Anatomy of a Team: Chicago Jayhawks

(Age, position in parentheses next to name)


Starting Rotation:
Andres Silva (39, SP): Originally acquired during the 1st season of Gleeman World from the Muertrier (now known as the Vigilantes) along with RP Stan Ramsey for 3B Brandon Sheffield, RP Quinton Becker, and a minor league arm. Granted free agency after the conclusion of Season 5, then re-acquired at the beginning of Season 8 along with RP Jimmie Estrella and RP Bernard Griffith in return for SP Ted Roberts and RP Max Burke. Chicago also picks up the remainder of Silva's contract.

Trade analysis: Becker imploded upon arrival to Montreal, while Ramsey gave the 'Hawks 34 passable innings before becoming a pumpkin himself. Sheffield is now an above average performer on the Vigilantes, owning a solid .280/.334/.505 career line in about 4000 career at bats, although his glovework is a bit shaky at third. Silva, however, has been one of the better pitchers on several excellent Jayhawk squads of the recent past. Sheffield is just 27, though, and has time to even out the value of the trade. As for the 2nd deal, the Jayhawks pick up the biggest asset (Estrella) and the biggest millstone (Silva, while still effective, is very expensive) in the trade. Too early to pick winners.

Miguel Torres (37, SP): Signed as a free agent during Season 8 for 2 years at $11.4 million.

Jackson Jenkins (25, SP) Acquired (Season 7), along with LF Mark Sakamoto, from Anaheim in exchange for CF Byung-Hyun Yosida, RP Grover Rowand, and $3.5 million to pay for Rowand's contract.

Trade analysis: Hard to do, since I was personally involved in this deal, but let's look at the facts: Jenkins hasn't been very good as a Jayhawk, but Yosida has been equally bad as an Anteater. Both are 25 years old, and both are talented enough to outperform their current rates of production. That's roughly a wash. Rowand has been very good as Anaheim's closer, but he's 39 years old, while Sakamoto put up a mediocre half-season for the 'Hawks before being dealt to Vancouver for a relief prospect. Difficult to call this one.

David Gates (26, SP): Acquired, along with 3B Ralph Ramirez, via trade (Season 8) from the Yankees in return for 2B Tino Simon.

Trade analysis: Gates has been solid so far; he's no stud, but he fills a hole in the rotation cheaply for the foreseeable future. Ramirez is a solid 3B prospect with very real power. He'll remind Jayhawk fans of Chili Rogers. Simon is cheap, and can certainly get on base, but he lacks the range to be much of a 2B. It's early, and the teams certainly had different needs, but this looks like a very good move for Chicago.

Oswaldo Dotel (28, SP): Acquired in trade (Season 6) from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now the San Juan Rincons) along with RP Jose Lugo in exchange for CF Pat Shinjo, RP Omar Rincon, and $2.7 million.

Trade analysis: Shinjo is still in the minors, but doesn't have the bat to start at the ML level. He'd make a good defensive replacement at CF/2B. Omar Rincon, since traded, has been anywhere from bad to awful. While Lugo's bad control makes it unlikely that he'll ever be a good big leaguer, Dotel has at least given the Jayhawks one good season. A Jayhawk win, but it's been all downhill so far for Dotel.


Bullpen:
Ramiro Prieto (23, ClA): Acquired via trade (Season 7) from Tacoma in return for RPs Paul Black and B.C. Ortiz.

Trade analysis: Too early to reach a verdict, although Prieto is undeniably the best player in the deal.

Ross Livingstone: (32, SuA): Signed as a free agent (Season 8) to a 1 year, $5.2 million deal.

Pablo Johnson (26, SuA): Acquired, along with SP Shane Barkett and RP Luis Valdez (Season 7), from the D-Rays (the current Rincons) for SP Seth Adams.

Trade analysis: Adams has been solid, although the injury he suffered with the Jayhawks seems to have had some sort of lingering effect. The 'Hawks received a nice bag of youthful goodies in return. No clear winner yet.

Bernard Griffith (25, SuB): Acquired via trade in the aforementioned Silva deal.

Ricardo Alicea (30, SuB): Claimed off of waivers from the Syracuse Fightin' Boeheims (Season 7).

