The One Man's Trash Thread

[funclown]

Brad Cherry (OF)

-Cherry was a 4th round draft pick by the Pawtucket Patriots back in 1989. Cherry was given the greatest New Year's present ever by his employer in 1990, a pink slip. Baltimore's scouting staff saw a bit of promise in the kid and he was picked up before the end of January by the Bulldogs' organization. He hit just a shade over .290 in his first full year of pro baseball. He spent the next 3 years in AA ball and in 1993 was promoted to AAA Annapolis.

It was in AAA ball where Cherry blossomed into a potential BLB caliber hitter. Cherry was given the opportunity to play in Baltimore as a September call-up and didn't do too poorly. In 1994, Cherry made the AAA All-Star team before breaking his hand in a game late in the season. Cherry has started off the season on fire, hitting .371 so far in 1995 as a full-time outfielder.

I can only think of one better birthday present I could give you, Funclown.

Nice. BTW- Ivan H coming back from injury soon!

[Pat]

I thought we had a thread like this...Just wanted to say thanks to a few teams out there...

Thank you Batavia for Artie Walker! A 7th round pick by the Muckdogs back in 1990, after two months of sitting on the bench, or maybe DFA, Walker was cut. Signed a week later by the Bats, all Walker has done since is hit the cover off the ball. After steadily progressing through the minors, and battling injuries (FRAGILE!), Walker made his BLB debut last season. Through his first 143 games, Walker is hitting .332 with an .893 OPS. A catcher by trade, Walker has seen time at first as well as LF. He once had a career-ending injury, and is well overdue for a trip to the DL...I think I just jinxed him.

Thank you Los Lunas for Marv Bowers! Drafted in the 4th round, also from the 1990 draft, Bowers lasted two seasons in the Javelinas minor league system before being cut right before the 1992 season. After two months as a free-agent, he took a minor league deal to play in the D.C. system. Since then, he has emerged on the top 100 prospect list, and made his BLB debut in 1994. Through his first three seasons, Bowers is hitting .287 with a .763 OPS, and 92 steals. This season he is hitting .300, .843 and has 22 steals through 48 games. According to my scout, he still has some development in his batting eye, and when he does, he might become the most deadly lead-off hitter in the BLB.

Thank you Hartford for Pat Daniels! A former 9th round pick way back in 1984, he was cut a week after the draft and signed by D.C. a month later. After progressing through the minors, and injuries (FRAGILE!), Daniels made his debut with the Bats in 1989, 19 starts, 4.56 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. For the next five seasons he was invited to Spring Training, struggled, and only saw BLB action in September. Last season, due to injuries he was called up to the starting rotation for the final month and playoffs, and posted solid numbers. Five starts, 2.39 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and was just featured on the Stat of the Day list for most innings per start ever in a single season. Then, in the playoffs, he got one start, 6.1 IP 2 ER. This year, he has continued that trend, 8 GS, 4-0, 2.02 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and he already has a CG. My scout isn't a fan, 4-4-5, however OSA has always liked him and his stats have kept him in my organization.

And while I didn't sign him as a minor league Free-Agent, just another reminder that Carolina cut Derrek Tucker...

[Delandis]

This is my favorite thread on the board. Always good stuff on here.

[liquidcrash]

And while I didn't sign him as a minor league Free-Agent, just another reminder that Carolina cut Derrek Tucker...

Thank you for pointing that out. I had almost forgotten.

Nothing new for me in this thread. Actually, one guy on our A level team is showing some signs- catcher Roberto Goto. I don't think he'll be anything special, but my scout is coming around on him and he's hitting pretty well. Undrafted in 93, picked up and released by Washington in 94. A long way away from being relevant in the BLB.

[Pat]

Nothing new for me in this thread. Actually, one guy on our A level team is showing some signs- catcher Roberto Goto. I don't think he'll be anything special, but my scout is coming around on him and he's hitting pretty well. Undrafted in 93, picked up and released by Washington in 94. A long way away from being relevant in the BLB.

Damn...I remember him...very brief D.C. career. Improved with OSA and my scout over the last few seasons. Probably doesn't have the work ethic/intelligence to reach those potentials but definitely someone to hang onto.

[Carlos]

This thread is still cool.

Doug Griffin is on my roster. He's an arm in the pen. Much too early to know if he'll really amount to anything, but so far he's started pretty good for a 30-year-old nobody. Undrafted but once signed and released by Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas.

And just because I love Jistic.
Victor Garcia is still in the BLB.

[Ryan]

Case #1:



John Dunbar (P), Evanston Hit Kings (A)

As the 208th pick of the 1991 draft, Dunbar should have been on the radar, especially since he pitched a no-hitter in high school. He put up respectable numbers but struggled in our system. Fast forward to 1994 and OSA believes John is 6-5-5 with an 8-Fastball and 7-Curveball. I'm going to be livid if he becomes a starter in Indy.

Just an update on Mr. Dunbar: After dominating Single-A in 1994, we fast tracked him to Triple-A, where he was moved to the bullpen due to his reluctance to throw a third pitch. He struggled after skipping Double-A, but has regained his form in his second go around in Fort Wayne. He'll play the entire 1996 season at age 23, and will reach Indy by September at the latest.

Bottom line: No worries of him becoming a starter in Indy. Best case scenario, I see him being a dominant closer.

[Carlos]

No worries of him becoming a starter in Indy. Best case scenario, I see him being a dominant closer.

I'll trade you a first round pick for him.

[mwetts]

I'll trade you a first round pick for him.

boom.

roasted.

...by yourself?

[Ryan]

MR Mauricio Morua

Mauricio went undrafted in 1991, and was swiftly signed as a Free Agent by yours truly two days after entering the FA pool. He was a shortstop when we signed him, but was quickly moved to the mound, where he started for the Evansville Hit Kings. Morua had a tough go of it after his transition during the 1991 season, but found his form in 1992, winning 10 games, although his control was sometimes troublesome.

After 12 starts for the Hit Kings in 1993, Morua was moved on up to the Richmond Riot, where due to his lack of a third pitch, he was moved to the 'pen. As closer for the Riot, Morua finished the 1993 campaign with 21 saves in 31 games with a 0.74 WHIP. After a strong spring, Morua traveled north with the Clowns to begin the 1996 season. He's struggled, but at 23, he has time on his side. He doesn't know it yet, but he's being sent back to Triple-A Fort Wayne the next sim. He'll be back.

It should be noted that both Morua and the aforementioned Dunbar were lucky recipients of some errant Virginia Bounces. For that we are greatful.

But one thing is for certain here in Indy: We know how to harvest diamonds from the scrap pile.

[Ryan]

I'll trade you a first round pick for him.

Done.

[Carlos]

boom.

roasted.

...by yourself?

One can only learn to accept who he is if he can laugh at himself.

[Ryan]

One can only learn to accept who he is if he can laugh at himself.

Your side must be killing you.

[mwetts]

One can only learn to accept who he is if he can laugh at himself.

deeeeeeep.

[Gyrodork]

Thank you Los Lunas for Marv Bowers!

You can thank my Boss for Marvelous Marvin Bowers. He was an extended road trip casualty. I've lost 3 or 4 MLB-capable players over the years because I didn't have access to the game during Spring Training, or some other critical part of the season. I can't even think about the lost opportunities in the draft and Free Agency.

I was going to post a write-up on SP Heriberto Melendez here. But that would be pointless now. And I had the guy on a pitch count, too.