Trans-STRAT-ctions XII
By Joe Harder - Guest Writer
03/20/2009
Updates and a LOOGY
RHB Nomar Garciaparra signed with the Athletics as rumored and discussed last week.
RHB Josh Phelps, whom I touted earlier as a possibility in the Giants’ first base mix, was sent to Fresno (AAA).
LHP Dennis Reyes, turning 32 on April 19th, signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals. Got lefties last year for Minnesota, but not as good against righties. Twelve ground ball A’s, but a plus nine hold.
Retirement Reflections
LHB Mark Sweeney, 1b, announced his retirement from the Dodgers and joined Joe Torre’s coaching staff. In a 14-year career, Sweeney played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Diego Padres, the Cardinals again, the Padres again, the Cincinnati Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Padres again, the Colorado Rockies, the Padres again, the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants again, and the Dodgers again, amassing a career line of .254/.347/.387 with 42 career homeruns, arguably the second best MLB career achieved by a Sweeney so far.
RHB Mike Sweeney, 1b/dh, takes the crown. Signed by the Mariners in the off-season after thirteen seasons with the Kansas City Royals and one with the Oakland Athletics, has put together a .299/.368/.489 career, and is one homer shy of 200, but there’s probably not a lot left in the tank after 2 homeruns in 126 at bats last year (and 17 over his last three seasons, spanning 608 at bats).
LHB Ryan Sweeney, 23, outfielder with Oakland, is the Sweeney you want now, with very nice on base against righties, speed, positive clutch, and good defense in the 2008 card set. He has a career line of .274/.334/.366 in two partial and one semi-regular season, with six homeruns (five of them last year). I think he’s likely to exceed Mark’s career when all is said and done.
RHP Brian Sweeney, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, went 3-0, with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 80 innings over a three year career is the best of the rest, statistically speaking.
RHB Bill Sweeney, 2b, played for the Boston Doves, Chicago Cubs, Doves again, Boston Rustlers, Boston Braves, and the Cubs again, and hit .272/.338/.344 (.682 OPS), with 11 career homeruns, and it’s a bit of a toss-up whether he is the better of the Sweeneys named Bill, since RHB Bill Sweeney, 1b, playing for the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, hit .286/.309/.370 (.679 OPS), with 5 career homeruns.
RHB Ed Sweeney, c, played for the New York Highlanders, New York Yankees, and Pittsburgh Pirates, and batted .232/.300/.277, with 3 career homeruns to slot next.
RHB Pete Sweeney, 3b, played for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Cardinals, Senators again, Louisville Colonels, Philadelphia Athletics, and Cardinals again, hitting a feeble .209/.243/.269, with 1 career homerun.
LHB Hank Sweeney, 1b, went 0 for his 2 plate appearances with one strikeout for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but did handle ten chances at first base errorlessly.
RHB Buck Sweeney, of, struck out in his lone plate appearance for the Philadelphia Athletics, though he did make the putout on the one ball that was hit to him.