Flying under the radar is always a good idea for rookies. The fewer expectations they face, the better. But Oakland Athletics right-hander Joe Blanton won’t have the benefit of anonymity.
The University of Kentucky product is featured prominently in the best-seller “Moneyball,” where one of the story lines was the A’s targeting him in the amateur draft. Now he is arriving in Oakland after Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder have departed.
General manager Billy Beane said the presence of Blanton and 23-year-old Rich Harden made it a little easier to trade two members of his Big Three pitching rotation.
Blanton, who has exceptional command of a low-90s m.p.h. fastball and a plus slider, could follow shortstop Bobby Crosby to give Oakland its sixth Rookie of the Year since 1986.
ANGELS
2004: 92-70
(1st; lost to Boston in ALCS)
Mgr: Mike Scioscia
Additions:
SS Orlando Cabrera
CF Steve Finley
RHP Paul Byrd
1B-OF Kendry Morales
OF Juan Rivera
RHP Esteban Yan
INF Lou Merloni
SS Maicer Izturis
OF Curtis Pride
Losses:
RHP Troy Percival
3B Troy Glaus
SS David Eckstein
LF Jose Guillen
RHP Ramon Ortiz
RHP Aaron Sele
1B Andres Galarraga
INF Shane Halter
For starters: For the first time since 1995, the Angels are going to have to find a new closer. Felix Rodriguez should be ready to take over for Percival, but don’t count on him being an instant success.
Fresh face: Dallas McPherson, a left-handed-hitting power hitter who could eventually challenge Adam Dunn’s year-old strikeout record, takes over for Glaus. The most intriguing guy in camp, however, is Morales, a Cuban who could come straight to the big leagues after signing a multi-year deal.
OUTLOOK
The Angels are losing more talent than they added but should benefit from having a true center fielder in Finley, who allows Garret Anderson to move back to left field.
ATHLETICS
2004: 91-71
(2nd )
Mgr: Ken Macha
Additions:
C Jason Kendall
OF Charles Thomas
2B Keith Ginter
RHP Dan Haren
RHP Kiko Calero
LHP Dan Meyer
RHP Juan Cruz
RHP Keiichi Yabu
Losses:
RHP Tim Hudson
LHP Mark Mulder
RF Jermaine Dye
C Damian Miller
INF-OF Mark McLemore
RHP Jim Mecir
LHP Chris Hammond
RHP Jay Lehr
For starters: Long built around the trio of Barry Zito, Hudson and Mulder, the Athletics are rebuilding the rotation. Rich Harden and Joe Blanton move toward the front with Meyer and Yabu the front-runners for the last two spots.
Fresh face: Meyer, acquired from Atlanta in the Hudson trade, has a fastball-changeup combination that could make him effective as a rookie. He has a good build for a pitcher and was 9-6 between Double A and Triple A last season.
OUTLOOK
After averaging 96 victories for the last five seasons, the Athletics are in reloading mode. The trades of Hudson and Mulder added depth to a pitching staff but took away its mystique.
RANGERS
2004: 89-73
(3rd)
Mgr: Buck Showalter
Additions:
RF Richard Hidalgo
INF Mark DeRosa
1B-DH Gregg Colbrunn
C Sandy Alomar Jr.
C Robert Machado
Losses:
OF Brian Jordan
OF Rusty Greer
2B-OF Eric Young
RHP Jay Powell
RHP Jeff Nelson
3B Herbert Perry
RHP Colby Lewis
1B-DH Brad Fullmer
For starters: Having failed to dip into the bumper crop of pitching that was available in the off-season, the Rangers will focus their attention on young starters Ricardo Rodriguez, Juan Dominquez, Chris Young and Joaquin Benoit. They need at least two of them to make 30 starts.
Fresh face: While he’s not a candidate at this time, the Rangers are very excited about 2004 first-round pick Thomas Diamond, a University of New Orleans product who pitched well after signing.
OUTLOOK
Given their infield of Mark Teixeira, Alfonso Soriano, Michael Young and Hank Blalock, the Rangers hope they can contend. They should have added some free-agent pitching, even if they had to overpay.
MARINERS
2004: 63-99
(4th)
Mgr: Mike Hargrove
Additions:
3B Adrian Beltre
1B Richie Sexson
SS Pokey Reese
RHP Jeff Nelson
RHP Aaron Sele
2B Ricky Gutierrez
SS Ramon Santiago
INF Benji Gil
Losses:
DH Edgar Martinez
OF-3B Jolbert Cabrera
C Pat Borders
For starters: Hargrove and GM Bill Bavasi must decide if they can survive with a rotation built from a cast that includes Jamie Moyer, Joel Pineiro, Gil Meche, Bobby Madritsch, 16-game loser Ryan Franklin and Sele. A strong spring by 18-year-old Felix Hernandez could put him in the mix.
Fresh face: Jeremy Reed, acquired from the White Sox in the Freddy Garcia trade, gets a chance to win the job in center field. He hit .397 in 18 games with the Mariners last season.
OUTLOOK
With Oakland downsizing, the Mariners have a chance to be the team challenging Anaheim. They’ll need a return to form by Moyer (7-13, 5.21) and Pineiro (6-11, 4.67) if they’re going to scare the Angels.
