Sunday, February 29, 2004

Spring Training 2004 Preview - Part II

Now the contenders for the rotation:

Starters (5 spots)

CC Sabathia - Age 23 Throws: Left

I think a lot of people don't realize how special a pitcher Sabathia is. What he's done over his first three years at his age is very rare. Although he posted his lowest win total of his career in 2003, it didn't take a genius (or a Cleveland sportswriter..) to figure out that the inept offense had more to do with that than his pitching ability.
Sabathia is one of a select few pitchers to post three above 100 ERA+ seasons before the age of 22. The knock on CC is that his strikeout rate has been falling since his first season, but his walk rates have been falling as well:

2001 .95 K/IP .53 BB/IP ERA+ 103
2002 .70 K/IP .41 BB/IP ERA+ 103
2003 .71 K/IP .33 BB/IP ERA+ 118

When Sabathia first came up, he was basically a fastball pitcher, and threw a ton of them. The fact that his K rate has stabilized, and his walk rates have steadily declined paints a picture of a pitcher that's learning how to pitch. This also means he's throwing less pitches per game, which is always good for a young pitcher. The next year or two are absolutely critical; if CC can stay healthy, the Indians will have a cornerstone in their rotation.

Cliff Lee - Age 25 Throws: Left

In a way, Lee's injury-plagued season in 2003 may have been for the best; his innings were kept down, and he's a major key in the rotation this season. He possesses three fantastic pitches; a fastball, a slider, and a slow curve. It's pretty pointless to construct a projection based on 62.2 IP over two seasons, but Lee is one of the best young pitching prospects in baseball.

Jason Davis - Age 24 Throws: Right

He's probably a bit overrated at this point in his career. A sinker/slider pitcher, Davis nevertheless gave up 25 home runs in 165 innings of work. He needs to pitch low in the zone to be effective, and let his sinker work. His control is still an issue, as he tried to overthrow his fastball on a couple occasions. That being said, Davis is still a very raw pitcher, and he flew through the system, going from Kinston to Cleveland in 2002. I still like his upside, but Davis might have a couple bumps in the road ahead.

Jake Westbrook - Age 26 Throws: Right

If Davis is overrated, Jake Westbrook is a bit underrated. He's never going to rack up the strikeouts, but his pitches all have movement, and those are the types of pitchers who stick around for a while. Two full seasons removed from shoulder surgery, Jake should be able to go 180 IP if inserted in the rotation, and be a nice 4th or 5th starter.

Don't believe me? Here's Jake's numbers, along with the numbers another low-strikeout pitcher who had a "great" season:

Westbrook 133.0 IP, 4.33 ERA, 58 SO, 9 HR, 6 UER
Anderson 197.2 IP, 3.78 ERA, 87 SO, 27 HR, 27 UER

The difference bewteen the two? Brian Anderson gave up almost three times the number of unearned runs Westbrook did, and it deflated his ERA enough so that he got a two-year deal from the Royals. If Westbrook can trust his sinker (and it's a good one), he should be able to eat a lot of innings in the back of the rotation.

Jason Stanford - Age 27 Throws: Left

You can't really think of anything bad to say about a pitcher who worked in a deli in Buffalo in 2002. Stanford wasn't drafted, even though he was left-handed and breathing, and has worked his way through the minors, leaving dozens of more highly-touted arms in his wake. What remains to be seen is if his stuff is good enough to get outs in the majors. He doesn't really have a dominating pitch, and has to rely on control and location to succeed, but plenty of pitchers have made careers out of less stuff. I think he'd be a nice swingman for the Indians, if for no other reason to see where he could fit on the club. With Brian Tallet and Billy Traber both out for the year with bad elbows, Stanford should get at least a major look this year, whether that be in the rotation or the bullpen.

Jeff D'Amico - Age 28 Throws: Right

Because the Indians want one of the two spots in the rotation to go to a veteren, D'Amico is probably going to make the team. He's still a pretty young pitcher, but arm injuries have derailed his career after lighting up the National League in 2000 with the Milwaukee Brewers. I seriously doubt we'll see another 2.66 ERA out of Jeff, but he should provide 150-170 generic innings in the 5th spot, which is good enough.

Jason Bere - Age 32 Throws: Right

I put Bere in the same class as Ricky Gutierrez; he's supposedly healthy again, but you can't count on him for any material contribution. He's signed to a minor-league contract, so he may bounce around Buffalo for a month or two until another team needs an arm.

