this one, because I had this guy last year and he stunk. With his total lack of control I can't see him stinking any less for the Cubbies. You'd be better off giving an MLC guy the innings.
Grade: F


SP Turk Farrell. Baltimore Orioles, three years for $525,000.

An interesting move by the Orioles, who boast one of the leagues' best offenses but also own a rotation with holes. I very much doubt Farrell can match the totals he put up in Houston's park last year, but an ERA somewhere on the high half of 3 is probable. The Orioles will take that if he can give them 240 innings of it as he did for the Colt .45's last year. My only concern is his stamina, but Baltimore has several good relievers to spell the 28 year-old. If he can give them big innings it's a pretty zavvy move.
Grade: B+


OF Whitey Herzog. Cleveland Indians, one year for $102,600.

Herzog has never been the most consistent guy year to year, but he's coming off a decent season with a horrible Braves club and apparently took a big discount in free agency. Whoops. The Tribe will find him some at-bats although I'm unsure how many as they are stacked at the corner outfield spots. Perhaps not the most prudent use of 100 grand, as they seem to have at least three outfielders as good or better than Herzog.
Grade: C

[railroad_ross]

Well the free agents have begun to sign and the money is starting to fly fast and furious around ORB2. 21 players have signed monetary contracts (not minor-league deals) thusfar, with the majority of the league getting involved. In this continuing feature we will take a look at the other 11 dollar deals signed so far.


MR Art Fowler. Los Angeles Angels, two years for $821,600.

The first reliever to really get paid, Fowler's compatriots hope he's setting a trend. There are ridiculous demands coming from relievers this offseason. It remains to be seen whether the majority of GMs will be impressed by this stance or not. I doubt it. Fowler is 40 years old and returns to LA where he was solid last season posting a 2.20 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 61 1/3 innings. Personally I want a much higher inning count for 400k, but the Angels felt they had the dollars to burn. I just think making a 40 year old reliever your second-highest paid player sets bad precident. I have no doubt Fowler will be pretty good for them for the first season of the deal and maybe for both. I just think the price is out of whack.
Grade: C-


OF Roman Mejias. Kansas City Athletics, one year for $50,600.

His numbers from last season are hardly impressive, even away from Houston. However Mejias does one thing very well, he hits lefties. If he can do that like he did last year, this could be money well spent. One wonders if the Athletics needed to spend 50 grand to bring in a guy who will be their fourth outfielder at best, but considering he hit 15 homers with the Colt 45's, he could be a decent offensive force in a ballpark like Kansas City has. Not a bad deal but the Athletics outfield is getting crowded.
Grade: C


SP Jay Hook. Chicago White Sox, one year for $34,400.

Hook was actually surprisingly decent for the Mets in '62, posting a 4.92 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. He's a horse that can go well over 200 innings and with the right defense behind him he should be an effective guy in the rotation or bullpen. He keeps the ball down okay, although he gave up a lot of bombs last year. That could be less of a problem with the ChiSox. 35k is a pretty cheap flyer for a guy who could be useful.
Grade: B-


SP Jack Sanford. Baltimore Orioles, three years for $425,400.

The O's free agency binge continues, as they ink another starter. Sanford's deal is a pretty solid one. His talent doesn't blow you away but he's been extremely consistent his whole career and you know what you're getting. He'll walk a fair amount of guys but if you have a solid defense behind him you can get 200-230 very effective innings. Playing in Baltimore instead of San Francisco won't hurt his numbers either. A solid addition.
Grade: B


C Tim McCarver. Detroit Tigers, three years for $518,800.

While McCarver proves to be a bit pricey on the open market, I can't argue with this dollar amount. 21 year old catchers with offensive tools and a solid arm don't grow on trees. He'll never be a slugger but he could certainly approach .300 with a low K rate and a good amount of doubles. He's also a smart baserunner, and should improve defensively as he gains more experience. A nice job of filling a hole with a young talent by the Tigers.
Grade: A-


Don Ferrarese. Minnesota Twins, four years for $1,775,000.

