% BTBD Re-Eval

Removed C.J. Nitkowski from 1999.

Changed Wayne Gomes DICE from Worse to Same in 2000.

Changed Steve Kline's DICE from Worse to Same in 2001.

Added Joey Eischen to 2002.

Changed Salomon Torres from Somewhat Better to Worse (73) in 2006

BTBD Re-Eval

Changed Sean Runyan from Somewhat Worse to Worse (150) in 1998.

Changed Rod Beck from Somewhat Worse to Worse (65) in 1998.

Changed Eddie Guardado from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (37) in 1998.

Changed Kelly Wunsch from Somewhat Worse to Worse (111) in 2000.

Added Jeff Fassero to 2001.

Changed Steve Kline from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (32) in 2001.

Changed Salomon Torres from Somewhat Better to Worse (73) in 2006.

Added Heath Bell to 2007.

LaRoche to Pirates

In a sad day for Andy, older brother Adam was traded to the Red Sox for Argenis Diaz and Hunter Strickland.

Red Sox Side: In a move likely based on the fact the Sox don't expect Mike Lowell to last the season, they picked up the typical 2nd half performer for a ball-park fairly well suited for him. LaRoche was hitting .247-.321-.441 at the time of the deal with 12 homers and 40 RBI's. He is an above average defender at 1B, but is a lefty stick, which doesn't make a ton of sense for the Sox unless they put him in a platoon with Lowell to try and rest him.

Pirates Side: Diaz is a toolsy 22 year old SS who is struggling at AA, hitting .253-.309-.310. Without seeing him play and seeing a line like that, I am inclined to think utility player, though he is still very young. This is the 1st I had ever heard of Hunter Strickland and he appears to be a control artist. At Low-A, he was 5-4, 3.46 in 83 and 1/3 innings with 13 walks and 51 strikeouts, but 11 homers allowed.

Analysis: A minor deal where the Red Sox get a little value for a small price and the Pirates save some money and get to continue to replenish their farm system. Would say the Red Sox win this one, as I expect Diaz to be a utility infielder and don't think Strickland will make it based off his early results, though he is 6-5, 200 so there is some projection there.

+/- DOR Re-Eval

Added Mariano Rivera to 1999.


Removed Jim Mecir, Jason Christiansen, Paul Quantrill, Hector Carrasco, Mike Fetters, Billy Koch, Heathcliff Slocumb and Mike Magnante from 2000.


Removed Jay Powell, Ugueth Urbina, Rod Beck, Rich Rodriguez, Ricardo Rincon, Guillermo Mota, Billy Wagner from 2001.


Removed Valerio De Los Santos, Scott Williamson, Antonio Osuna, Paul Shuey, Jesse Orosco from 2002.

Changed Vladimir Nunez from Somewhat Worse to Worse (IP) in 2002.


Removed Dan Miceli, Francisco Cordero, Kyle Farnsworth, Guillermo Mota, Jeff Nelson, Tom Gordon, Aaron Fultz, Mariano Rivera, Matt Mantei from 2003.

Changed Billy Wagner from Somewhat Worse, Better to Worse (75), Worse


Removed Ricky Bottalico, Trevor Hoffman, Mike Koplove, Jason Isringhausen, Jim Mecir, Jason Christiansen from 2004.

Changed Dan Miceli from Same to Somewhat Worse (56) in 2004.

Changed Gabe White from Somewhat Better, Better to Worse (IP), Worse in 2004.

Changed Antonio Alfonseca from Somewhat Worse to Worse (95) in 2004.


Removed Mike MacDougal, Bobby Howry, Joey Eischen, Al Reyes, Brian Fuentes, Russ Springer, Bob Wickman, Jose Valverde, Giovanni Carrara, Jay Witasick, Brendan Donnelly and Rudy Seanez from 2005.

Changed Tyler Walker from Somewhat Worse, Better to Worse (109), Worse in 2005.

Changed Justin Duchscherer from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (47) in 2005.