Chad Durbin - Age 26 Throws: Right

Also coming off an arm injury, Durbin is a bit of a better gamble than Bere. He's a lot younger, and still has pretty good stuff. The fact that he stayed on the 40-man roster all winter tells you that the Indians like him a lot. He may be a guy who the Indians stick in the bullpen to build back his arm strength a la Jake Westbrook, and may stick in the rotation towards the end of the year.

Other Starters on the 40-man Roster:

Billy Traber - Age 24 Throws: Left

He's most likely out for the year with Tommy John surgery. With TJ being such a commonplace event with pitchers, he's worth mentioning as a candidate for the 2005 rotation. Before he went under the knife, Traber had an uneven season, pitching masterpieces along with massacres. Of course, all of his work is now seen in a different light now that his condition is known, which made his one-hitter against the Yankees in July seem that much more impressive.

Brian Tallet - Age 26 Throws: Left

Also out with TJ surgery, Tallet had a horrendous year in Buffalo, posting a 5.14 ERA for the Bisons. And like Traber, those numbers look a lot different when you consider those numbers were on a bad arm. A fringe prospect, Tallet will probably have a tougher time cracking the rotation when he comes back from surgery, so he may end up in the bullpen permanently as a LOOGY; with his delivery and his splits versus left-handers, he could be very valuable in that role.

Jeremy Guthrie - Age 25 Throws: Right

Jeremy made a very impressive professional debut in Akron, but got lit up by AAA hitters. He's going to have to prove that he can survive in the International League before coming to the majors, but this looks like more of a speed bump for Guthrie than a pot hole. Given a successful couple months in Buffalo, Guthrie should make his major-league debut in July or August. For those who continually deride owner Larry Dolan as "cheap", I offer this pitcher (and his signing bonus) as Defense Exhibit A.

Francisco Cruceta - Age 23 Throws: Right

Still a high-ceiling arm, and not much else. Francisco can throw the heat quite effectively, but he still has to gain control of a breaking pitch before he can be thought of as a possible starter down the road. He's being moved up to Buffalo this season, and that will provide a great test for his off-speed stuff.

Mariano Gomez - Age 22 Throws: Left

Since he was added to the 40-man roster this winter, the Indians are going to move Gomez quickly. He's going to be in Akron's rotation this season. A 6'6" left-handed power pitcher, Gomez has the ability to make some eyes pop if his physical tools continue to develop.

NRI: Kyle Denney
On the Horizon: Jake Dittler, Fausto Carmona, Adam Miller, Rafael Perez, Aaron Laffey

Saturday, February 28, 2004

A New Look

As you may have noticed, the site has undergone a major facelift.

Also, I've added the ability for visitors (that would be you) to add comments.

Friday, February 27, 2004

Spring Training 2004 Preview - Part I

After the flurry of moves during the 2002 season, the Indians for the most part stood pat during 2003, played its prospects, and predictably lost more than 90 games. Coming into the 2004 season, the Indians again did very little, bringing in only a couple of role players. There's not much of a chance of contention, even in a very weak division, but the players that did make their debut last year should start to pay dividends, and by the end of this season, a core should be in place to build around. You can find each player's stats from 2003 by clicking on their name. These comments are a bit difficult to make, because a lot of these players have little major-league experience, and therefore is hard to make an informed decision on. However, by looking at their numbers in the minors, and, if applicable, their time with Cleveland, this is what I think of the 2004 version of the Tribe:

Catcher (2 spots)

Josh Bard - Age 26 Bats: Both Option: Yes
He started out the year as the starter, and like most of the rest of the team, struggled. By July, he was back in Buffalo, and Victor Martinez was being looked at as the starter of the future. Bard is probably not going to start on a regular basis in Cleveland. Now, a catcher his age and with his defensive skills is going to be in demand, so if the Indians get blown away by an offer, they shouldn't hesitate to send him on his way. If Einar Diaz brought in Travis Hafner, there has to be a market for Bard. However, while he's still cheap, he'll be a great caddy for the next 2-3 years.

Tim Laker - Age: 34 Bats: Right Option: No
One of the more puzzling aspects of Shapiro over the last year or so has been his infatuation over Tim Laker. Yeah, he's an acceptable backup catcher, but when you have two young catchers on your 40-man roster, what's the point in a third catcher? Laker is the type of player you sign to a minor-league deal in January and bring to Spring Training just to have an extra backstop to work out the pitchers with. But Shapiro gave Laker a guaranteed contract in November, so they may just send Josh Bard down to Buffalo just because they have options on him.