I'm doing my best to put aside my irritation at Ferrarese and relievers in general, as they all seem to want way too much money. He brought the goods on the field last year and earned himself a huge contract from Minnesota who has money to burn for the next two years. Is he a good pitcher? Absolutely. Will he be worth that much over the life of his deal? Hard to say. He only pitched 45 innings last year. A lot of them were amazing innings but still. It remains to be seen if he can match his totals away from Philly, and how much he can contribute in terms of workload. From a talent perspective I can understand it and the Twins have the cash, I just don't like it philosophically.
Grade: C-


3B Don Hoak. Baltimore Orioles, one year for $122,400.

Well this one makes no sense to me. This guy's worth 120k? He couldn't OPS .550 last year. He was a gifted player once but those days are gone. He's atrocious defensively and can't even hit .200 anymore. I was digging the Orioles signings until this point.
Grade: F


2B Billy Martin. Pittsburgh Pirates, one year for $38,200.

Not much to see here. The Pirates probably could have gotten Martin cheaper as he's a journeyman coming off a season with a .441 OPS. He didn't get much work in Minnesota last year, maybe he'll get more this season. Might as well throw him out there if you're throwing almost 40 grand at him.
Grade: D-


CF Lenny Green. New York Yankees, three years for $582,200.

While Green is hardly a marquee player, the Yankees have added another nice piece here. He should probably only start against righties, whom he killed last year (.821 OPS) and he's overpriced for a guy I'd call a platoon talent, but it's the Yankees so they have the dough. Their outfield just got a lot deeper and more versatile. They probably overpaid a bit but I think Green will give them some value.
Grade: C+


CF Bill Bruton. Kansas City Athletics, one year for $67,200.

The Athletics pick up a solid centerfielder at a decent price, but why? They're already bursting in the outfield. This can only mean a trade is imminent because they need to be pouring all their money into that crappy rotation. Bruton does bring top-flight defense, good speed and a decent stick against righties. You don't want him starting against lefties though. Not a bad deal just a puzzler.
Grade: C


SP George Brunet. Cleveland Indians, one year for $42,000.

The Tribe add a guy with solid numbers from a year ago, but those numbers were generated in Houston. His Road ERA last year was 4.39 and I'm not sure how much that kind of number will help the Tribe. Still as a depth starter addition he's not a bad pick-up, and the price is fairly reasonable. I'm just not convinced he'll find any success.
Grade: C

[railroad_ross]

Part three of our ongoing look at the big free agency moves of the offseason.


SP Joe Grzenda. Cleveland Indians, one year for $42,000.

A pretty solid addition here, at a reasonable price. Grzenda should be a decent reliever who will keep the ball in the yard, and who can't use a few of those? He's only 25 with some upside left, and he's a southpaw. Not a bad combination at all for 40 grand. This will be a solid signing that won't be remembered by most because of Cleveland's other addition on the same day.
Grade: C+


SP Bob Friend. Cleveland Indians, four years for $3,368,000.

Yeah, this would be the other addition. The best pitcher in the free agent market finally landed with the Tribe. Despite a mediocre 144-161 lifetime record, Friend has been a very good pitcher the last eight seasons. The 32 year-old righthander now joins 19-game winner Dick Donovan on what looks to be a very strong rotation. If Friend can shake off his injury problems from last seasons (separate back injuries) he will be a huge presence in the American League. The Indians went out and got their guy, and the price wasn't even too bad.
Grade: A


MR Harvey Haddix. Washington Senators, one year for $249,000.

Haddix is a former starter (and 20 game winner) turned long-relief man. At age 36 he doesn't have the kind of stamina he once did, but last year with the Pirates he proved still competent at the getting people out portion of the game. He owned a very respectable 3.27 ERA and an impressive 1.04 WHIP in 63 1/3 IP. I'll still grumpy that relievers are getting so much money, but maybe I just need to step into the 1960s and deal with it. He certainly can't make the Sens pitching any worse.
Grade: C


CF Richie Ashburn. Minnesota Twins, three years for $925,000.