Changed Duaner Sanchez from Somewhat Better, Better to Worse (63), Worse in 2005.


Removed Joe Beimel, Tom Martin, Dennys Reyes, Chad Bradford, Rick Bauer, Jon Adkins, Ron Mahay, Oscar Villarreal, Joe Borowski, Matt Herges from 2006.

Changed Jose Mesa from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (47) in 2006.

Changed Salomon Torres from Somewhat Better to Worse (73) in 2006.


Removed Jesus Colome, Kevin Gregg, Eric Gagne, Javier Lopez, Rudy Seanez, Jose Valverde, Antonio Alfonseca, Michael Wuertz, Troy Percival, Mike MacDougal, David Riske, Armando Benitez, Octavio Dotel from 2007.

Changed Chad Cordero from Somewhat Better, Better to Worse (170), Worse in 2007.


Removed Jeff Bennett, Eddie Guardado, Ramon Ramirez, B.J. Ryan, Ryan Madson, Ron Villone, Tyler Walker, Neal Cotts, Octavio Dotel, Jesse Crain, Luis Ayala, Manny Delcarmen and Troy Percival from 2008.


Added Pedro Feliciano and Renyel Pinto to 2008.

Chart Observations: SF @ ATL

Who needs a full day off?

1) Derek Lowe: 92 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 5 on Fastballs (2nd, 2 in 3rd, 5th, 6th), 2 on Cutters (2nd, 3rd), 2 on Changeups (both in 1st) and a Slider (5th)

• Lowe came from a high 3/4 release and showed a sinker with some run in on righties and above average late sink, a 2-7 slider with slightly above average bite and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink. He also has returned to throwing his cutter apparently, throwing about 9 with an intended location of in on lefties.

1st: FB (89), SL (81-83), CU (84-84)

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (82), CU (84), Cut (86)

3rd: FB (88-90), SL (81-83), CU (84), Cut (86-87)

4th: FB (88-90), CU (83), Cut (86)

5th: FB (87-90), SL (81-82), Cut (85-87)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (80)

2) Ryan Sadowski: 75 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 3rd), 2 on Cutters (1st, 3rd), Curveball (4th).

• Sadowski is a 6-4, 195 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle, at least to 210. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties with average sink. He will also mix in a rare straight 4-seam fastball. His curve is a 12-6 with above average depth. His cutter has some cut and some sink and he likes to throw the pitch in on the hands of lefties as an out pitch. His change is straight with a little sink and is below average. Basically, he has 3 average offerings and profiles as no better then a # 5.

1st: FB (88-92), Cut (87-89), CB (74-77)

2nd: FB (87-90), CB (77)

3rd: FB (88-90), Cut (85-87), CB (76)

4th: FB (85-89), Cut (81-87), CB (76-77), CU (79)

3) Justin Miller: 32 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Splitters (4th), Fastball (5th)

• Miller came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a split with average dive.

4th: FB (86), SL (78-79), Split (77-78)

5th: FB (86-88), SL 76-77), Split (78)

4) Merkin Valdez: 34 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (7th), Slider (6th)

• Valdez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a split with average dive and a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite.

6th: FB (94-97), SL (85), Split (87)

7th: FB (94-97), SL (83-85), Split (85)

5) Brandon Medders: 9 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Medders came from an over the top release with a 2-7 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch and a fastball with some cut to it.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (83), CB (69-73)

6) Peter Moylan: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Moylan came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a 3-8 slider with good bite and a change that moves just like his fastball, but slower.

7th: FB (89-92), SL (78-79), CU (80)

7) Eric O'Flaherty: 14 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders.

• O'Flaherty came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good sink and some run in on righties, a 11-5 slider with above average bite and a straight change with some late fade from righties.

8th: FB (89-93), SL (82-83), CU (83)

8) Manny Acosta: 15 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball

• Acosta came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a change with good fade from lefties with a little sink that he will throw to righties.

9th: FB (93-95), CB (81-84), CU (85)

2 Charts tomorrow.