Victor Martinez - Age 25 Bats: Both Option: Yes
If the Indians make a 10-win jump in 2004, Martinez will be a big reason why. He's won two batting titles in the minors, and it's a matter of time before he becomes a middle-of-the-order hitter. Most of his defensive drawbacks are mainly a function of his hitting; if he hit like Josh Bard, he'd "call a good game", and be "a heady player". But he's a good hitter with decent defensive skills, so the critics will harp on that. He's one of the best young catchers in the game, and while he'll be lost in the Joe Mauer hype this year, look for him to be one of the best offensive backstops in baseball this year.

NRIs: David Wallace, Vic Valencia, Dusty Wathan, Brian Luderer
On the horizon: Javi Herrera (A+), Ryan Garko (A-)

First Baseman/Designated Hitter (2 spots)

Ben Broussard - Age 27 Bats: Left Option: Yes

Broussard is probably never going to be a top-notch 1st baseman, but he should be adequate enough to keep the position warm until Michael Aubrey arrives on the scene. He's always been able to take a walk, he could probably give you 20-30 home runs given enough playing time, and he plays decent defense, not that that's a major concern at the position. Left-handers owned him last year, so there's a possibility that Ryan Ludwick or even Victor Martinez may see some time here versus left-handers. With a projected leftie-heavy lineup, the Indians will need to be able to platoon effectively more than most teams. If Ryan Ludwick's knee prevents him from spending much time in the outfield, a Broussard/Ludwick platoon will acquit itself quite nicely. Regardless, any production Broussard can give the Indians is gravy consider they got him for strkeout savant Russell Branyan.

Travis Hafner - Age 28 Bats: Left Option: Yes

The best power prospect on the team right now, and a big key to the Indians' success this year. Stolen from the Rangers for Einar Diaz and Ryan Drese, Hafner showed signs of breaking out towards the end of the year. Given enough playing time, look for Hafner to solidify himself as the teams' cleanup hitter this season.

On the horizon: Michael Aubrey (A+), Matt Knox (AA), Eric Crozier (AAA)

Second Base (1 spot)

Ron Belliard - Age 29 Bats: Right Option: No

The definition of a stopgap, but with a bit of upside. The Indians were the high bidders on Todd Walker, but lost out when he went to Chicago. Belliard was the next best choice, and they got him for a reasonable price *cough*Vina*cough*. Cleveland's "esteemed" journalist Roger Brown mentioned that his "source" said that Belliard was as big as a house while playing in the Winter Leagues, but all indications are that Belliard, while not exactly in the best of shape, should be able to play decent defense, and be a huge upgrade over the Brandon Phillips disaster last year. He's still fairly young, so a good season in Cleveland could jumpstart his career. Hopefully the Indians will gladly let him go at the end of the year, because that would mean that Brandon Phillips had found his batting eye again.

Brandon Phillips - Age 23 Bats: Right Option: Yes

He's going to spend at least the first part of the year in Buffalo, and it's not to work on his defense. Phillips was statistically the worst hitter in baseball last year, and while he's still young, he's got to rebound quickly if he wants to continue to be thought of as a future star. If he does have a good year, there's still the question as to where he's going to end up; both second base and shortstop will be vacant after this season. He's definitely athletic enough to play the position, and you could even live with a little less offense there.

John McDonald - Age 29 Bats: Right Option: No

He still can't hit, and as good as his defense is, that's not going to fly in this day and age. There's even a possibility that NRI Lou Merloni may force the Indians to trade him before the season starts. But he'll probably remain the Indians' sure-handed utility man for the next year or so.

Lou Merloni - Age 33 Bats: Right NRI

His main calling card is his verastility and his splits versus left-handers, which could definitely be useful on a team where its main hitters are almost exclusively left-handed. If the Indians had signed Todd Walker, Merloni could be very useful as a platoon partner, but Ron Belliard has always hit southpaws fairly effectively, so his chances of making the club are fairly remote.

