Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Manager Acta, Soriano gone, Roster moves
Soriano
As expected, Soriano is no longer a member of the Washington Nationals. Soriano is now a Cub, after signing the "fifth largest contract ever". He officially became a Cub yesterday after passing a physical. He signed an 8 year contract worth $136 million.
Soriano:
"It's a big contract, but that's not my goal," Soriano said. "My goal is to play hard and give you a championship for the city. That's my goal. It's not about the contract."
Acta
The Nationals new manager, Manny Acta, officially joined the team one week ago on November 14, 2006. Acta was the third base coach with the Expos in 2002 to 2004, and spent the 2005 and 2006 baseball seasons with the Mets as their third base coach. While this is Acta’s first manager job in the majors, he worked as a manager in the minor leagues, and lead his team to the 1994 New York-Penn League Championship series. Acta’s 1999 Class A Kissimmee team won the Florida State League Championship. Acta moved up to the big-leagues in 2002, joining Robinson’s Expos coaching staff.
Roster
10/3/06: Released RHPs Brian Lawrence, Pedro Astacio, Felix Rodriguez, Zach Day and Ryan Drese and LHP Joey Eischen.
11/6/06: Signed RHP Tim Redding, RHP Joel Hanrahan, INF Josh Wilson and OF Michael Restovich to one-year contracts. Signed RHPs Jermaine Van Buren, T.J. Nall, Colby Lewis, Felix Diaz, Eduardo Valdez, Josh Hall, Winston Abreu, Jim Magrane; LHPs Mike Bacsik, Billy White and Chris Michalak; C Juan Brito and C Danny Ardoin; INF Joe Thurston and INF Alejandro Machado; and OF Darnell McDonald and OF Wayne Lydon to Minor League contracts; Purchased the contract of LHP Matt Chico from Double-A Harrisburg.
6 feet 200 pound RHP Tim Redding will be 29 in the 2007 baseball season. He made his major league debut in 2001 with the Astros (20th round draft pick). In 101 games, 79 started, Redding has a 21-34 record with an ERA of 5.16. Redding’s best season came in 2003, when he was 25 and amassed a record of 10-14 in 32 games starts (33 overall games), with an ERA of 3.68. In that year, 2003, Redding pitched 176 innings, gave up 179 hits, 65 walks, and struck out 116 batters. Redding has made at least $1,445,000 so far in his career (2003-2005). There is no mention of Redding’s Nationals contract amount.
RHP Joel Ryan Hanrahan will be 26 for the 2007 baseball season. The 6-2 191 pound pitcher was drafted by the LA Dodgers in the second round of the 2000 amateur draft. He was a Double-A all-star in 2003, and named "Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher". Hanrahan has never played in the majors, and has spent 7 seasons in the minors (1 year at the Rookie-level, 1 year at A, roughly 2 years at A+, parts of 4 seasons in AA, and parts of 3 seasons in AAA). Overall, Hanrahan has a minor league record of 62-45, with an ERA of 4.23 in 167 GS (174 total games). In AAA, Hanrahan’s record is: 2003: 5 GS, 1-2, 10.08 ERA; 2004: 22 GS, 7-7, 5.05 ERA; 2006: 14 GS, 4-3, 4.48 ERA. As a hitter, Hanrahan has a minor league batting average of .174 in 86 AB.
I’m not certain about Josh Wilson’s stats. If he is the Josh Aaron Wilson who played his first major league game on Sept. 7, 2005, then I have some very limited information. The 6'1 178 pound Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 1999 amateur draft by the Florida Marlins. At the age of 24, he appeared in 11 games in 2005 with the Marlins, getting 1 hit (a double) in his 10 AB’s, and striking out 4 times. He played 6 games at SS, and 4 at 2B. No errors were recorded by Wilson in those 10 games. Josh Wilson is listed as a SS on the Minor League website. In 2006, Wilson hit .307 in 89 games in AAA for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. He had 4 triples, 10 home-runs, 45 RBI, 15 SB, .376 OBP, .475 SLG, .851 OPS. In 2005, Wilson hit .257 in 143 AAA minor league games. I don’t have any record for earlier work.
OF Michael Restovich started his major league career in 2002 with the Twins. Restovich has played 137 major league games over 5 years, with a career batting average of .250. 12 doubles, 3 triples, 6 home-runs, 10 RBI, 1 SB, .328 OBP, .400 SLG .728 OPS round out his career numbers. In his 5 years of major league experience, Restovich has played 51 games in RF, 35 games at LF and 13 games as the DH. He has 1 error as a left-fielder.
RHP Jermaine Van Buren debuted in 2005. He will be 27 in 2007. In his total of 16 relief appearances in 2005&2006, Van Buren has a record of 1-2, with an ERA of 9.00 in 19 innings of work (16 hits, 24 walks, 11 strike-outs).