Bum Marte (28, LrA): Acquired via trade (Season 8), along with RP Alfredo Craddock, from the Buffalo Europeans in return for 3B James Sparks, SS Walker Tucker, and 1B Ross Stein.

Trade analysis: Craddock is a minor league lifer, so it's essentially a 3-for-1. Marte isn't anything special, but he's useful as a 5th starter or long reliever, a guy who can soak up innings. He's also just making the minimum this season. The three prospects going to Buffalo all have flaws that will likely prevent them from being serious contributors on an ML team. Sparks is your classic tweener, in that he can't hit enough for a COF, but can't play 3B. Stein has power, but will probably struggle to post a .300 OBP as a 1B. Tucker has the most issues, in that he doesn't have any plate discipline, can't drive the ball, and isn't really a SS. There's really very little talent actually being exchanged; Chicago essentially received the only player that matters.

Jose Lugo (26, on the 15-day DL): Acquired via trade in the Oswaldo Dotel deal, mentioned above.

Catchers/DH's:
Juan DeSoto (23, C): Acquired via trade (Season 7) from Boston in "The Deal" (details at http://gleemanworld.blogspot.com/2008/05/blockbuster-alert-masato-beckett-to.html).

Trade analysis: Whether this deal becomes worth it for the Red Sox hinges on whether Beckett and Masato can lead the Red Sox to a WS victory. It's already a win for the Jayhawks, who received an entire farm system (and a couple of quality young MLers) in return.

Tomas Martin (23, C): Signed as an international FA (Season 4) to a $4.5 million bonus.


Infielders:
Paul Kirby (28, 1B): Acquired via trade (Season 8) from the New York Yankees in exchange for 1B Carlos Bennett and LF Jacob Hooper.

Trade analysis: It's early, but this trade clearly fits a need for the Jayhawks, as Kirby looks like a legitimate upgrade over Bennett. I'm not sure what Bennett accomplishes for the Yankees. Same goes for Hooper, who looks like a long shot to be anything more than a reserve OF on a decent team. Point goes to the Jayhawks.

Robinson Perez (27, 1B): Acquired via trade (Season 8), along with Sticky Kelly, from the San Antonio Sting in return for SP Javy Cedeno and 1B Gary Haynes.

Trade analysis: It may be early, but the early returns aren't very promising for San Antonio. Cedeno now has 529 big league innings under his belt that suggest he's not a legitimate major league pitcher, and Haynes isn't going to improve enough to ever become a big leaguer himself (he's 26). Kelly doesn't project to be anything more than a spot starter/long reliever, but that probably already makes him more valuable than Cedeno. Perez is a force against LHP, and makes an excellent platoon 1B. He's also capable of playing in the OF in a pinch. A very nice deal for Chicago.

Stu Butler (24, 2B): Drafted (Season 3) in the 1st Round (28th overall).

Gene Tessmer (27, SS): Acquired via trade (Season 7), along with Victor Thomas and Lawrence Nation, from the Tacoma Downpour in exchange for C Wilt Knotts, 3B Clayton Osborne, and 3B Tony Cairo.

Trade analysis: Too early. Cairo hardly played with Tacoma before departing for free agency, so it's essentially a 3-for-2. The other two players on Tacoma have yet to reach the majors, but are good prospects. Thomas, Nation, and Tessmer are all on Chicago's ML roster, and are all playing well so far.

Robert Carter (31, SS): Signed as a free agent (Season 8) to a 1 year, $1.57 million deal.

Victor Thomas (25, 3B) Acquired via trade (Season 7) in the aforementioned Tessmer deal.

Edgardo Diaz (29, 3B) Claimed off of waivers (Season 8) from the Monterrey Conquistadores.


Outfielders:
Nash McCartin (28, LF): Acquired via trade (Season 7) in "The Deal" (mentioned above).

Shawn Robinson (23, CF) Acquired via trade (Season 4), along with 2B Ivan Trajano, from the Bureaucrats in return for SP Johnnie Clark and 3B Cookie Morris.

