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Jayson Stark's
All-Surprise Team |
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|  | | Signed by Milwaukee just before spring training, there's a chance Tony Fernandez will be hitting leadoff for the Brewers on Opening Day. |
Not all the stories from spring training are about holdouts and trade demands, throwing problems and pulled muscles. There are more than a few good surprises this spring, from 29-year-old Cuban defector Edilberto Oropesa to a trio of Fernandez's -- Jared of the Reds, Tony of the Brewers and Sid (yes, the same one) of the Yankees.
Read more about these and others who make up Jayson Stark's All-Surprise Team from spring training.
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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Why do we love spring training? Because of Eddie Oropesa.
There's an Eddie Oropesa every spring. Or five. Or 10.
One minute, you think they're the clerk at your hardware store. The next minute, they've dropped out of a cloud bank or a beer league to make a real, live major-league baseball team. Or at least they hang around until the final cut.
Well, it's been happening again -- all over Florida, all over Arizona. But the captain of our All-Surprise Team has to be Edilberto Oropesa, age 29, Cuban defector, funky left-handed reliever.
It's now nearly eight years since Oropesa left Cuba for a United States tour with the Cuban national team. The team arrived in Buffalo. Oropesa knew it would be his last stop as a pitcher for Cuba.
One night, at the team hotel, Oropesa tried to escape. But when he burst out of the hotel door, he couldn't find the car that was supposed to propel him to freedom.
So the next day, he knew he needed to try again. But he didn't know how.
"Twenty minutes before the game," he said, "I jumped over the fence at the stadium. I started running to the parking lot. My family was waiting there in a car."
He jumped into the car and whooshed away. But his journey was really only beginning.
On that same tour, Rey Ordonez of the Mets defected. He is now in his sixth big-league season.
All these years later, Eddie Oropesa, now wearing a Phillies uniform, is finally in his first big-league training camp.
Since then, the baseball trail has led him just about everywhere.
To the Northern League.
To the amateur draft, where he was taken by the Dodgers in the 14th round in 1994.
To the Rule Five draft, where he was taken by the Giants in 1996.
To Taiwan, where he pitched briefly for the President Lions.
To Mexico, where the Giants shipped him to the Reynosa Broncos.
To the Venezuelan winter league, where the Phillies discovered him pitching for Zulia.
To six-year free agency, which allowed him this opportunity.
While Oropesa has been roaming the baseball earth these last eight years, many fellow Cubans have made a fortune in baseball. Eddie Oropesa hasn't been one of them.
"I'm very happy for them," Oropesa said of his countrymen, "because they've been able to make some money and help their families. I'm glad they didn't have to go through what I've gone through."
It was two years ago that Oropesa almost gave up. He started the year at the Giants' Triple-A outpost in Fresno. Next thing he knew, he was demoted all the way to the California League. Ten innings later, the Giants told him they were loaning him to Reynosa, of the Mexican League.
Only then, he said, did quitting cross his mind.
"But I talked to my wife and I talked to my dad," he said. "And that decision (to keep going) made me tougher. I thought: It can't be any worse than being so close to the big leagues and then boom, you're sent all the way to A ball and then all the way to Mexico."
And he was right. So he hung in. He spent last season in Double-A, striking out 76 in 76 1/3 innings. Then he became a free agent, dazzled Phillies minor-league pitching coach Greg Goosen in winter ball and got his big break.
After his first seven appearances this spring, he had a 0.00 ERA, six strikeouts and one walk in 6 2/3 innings and an inside track on a job in the major leagues.
"I don't like to think about that," Oropesa said. "But one thing I do think about is that the Phillies open the season in Miami. And my family is there. My family hasn't seen me play baseball in eight years. My father taught me how to play baseball. And I haven't seen him in three years. So I think about that."
But when his heart starts to jump at that thought, he tells himself to calm down. He has been through too much. He knows how dangerous hope can be.
"Maybe if I just came from Cuba two weeks ago, I would be excited," Oropesa said. "But after what I've gone through the last six or seven years, I'm not going to get excited until the decision is made."
Ah, but we can get excited about him. Because Eddie Oropesa is the kind of story that makes spring training worth watching.
