SB Nation - David Newhan

Tuesday's Frosty Mug

KLSnow — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:04:52 -0000

Some things to read while leaving work early.

So, as you've probably noticed, 2009 is scheduled to be Rickie Weeks' third consecutive "breakout year." But would you take that news more seriously if it came from Peter Gammons? (h/t FanPost)

While most of the Brewer team projections this spring haven't been pretty, individual Brewers are getting positive attention all over the place today. On top of Gammons' mention of Rickie Weeks, Ken Rosenthal is picking Yovani Gallardo to win the NL Cy Young and But The Game Is On is listing Ryan Braun as an NL MVP candidate.

Speaking of Braun, it sounds like he's feeling pretty good after a couple of days back in big league camp and should be full speed for Opening Day.

The news is not as good for Craig Counsell, who has a torn meniscus in his right knee and may require surgery. He's considering trying to play through it this season, and the team is leaving it up to him. With that said, recovery from surgery would only take 2-3 weeks, so Counsell would be somewhat foolish to spend all season playing in pain to avoid missing the 6-8 appearances he'd miss recovering from surgery.

Trevor Hoffman's injury isn't very exciting for most people, but his rehab could be a pretty big deal for some, as Hoffman may make one or more rehab appearances for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. That would be one way to get the teams' new partnership started off on the right foot.

Elsewhere in the minors:

Vinny Rottino and Hernan Iribarren will return to Nashville for the 2009 season, but it doesn't sound like there's much room for them to play. (h/t FanShot)
Beyond The Box Score took a look at the TotalZone rankings of several shortstop prospects. Alcides Escobar has a five run lead on second place, and a 71 run lead on Mariner prospect Carlos Triunfel.
The JS Camp Report says Angel Salome should be recovered from his back injury in time to start the season at Nashville, and Jonathan Lucroy is expected to catch nearly every day in Huntsville.
Tom H. says Chase Wright, Nick Green, Sam Narron, Lindsay Gulin and Tim Dillard will start the season in the rotation in Nashville, with Chris Narveson pitching out of the bullpen. It remains to be seen what will happen when Chris Capuano is ready to start making starts.

Remember when the Brewers were an AL team? I'm sure Moose Haas, Chris Bosio, Bill Wegman and Teddy Higuera do, as they're all on Recondite Baseball's list of pitchers who started the most games without an official at bat.

Rankings/Projections/Predictions:

Nick and Nick's Twins Blog predicts the Brewers will finish third in the Central.
The Tenth Inning Stretch has the Brewers winning 75 games and finishing fourth behind, among others, the 86 win Pirates.
Baseball Musings ranks the Brewers fourth in the Central in Wins Above Replacement.
It Is About The Money, Stupid has Bodoglife's 2009 over-unders, which have the Brewers at 80.5 wins. Stop by later today for more over-under fun.
The Mudpuddle has the Brewers picked to finish fourth in the Central and the Cubs winning the World Series.

he will not make the team

unveiled their dollar menu

BoDogLife

Grouchy former Rangers leaving camps

Adam J. Morris — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:47:35 -0000

Let's see...

Former Ranger outfielder Brad Wilkerson left the BoSox camp yesterday, after finding out he wouldn't make the team, in order "to ponder his next move."

Former Ranger outfielder Gary Matthews, Jr., left camp yesterday after a closed-door meeting with his manager and g.m. which presumably included the news that he wouldn't be a starter.

And former Ranger minor league infielder David Newhan was released yesterday, and took some parting shots as he headed out the door:

Asked if he was surprised by the release, Newhan said, "Not really."

"The only way Coop's really communicated is through you guys [reporters]. I'm not blind. It's just unfortunate ... they talked about having a shortstop the whole time. I wish I had gotten a chance to at least screw that up. I never really got that opportunity."

Newhan originally thought he would get a look at shortstop, until he read an article on MLB.com that quoted Cooper saying Newhan was seventh in the pecking order of potential shortstops. Cooper also indicated in that article that Newhan likely would not see playing time at short this spring.

"That's kind of the way they communicated that," Newhan said. They made it clear I was not a fit here, and the guys they have in Triple-A are going to have to play."

