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Long gone are the days in D.C. where you would expect to see a familiar rotation. For nearly a decade you could pencil in the likes of Romano Gonzalez, Joe Chavarraga, Joe Rodriguez, Carl Pateshall, Cristofor Villazon and Martin Carlton. Those names are long gone and if you aren't a die-hard Bats fan, or BLB book author, you probably wouldn't be able to recognize the names on the mound.
Even during the 1995 season, there were still a few familiar faces. Derrek Tucker has been the incumbent ace since the big names retired and a mainstay in the rotation 1990. Len Jenkins was the #2 for the past two years after escaping the L.A. (formerly Hyundai) Dinos. Alonzo Gugierrez and Norm Winters were the #3 and #4, respectively. And lastly, Manny Duran, had been the #5 starter in Washington since 1991.
Fast forward to the Spring of 1996. Gugierrez was surprisingly traded at the deadline of '95 despite the Bats being the Wild Card leaders and eventual winners, (still love that trade by the way). Norm Winters declined arbitration and tested Free-Agency, currently playing for the worst team in baseball, the Indianapolis Clowns. Manny Duran wanted to test free-agency, didn't receive an offer, and came back to the Bats with his tail between his legs signing a one-year $1.15 deal. Tucker and Jenkins were at their usual spots, but during the Spring the Bats had an open try-out for a handful of players to finish out the rotation. Washington air-balled in Free-Agency despite making size able offers to more than five BLB starting pitchers.
Going into the month of June, the rotation is nearly unheard of. Jenkins has been out for the past month, 60-Day DL for a strained hamstring. Tucker is now joining him on the DL with a two month back injury. Waylon Morgan, who had 27 starts for the Bats in '94 and '95 combined, is struggling to keep his current spot. Manny Duran has been his inconsistent self, posting a 4.36 ERA and 1.66 WHIP, and is consistently in danger of losing his spot. Pat Daniels, a long time Bats minor leaguer, took Gugz spot in the rotation after the trade in '95 and has ran with it. He has surprisingly been lights out. Those are the names you should know.
Here are the names you probably don't:
Pat Powell = Acquired in a draft day trade with Pawtucket, got three chances. He lost all three starts, walked 13 batters in 13.1 innings while only striking out five. And he is supposed to be a "stuff" pitcher. He is now in Triple-A and likely won't get another shot at the BLB level this season.
Kel Murphy = A former 4th round pick, and former top 100 prospect was given six starts. He went 0-3, with a 7.43 ERA and 1.96 WHIP. The last straw, he recorded one out, before giving up four first inning runs to Baltimore and was traded later that week.
Don Woods = A former 1st round pick, and top 100 prospect, Woods actually pitched decently? 7.2 innings pitched, 4 R, 6 H, 5 BB, 3 K. He won the game against Baltimore and was immediately sent back down to the minors. He knew it was a spot start as a LH pitcher against lefty heavy Baltimore and could be brought back up later in the year.
Shawn Johnstone = Formerly of Syracuse and Hartford, Johnstone was a waiver claim for the Bats. He was given one start, giving up four earned in three innings, and was then waived. He went two weeks on waivers with no one claiming him and has just been sent to Triple-A. A likely summer call-up if he can get out of this funk in the minors.
Those were the names that tried and failed. Here are the next candidates:
Rhett Erickson = You are probably familiar with the name. He has over 160 career BLB starts. He also has a career 5.19 ERA and 1.57 WHIP. This year, he has been solid for California and was the pitcher received in the Kel Murphy trade. With Tucker and Jenkins out, he is now the "ace." Right? Awful. Hopefully he can at least go out and pitch six innings (or more) and let the game ride on the bullpen.
Juan Jose Cabrera = Only 26, armed with a "6" stuff, "7" movement, 74% groundball, 98 MPH sinker, and "7" stamina. Wow. Sounds good right? Here's the catch. He has a "2" on control and has never started more than two BLB games in a single season. Cut by Davenport in the Fall, Cabrera sat in Free-Agency until May 28th, when the Bats gave him a one-year $800k contract. Honestly, I could see him being dominant for the Bats if he can show any type of control. I also could see him having a complete meltdown and walking five guys before recording an out.