On the horizon: Rodney Choy Foo (AA), Micah Schilling (A+), Shaun Larkin (A+)

Shortstop (1 spot)

Omar Vizquel - Age 37 Bats: Both Option: No

2004 is more than likely Vizquel's 11th and final year in Cleveland, and it looks like his career may be almost over. A knee injury hobbled Vizquel for most of the season. He can still play outstanding defense, but it's become clear that he can't make some of the plays he used to. If healthy, Vizquel will provide the Indians with some decent numbers, and keep the position warm for Peralta and Phillips. It's been a great run, Omar, and thanks for the memories.

Jhonny Peralta - Age 22 Bats: Right Option: Yes

My pick to have a breakout season. He was rushed to the majors thanks to the bevy of injuries that befell the Indians last year, and predictably was overmatched at first. But he showed some definite signs of life towards the end of his stint in Cleveland. He hit 15 home runs in Akron at age 19, so the power potential is definitely there. He could become a very valuable shortstop, or, if he continues to fill out, a third baseman. He'll spend a good part of the season in Buffalo, so we'll have a much better handle on his future by August.

Ivan Ochoa - Age 21 Bats: Both Option: Yes

Probably the most surprising roster addition in November, Ochoa has not put up the offensive numbers that would make him a top prospect. What got him on the roster was his defense. The obvious comparison to Ochoa is a young Omar Vizquel, and the Indians would be ecstatic if Ivan lived up to those expectations. However, in the worst-case scenario, he could become a John McDonald clone. Either way, he'll be the starting shortstop in Akron this year, and his offensive game will be put under the microscope.

Utility: John McDonald, Lou Merloni
On the horizon: Eider Torres (AA), Chris de la Cruz (A+), Brandon Pinckney (A-)

Third Base (1 spot)

Casey Blake - Age 29 Bats: Right Option: No

He's either been overrated or underrated over the past year, but he's still the same player that the Indians signed last year. He's fully capable of playing a fairly unspectacular third base, and providing some power for a bargain-basement price. Given his age, it's unrealistic to expect any appreciable jump in projection, but you know what? That's fine with me, and probably fine with the Indians as well. If Blake is no longer the starting third baseman next year, then either Corey Smith made good on his potential or the Tribe made a splash in the free agent market.

Corey Smith - Age 22 Bats: Right Option: Yes

This is a huge year for Corey; the third base job is his if he can prove he can make the throw to first base and cut down on his strikeouts. If he can't do the former, but delivers on the latter, the Indians might grudgingly move him to the outfield, where his power would fit the profile of a corner outfielder. Obviously, the Indians would love to have Corey fill the 3rd base position, but if his power continues to develop, a spot will be found for him regardless of his errors.

Utility: John McDonald, Lou Merloni
NRIs: Chris Clapinski, Adam Piatt
On the horizon: Pat Osborn (A+), Matt Whitney (A-), Kevin Kouzmanoff (A-)

Corner Outfielders (3-4 spots)

Jody Gerut - Age 26 Bats: Left Option: Yes

The biggest surprise of the 2003 season was the ROY-caliber season Jody put up. Nobody saw this coming, which is a big reason you never know with prospects. Before last season, Gerut posted high-OBP numbers, with little power. After an offseason conditioning program following the 2002 season, Gerut showcased legitamate corner outfield power. There are some concerns going forward, however. As with any rookie having this type of season, there's a definite chance of regression. Also, Gerut has a small tear in his rotator cuff, which didn't require surgery, yet remains cause for concern, especially in an outfielder. But if anyone can beat these odds, it's Jody.

Matt Lawton - Age 32 Bats: Left Option: No

If Matt can stay healthy (and that's a huge IF), he'll post an high OBP, decent power, and very little range in the outfield. There are two more years remaining on the ill-advised contract extension the Indians signed him to before the 2002 season, but he's still a nice player to have on your team, although not $7.5M good. Regardless, he should be starting in left field on Opening Day.

Ryan Ludwick - Age 26 Bats: Right Option: Yes

The best of the current crop of young outfielders who will be fighting for a job this spring, Ludwick has definite power potential, and with a lineup full of lefties, Ludwick can be a valuable player this year if used right. The Indians seem to be on the platoon bandwagon, as they're contemplating spotting Victor Martinez at first versus southpaws, so Ludwick should be in the lineup in place of Gerut or Lawton when facing a left-hander as well. Although I'm still uneasy with trading away Ricardo Rodriguez, Ludwick is a tempting talent that may become a greatly-needed right-handed power threat.