Miscellaneous rumblings
The most intriguing name being dangled this week is Jose Cruz Jr., who reportedly was offered to the Mets for Glendon Rusch. Blue Jays assistant GM Dave Stewart showed up at Rusch's last start in Port St. Lucie and tried to act innocent. But sources say the Blue Jays are actively looking for another starting pitcher, with Cruz as the attraction. If Cruz is traded, Vernon Wells then would make the club in Toronto.
The Mets and Royals are said by several sources to be still in conversation about assorted deals involving Mark Quinn and various Mets relievers -- particularly Rick White. But it's believed the Royals prefer to keep Quinn and give Dee Brown more time to get his act together.
Kansas City also has talked to Tampa Bay about trading for either John Flaherty or Mike DiFelice. But the Royals don't seem to have the bullpen help the Rays would need to get back.
The Marlins also are in the market for a starting pitcher who can fill in until A.J. Burnett gets healthy. With numerous teams looking for a backup catcher, Florida is offering Ramon Castro around.
The Red Sox keep checking out potential shortstops (Juan Castro, Chris Sexton, Abraham Nunez, Kelly Dransfeldt, John McDonald). But until they know Nomar Garciaparra's status, they aren't sure whether they need just a backup or somebody who could play for a few weeks.
It appears more and more likely the Devil Rays won't rush Josh Hamilton -- or trade Gerald Williams to make room for him. But that, of course, could change.
Forget those Corey Koskie trade rumors in Minnesota. The Twins signed him to a three-year deal last week. And GM Terry Ryan says: "He's one of our guys (to build around)."
Scouts following the Astros have been amazed by Craig Biggio -- both by his physical progress and his mental resolve. "It looks to me like dealing with physical adversity has really helped him grapple with his own mortality as a player," said one scout. "I think he realizes his days are numbered at 33, and he's really bearing down, to come back and to win."
Steve Avery is still in the Braves' camp. But he's walked eight hitters in nine innings this spring, has barely topped 80 mph on the gun and was described by one scout this way: "It's painful watching Steve Avery get hitters out."
Great springs: Pat Burrell, Russell Branyan, Ryan Klesko.
Lousy springs: Kevin Millwood (20.25 ERA, .531 average against), Manny Ramirez (4-for-29, 2 RBI, 1 bad hamstring, many boos), Carlos Baerga (6-for-31, 10 strikeouts, 0 RBI).
Finally, here's something to look forward to. At old County Stadium, the Brewers used to be known for their bratwurst. Now, at Miller Park, available concession food includes fruit and yogurt cup, gourmet candy apples and venison jerky (an obvious tribute to the great Rob Deer).
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Triviality
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Rickey Henderson has led his league in stolen bases 12 times. But five other active players have led their league more than once. Can you name them?
(Answer at bottom.)
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Spring fever
Box score line of the week
White Sox phenom Jon Garland -- who hadn't given up a run all spring -- had one of those get-your-work-in nightmares spring training is famous for, last Friday vs. Arizona. The gruesome details:
3 IP, 11 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 HR (just to the first seven hitters).
Asked afterward what was getting hit, Garland replied: "Curveball. Fastball. You name it."
Human wrecking ball of the week
For Turner Ward, now in the Philles' camp, the implosion of Three Rivers Stadium last month was painful in more ways than one. Once upon a time, as a Pirates outfielder, Ward actually ran through the right-field fence at Three Rivers while chasing a fly ball.
Asked by Spring Fever what went through his mind when he saw the stadium crumble on TV, Ward saw it as a sign he was a man ahead of his time.
"I started the demolition crew," he said.
Passed torch of the week
There is no more John Wetteland in the Rangers' camp. But there is a guy doing a heck of a Wetteland imitation.
Tim Crabtree, the anointed successor to Wetteland, has done everything he could to assume Wetteland's persona except skate around the clubhouse in roller blades.
"I think he's trying to take over John's identity," fellow reliever Jeff Zimmerman told Spring Fever. "He even took John's number (35). And he's acting more like him every day. But if he gets out that hockey stick, I'm gonna kill him."
Special guest star of the week
The spring-training event we've all been waiting for has finally arrived:
Andy Van Slyke showed up at the Pirates' camp as a special instructor. So the Beaver County Times' John Perrotto proposed a new role for him -- special humor instructor.