Not a signing that the other AL teams wanted to see, as the powerhouse Twins fill one of their few visible holes. Ashburn is simply a professional hitter, and despite a lack of power he's always dangerous at the dish. He hit .312 in a lineup with nothing last year, it's scary to think what he could do in an offense with some real weapons. The contract makes him a Twin until he's 38. Can he remain productive? That remains to be seen. But given his style of play there's no reason to think he can't. The dollars are pretty reasonable for a .399 OBP who played surprisingly solid defense in center last year.
Grade: A


1B Bill Skowron. Washington Senators, two years for $700,000.

Big money for little Bill. One of a handful of sluggers on the market, Skowron is a very successful hitter against lefties. He's also a pretty good defensive first baseman. The Sens apparently decided they had money to burn, because has good as Skowron was against lefties, he was bad against righties. He'll hit 15 or so homers, most of them against lefties. I just don't see him being worth this dollar figure with other cheaper power options *cough*Ernie Banks*cough* out there.
Grade: D+


CL Barney Schultz. Cleveland Indians, three years for $281,400.

Schultz isn't coming off a great year but he's a solid talent as a reliever. He should work nicely as a set-up man for Bill Dailey. He was actually very successful on the road (2.16 ERA) and struggled at home so maybe a change of scenery helps him out. The pricetag is pretty reasonable given what a lot of relievers are asking for.
Grade: B-


SP Mike Cuellar. Kansas City Athletics, one year for $30,849.

The Athletics taking a flyer on an arm that might be useful. He's got decent ratings for a reliever, and as a southpaw will probably find some work with the big club this year. He's 25 so he might even master his command one day yet.
Grade: C


OF Frank Thomas. New York Mets, one year for $57,800.

A nice return story for Thomas, who slugged 32 homers last year for the Mets. His -3.9 VORP doesn't do him justice, as he was a rare bright spot for Mets fans. The Mets let him walk for whatever reason, and then brought him back when he found no interest anywhere else. I'm sure they'll happily employ his mammoth swing and cannon arm at a reasonable price.
Grade C+

[railroad_ross]

And our continuing series, continues. This entry will examine the signings that took place during the second half of December heading into the new year.


SS Andre Rogers. Baltimore Orioles, 3 years for $483,000.

Baltimore continues to dish out some of it's substantial capital. If I had to guess this move is to allow them to put Jerry Adair at second base, or perhaps challenge him outright for the starting job. Adair is coming off a disappointing year, but so is Rogers who didn't have a great year at the dish with the Cubbies. He's a defensive upgrade at least, and at 28 should be in his prime. The way the Orioles are throwing money around, it'll be interesting to see where they finish this season.
Grade: C+


SP Don Mossi. Cincinnati Reds, 3 years for $778,200.

Mossi was one of the last top pitchers to go, and the market for him was lukewarm at best. His contract demands turned off a lot of clubs, as the 33 year-old wanted a deal lasting five years. In the end he settled for three and the Reds could be pleased with the results. For around 260K per season, Mossi could be a solid addition. Getting out of Detroit's homer friendly park should help. He gave up 47 bombs in 43 starts last year. Look for him to start 7-9 less games and give up 10-12 less homeruns in his new home.
Grade: B-


MR Bill Fischer. Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 years for $678,600.

Fischer is coming off one of his best seasons ever, putting up a 3.04 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 71 IP. Now he moves from the AL to the NL, joining the up and coming Pirates in Pittsburgh. He should give them solid work in a middle relief or set-up role. When he's on his game, few have better command of their arsenal. I still can't believe the coin these relievers are demanding and getting though.
Grade: C


SS Don Budden. Chicago Cubs, 1 year for $38,200.