RHP T(homas) J(ohn) Nall will be 26 in the 2007 baseball season. He has a career minor league record of 41-43, 4.18 ERA in 188 games (95 GS). He has appeared twice in AAA. In 2005, Nall played the whole season in AAA, and ended the season with a record of 6-7, with an ERA of 7.17 in 29 games (15 GS). In 2006, Nall appeared in just 2 AAA games, both in relief. He pitched 3 innings and picked up a 9.00 ERA in those two 2006 AAA games.
RHP Colby Lewis made his debut in 2002 as a 22 year-old Texas Ranger. In four seasons in the majors, Lewis has a record of 12-13 in 46 games played (33 GS) with an ERA of 6.76. In his longest stint in the majors, 2003, Lewis started and played in 26 games, winning 10 games, losing 9, and giving up 163 hits, 23 HR, and 70 walks while striking out 88 in 127 IP for an ERA of 7.30. Career minor league record: 45-37, 3.78 in 119 games (114 starts). Parts of three seasons in AAA: 2002: 5-6, 3.63 ERA in 20 GS; 2003: 5-1, 3.02 in 7 GS; 2006: 6-7, 3.96 ERA in 24 GS.
RHP Felix Diaz made his major league debut in 2004. At the age of 23, Diaz pitched in 18 games (7 GS) for the Chicago White Sox. He ended up with a record of 2-5 with an ERA of 6.75. In those 49.2 IP in 2004, Diaz gave up 62 hits, 13 HR, 16 walks and struck-out 33. In 8 seasons in the minors, Diaz has a record of 32-35, with an ERA of 4.02 in 133 games (105 GS). Diaz was 5-7, with an ERA of 3.97 in 27 games (18 starts) in AAA action in 2003. Diaz spent 2004 in the majors and in AAA. In AAA, he was 10-2 with an ERA of 2.97 in 19 games (17 starts). Returning to the AAA for the 2005 season, Diaz fell to a 6-8 record with an ERA of 5.00. I do not see any stats for 2006. 2004 - Triple-A All-Star SP
I can find no record for a RHP Eduardo Valdez, though, there is a RHP Edward Valdez listed on the Minor League website. Valdez has no major league experience, apparently, and 5 years of experience in the minors, but never higher than AA. In those 5 years in the minors, Edward Valdez has a record of 42-31, with an ERA of 4.02 in 135 games (113 GS). At the age of 26, he played the entire 2006 baseball season in AA Chattanooga, acquiring a record of 7-10, with an ERA of 3.89 in 29 games (23 GS).
As expected, Soriano is no longer a member of the Washington Nationals. Soriano is now a Cub, after signing the "fifth largest contract ever". He officially became a Cub yesterday after passing a physical. He signed an 8 year contract worth $136 million.
Soriano:
"It's a big contract, but that's not my goal," Soriano said. "My goal is to play hard and give you a championship for the city. That's my goal. It's not about the contract."
Acta
The Nationals new manager, Manny Acta, officially joined the team one week ago on November 14, 2006. Acta was the third base coach with the Expos in 2002 to 2004, and spent the 2005 and 2006 baseball seasons with the Mets as their third base coach. While this is Acta’s first manager job in the majors, he worked as a manager in the minor leagues, and lead his team to the 1994 New York-Penn League Championship series. Acta’s 1999 Class A Kissimmee team won the Florida State League Championship. Acta moved up to the big-leagues in 2002, joining Robinson’s Expos coaching staff.
Roster
10/3/06: Released RHPs Brian Lawrence, Pedro Astacio, Felix Rodriguez, Zach Day and Ryan Drese and LHP Joey Eischen.
11/6/06: Signed RHP Tim Redding, RHP Joel Hanrahan, INF Josh Wilson and OF Michael Restovich to one-year contracts. Signed RHPs Jermaine Van Buren, T.J. Nall, Colby Lewis, Felix Diaz, Eduardo Valdez, Josh Hall, Winston Abreu, Jim Magrane; LHPs Mike Bacsik, Billy White and Chris Michalak; C Juan Brito and C Danny Ardoin; INF Joe Thurston and INF Alejandro Machado; and OF Darnell McDonald and OF Wayne Lydon to Minor League contracts; Purchased the contract of LHP Matt Chico from Double-A Harrisburg.
6 feet 200 pound RHP Tim Redding will be 29 in the 2007 baseball season. He made his major league debut in 2001 with the Astros (20th round draft pick). In 101 games, 79 started, Redding has a 21-34 record with an ERA of 5.16. Redding’s best season came in 2003, when he was 25 and amassed a record of 10-14 in 32 games starts (33 overall games), with an ERA of 3.68. In that year, 2003, Redding pitched 176 innings, gave up 179 hits, 65 walks, and struck out 116 batters. Redding has made at least $1,445,000 so far in his career (2003-2005). There is no mention of Redding’s Nationals contract amount.