In the words of Marcellus Wallace, this profession is filled to the brim with unrealistic (expletive deleted).

D. Newhan, J. Baker, and possible roster-makers: The 2009 Astros take shape

HighLeveragePerformer — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:21:55 -0000

The muddied roster picture is becoming a little clearer each day. Apparently, Cecil Cooper didn't personally inform David Newhan of the decision to release him. Newhan found out through the media. It was not a surprise to him though, as he's just not a shortstop. Jason Smith and Edwin Maysonet are the two players to keep your eyes on as far as making the Opening Day roster.
Chad Paronto is dealing with a shoulder injury, and a practically set in stone bullpen. After pitching well this spring, he heads to Round Rock as insurance for the big league club.
Alyson Footer's mailbag features her opinion on the state of our third base platoon. Like most of us, she thinks that the Astros will need to seek outside help going into the season:

While the Astros are very happy with the way Chris Johnson performed this spring, I don't believe he'll make the team

Her list of seven potential replacements for Aaron Boone won't wow anyone, with Jeff Baker seemingly the most attractive. Concerns over the Rockies overestimating their own players' values exists, however. It's yet to be seen if the Astros have enough in their already bare cupboards to offer the Rockies. The six other players she mentions are: Travis Metcalf (Texas), Mike Hessmann (Tigers), Jeff Keppinger (Reds), Matt Brown and Robb Quinlan (Angels), and Juan Uribe (Giants).

Is the Rockies' asking price too high for Jeff Baker to become an Astro?

Jason Stark's mailbag is chock full of Astro-goodness. He mentions the Astros and Red Sox as potential suitors for both Keppinger and Baker. I would assume that the concern over Mike Lowell's hip is the impetus behind the Sox' interest in these two. Unlike Footer, Stark believes that Chris Johnson will in fact not only make the Opening Day roster, but will see the lion's share of time at third base, in the event that any that a trade doesn't occur.

Russ Ortiz looks to be the winner for the fifth starter's position, while Jose Capellan will settle for assignment to AAA Round Rock. Bullpen stability means he won't have the oppportunity to open the season with the Astros in any capacity, most likely. He's been impressive this spring, and should have a future with this organization. Age, injury, and poor performance are three reasons why Capellan may be in Houston at some point in the near future.

Astros' 25 Man Roster: Who's going up, who's sliding down

HighLeveragePerformer — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:00:12 -0000

Going into the spring, we knew that a majority of this team was set in stone:

the bullpen
the front four starters in the rotation
the five outfielders
starting infield

In the past few weeks some things have changed that have caused the Astros to re-evaluate their roster heading into their April 6th opening day game against Chicago. Pudge Rodriguez was signed to a one year contract, most likely sliding JR Towles down to AAA. Luckily, Lou Palmisano was not taken back by Milwaukee, which allowed the Astros to keep keep him as a minor leaguer. Catcher depth is never a bad thing.

Aaron Boone had to have heart surgery, opening up a roster spot for a platoon partner with Geoff Blum. Chris Johnson is an option, but he would not be an ideal platoonmate with Blum, since both hit best against right handed pitchers. Jeff Baker, Juan Uribe and Jeff Keppinger are but a few names that have been tossed around as potential options at the hot corner. Internally, Chris Johnson seems to be our best, and only real option. Again, although he may be on the opening day roster, it doesn't mean that he will be successful immediately.

The fifth starter's slot was Brandon Backe's to lose, and as a result of injury and poor performance, Backe slides out. Going up is most likely Russ Ortiz. A non roster invitee, Ortiz has been impressive, no more so than in his last start against the Reds, a six inning, one hit, no run performance. Jose Capellan is another NRI, but after a shaky start against the Blue Jays, I'd expect him to be on the Express roster when Spring Training breaks.

As for our back up middle infielder, the Astros brought in a plethora of guys with plenty of warts. Whether it be age (David Newhan, Matt Kata, Jason Smith) or lack of a solid bat (Tommy Manzella and Edwin Maysonet), or lack of defensive skills (Drew Sutton).