Buddin joins the Cubbies to replace the departed Andre Rogers, who I talked about above. Getting out of Houston will help his stats at the plate some, as he hit .168 last year and slugged .258. Look for those totals to rise 50 points in his new home, at least. He should be able to replace Rogers numbers offensively, but defensively he is a slight downgrade. Of course he's also earning 130,000 less. Decent pickup for a team that has had a killer offseason.
Grade: C


1B Ernie Banks. Chicago White Sox, 1 year for $62,800.

Mr. Cub on the White Sox? Blasphemy, some Cubbies fans must think today. There wasn't a lot of interest in the deteriorating slugger, although rumor has it he turned down an offer from my Athletics for the same money. Banks is still a capable homerun hitter but being unable to play any position other than first at this point really limits his value. He'll be coming off the bench behind Joe Cunningham. Not a bad insurance policy to have, as power hitters are rare.
Grade: C


SP Don Cardwell. Baltimore Orioles, 3 years for $1,703,600.

Cardwell waited and waited to sign, and in the end got the huge payday he was after. He pitched very well for the Cubbies a year ago, and for a while it looked like he might return there until the Orioles swooped in yet again and dropped a big bucket of dollars on him. Given his numbers in the hitters park the Cubbies currently inhabit, the Orioles must be drooling over the prospect of having him in Baltimore instead. He's also just 27 years old, so the Orioles have him for a big chunk of his prime years. Did they overpay? Probably. But they don't seem to care much about money.
Grade: B


MR Roy Face. Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 years for $409,600.

Face returns to the Pirates, where he's been a horse for nearly a decade. He's not coming off his greatest season, as he had 10 losses hung on him in 73 2/3 innings. However he posted a solid 3.91 ERA, so perhaps he can contribute some solid innings. Are they worth 200k per season? I doubt it.
Grade: C-

[railroad_ross]

And on we go into the new year with January's signings.


3B Felix Mantilla. New York Mets, two years for $259,000.

The Mets bring back Mantilla, after using him sparingly last year and letting him test the market. I have to assume they're going to let him play a bit more this year. He actually has some untapped potential as a power hitter, but it's questionable whether he can realize that potential at age 28. Even as he was last year he's an effective hitter against lefties who rarely takes a strikeout. They probably didn't have to dole out as much as they did, but there did seem to be a market for him. I'm just curious what it would've cost them to extend him.
Grade: C-


MR Ron Kline. St. Louis Cardinals, three years for $335,400.

Kline is an interesting signing. He played in the severe hitters ballpark in Detroit last season, but posted a .247 BABIP. My guess is that his BABIP will rise, but in a friendlier park it won't hurt him too much. Look for an ERA around 4 again, in anywhere from 60-80 innings. At least his salary is reasonable, unlike most veteran relievers.
Grade: C


3B Eddie Kasko. Pittsburgh Pirates, two years for $62,000.

Kasko is a solid third baseman, brought in to back up stud Bob Bailey. Kasko doesn't have much of a bat, but he will only strikeout rarely and is above-average defensively at third base. Not a bad guy to have rounding our your roster.
Grade: C+


CF Jim Landis. San Francisco Giants, one year for $65,000.

Landis joins the best outfield in baseball, where he'll back up Willie Mays in centerfield. He won't see a lot of at-bats, especially if the club employs youngsters Rico Carty or Manny Mota with the big club. Landis will bring you stellar defense and baserunning and will take some walks. He just seems to have forgotten how to hit the ball.
Grade: C


SP Roger Craig. Boston Red Sox, one year for $34,000.

Craig is uh, bad. When you put up a 6.15 ERA for the Dodgers (as he did two years ago), you're bad. He followed that up with 6.45 for the Mets last season. He gave up 42 homers in 209 innings. He went 6-22. I can't really accurately describe how underwhelming this guy is. Yikes. I wouldn't pay him 34 cents.
Grade: D


SP Johnny Antonelli. Boston Red Sox, one year for $34,400.

Well, Antonelli is definitely $400 better than Craig. That's about as positive as I can be for a guy with a 5.40 ERA in 35 big-league innings. He managed a 4.31 ERA in the minors. No way he keeps it below 5.00 in Boston. They would've been better off signing some kids to minor-league deals, frankly.
Grade: D


MR Chet Nichols. Pittsburgh Pirates, three years for $435,000.

