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Yanks win big on El Duque gamble

Sporting News, The, Sept 27, 2004 by Ken Rosenthal

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INSIDE DISH By KEN ROSENTHAL

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The chances of the Diamondbacks re-signing 1B Richie Sexson and bringing back CF Steve Finley as a free agent appear slim, increasing the likelihood that the team will retrench this offseason and make another attempt to trade LHP Randy Johnson. Finley, who has hit 34 homers at age 39, will be an attractive alternative for teams that fail to sign Astros CF Caries Beltran. Sexson, too, should have better options, the Mariners, Giants and Dodgers possibly among them.... The lack of available lefthanded starting pitching might enhance Johnson's appeal. Mets LHP AL Leiter, 38, could become a hot commodity if he declines his end of a $10 million mutual option. The Phillies' Eric Milton and the Dodgers' Odalis Perez, two pitchers who have tailed off in the second half, are the leading free-agent possibilities. Remember when the Yankees wanted Mariners LHP Jamie Moyer? He has allowed 41 homers, matching the seventh-highest total all-time.... The White Sox likely will pursue Beltran if they lose RF Magglio Ordenez as a free agent, but they would need to move EF Carlos Lee or 1B Paul Konerko to create enough flexibility to address other needs. The Phillies, who also covet Beltran, want to re-sign Milton and add another starting pitcher, plus address their bullpen.... Rangers 1B Mark Teixeira, emerging as one of the game's most dangerous switch hitters, is lethal from both sides. Teixeira began the week with a .953 on-base/slugging percentage against righthanders and a .919 OPS against lefthanders. Astros RF Lance Berkman had a far wider split--1.066 OPS against righthanders, .872 against lefthanders.... Yankees RHP Mike Mussina has some advice for Royals rookie prodigy RHP Zack Greinke: Trust your fastball. "You're going to get hit if you don't throw it in the right place," Mussina says. "But if you use it right, it's still your best pitch. He'll learn that as he goes along. We all do. He's got to remember that he throws 93 to 94 mph." A pitcher who relies too heavily on his off-speed stuff eventually loses velocity, Mussina says.... Expos 3B Tony Batista, a potential free agent, sports a career .298 on-base percentage but is one of only 14 major leaguers to hit 25 or more homers in each of the past six seasons, and he has driven in at least 99 runs in four of those. Batista, 30, isn't much defensively, but he could make a solid DH in the right lineup.... Mariners rookie LHP Bobby Madritsch, who looked terrific in victories over the contending Red Sex and Angels, could end up a closer. "I know we will have some arguments in the future about his role," Mariners G.M. Bill Bavasi says.... How bad is the state of pitching? The Astros lured RHP Russ Springer out of retirement on June 19, thinking he could help their Class AAA club and perhaps serve as an 11th man on a staff. Yet there was Springer facing the heart of the Cardinals' order in the eighth inning of a tie game last Wednesday night--and allowing two runs in a 4-2 defeat.... Red Sex 1B Doug Mientkiewicz uses a hockey analogy when talking about himself and his fellow late-inning defensive replacements, 2B Pokey Reese and, depending upon the game, OF Dave Roberts or OF Gabe Kapler. "We're the dump-and-chase group," Mientkiewicz says. "We dump the puck in the corner and kill the clock with a lead."

Yanks win big on El Duque gamble

Sporting News, The, Sept 27, 2004 by Ken Rosenthal

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