It all depends on what Cecil Cooper is looking for. If he wants someone who can come in and hit well, I'd argue that Sutton is his best bet. Jason Smith has hit well in the spring, but he is a journey man and has never shown the ability to perform on this level. Sutton's pedigree is above average, and if given the opportunity to get ABs on a consistent basis, he could become a very serviceable major league hitter. This won't happen right off the bat, as he has been sent back to AAA. Smith's defense is suspect, and Kata, Newhan and Manzella have not performed well enough to earn a spot on the ML roster.

That leaves Edwin Maysonet, who has played well defensively and recently contributed to the offensive cause by knocking two home runs off of Toronto ace Roy Halladay.

Ortiz looks like a winner, Towles goes back down...for now

So where does that leave us? Here's what I think our 25 man roster will be heading into the regular season:

Catchers (2): Ivan Rodriguez, Humberto Quintero

Infielders (6): Lance Berkman, Kazuo Matsui, Miguel Tejada, Geoff Blum, Edwin Maysonet, Third Baseman- my vote goes to Jeff Baker if Colorado releases him

Outfielders (5): Carlos Lee, Michael Bourn, Hunter Pence, Jason Michaels, Darin Erstad

Starting Pitching Rotation (5): Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, Mike Hampton, Brian Moehler, Russ Ortiz

Relief Pitchers (7): Tim Byrdak, Chris Sampson, Doug Brocail, Jose Valverde, LaTroy Hawkins, Wesley Wright, Geoff Geary

This leaves us with nice depth in AAA. Players such as Alberto Arias, Jose Capellan, Bud Norris, Drew Sutton, Brian Bogusevic and Chris Johnson will gain valuable experience while giving the Astros options should injuries/poor performance occur.

Edwin Maysonet

History! Cubs' Z No-Hits Astros, 5-0

Al — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:22:03 -0000

Photo by Miriam Romain

MILWAUKEE -- It starts with recognition.

Early in the game, by the second inning, you note to yourself, "Hmmm. Z's got really good stuff today. If everything breaks his way..."

It continues with a buzz going through the crowd. You realize that others are starting to think what you're thinking.

And by the sixth inning, people are starting to stand on every strike-two count and cheer for K's, roaring loudly, as if there were twice as many in the ballpark as the announced 23,441, all of whom bought tickets to the game less than 24 hours before game time.

The tension builds through the latter part of the batting order -- I thought in the seventh, to myself, "Wow, if he can get through Tejada, Berkman and Pence, maybe he can pull this one off..."

And Z did that. And the raucous Miller Park crowd -- 99% Cubs fans, a handful of Brewers fans looking lost, and two or three lonely-looking Astros fans who got booed every time one of them appeared on the Jumbotron -- got on its feet for every pitch of the ninth inning. There's nothing like it in a regular-season baseball game, the tension of each out of the ninth inning of a no-hitter.

Carlos Zambrano made that inning look easy. Two groundouts to Ryan Theriot and his tenth K of the night -- on a low, outside splitter to Darin Erstad -- he had his first career no-hitter, a 5-0 win over the Astros, and in my opinion, only Kerry Wood's 20-K game ten years ago was a more dominant pitching performance by a Cub in my lifetime.

You've already heard the numbers: first no-no for a Cub in just over 36 years; first no-hitter ever at a neutral site park; first no-hitter in Miller Park history (that's one that'll stick with Brewers fans forever, I bet) -- you may not have heard that was the first one thrown in Milwaukee since Steve Busby of the Royals no-hit the Brewers on June 19, 1974. It was the eighth no-hitter by a Cubs pitcher since 1900, and the first on the road since Kenny Holtzman's nearly forgotten second no-no in Cincinnati on June 3, 1971. The long ride home gave me a chance to listen to all of the extended postgame coverage on the radio on -- the snappy 2:17 game had me in my house by 11:00 -- and Lou, who sounded excited just to be there, even though he pointed out he had been on both winning and losing sides of no-hitters as a manager and player, mentioned that he had no intention of taking Z out as long as the no-hitter was intact, saying, "I wasn't going out there -- I'd have sent Alan (Trammell) to take him out."

