Here's the latest cuts

Moose Lady · March 17th, 2003, 05:50 PM

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Diamondbacks pared their roster to 39, sending 10 players to minor league camp Monday.
Pitchers Andrew Good and Brandon Webb, infielders Matt Kata and Tim Olson along with outfielder Doug DeVore -- all members of the 40-man roster -- were optioned to Triple-A Tucson.

Pitchers Paul Abbott, Ricky Bottalico and Manny Aybar along with catcher Willie Morales and infielder Mike Bell -- all non-roster invitees signed to minor league deals -- were sent to minor league camp.

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There's no surprises there. And at least we know that we have some good, young players down in Tucson that we can call up if needed. I think I'm gonna keep a check on Devo and Matt Kata along with Andrew Good.

Derek in Tucson · March 17th, 2003, 08:50 PM

Just semantics, but here goes anyway...Like somebody else said on a different board, using the term "cuts" is a bit harsh. These NRI minor leaguers really didn't have a shot at making the team and they knew it. So I like to think of it as they were reassigned, not cut. I think cut should be reserved for when a player is given his unconditional release.

Anyway, just a pet peeve of mine I thought I'd throw out.

RLakin · March 17th, 2003, 08:55 PM

I agree since it appears that all are (at least) heading to the D-Backs minor league camp.

mark1 · March 18th, 2003, 08:18 AM

Villarreal was not one of the cuts. I wonder if the D-Backs could be showcasing him? Tucson is going to be crowded this year. A trade for a righthanded bat could be in the works.

I figure if I make enough predictions, one of them is bound to come true

Derek in Tucson · March 18th, 2003, 02:51 PM

I hope they aren't thinking of trading Villareal. He's been rushed a bit through the minors where he's usually been one of the youngest players at each level along the way. This year he's finally settling in a bit in that regards and could have a Jerome Williams type year in AAA. But you're right, it is going to be a bit crowded in the Tucson rotation if Randolph doesn't make the DBacks out of camp. A lot of it depends though on how far Capuano is coming along in his recovery from TJ surgery. I'm not sure he's fit enough yet to be able to go once every 5 days since it's been about 11 months since his surgery.

edit: Btw, it's disappointing to see the Arizona Republic classify Villareal as a "reliever". He's been a starter his whole career and that's what he was used as in his last start down in Hermosillo the other day when he went 6 innings and threw a great game after giving up a solo shot to Mike Sweeney in the 1st inning.. Now the DBacks could possibly use him as a reliever, but that would be a mistake at this point. He's only 21, and hasn't given any sign yet that he wouldn't be useful as a starter.

mark1 · March 18th, 2003, 03:56 PM

Brenly loves Villarreal. The kid has great poise and stuff for a 21 yr old. I hope they don't trade him either. I want to see our AAA pitching develop and make the big club. But, I can't help but think they are getting concerned about Overbay. The D-Backs, who have high hopes for the World Series, have put alot of pressure on a kid who has 10 big league at bats. He wouldn't be the first rookie to be in over his head.(John Patterson?)
It might be asking alot for a rookie with those kind of expectations on a veteran club to perform at a big league level. I wish Brenly would have kept his big mouth shut and not announced that Overbay and Patterson had starting jobs sewed up. I hope I'm wrong and Overbay starts hitting like he always has. If not, he might start the year out at Tucson and the D-Backs will be forced to play Grace everyday.

Moose Lady · March 18th, 2003, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mark1
Villarreal was not one of the cuts. I wonder if the D-Backs could be showcasing him? Tucson is going to be crowded this year. A trade for a righthanded bat could be in the works.

I figure if I make enough predictions, one of them is bound to come true

If we go by that reasoning then they may be showcasing Brad Cresse as well since he wasn't on the list either. Also Chad Tracy. I sure hope we don't get rid of anyone that could be a potential star in the future.

Moose Lady · March 18th, 2003, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mark1
Brenly loves Villarreal. The kid has great poise and stuff for a 21 yr old. I hope they don't trade him either. I want to see our AAA pitching develop and make the big club. But, I can't help but think they are getting concerned about Overbay. The D-Backs, who have high hopes for the World Series, have put alot of pressure on a kid who has 10 big league at bats. He wouldn't be the first rookie to be in over his head.(John Patterson?)
It might be asking alot for a rookie with those kind of expectations on a veteran club to perform at a big league level. I wish Brenly would have kept his big mouth shut and not announced that Overbay and Patterson had starting jobs sewed up. I hope I'm wrong and Overbay starts hitting like he always has. If not, he might start the year out at Tucson and the D-Backs will be forced to play Grace everyday.

No, he wouldn't be the first rookie. The first rookie was Travis Lee. And if Lyle, for some reason, doesn't make it as our 1st baseman, I think you will start hearing alot of people saying that maybe Joe * and BB put all their confidence in 1 player without having anyone for back-up in case it didn't work out. And I'm pretty certain they didn't sign Gracie to be his back-up, at least not for any length of time. [/b]

schillingfan · March 18th, 2003, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mark1
I wish Brenly would have kept his big mouth shut and not announced that Overbay and Patterson had starting jobs sewed up. I hope I'm wrong and Overbay starts hitting like he always has. If not, he might start the year out at Tucson and the D-Backs will be forced to play Grace everyday.

