Craig Ansman

mark1 · May 27th, 2003, 03:30 AM

This guy is ripping up the Texas league. Can he play first base? He went 3 for 3 with 3 rbi's yesterday. 41 rbi's in 42 games. Slugging percent of .706, and obp of .434 Here is our power bat, bring him up!

NAME Ansman, Craig

AVG .350 * 42, AB 143, R 36, H 50,
2B 13, 3B 1, HR 12, RBI 41, BB 18, SO 31,
SB 1, CS 2, SLG .706, OBP .434, E 3

mark1 · May 27th, 2003, 11:58 AM

AZZenny

No comment?

AZZenny · May 27th, 2003, 03:42 PM

OOPS! Sorry - I actually had to work today for a change.

I'd still probably bring Tracy up next.

Ansman's a Catcher - does he play anything else? I heard Tommy Jones mention him recently with enthusiasm as one who will almost certainly make Tucson this season - he said, btw, Bruney is pretty sure to be in Tucson this midseason and he won't be at all surprised if he's up here before the season's over.

My guess is they'd bring Hammock up here if only for his versatility and put Ansman in triple-A for awhile, don't you think? He tore up Lancaster last year, but had a small 'bimp' moving to El Paso late season. He's another one who has been hitting around .300 each season in the minors - we do have some very promising farmhands. We might get to see him in AZ Fall League, too.

mark1 · May 28th, 2003, 03:40 AM

The next guy to come up from Tucson might be Edgar Gonzalez to replace Webb. Edgar pitched brilliant again last night, 6 2/3 inn, 5 hits, no runs, no walks, 5 k's. He has pitched 12 2/3 scoreless innings his last two outings, and has his ERA down to 3.19. What I like about him is that he has only walked 4 in over 30 innings. This kid is only 20 years old.

Patterson is 25, Kim is 24, Webb is 24, Good is 23, Gonzalez is 20, Gosling is 22, and Capuano is 23. Don't trade any of these guys. Let them develop, and we might have something special in the very near future.

AZZenny · May 28th, 2003, 07:22 AM

I'm confused - who is moving down (or out) so that Patterson can pitch tonight? They are sounding like Webb is not going down - can't be Cintron? Gee, I wish we had a couple extra roster spots.

mark1 · May 28th, 2003, 07:42 AM

I don't know who is going down today so they can activate Patterson. Chances look pretty good though that Webb will miss at least his next start. If that happens they will need a pitcher from Tucson to take his place. The way Edgar has been throwing, it might just be him.

http://www.aztrib.com/index.php?sty=5143

unc84steve · May 28th, 2003, 10:37 AM

I was looking at the ESPN.com D'back stats & sorted under OPS & it struck me that another wasted spot is Quinton McCracken. I'm a Tar Heel, but I loved the Dookie when he had his great AB's last year. But you don't give 32 year olds 2 year muliti-million dollar contracts off of fluke seasons.

1. It's a waste of money.
2. You can't cut them because it's "loss of face" thing--American cultural nonense I don't understand

You "liberate" players like Quinton McCracken 2002 or Craig Counsell 2000 who are trapped in other organizations.

Right now the Pirates have a 26 year old Catcher-1B-RF type named Craig Wilson. Jeez, he even hits RH (I was going to make excuses if he didn't). The Pirates got free agent "bargains" in Kenny Lofton & Reggie Sanders because the market was soft. The Tigers dumped Randall Simon, because his salary was climbing. They're paying Kevin Young $6 million to hit .222 and piss off the fans. The have Matt Stairs (35 y.o.) eating up outs.

The reason they don't play Wilson is because their regular catcher Jason Kendall is a quasi-star. And if they play Wilson & Kendall together, the manager loses platoon flexibility to hit for Wilson because no manager wants to be left without a backup catcher.

So in 586 career AB's (a whole season) Wilson has 31 HR's & 96 RBI in part-time play, a 270 BA, 362 OBP, and 474 SLG (OPS 837). He literally could be obtained for Chad or Rod (they are both about 28 years old) and a minor pitching prospect--he's not doing the Pirates any good.

