2002 Rookie Debut Thread

[Delandis]

Wayne Connor-SP
Drafted 1.22 in 1998, Baltimore

-Pat tried to "Umd" me with Wayne as I somehow missed putting Wayne on my 40 man. After a subpar showing in Spring Training, Washington quickly returned Wayne who has been impressive for the first time in his professional career. I think Wayne still has a bit of room to grow and since we could use another lefty and we are turrible, why not give the former Hurricane a chance.

[Clay]

Guillermo Acevedo (TBD)
2.23 - 1999 (HS - INT)

This kid has quietly become my new Yoritoki Maeda in the sense that I love him more than anyone else does and want him to be a centerpiece in Colonials 2.0. The plan was to bring him up if I made a major trade at the deadline, but instead, Barajas got dinged and he got pressed anyway. Acevedo is a Colonial-type. Left-handed hitter. Speed. Should develop at least a decent eye that will have him knocking on .400 OBP each season. But, my favorite part, he has crazy versatile defensive ability. I anticipate him someday being the everyday SS when Colon gets moved OR Maeda retires and Colon moves to 3B. I think he's going to be a DWI level SS. However, in the mean time, he'll play more than respectable corner OF.

One of those quickly developing INT draftees, his first week was successful. He goes 10 for 24 (.417/.440/.667/1.107) and showed some XB potential at home with 4 doubles and a triple. Now that the cherry is broken, he'll likely stay up even when Barajas returns in a week and be a uber-platoon guy and give big rest to the entire team in the stretch.

Love this kid.

[Pat]

Willie Garcia....went to edit...erased.

[Pat]

Jaime Lundgren (CL) -
2.16 - 1998

Drafted by New Orleans, acquired by D.C. in the Finley Kinsey trade of 1999. Lundgren not only expects to be in the BLB the system report says he is ready.

Now 25-years-old, the closer will finally get his shot. The past three seasons at Triple-A, Lundgren has a 1.92 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 80 saves and 316 strikeouts in just 206.2 innings. Likely the closer of the future, the Bats could give him a shot as a starter in the meantime.

[Matt]

Since I'm not scared to hide my prospects anymore...

SP Dante Rivera; 1999 2.4

Scout loves him, OSA loves him, the ladies love him. The 24 year old went A, AA, and then two seasons in AAA before getting called up. This year in AAA he was 9-1 with a 1.86 ERA and 0.83 WHIP before getting coming up to the show.

SP Broderick Farquharson; 1999 3.18

Farq is an organizational favorite hailing from Georgia Tech via Canada. He has the rare distinction of playing in All-Star games for A, AA, and AAA in consecutive seasons and went 11-6 with a 3.26 ERA this season before getting called up.

SP Willis Gomez; 1999 1.4 (Syracuse)

The 3rd guy from the '99 class was acquired from Syracuse in '99 and is our scouts dream. He blew the doors off AAA last season going 18-4 and winning the Outstanding Pitcher Award. He was going to get called up mid-season or earlier but sadly suffered a torn labrum after only 7 starts this year. In those starts though he was 3-1 with a 1.77 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. We're hoping he fully recovers and has a lights out future in Batavia.

MR Negussu Sadiki; 1998 3.2 (Cali)

Picked up from Cali in the Rule 5 draft Sadiki has helped anchor the best bullpen in the IL. In 44 games and 53.2 IP he's posted a 2.52 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.

RF Bobby Cortes; 1997 2.17

A guy in '97 who my scout loved but was extremely raw at only 18 years old. Now 24 the kid has matured into a phenomenal contact hitter with decent speed and a good glove. He really struggled early on in A ball but hit .341 in '00 and .325 at AA in '02. He seemed to lose focus this year in AAA but after being brought up has hit .341/.368/.396 in 23 games.

[Jistic]

Future Iron Men!

[Matt]

Look for Windy City to have an injury next sim.

[umd]

Look for Windy City to have an injury next sim.

I'm writing this in my commish "clue log" - it's like Blue's Clues for adults.

[Jistic]

Look for Windy City to have an injury next sim.

The Elliot Ness of the BLB cannot be intimidated!