Trade analysis: Fan-favorite Morris never made the big leagues with Washington, and Clark, while useful as a back-end starter, served little purpose for a Bureaucrat club going nowhere. He's now toiling away in AAA for the Mets. On the Jayhawks' side Trajano has already moved on to Colorado Springs. That leaves Robinson, who figures to be a solid producer at CF for the Jayhawks, both with the bat and glove. Looks like a Jayhawk win.

Bret Ray (26, CF): Acquired via trade (Season 7), along with RP Paul Black, from the Philadelphia Phenomenauts in return for SS Phillip Bergman.

Trade analysis: Bergman only lasted one season as Philly's shortstop, putting up an awful .617 OPS. Released after the season, he's yet to sign with another club as of this blog entry. Neither Black nor Ray figure to be all that great, but both can contribute on a ML team for the major league minimum. Bergman was a bad placeholder for a last-place squad for one year. The Jayhawks are clear winners here.

Gary Riley*** (26, CF): Acquired via trade (Season 7), along with RF Joaquin Cordero, from the Boise Mashers in return for C Will Carter.

Trade analysis: Carter's bat went completely limp after leaving Chicago, but the pitching staff has improved since his arrival; whether or not the two are interrelated is hard to say, but Carter does have a reputation as an excellent pitch-caller. Riley doesn't belong on a major league roster; he's probably going to be sent down when RP Lugo comes back from injury. Cordero has some potential, but his ceiling is probably as a fourth outfielder. No clear winner or loser here.

Lawrence Nation (24, RF) Acquired via trade (Season 7) in the aforementioned Tessmer deal.


*** For the purposes of this part, we won't count Riley as part of the 25-man roster, since I'm assuming that he'll be sent down upon Lugo's return from the DL. I could be wrong, but that's just my best guess, since he seems redundant as the team's 3rd CF, and being left-handed, cannot handle 2B (not that such a trivial matter stopped frymaster, but that's another matter entirely ;-)).


Acquisition Breakdown:

FAs (ML): 3 (Torres, Livingstone, Carter)

FAs (MiL): 0

FAs (International): 1 (Martin)

Acquired via trade: 18 (Silva, Jenkins, Gates, Dotel, Prieto, Johnson, Griffith, Marte, Lugo, DeSoto, Kirby, Perez, Tessmer, Thomas, McCartin, Robinson, Ray, Nation)

Claimed off waivers: 2 (Alicea, Diaz)

Amateur Draft: 1 (Butler)

Rule 5 picks: 0

Originals: 0


Age Breakdown:

>27 years old: 13 (Jenkins, Gates, Prieto, Johnson, Griffith, Lugo, DeSoto, Martin, Butler, Thomas, Robinson, Ray, Nation)

27-30 years old: 8 (Dotel, Alicea, Marte, Kirby, Perez, Tessmer, Diaz, McCartin)

31-34 years old: 2 (Livingstone, Carter)

>35 years old: 2 (Silva, Torres)


Summary:
This is one hell of a young Jayhawk team, and one with an embarrassment of riches in the minors. The majority of the team, not surprisingly, has been formed through trading. He's certainly done well through that method, peddling his veterans off for youth. The offense is legitimately good, and very young; no regular is more than 28 years old. They'll clearly score plenty of runs this season, and for the foreseeable future. The defense is also pretty solid; although Tessmer's glovework and arm are erratic at SS, and Kirby plays first like a DH, all of the other Jayhawks can hold their own at their respective positions. The downfall of this team, not surprisingly, is likely to be its rotation. Silva doesn't figure to be able to pitch very deeply into games, and may need an extra day off here and there. Torres figures to be more of a workhorse than Silva, but his stuff is slipping. After that, it's a bit of a crapshoot as to what you'll get in terms of performance. Jenkins slots in as the #3, and certainly has talent, but hasn't performed so far. Meanwhile, Gates and Dotel are guys that figure to be long relievers or AAA insurance on a better team. In the bullpen, Prieto, Livingstone, and Johnson are all talented enough to be assets, and Marte can ably fill in for any of the starters due to injury (which is a real issue, since Silva and Torres are rapidly aging, and Dotel is fragile) or ineffectiveness. Griffith is also solid. The relief shouldn't figure to be too much of a problem. The 'Hawks might be playing a bit over their heads right now (their 17-9 record belies a .535 expected winning percentage), but they've only recently called up many of their young stars. Look for them to take a wildcard slot this season; they should certainly compete for the division crown by Season 9, by which they'll likely have improved their rotation, either through trade or by calling up one of their many talented prospects.

