Finley for who?

"Vrstull" <vrstull.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040731170432.05916.00002725@mb-m05.aol.com...
> So who did y'all get for Steve Finley? Anyone know?

According to an e-mail from the Didgers currently being sent out:

"To get Finley, Los Angeles traded three minor leaguers -- outfielder Reggie
Abercrombie, catcher Koyie Hill and pitcher Bill Murphy."

Hill is probably the closest to the majors and may well be tossed into the
mix at the major-league level right away.

Here's John Sickels' preseason evaluation of Hill:

"A fourth-round pick in '00, from Wichita State. Hill hit .314 in Triple-A
in '03, and should be able to hit for average at the major league level. His
power is marginal, however, and his defense still needs some work."

Hill's average slipped substantially this season at Vegas, where he went
..287/.344/.474 in 92 games. The power numbers actually weren't bad, with 40
EBH (27 2B, 13 HR), but he won't be mistaken for Pudge or Piazza anytime
soon. Then again, he certainly won't be confused with Juan Brito at the
plate, either.

Abercrombie is more of a long-term guy, with speed and power potential
aplenty -- though he's a bit advanced in years already. Again, John Sickles:

"A tremendous natural athlete, Abercrombie was drafted in the 23rd round in
1999, out of Lake City Community College in Florida. He draws comparisons to
Eric Davis and a young Ellis Burks. Abercrombie hit .261 with 15 homers and
26 steals in Double-A last year, but like many Dodgers prospects, he has
problems controlling the strike zone. He has immense potential if he can
refine his approach at the plate."

He's also shown zero plate discipline and found himself back at Vero Beach
this summer. Intriguingly, he may well find his fastest path to the majors
doesn't involve hitting at all. Take a look at this:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1842298

Bill Murphy is a guy who scouts love to death and whse future is most
assuredly on the mound. Yet he's barely two years into his pro career and
he's on his fourth organization, which is never a good sign. A thumbnail
sketch of Murphy from ESPN's Futures Game release:

"A third-round pick of the Athletics in 2002, Murphy was traded to the
Marlins along with righthander Mike Neu for lefty Mark Redman last December.
The 6-0, 190-pound Murphy has a low-90s fastball with great movement and
deceives hitters with his delivery.

"In his first full professional season last year, Murphy went 10-7 with a
2.94 ERA in time split between lower-level Class A and Class AA. He threw a
nine-inning no-hitter on June 10 and finished fifth in the A's system with
121 strikeouts.

"Pitching for the Class AA Carolina Mudcats in his first season with the
Marlins, the 23-year-old lefthander won five straight decisions April 21-May
22 and struck out a career-high 11 batters on June 12."

He's young, cheap, talented and left-handed. He's also bounced all over the
place on his way to AA ball. Keep your fingers crossed on this one.
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