I don't believe that competition and insecurity makes young players play better. They have plenty of incentive to do well. They've waited their whole lives to play in the majors. If anything security lets them relax a bit without extra pressure.

If anything, security is good when it comes to overpaid veterans whomight be getting complacent and the footsteps from a younger guy can push them.

moviegeekjn · March 19th, 2003, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mark1
I wish Brenly would have kept his big mouth shut and not announced that Overbay and Patterson had starting jobs sewed up. I hope I'm wrong and Overbay starts hitting like he always has. If not, he might start the year out at Tucson and the D-Backs will be forced to play Grace everyday.

Getting proven younger players to relax is not necessarily a bad thing. Both Overbay and Patterson have labored in the minors for many years and gone through plenty of struggles.... They still will not relax to the point of complacency since they KNOW that they can easily be sent back down for not producing--BB was simply showing confidence in their abilities based on their track record.

mark1 · March 20th, 2003, 01:53 AM

Overbay was 0-3 last night with 3 strikeouts. When the Padre announcers talked to Mark Grace before last nights game, they said Mark, you might be playing more than you thought, and Grace said yea I think so.

When asked if Overbay was in danger of not being on the Opening Day roster, Brenly said, "There's always a danger, I guess."

Patterson is scheduled to pitch today against the Brewers. Time is running out for these two. If Patterson doesn't pitch well today, he might start the year out with the Sidewinders also. His spring ERA is over 7. Maybe that is why Brenly wanted to see Villareal again. Could Oscar possibly make the opening day roster? Oscar has pitched 14 innings, only given up 7 hits, 3 runs, and his ERA is 1.93

I know he is only 21 but they love his poise.

Just some thoughts

AZZenny · March 20th, 2003, 05:39 AM

Watching last night, I thought Overbay's swing was just plain ugly - I mean his form seemed poor. When some guys whiff, it still looks like a good swing - but he just looked lost.
Wonder if someone tried to tinker with his swing.

As to JP - he had a couple very good starts - he was matching RJ game for game at first - then he fell on hard times. I wish he hadn't fiddled around with his delivery/mechanics, it sounds like he's in between old and new and neither is working naturally just now. Both BK and Miguel have also presented very mixed spring performances, too. One big question for the team is what to do with Steve Randolph - he's pitching well, and he's out of options.

DWKB · March 20th, 2003, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZZenny
One big question for the team is what to do with Steve Randolph - he's pitching well, and he's out of options.

If this is true, can someone explain to me how a player who has never played a major league game can be out of options?

I know Randolph was a Rule 5 pick up and that it was before we even had a major league team so I don't even know how the typical Rule 5 rules work for him.

schillingfan · March 20th, 2003, 08:12 AM

It's my understanding that you have to have been optioned down 3 times after you are put on the 40 man roster. I believe each year that you are in the minors is an option year by definition. So once you are put on the 40 man roster and you spend any portion of that year in the minors it's considered an option year (by definition you are optioned to the minors, you don't have to be on the 25 for a game and then sent down to be optioned).

So if he has been on the D-Backs 40 man roster for 3 years and didn't spend a full year on the 25 man roster he would be optioned.

I believe you are wrong about him being a Rule 5 draftee of the D-Backs. He was a draftee of the Yankees and spent 1997 in Tampa of the Florida State League, which is their single "A" affiliate. In 1998 he was in Hi-Desert of the California League (was that a single "A" affiliate of D-Backs then?. Perhaps he was acquired by the D-Backs in the expansion draft. He spent 1999 bouncing between Tucson, El Paso and the D-Backs, pitching in 2 games for the D-Backs (so he has pitched in the majors). He was out of baseball in 2000 and 2001 (injuries ???).

D-Backs would have to have put him on their 40 man roster in 1999 it looks like because he started in 1995 at age 18.

Even if he is out of options, it looks like he qualified as a 6 year minor league free agent as well. He should have been out of options last year.

Unless he's a late blooming lefty, at age 28, turning 29 in a month I'm not sure why anyone would care or if anyone would pick him up and put him on their 25 man roster anyway.

DWKB · March 20th, 2003, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by schillingfan

I believe you are wrong about him being a Rule 5 draftee of the D-Backs. He was a draftee of the Yankees and spent 1997 in Tampa of the Florida State League, which is their single "A" affiliate. In 1998 he was in Hi-Desert of the California League (was that a single "A" affiliate of D-Backs then?. Perhaps he was acquired by the D-Backs in the expansion draft. He spent 1999 bouncing between Tucson, El Paso and the D-Backs, pitching in 2 games for the D-Backs (so he has pitched in the majors). He was out of baseball in 2000 and 2001 (injuries ???).

Quote:

PREMIUM PITCHING: Double-A El Paso (D-backs) lefty Steve Randolph pitched the first nine-inning no-hitter in Diablos history Aug. 14, a 2-0 victory at Arkansas (Angels). Randolph had not pitched past the sixth inning in his 14 previous appearances since being demoted from Triple-A. He walked four and struck out five. Randolph, 27, was taken from the Yankees system in the 1997 Rule 5 draft

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/bbw/2...2-minnotes.htm

...and I believe you're correct on everything else. A 40 man spot counts just as much as a 25 man spot which was what I was unsure of.