Masato picks up 150th win

Boston Red Sox ace Don Masato became the second pitcher in Gleeman World history to win 150 games in his career during Boston's 5-2 win over Richmond on Wednesday morning.

Masato pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out 12, and left with a 5-0 lead. The two-time Cy Young winner is second to Minnesota's Ruben Crespo (152) on the all-time wins list. Masato leads all qualified pitchers with a .754 winning percentage.

"It's a nice milestone, but this isn't what's important," Masato said. "The goal every year is to win a title. I came close a couple times in Chicago and we almost had a chance here last season, so hopefully we can keep building on things and bring a championship to Boston."

Masato struggled in his debut with the Red Sox, going 15-10 with a 4.83 ERA in Season 7. So far in Season 8, he's 4-0 with a 3.41 ERA.

"I just feel a lot more comfortable after spending a year in a new city, a new league, new park," Masato said. "Last season's behind me and hopefully I can keep putting up wins."

Rhodes halfway to 3,000

New York Yankees left fielder Bernard Rhodes became the first player in Gleeman World history to reach 1,500 hits for his career in the Yankees' 7-0 win over Vancouver on Monday night.

Rhodes reached on an infield single in the first inning, drew a walk in the third, flied out to right in the fifth and walked again in the sixth. In his last at-bat of the night, Rhodes came up with two on and two out hoping to get the big hit out of the way and avoid letting it linger.

"I always want to get a hit when I'm at the plate, but that was a little different," Rhodes said. "I tried not to think about it, but I'll admit I didn't want to have to sleep on 1,499."

The four-time All-Star doesn't have to as he ripped a line drive into center field for the milestone, slapping his hands in joy as he crossed first base.

"That was just a great feeling," he said. "It gave us some extra breathing room so we could relax a bit in the ninth and it kept me from having to think about when the next hit will come. It's a little tough to appreciate right now with the season just starting, but I've always prided myself on hitting for a high average, and I'm thrilled to be the first to 1,500. Hopefully I can be the first to 2,000 and 2,500 and, God-willing, 3,000."

Santos joins 1,000 RBI club

Milwaukee Twindyans left fielder Hector Santos became the second player in Gleeman World history to drive in 1,000 runs in his career during the Twindyans' 3-2 loss to Sioux Falls on Monday morning.

Santos gave Milwaukee a 2-1 lead with a 2-out, 2-run double in the sixth inning that gave him 12 RBI for the season and 1,000 for his career. Santos is second on the career list behind Boston's Matt Governale (1,044).

"I didn't even realize it was a milestone until Sam (first base coach Sam Seaver) asked for the ball and tossed it into the dugout," Santos said. "It would have been nice to hang on for the win and have that be the difference, but it's still a nice achievement. It's a tribute to all the guys who have hit in front of me over the years and given me a chance to come up with the big hit."

Tacoma: Transaction Analysis

In the Downpour's first trade of the season they sent a pair of prospects to Chicago Jayhawks in exchange for recent rule 5 draft selection Milt Dye, Bill Pearson, and Skeeter West.

Dye, the player the Downpour had at the top of their rule 5 draft board will slot int other third spot in the lineup and will be the teams regular catcher. Dye who has a career minor league OPS of 990, will just turn 23 this season. While Dye is slightly below average defensively, he isn't brutal behind the dish, and in fact is likely better defensively than any other of the TDP's other starting options. Dye has above average power, above average ability to make contact and above average walk rate and should hit for a solid average. Pearson, will also contribute to the TDP's this season as part of the starting rotation, though he isn't expected to be a any great shakes he will give the team innings. Skeeter West will play the season in AAA and will likely be on the club in season 9.

Leave Tacoma are prospects: Christian Reid, and Morgan Philips.