Alex Escobar - Age 25 Bats: Right Option: Yes

Since he now has another option, Escobar may find himself in Buffalo again to start the year. Even though he did hit 24 home runs in AAA last year, his plate discipline has to be improved for him to stay in the majors. He's an outstanding defensive outfielder, who's fully capable of playing all three outfield positions. But with veterens (Lawton), proven young players (Gerut, Bradley), and more polished hitters (Ludwick) in front of him, Alex needs to up his game, and specifically cut down on the strikeouts.

Coco Crisp - Age 24 Bats: Both Option: Yes

Scouts look at body types, as do fans. When you look at Coco, you see a prototypical leadoff hitter. But while the tools are there, the application of them aren't. Coco struggled to get on base last year, and when he did get on, had a terrible steal rate. There's still time for Coco to become that top-of-the-order hitter, as he proved that he was one in Buffalo, but with little power and other talented players ahead of and behind him, he has to prove he can be one in Cleveland very soon.

NRIs: Adam Piatt, Ernie Young
On the horizon: Luke Scott (AA), Brad Snyder (A-), Jason Cooper (AA), Ben Francisco (A+)

Center Field: (1 spot)

Milton Bradley - Age 25 Bats: Both Option: No

Played like an All-Star last year, and should have been one. Had he accumulated enough at-bats, he would have been in a lot of top 10 lists, including batting average and on-base percentage. Because the Indians struggled to score runs last year, Bradley was misplaced in the middle of the order. With the emergence of a couple power bats, Bradley could then move back the leadoff position, where he's at his best.

Grady Sizemore - Age 21 Bats: Left Option: Yes

The Indians' #1 prospect, Sizemore showed promising potential in Akron last year at a young age. From here, Sizemore's development could go several different directions. Most compare him to power-hitting center fielders like Darren Erstad, and some more optimistic comparisons include Kirk Gibson. Regardless, the Indians aren't going to rush him, so most of the season will be spent in Buffalo.

Backups: Coco Crisp, Alex Escobar
On the horizon: Nathan Panther (A+), Juan Valdes (R+)

Thursday, February 26, 2004

Spring Training Preview Update

The position players section of the preview will be posted tomorrow
So Far, So Good

Ricky Gutierrez and Matt Lawton, the poster boys of the ill-conceived 2001-2002 offseason spend-fest, came into camp vastly improved.

Gutierrez told The Morning Journal that he's almost completely recovered from spinal surgery in 2002. I'm definitely not sold yet on Ricky's comeback (and neither is Eric Wedge, judging by his comments in the article), although a healthy Gutierrez would be nice on the bench. I'll hold off on any further speculation until Ricky can show he can play the field effectively; last year he his range was essentially the length of his body.

Matt Lawton came into camp in great shape. Manager Eric Wedge told Paul Hoynes of the PD that "'Matt looks great. The best shape I've ever seen him in." Injuries have played a big part in Lawton's two bad years in Cleveland, so hopefully an in-shape and healthy Lawton can help improve the Indians' offense, which scored only 699 runs last season. Even though he's definitely overpaid, Lawton can still be an effective offensive weapon. His main calling card has always been his batting eye; he posted OBPs of .342 and .343 in 2001 and 2002, which are very impressive considering he posted batting averages of .236 and .249 in those two seasons. He's the front-runner for the leadoff spot, in my mind.

Monday, February 23, 2004

Transactions

Signed OF Grady Sizemore, SS Jhonny Peralta, 3B Corey Smith, LHRP Cliff Bartosh, LHSP Brian Tallet, and RHRP Rafael Betancourt to one-year major-league contracts (amounts undisclosed)

Good and Bad News on the Injury Front

CL Bob Wickman threw off the mound today, and had no ill effect.

LHRP Carl Sadler came down with the dreaded "shoulder soreness"

RHRP Bob Howry and RHRP Mark Wohlers are still not completely healthy. According to the Akron Beacon-Journal, Wohlers may be out for the entire season.

Probably the best news is that OF Ryan Ludwick has made great strides in his recovery from knee surgery last offseason. He isn't completely recovered yet, but he's made a lot of progress in the past couple weeks.

Friday, February 20, 2004

A New Option

Major League Baseball has informed the Indians that they have "found" a fourth option year for Alex Escobar. So now, after planning the entire winter of having Alex on the major-league roster, the Indians suddenly have a lot more flexibility in determining their outfield. Of course, the obvious question to MLB is "What took you so long?" I know the transaction rules of baseball are labyrinthian, but when MLB has to struggle to understand its own rules, something has to change.