Lou also said he did have someone warming up -- I never did see who -- in the 9th just in case Z had given up a hit. It wasn't necessary. Z's stuff was outstanding -- he hit 98 a couple of times on the stadium pitch speed meter -- and after a slight lack of command in the first inning, had his location and movement working for him on almost every pitch. He walked one -- Michael Bourn, in the fourth, who was immediately erased on a double play -- and hit Pence on a 1-2 pitch in the fifth.

Thinking about how Z can get during games, something like that might have unhinged him. Not last night. He was focused, didn't engage in mound histrionics, and kept his pitch count down (110 pitches, 73 strikes, and if that doesn't sound like "down", remember that we have seen Z throw 100 pitches in five innings at times in the past). Give Geovany Soto some credit for this -- I think he has been a real calming influence on Z ever since his recall, and deserves all the props he can get for handling the entire pitching staff all year like a veteran. Z also singled and scored -- thankfully, the relay throw was bobbled when Z was rounding third, because the last thing any of us wanted to see was Z having to slide into the plate.

Meanwhile, the Cub offense put the game away early; Alfonso Soriano led off the game with a homer, his team-leading 28th of the year (in only 98 games -- he might have come close to Ryan Howard's league-leading total of 44 if he hadn't missed all that time), and after two were out and Z on first and ONEDEC! on second with singles, Derrek Lee brought them in with a two-strike double, Aramis Ramirez followed with a single and then, heads-up, took second base when Tejada tossed the relay throw away, and Geovany Soto finished the scoring with a single.

Leading 5-0, Z got stronger and didn't allow a ball out of the infield between the third and eighth innings. As is frequently the case in no-hitters, there were at least two outstanding defensive plays that helped Z -- a line drive by David Newhan, snared by D-Lee at 1B in the fifth, and a nice running catch by DeRo on Geoff Blum's leadoff liner in the 8th. Z also made a nice pickup of a slow roller by Humberto Quintero in the third and caught a foul popup himself in the 8th.

The crowd was -- well, at first it was surreal, seeing nothing but Cubs blue in the parking lot and coming into the park, prompting a couple of Brewers employees I saw walking in to roll their eyes. But in general, the Brewers folks were friendly and accomodating -- they brought out some Cubs caps to sell at the souvenir stands, along with all the Brewers merchandise on sale -- considering they had been called into work on very short notice, and as Lou said, the 23,441 sounded like twice that many as the game went on, louder than almost any crowd I've heard at Wrigley. It truly was a magical night.

Sitting right in front of me was a young girl, perhaps nine or ten years old, with her mom and a couple of men accompanying her. The men, both of whom were wearing Zambrano jerseys, jumped up and down and hugged perfect strangers afterwards. That young girl, who had a sign saying it was her first Cubs game, will never forget it.

And me? I've now been to 2,069 Cubs games. I'll never forget last night's wonders, either. It was nice to meet BCB reader Chip Set and to see Shanghai Badger again and I know a lot of the rest of you were there and all of us will remember forever the trip we all took on a whim, just to see an unexpected Cubs road game suddenly moved close to us, only to wind up witnesses to an historic day.

Best of all, the win and the Brewers DH loss -- when the second game score was posted on the Miller Park LF wall scoreboard, cheers broke out -- dropped the Cubs' magic number to Rick Monday (for both a playoff spot and the division title). Though we celebrate Z's masterpiece, the business of winning continues this afternoon. The pregame thread will be up at 11:30 am CDT for today's 1:05 start.

Some more memories from last night's historic game:

Randy Wolf's pitch to Alfonso Soriano was deposited over the LF wall, giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first inning

This was Z's first pitch to Darin Erstad in the first inning... two hours later, he struck out Erstad to end his first career no-hitter.
Photos by Al

My ticket from last night's game -- worth every penny of the $60 price

Click here for my scorecard -- figuring they might not sell cards for this game, I brought my own, a form designed by Mike. I have used my own form for a number of years for games like this, but Mike's is better. All I added was the text and team logos, and this was the first game I had used it for.