Reid a tweener outfield prospect, who has solid ratings across the board is stretched as a full time center fielder, but won't hit enough to be an asset at 1b or a corner outfield spot. Philips is a left handed starting pitcher who looks like will have a solid career as a 3 or 4 starter, but from TDP's perspective he was the 4th lefty on the SP depth chart behind Walt Davis, Robert Fikac and Happy Magadan, and his results haven't yet lived up to his skills.

Dye will be an asset to the club, and will remain on a cheap contract until future star catcher Will Knotts is ready. The club having Dye will allow them to bring Knotts along slowly if need be as well as provide offensive support when the wave of starting pitching starts to matriculate to Tacoma in seasons 9 and 10.

Governale first to 400 homers

Boston Red Sox star Matt Governale became the first player in Gleeman World to hit 400 career homers Thursday in Boston's 6-2 loss to Pittsburgh in the fourth game of Season 8 for the Red Sox.

Governale led off the sixth inning with a line drive over the fence in right-center field, cutting Pittsburgh's lead to 4-2. The milestone homer came in Governale's 1,098th big league game. The two-time AL MVP is also the only player with at least 1,000 RBI (1,033).

"It's a big number, but coming in a loss you don't really appreciate it much," Governale said. "I'm thinking more about how we lost the first series.

"I'm only 29, so God-willing, there will be a few more milestones down the road for me. Hopefully the next one can come in a win so I enjoy it a bit more."

Tacoma Downpour top 20 Prospects

Tacoma Downpour top 20 Prospects
1. Cliff Hawkins, 1b - 19 Years Old: ETA - Season 11
The first overall pick in the Season 7 draft Hawkins projects to be an MVP level hitter. The left hander projects to do it all in the batters box hitting for tremendous power, a high average while drawing more than his share of walks. Defensively Hawkins is a first baseman, and should be average. Last season, he debuted as an 18 year old in Low A and hit 330/404/660 in 66 games with 18 Homers 66 RBI's and a 44/37 K/BB ratio. A good major league comp would be Albert Puljos.

2. Will Knotts, C - 20 Years Old ETA - Season 10
Knotts acquired by Tacoma last season from Chicago in an huge 9 player deal projects to be a near MVP level hitter, who will stand behind the plate and pretend to play defense. Knotts is clearly defensively challenged as no part of his defensive game is even average, however, in the batters box Knotts does everything well above. Knotts power and plate dispine is superior to even Cliff Hawkins, however, he won't hit for the average or put the ball in play like Hawkins. In only 86 games last year in low A, Knotts hit 34 Homers and drove in 103 runs while 370/450/1195. A good major league comp would be Mickey Tettleton with better defense.

3. Glenallen Simontacci SS - 21 Years old ETA - Season 10
Simontacci doesn't swing the lumber like either Knotts or Hawkins, however, he does hit and unlike the other two the thing on the end of his arm isn't just a hand its a glove. If Glenallen can continue to develop his defensive skill, he very well may deserve to be a notch higher on this list. However, as his defense may be a little questionable for a SS, so he sits behind Knotts. Defensivly his downside is a gold glove level thirdbaseman. Simontacci, has a broad offensive skill set who projects to hit 300 with 50 extra base hits. He runs well, and with experience he should be a well above average baserunner, the only potential redflag is plate disipline, which while a weakness is well within accptable levels. Simontacci drafted with the fifth overall pick in season 6 draft, looks like he will have a long and productive career. Last season, in high A he hit 325/378/576 in 114 games. A good major league comp would be Allan Trammell.

4. Robert Fikac LHP - 21 Years old ETA - Season 10
Fikac was acquired in the first round of the season 5 draft with a late first round selection. Fikac was considered a tough sign, however, the Downpour showed him the money as he signed for the largest bonus in the history of the league (at the time). The big left hander has a rubber arm, and should be able to take the mound as part of a 4 man rotation. However, he does tend to fatigue a little earlier than one would like. With a plus fastball, and above average change and curve as compliments to what projects as outstanding control. Fikac, will absolutely own left handers and should be able to more than solid versus right handers. In high A last year, Fikac went 17 and 5 with a 3.19 ERA in 186 innings with 163 K's and 63 walks. Not sure who a good comp would be.