Eros Cook = A career minor leaguer who is "Well Known" after being a Championship winner and Pitcher of the Year in the minors. Cook throws batting practice type stuff, but has great movement, control, stamina and a 71% groundball. He also has only appeared in 13 Triple-A games since the end of the 1992 season.
Here are the next guys in line:
Conan Wilkerson = Now that should be a familiar name. However, he hasn't been the same player since leaving California and actually was willing to sign with D.C. to just a minor league deal. Pretty crazy that he is still just 31 and once signed a three year deal worth $28 million. If he hadn't been on the DL the past three weeks, he would likely be at the BLB level. He is definitely the "next man up."
Len Brown = A youngster compared to most of these guys at just 25. Acquired last season in a trade with Pittsburgh, Brown is having a career year at Triple-A. My scout still thinks he has room to develop and his ceiling is probably just as a #5 starter. However, his 2.67 ERA and .99 WHIP is very appealing.
Shi-Kai Wu = A control pitcher drafted by D.C. in the 5th round of '90. Only his second season at Triple-A and still has some development to do but could be a summer call-up.
Cy Pryor = The minor league system report says he is not ready for Triple-A but he is currently boasting a 1.96 ERA and .98 WHIP in eight starts this season. Probably not ready for the BLB but he is a former 1st round pick and top 50 prospect. He isn't currently rated so well.
The Bats starters are 8th in the BLB in ERA. Normally boasting a strong bullpen, they are currently 8th in ERA this year after being overworked due to the lackluster rotation. Normally a team built on pitching and defense, the Bats are some how 27-24, leading the Wild Card race due to their surprise hitting. It will be awhile before the rotation has familiar faces Jenkins and Tucker back. Until then, the list above will have to try and keep this group afloat.
Long gone are the days in D.C. where you would expect to see a familiar rotation. For nearly a decade you could pencil in the likes of Romano Gonzalez, Joe Chavarraga, Joe Rodriguez, Carl Pateshall, Cristofor Villazon and Martin Carlton. Those names are long gone and if you aren't a die-hard Bats fan, or BLB book author, you probably wouldn't be able to recognize the names on the mound.
Even during the 1995 season, there were still a few familiar faces. Derrek Tucker has been the incumbent ace since the big names retired and a mainstay in the rotation 1990. Len Jenkins was the #2 for the past two years after escaping the L.A. (formerly Hyundai) Dinos. Alonzo Gugierrez and Norm Winters were the #3 and #4, respectively. And lastly, Manny Duran, had been the #5 starter in Washington since 1991.
Fast forward to the Spring of 1996. Gugierrez was surprisingly traded at the deadline of '95 despite the Bats being the Wild Card leaders and eventual winners, (still love that trade by the way). Norm Winters declined arbitration and tested Free-Agency, currently playing for the worst team in baseball, the Indianapolis Clowns. Manny Duran wanted to test free-agency, didn't receive an offer, and came back to the Bats with his tail between his legs signing a one-year $1.15 deal. Tucker and Jenkins were at their usual spots, but during the Spring the Bats had an open try-out for a handful of players to finish out the rotation. Washington air-balled in Free-Agency despite making size able offers to more than five BLB starting pitchers.
Going into the month of June, the rotation is nearly unheard of. Jenkins has been out for the past month, 60-Day DL for a strained hamstring. Tucker is now joining him on the DL with a two month back injury. Waylon Morgan, who had 27 starts for the Bats in '94 and '95 combined, is struggling to keep his current spot. Manny Duran has been his inconsistent self, posting a 4.36 ERA and 1.66 WHIP, and is consistently in danger of losing his spot. Pat Daniels, a long time Bats minor leaguer, took Gugz spot in the rotation after the trade in '95 and has ran with it. He has surprisingly been lights out. Those are the names you should know.