So... The Pirates know you only get a 25-man roster right? For a team with a pair of promising young relievers in the minors and more than $500,000 spent on their bullpen already I was a little surprised. Nichols was okay last year after he got away from Boston. Overall I'm not crazy about him. He walks a lot of hitters and doesn't generate a whole lot of strikeouts. He will fill the role of lefty specialist in the pen, which is useful. I'm just skeptical as to how well he'll fill it for almost 150k a season.
Grade: C-


MR Tom Sturdivant. New York Yankees, three years for $1,203,600.

Crimeny that's a lot of dough. "Smoke" joins a pretty solid bullpen, although I would rethink the Don McMahon as closer idea. Sturdivant might be a good choice, given his ability to throw a lot of quality innings. This guy was for my money, the best free agent reliever on the market. He got paid like it too. Still too much money for 100 innings a year or less, but better than a lot of money getting tossed at shaky relievers.
Grade: B-

[railroad_ross]

The final frontier... Since we're about to hit spring training, I'm finishing up this feature with the last batch of offseason signings, from February.


MR Don Lawrence. Chicago White Sox, two years for $62,400.

The Sox add a young lefthanded bullpen arm. Schnieder won't set the world on fire, but he's got good movement and decent command. I don't see him being a lot worse than a bunch of the "big money" relievers that got paid this offseason. Worst case he ends up in Triple A (he's only 20) and spends a year or two working on his control. Best case, they added an arm at a reduced rate.
Grade: C+


MR Willie Smith. Pittsburgh Pirates, two years for $300,000.

This could prove to be the best signing of the entire free agency period, and it's certainly the most interesting. Smith is a servicable young reliever, but more importantly he's a gifted hitter and all-around athlete. He could be a 20-homer, 20-steal player as he learns to play the field. An absolute theft by the Pirates. It wasn't cheap but it shouldn't have been. He should be in the middle of the Pirates lineup for a long time.
Grade: A


MR Don Rowe. San Francisco Giants, one year for $20,849.

Rowe was picked up for depth purposes, costing the veterans minimum. What you see is pretty much what you get with Rowe, he's got okay movement but just doesn't have the punch in his stuff or the command to be a big-league pitcher consistently. I expect to see him in Triple-A this year, barring injury.
Grade: C-


SP/MR Buster Narum. Chicago White Sox, one year for $35,200.

The Sox are taking a bit of a flyer on Narum, who can work in the rotation or bullpen. The 22 year-old isn't much to write home about but his ability to start is a plus.
Grade: C-


MR Tom Metcalf. Chicago White Sox, two years for $62,400.

Another minor add by the Sox. I like this one better as Metcalf has slightly more upside. Still not a lot of potential there, but enough to take a chance on. At least he's young and relatively cheap.
Grade: C


C Hal Smith. Houston Colt 45's, one year for $29,200.

Hal Smith is a journeyman catcher at this point. He was once an impressive hitter, but the wear and tear of catching for the last eight seasons has worn him down. He's a passable hitter and fielder, good enough to help a team but not good enough to be a big part.
Grade: C


SP Ed Rakow. Houston Colt 45's, three years for $93,600.

Houston taking a bit of a flyer here. Rakow never really developed in Kansas City, but moving to the pitcher friendly confines in Houston should help. His yearly salary is reasonable, so he could remain a cheap arm for them for a few years if he can be effective.
Grade: C


CL Luis Arroyo. Houston Colt 45's, two years for $524,800.

Yikes. A lot of money for a guy with ordinary ratings. Hardly pitched last year, appearing in 10 games for the New York Yankees before being shipped to Milwaukee where he didn't pitch at all. I have a real tough time thinking this guy will get better and be worth his money.
Grade: D

[railroad_ross]

I'd like to post a poll, anybody know how?

Also coming soon should be amateur draft results.