5. Al Guzman RHP - 21 Years old ETA - Season 10
Acquired last season as an international free agent signing for a 16mm dollar bonus, the second largest on the year, and perhaps the best international player available. Guzman, should be able to go deeper into games than Fikac but likely won't be able to pitch in a 4 man rotation. Guzman's control looks to be only average, but he compliments average control with the ability to handle both lefties and righties, an outstanding sinker, and 3 other above average pitches, which will be used to generate groundball after groundball. Last season, Guzman jumped right to Hi A and made 5 starts going 3-0 in 38 innings allowing 31 hits with 48K's and 15bb's. A good major league comp would be Ben Sheets.

6. Clayton Osborn 3b - 21 Years old ETA - Season 9
Osborn acquired as part of last seasons deal that brought Will Knotts to the organazation, looks to be on the fast track and will likely be the fist of the Downpour's top prospects to appear in the show, with an ETA of season 9. Osborn struggled somewhat in high A after arriving as part of the trade, but he imprssed all with his makeup and advanced skill set. A quick start in AA will likely get him to AAA by mid season. Osborn profiles to be a near gold glove caliber thirdbaseman with a strong bat that will play versus both left hander and right handers, a good major league comparable would be Adrian Beltre.

7 Oswaldo Taverez RHP - 22 Years old ETA - Season 11
Taverez, a 6th round draft pick has all the tools to be a top closer in the league. Two PLUS PLUS pitches in his fastball and curve, and paint the black control to both lefties and righties. The season 11 projection might be a bit premature, as Taverez has quiet a bit of development left despite being 22, the Downpour are committed to taking it slow with Taverez. A good major league comparable would be JJ Putz.

8. Happy Magadan LHP - 21 Years old ETA - Season 10
A notch below the big two pitching propsects, but should be a solid number 3 or 4 starter. The southpaw has an unusual forkball/slider combo which is well above average but his next two pitchers will need work to get to league average. Happy should dominate lefties, and be solid if unspectucal versus right handers. Unlike Guzman, and Fikac, Happy can light up a radar gun despite not throwing a taditonal fastball. Magadan was extremly tough after comming to Tacoma last year pitching 92 innings and recoring 87K's and posting 2.74 ERA to go along with a 1.15 WHIP. A good major league comparable would be Oliver Perez.

9. Kevin Morris RHP - 19 Years old ETA - Season 11
Morris drafted last year as the first pick in the second round, looks to project as a dominant 6th,7th, 8th inning setup man. While he doesn't have the command of Taverez or the ability to dominate righties and lefties to the same extent, he does share two dominant plus/plus pitches in a traditional fastball/curveball arsenal. He won't be able to pitch as often as Taverez, but will complement him well with the ability to go multiple innings. Can't think of a good comp.

10. Donald Nakamura CF - 24 Years old ETA - Season 8
Nakamura, the only inhereted player from the previous organazational regime listed in this top 10. Donald looks like he will take over CF for the Downpour starting in May of season 8 and will hold onto the position through out the target peak of Tacoma's success cycle. Nakamura, is alimited player but he makes the most of his skills. A great athlete, and base stealer has decent power a decent eye and the ability to hit both lefties and righties, though should pound righties. He also will strugle mightily to make contact consistantly. Nakamura has great range, but isn't as sure handed as one would like in a centerfielder, probably all in all slightly below average defensivly. An O.K. major league comp is Mike Camereon, with less power and more BA and less sure handed.

11. Posiedon Smith - A man without a position, has underperformed his drafted position. Can hit, but will be stretched at 2nd.
12. BC Ortiz - Should be a decent relief option.
13. Albert Hansen - Slightly below average offensive 2b, should be solid or better on D.
14. Norm Webster - Gold Glove Caliber defensive SS, will likely only start versus LHP in the show.
15. Paul Black - Should be a decent relief option.
16. Sean Bailey - Good hitting 1b. Will struggle to find a job with Hawkins blocking him.
17. Wilton Widger - Good hitting 1b. Will debut in Season 8.
18. Jordan Atchey - Bench bat, can play the corners and 2b but not very well.
19. Benny Roque - O.K. Pitching prospect.
20. Andres Merced - Decent hitter, can't field more suited to bench roll or part time LF/RF.