Meanwhile promote Robby Hammock as our "real" backup catcher who can play other positions. Give Craig Wilson a trial as our RH-OF & 1B (shifting Danny to CF which he's done well). Wilson would be a great "emergency 3rd catcher."

In an ideal world, you'd "shoot" Q, Womack & Grace after they broke their legs like race horses. You'd promote Chad Tracy to serve a mentorship under Matty.

New Lineup:

C (2): Robbie Hammock & Catcher not traded to Pirates (Moeller or Barajas)
IF (7): Williams, Tracy, CC, Spivey, Cintron, Baerga, Overbay
OF (5): Gonzo, Fins, Bautista, Dellucci, Craig Wilson (1B, C)

honorary coaches: Gracie, Q, Tony

maybe I forgot somebody. I don't think so. That's 14 position players leaving 11 pitchers. That lineup would have flexiblity to cover lots of positions and a fair number of righties. It could win late-inning games. There are some players who could catch the ball (with practice). You wouldn't have to trade your future to obtain it. You'd just have to say good-bye to your past.

schillingfan · May 28th, 2003, 11:48 AM

I checked McCracken's salary. He's making $1.75 mil. Dellucci only makes $900,000.

But it gets worse, and this confuses me, but Greg Colbrunn, according to ESPN's salary numbers, is only making $750,000. I thought he signed for $1.75 mil, what he made last year.

McCracken was arbitration eligible. I suspect his arbitration award wouldn't have been that much less than his contract, for two years you say? Ugh.

Gotta agree with you on this one, but can you leave off the sidebars about "American cultural nonsense".

AZZenny · May 28th, 2003, 01:14 PM

I agree about Q - it seemed an idiotic signing at the time - you caught one lightning-in-a-bottle like Counsell, and you at least ran him a couple years so you confirmed he's not a stray flash. To think you'll do that repeatedly - self-delusion, thy name is Joe Jr. It's to the point that I want to yell at Q when he goes out with his butt-waggling dance that it's a poor substitute for hitting.

I also agree with something Schillingfan said early on this season - I almost cringe when Matty or Tony has a stray good game, because it just prolongs their mythology and our agony. Tony's poor plate discipline makes me howl in fury.

Barajas is a much better defensive catcher, and his avg with RISP has been fairly good - though with my theory, he's due to go to Tucson for a two-week break from proximity to Murph so he can regain his stroke.

I'm pretty sure ESPN is wrong on Colby - I recall he was over a million-five.

AZZenny · May 30th, 2003, 09:54 PM

Mark1, you are impressive!! Edgar up for the Sunday start. Must say, I am relieved. I like Capuano, and I want him to have all the time he needs to regain velocity and control. Now - wouldn't it be fun if Edgar slams the Pods??

Listen - Schillingfan and I were thinking of proposing a committee to provide checks and balances to Joe Jr - she's great at telling if off-season moves suck or not; I'm looking pretty good at picking 'keepers' out of ST and AZ Fall League, and you and Matrix have the overall minor league grasp. Whaddyathink??

mark1 · May 31st, 2003, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZZenny

Listen - Schillingfan and I were thinking of proposing a committee to provide checks and balances to Joe Jr - she's great at telling if off-season moves suck or not; I'm looking pretty good at picking 'keepers' out of ST and AZ Fall League, and you and Matrix have the overall minor league grasp. Whaddyathink??

He wouldn't listen. I just hope this team gets on a roll. Maybe, just maybe, it's the second season like Traber said last night. I know they played the stinking Padres but, it seemed like the trade gave them some renewed enthusiasm. They actually looked like they had a pulse last night. I can't wait until Sunday so I can see Edgar pitch. Does anybody have a scouting report on him? Also, this team should not give up on Patterson based on one lousy start. Give him some starts at least until Randy comes back and evaluate him then. If he's not getting the job done, send him down, if he is, then move Miguel to the bullpen. I would like to see this rotation for the remainder of the season.

Randy
Curt
Webb
Patterson
Dessens

Patterson needs to take what he did with the Sidewinders, and apply it at the Major league level. In 5 starts in May, his ERA was under 2.00.