[MLB] "Yanks have plenty of options in center" (TSN)

Playoff Dish: Yanks have plenty of options in center
10/06/2003

Ken Rosenthal
Sporting News

The Yankees will have several options if they choose to move CF Bernie Williams
to left field next season. They could stick LF Hideki Matsui in center, where
he started 46 games this season. They also could acquire a center fielder such
as potential free agent Mike Cameron or move 2B Alfonso Soriano to center and
add a second baseman. ...

The Red Sox employ Bill James, but the A's did a better job implementing the
famed analyst's concept of a relief ace with their use of closer Keith Foulke.
During the regular season, 29 percent of Foulke's appearances lasted more than
one inning, the highest percentage among pitchers with 25 or more saves,
according to STATS Inc. Foulke also worked four shutout innings in non-save
situations in the first two games of the Division Series. His ability to carry
a heavy workload likely will make him a hot free agent. Nearly 25 percent of
Foulke's saves -- 10 of 43 -- consisted of four or more outs. Only 14.5 percent
of Dodgers closer Eric Gagne's saves -- eight of 55 -- fit that description.
....

Rookie RHP Jerome Williams flopped in the Giants' elimination loss to the
Marlins, but using RHP Jason Schmidt on three days rest would have been risky.
Schmidt threw fastballs on all but 17 pitches in his 111-pitch shutout of the
Marlins, prompting one executive to speculate that Schmidt still was contending
with forearm tightness. "I don't know that he's real comfortable throwing his
slider," the executive says. ...

Postseason toughness: Braves RF Gary Sheffield completed Game 3 of the
Braves-Cubs series after getting drilled in the hand by Chicago RHP Mark Prior.
"I don't know how I stayed in the game," Sheffield says. "I got back to the
hotel, and the pain was excruciating. I thought, 'How did I take that one
at-bat?' I have no idea." ...

C Ivan Rodriguez won more playoff games in one series with the Marlins than he
did in three postseason appearances with the Rangers. Rodriguez went 6-for-17
(.353) with one homer and six RBIs against the Giants after going 10-for-38
(.263) with no homers and three RBIs in three series losses to the Yankees,
when he was with the Rangers. ...

The Cubs are unlikely to oust closer Joe Borowski, but the Diamondbacks' Matt
Mantei recently removed the team from his list of five clubs to which he cannot
be traded, according to the East Valley Tribune. The Cubs are deep in
late-inning relief prospects and Mantei probably is too pricey for them at $7
million. But the Diamondbacks could be a willing, creative trade partner --
they desperately need to reduce payroll so they can pursue Brewers 1B Richie
Sexson. ...

RF Jose Cruz was falling out of favor with the Giants even before his defensive
lapses in the Division Series. Cruz made only two errors in the regular season
and set a club record with 18 outfield assists, but he had an .844
on-base/slugging percentage before the All-Star break and a .683 OPS after.
Don't be surprised if the Giants decline their share of his $4 million option
for next season. ...

Agent Alan Hendricks was shown frequently by Fox while sitting next to Kerry
Wood's wife during Game 1 between the Cubs and Braves, prompting a flurry of
e-mails from his other clients. Schmidt told him, "I'm jealous. Why aren't you
here with me?" Roger Clemens wrote, "Andy (Pettitte) and I are sitting here in
my apartment. We see you on TV. We're crossing our fingers for Woody!"

Senior writer Ken Rosenthal covers baseball for Sporting News. Email him at
krosenthal DeleteThis @sportingnews.com.


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