RHP Joel Ryan Hanrahan will be 26 for the 2007 baseball season. The 6-2 191 pound pitcher was drafted by the LA Dodgers in the second round of the 2000 amateur draft. He was a Double-A all-star in 2003, and named "Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher". Hanrahan has never played in the majors, and has spent 7 seasons in the minors (1 year at the Rookie-level, 1 year at A, roughly 2 years at A+, parts of 4 seasons in AA, and parts of 3 seasons in AAA). Overall, Hanrahan has a minor league record of 62-45, with an ERA of 4.23 in 167 GS (174 total games). In AAA, Hanrahan’s record is: 2003: 5 GS, 1-2, 10.08 ERA; 2004: 22 GS, 7-7, 5.05 ERA; 2006: 14 GS, 4-3, 4.48 ERA. As a hitter, Hanrahan has a minor league batting average of .174 in 86 AB.
I’m not certain about Josh Wilson’s stats. If he is the Josh Aaron Wilson who played his first major league game on Sept. 7, 2005, then I have some very limited information. The 6'1 178 pound Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 1999 amateur draft by the Florida Marlins. At the age of 24, he appeared in 11 games in 2005 with the Marlins, getting 1 hit (a double) in his 10 AB’s, and striking out 4 times. He played 6 games at SS, and 4 at 2B. No errors were recorded by Wilson in those 10 games. Josh Wilson is listed as a SS on the Minor League website. In 2006, Wilson hit .307 in 89 games in AAA for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. He had 4 triples, 10 home-runs, 45 RBI, 15 SB, .376 OBP, .475 SLG, .851 OPS. In 2005, Wilson hit .257 in 143 AAA minor league games. I don’t have any record for earlier work.
OF Michael Restovich started his major league career in 2002 with the Twins. Restovich has played 137 major league games over 5 years, with a career batting average of .250. 12 doubles, 3 triples, 6 home-runs, 10 RBI, 1 SB, .328 OBP, .400 SLG .728 OPS round out his career numbers. In his 5 years of major league experience, Restovich has played 51 games in RF, 35 games at LF and 13 games as the DH. He has 1 error as a left-fielder.
RHP Jermaine Van Buren debuted in 2005. He will be 27 in 2007. In his total of 16 relief appearances in 2005&2006, Van Buren has a record of 1-2, with an ERA of 9.00 in 19 innings of work (16 hits, 24 walks, 11 strike-outs).
RHP T(homas) J(ohn) Nall will be 26 in the 2007 baseball season. He has a career minor league record of 41-43, 4.18 ERA in 188 games (95 GS). He has appeared twice in AAA. In 2005, Nall played the whole season in AAA, and ended the season with a record of 6-7, with an ERA of 7.17 in 29 games (15 GS). In 2006, Nall appeared in just 2 AAA games, both in relief. He pitched 3 innings and picked up a 9.00 ERA in those two 2006 AAA games.
RHP Colby Lewis made his debut in 2002 as a 22 year-old Texas Ranger. In four seasons in the majors, Lewis has a record of 12-13 in 46 games played (33 GS) with an ERA of 6.76. In his longest stint in the majors, 2003, Lewis started and played in 26 games, winning 10 games, losing 9, and giving up 163 hits, 23 HR, and 70 walks while striking out 88 in 127 IP for an ERA of 7.30. Career minor league record: 45-37, 3.78 in 119 games (114 starts). Parts of three seasons in AAA: 2002: 5-6, 3.63 ERA in 20 GS; 2003: 5-1, 3.02 in 7 GS; 2006: 6-7, 3.96 ERA in 24 GS.
RHP Felix Diaz made his major league debut in 2004. At the age of 23, Diaz pitched in 18 games (7 GS) for the Chicago White Sox. He ended up with a record of 2-5 with an ERA of 6.75. In those 49.2 IP in 2004, Diaz gave up 62 hits, 13 HR, 16 walks and struck-out 33. In 8 seasons in the minors, Diaz has a record of 32-35, with an ERA of 4.02 in 133 games (105 GS). Diaz was 5-7, with an ERA of 3.97 in 27 games (18 starts) in AAA action in 2003. Diaz spent 2004 in the majors and in AAA. In AAA, he was 10-2 with an ERA of 2.97 in 19 games (17 starts). Returning to the AAA for the 2005 season, Diaz fell to a 6-8 record with an ERA of 5.00. I do not see any stats for 2006. 2004 - Triple-A All-Star SP
I can find no record for a RHP Eduardo Valdez, though, there is a RHP Edward Valdez listed on the Minor League website. Valdez has no major league experience, apparently, and 5 years of experience in the minors, but never higher than AA. In those 5 years in the minors, Edward Valdez has a record of 42-31, with an ERA of 4.02 in 135 games (113 GS). At the age of 26, he played the entire 2006 baseball season in AA Chattanooga, acquiring a record of 7-10, with an ERA of 3.89 in 29 games (23 GS).