Since I've posted my blog on baseballblogs, I've gotten some requests for links, so I'm starting a series of links pages, one per team. So, If you have a blog you'd like to share, please email me at the address in the top left-hand corner of the screen.

My first linked blog is Rooftop Report, a Cubs blog. While looking at it, I realized how far I have to go as far as site design goes :)

A Quick Site Update

I'm half-way done with the minor-league profile updates, and the rest should be done in a week or so.

Monday, February 16, 2004

Transactions

(1-21) Re-signed RHRP Jake Robbins to a minor-league contract

(1-21) Signed P Will McCrotty and David Martinez to minor-league contracts

Sunday, February 15, 2004

Update

Don't worry; I'm still here. What I've been doing the last couple weeks won't be initially noticeable to you, yet it should provide a much better surfing experience.

I'm in the process of including in EVERY players' profile their 2003 stats. I'd like to eventually provide their complete career statistics, but last year's stats will provide a nice baseline as to you when you peruse that player's profile. Is he a top prospect, or is he just a minor-league coach-in-waiting? Their stats will help you make your own decision. Eventually, I'd like to provide some comments as well, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Also, for prospects listed on either Baseball America's or On Deck Baseball's organizational prospect lists, I'll include each ranking. For those unfamiliar with either, Baseball America is generally more favorable to baseball players with the traditional tool set (speed, throwing arm, power, average, and defense). On Deck Baseball uses a statistical analysis to make up their rankings. So between the two, you should get a good idea as to what kind of player he is; and if the player is high on both lists, he's probably got a great future ahead of him.

Some upcoming events:

In late February, I'll post my second annual (that sounds weird, doesn't it?) Spring Training Preview. I'll comment on each player on the 40-man roster, plus NRIs as well as prospects that have a chance to make the big club in Winter Haven. Last year's preview can be viewed here. I even mention a little-known outfielder as having a chance to make the team as a fifth outfielder ;)

As the season progresses, I'll continue my ongoing series on the Top 100 Indians of all time. As Opening Day Approaches, I'll transfer the countdown to the Tribe History site, as otherwise it would be pretty confusing. I'll let you know when that happens.

The Alex Rodriguez Trade

As most of you know by now, reigning AL MVP Alex Rodriguez is very close to being traded to the New York Yankees. In exchange, the Texas Rangers receive 2B Alphonso Soriano, a PTBNL, and a lot of financial felxibility. This is a far better deal for the Rangers than they would have received from the Red Sox (basically a salary swap of Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez), and they receive a fairly inexpensive (for now) offensive star in Soriano.

For the Yankees, Rodriguez is a step up (though by not as much as you might think) from Soriano, and it makes their lineup on paper absolutely devastating. What does not make sense for the Yankees is the fact that, as part of the deal, they are asking Rodriguez to move to third base. Rodriguez is arguably the best defensive shortstop in baseball now, and Jeter...well, he's one of the worst. Despite the defensive plays you've seen Jeter make in the playoffs, the statistics show that his defensive ability at shortstop is well below average. Historically speaking, this may prevent Alex Rodriguez from rightly claiming his title as the best shortstop in baseball history because an inferior player was already entrenched at the position. This is not a knock on Jeter's offensive game; he's still a fantastic offensive player. But moving Rodriguez to short is an absolute horrible use of your defensive resources.

The Economic Consequences

As any move by the Yankees ultimately does, the trade will reopen the ongoing dialogue on the disparity between the haves and have-nots. Invariably this problem is invariably placed on Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's shoulders. What most people fail to realize is that Steinbrenner is operating entirely within the rules of baseball. The system is flawed, not certain "greedy" owners. Does baseball need a hard salary cap? I don't think so; the real culprit is the disparity between media contracts. A true media revenue sharing would alleviate the vast majority of revenue differences between small and large markets. Of course, this may be impossible with the hodgepodge of media contracts in all the various baseball markets, not to mention the various difficulties in determining how much some franchises actually make. But I think that this should be the ultimate goal, not a reactionary hard salary cap.

Friday, February 06, 2004

Transactions

(1-18) Re-signed OF Mark Little to a minor-league contract; Assigned him to Buffalo (AAA)

(1-24) Signed LHP Patrick Barnes to a minor-league contract; Assigned him to Kinston (A+)