Atlanta Braves
(8/24) Designated RHP Bob Wickman for assignment; Recalled RHP Joey Devine from Triple-A Richmond.
- Wickman was apparently shown the door for his displeasure in being used in a tied game. I’ve never understood why closer usage is so irrational; managers seem afraid to use their best reliever unless they can earn that magic “SV” in the stats column. Why should Wickman be angry about being used in a tied game? A tied game in the late innings qualifies as a crucial situation, token statistic be damned. So Wickman would have been cool with pitching if his team were ahead three runs, but he gets in a huff about pitching a meaningful inning, where the game hinges on his performance? Sorry, I don’t get it.
Frankly, the Braves won’t miss Wickman (3.92 ERA, 0.534 WXRL) all that much. Despite wearing the *Closer* cape, Wickman wasn’t performing as well as Rafael Soriano (3.59 ERA, 2.727 WXRL) or Peter Moylan (2.04 ERA, 2.593 WXRL), and Oscar Villarreal had essentially been as valuable (0.660 WXRL).
As for Devine, it’s time to get an extended look at the 2005 first-round pick. He tore through AA (51/13 K/BB in 35 IP) and continued to perform well at AAA Richmond (23/6 K/BB in 17.2 IP). There seems to be some degree of frustration with Devine because he didn’t come right up and stick, a la Chad Cordero, but the righthander is just about to turn 24 and still possesses low 90’s heat and a plus slider. He should replace Wickman’s performance at the very least, with the potential for more.
Boston Red Sox
(8/23) signed infielder Royce Clayton to a minor league contract.
- Whether signed for “veteran depth” or to boost Julio Lugo’s confidence (Clayton is one of the few shortstops incapable of topping Lugo’s 2007 line of .240/.297/.348), Clayton should not play any significant role down the stretch.
Chicago Cubs
(8/23) Acquired outfielder Craig Monroe and cash from the Tigers for a player to be named.
- Monroe is definitely miscast in an everyday role- his career .303 OBP is a testament to that fact- but as a lefty-mashing (.302/.317/.542 in 2007; .277/.321/.501 career) aid to Jacque Jones (.231/.280/.353 career) and the the gimpy Cliff Floyd, Monroe is a reasonable addition. Of course, one could make the argument that Matt Murton (career .310/.384/.469 against southpaws in the majors; .325/.460/.600 at AAA Iowa this year) is competent in that role, but Murton has been struggling this season, and with rosters expanding soon, there’s no harm done.
Detroit Tigers
(8/23) Activated LHP Andrew Miller from the 15-day disabled list and optioned RHP Zach Miner to Triple-A Toledo.
(8/23) Traded OF Craig Monroe to the Cubs for a player to be named later
- In the midst of a division deathmatch with the Indians, one could question the decision to discard Monroe, a limited bit still useful lefty-thumper. The team has called up its best young gun in Maybin with the intention of giving him important at bats, and preferred Marcus Thames to hit lefthanders and help out as an extra outfielder. However, I’m not convinced that it had to be an either/or decision. Rosters expand in the not-too-distant future, meaning the team could have added Maybin to the mix anyway, though I suppose there is something to be said for giving the 20 year-old 2 more weeks to become acclimated to the big leagues.
I suppose my biggest qualm in this whole process is that Sean Casey comes through unscathed. Casey has done nothing in particular to earn hit keep, hitting an incredibly weak .282/.342/.373, yet he continues to receive regular playing time. Why not keep Monroe around as an extra outfielder and work in Thames more at first base? Sure, Thames isn’t lighting the world on fire either, but he’s slugging in excess of .500 and would add punch to Casey’s slap-hitting ways.
On a happier note, Miller is back and reportedly over his hamstring issues. He was shaky in his first start back, but his presence is welcome, given the beatings that the rotation has taken in recent weeks. Miller remains raw but immensely talented. Equipped with a mid-90’s fastball, a sharp slider and groundball tendencies, Miller has a bright future. His control (5.26 BB/9) certainly needs work, though.
Los Angeles Dodgers
(8/24) Signed LHP David Wells for the remainder of 2007; Designated RHP Brett Tomko for assignment.
- Whether Boomer has anything left is an open question. Despite the benefit of pitching home games at Petco, Wells posted a 5.54 ERA and gave up an alarming 156 H in 118.2 IP. Wells posted a 3.91 ERA in spacious Petco and a ghastly 7.99 ERA on the road. If you want to take an optimistic outlook, Wells was tolerable through June (4.48 ERA), but that’s really torturing the numbers. The expiration date on Jumbo’s well-placed junk appears to have passed.
Philadelphia Phillies
(8/24) Optioned LHP Fabio Castro to Triple-A Ottawa and recalled RHP Brian Sanches from Ottawa.
- Castro was wild in his spot start (5 IP 2H 1 ER 4K 6BB), but he did show low-90’s heat and a pretty nasty curveball. One would have to believe that, with Hamels out and the Phillies bullpen not exactly inspiring great confidence, Castro is deserving of a spot on this pitching staff. Here’s hoping that Castro is back in the big league bullpen at some point.
Seattle Mariners
(8/23) Purchased the contract of RHP Rick White from Triple-A Tacoma; optioned LHP John Parrish to Triple-A Tacoma.
- How Rick White keeps ending up in the big leagues is one of life’s great mysteries. After setting fire to everything he touched in Houston (7.67 ERA), White latched on with the Mariners, and here he is. He’ll generate some grounders, but White fools no one and has mediocre control. White is like a pudgy, bearded zombie from a third-rate horror movie- every time you think he’s dead, he returns to terrorize some poor, misguided team.