Here are the names you probably don't:
Pat Powell = Acquired in a draft day trade with Pawtucket, got three chances. He lost all three starts, walked 13 batters in 13.1 innings while only striking out five. And he is supposed to be a "stuff" pitcher. He is now in Triple-A and likely won't get another shot at the BLB level this season.
Kel Murphy = A former 4th round pick, and former top 100 prospect was given six starts. He went 0-3, with a 7.43 ERA and 1.96 WHIP. The last straw, he recorded one out, before giving up four first inning runs to Baltimore and was traded later that week.
Don Woods = A former 1st round pick, and top 100 prospect, Woods actually pitched decently? 7.2 innings pitched, 4 R, 6 H, 5 BB, 3 K. He won the game against Baltimore and was immediately sent back down to the minors. He knew it was a spot start as a LH pitcher against lefty heavy Baltimore and could be brought back up later in the year.
Shawn Johnstone = Formerly of Syracuse and Hartford, Johnstone was a waiver claim for the Bats. He was given one start, giving up four earned in three innings, and was then waived. He went two weeks on waivers with no one claiming him and has just been sent to Triple-A. A likely summer call-up if he can get out of this funk in the minors.
Those were the names that tried and failed. Here are the next candidates:
Rhett Erickson = You are probably familiar with the name. He has over 160 career BLB starts. He also has a career 5.19 ERA and 1.57 WHIP. This year, he has been solid for California and was the pitcher received in the Kel Murphy trade. With Tucker and Jenkins out, he is now the "ace." Right? Awful. Hopefully he can at least go out and pitch six innings (or more) and let the game ride on the bullpen.
Juan Jose Cabrera = Only 26, armed with a "6" stuff, "7" movement, 74% groundball, 98 MPH sinker, and "7" stamina. Wow. Sounds good right? Here's the catch. He has a "2" on control and has never started more than two BLB games in a single season. Cut by Davenport in the Fall, Cabrera sat in Free-Agency until May 28th, when the Bats gave him a one-year $800k contract. Honestly, I could see him being dominant for the Bats if he can show any type of control. I also could see him having a complete meltdown and walking five guys before recording an out.
Eros Cook = A career minor leaguer who is "Well Known" after being a Championship winner and Pitcher of the Year in the minors. Cook throws batting practice type stuff, but has great movement, control, stamina and a 71% groundball. He also has only appeared in 13 Triple-A games since the end of the 1992 season.
Here are the next guys in line:
Conan Wilkerson = Now that should be a familiar name. However, he hasn't been the same player since leaving California and actually was willing to sign with D.C. to just a minor league deal. Pretty crazy that he is still just 31 and once signed a three year deal worth $28 million. If he hadn't been on the DL the past three weeks, he would likely be at the BLB level. He is definitely the "next man up."
Len Brown = A youngster compared to most of these guys at just 25. Acquired last season in a trade with Pittsburgh, Brown is having a career year at Triple-A. My scout still thinks he has room to develop and his ceiling is probably just as a #5 starter. However, his 2.67 ERA and .99 WHIP is very appealing.
Shi-Kai Wu = A control pitcher drafted by D.C. in the 5th round of '90. Only his second season at Triple-A and still has some development to do but could be a summer call-up.
Cy Pryor = The minor league system report says he is not ready for Triple-A but he is currently boasting a 1.96 ERA and .98 WHIP in eight starts this season. Probably not ready for the BLB but he is a former 1st round pick and top 50 prospect. He isn't currently rated so well.
The Bats starters are 8th in the BLB in ERA. Normally boasting a strong bullpen, they are currently 8th in ERA this year after being overworked due to the lackluster rotation. Normally a team built on pitching and defense, the Bats are some how 27-24, leading the Wild Card race due to their surprise hitting. It will be awhile before the rotation has familiar faces Jenkins and Tucker back. Until then, the list above will have to try and keep this group afloat.
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