"I could still drop a line," Van Slyke said. "Might drop a fly ball, too, now that I'm 40. But I definitely still drop a line."
He then proved it. When asked whether his thunderous ovation at the final game at Three Rivers Stadium proved correct the old Barry Bonds quote that "Andy Van Slyke is Mr. Pittsburgh," Van Slyke answered:
"Barry has said a lot of things in his life. It's great that he was actually right about one thing."
Tony Womack imitation of the week
Yep, that really was Mark Grace -- he of the 18 stolen bases in seven years -- leading off for Arizona last week.
Asked for his theory on how that happened, Grace told the Valley Tribune's Ed Price: "I think the skipper had too much wine last night."
The skipper himself (Bob Brenly) called this development "a managerial blunder" -- but said he was prepared to go ahead with this one-day experiment, despite concerns about Grace causing gridlock on the bases.
"If he walks to lead off the game, we may have to pinch run for him," Brenly said. "He's got the yellow light at all times."
Grace denied all, telling his teammates: "I can score on a homer, boys."
Bee line of the week
We've heard of players breaking out in hives. But the Padres and Angels took that a little too literally Saturday, when their game in Peoria, Ariz., had to be halted for five minutes -- because of bees.
A swarm of bees mysteriously descended on home plate in the fifth inning. Which caused Angels pitcher Tim Belcher, who had given up a six-run inning two innings earlier to ask the following stinging question:
"Where were they," Belcher wondered, "in the third inning?"
Steal of the week
The good news for the Indians last week was that their trip to Venezuela to play the Astros was a big success. The bad news was, owner Larry Dolan had his pocket picked.
"From now on," Dolan told the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes, "I'm putting mousetraps in my pockets."
Cyclist of the week
The big names in last Saturday's Yankees-Braves game at Lake Viera were Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter and Tino Martinez. But it was Braves minor-league outfielder Travis Wilson who made the big news by hitting for the cycle. He finished off his cycle with a double off Kevin Lovingier in the ninth.
"I was going for a double in that last (at-bat) no matter what happened," Wilson quipped.
Whiffers of the week
The last thing any hitter needs to see in spring training is Arizona submariner Byung-Hyun Kim firing those Frisbees. Sunday, Kim marched in there to face the Athletics and struck out the first five hitters he faced.
"You can tell these guys, as kids, didn't play Whiffle ball," said Arizona coach Chris Speier. "They don't know how to hit that sliding upshoot."
Useless information dept.
If Rickey Henderson gets to 3,000 hits as a Padre, he and Tony Gwynn could become just the fourth set of 3,000-hit teammates. The others, according to the Elias Sports Bureau's Ken Hirdt:
Dave Winfield, Eddie Murray (1995 Indians)
Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins (1927 Athletics)
Cobb, Collins, Tris Speaker (1928 Athletics)
So how long has Rickey been around? We can put into perspective just how long -- by listing just some of his major-league teammates over the years. It's been a while since you saw these names in the old box scores:
Cliff Johnson, Shooty Babbitt, Brian Kingman, Dave Kingman, Tom Burgmeier, Ed Figueroa, Mike Torrez, Mickey Klutts, Miguel Dilone, Jim Spencer, Ed Farmer, Preston Hanna, Ray Burris, John D'Acquisto, Joe Morgan.
The Phillies have announced they'll start Omar Daal on Opening Day. Elias' Ken Hirdt reports that would make Daal only the second 19-game loser in the last 20 years (i.e., the post-Brian Kingman era) to be an opening-day starter.
The other: Tim Leary -- for the 1991 Yankees (after going 9-19 in 1990).
In the five years before that (when losing 20 was more common), it was done seven times: Phil Niekro (1978, '80), Rick Wise (1979), Rick Langford (1978), Wayne Garland (1978), Jerry Koosman (1978) and Wilbur Wood (1976).
What does a guy with massive talent have to do to get released at age 27? In Ruben Rivera's case, how about ... avoiding hitting the ball (among other things).
Rivera will move on to his next destination, lugging the fifth-worst career strikeout ratio of all time.
The leaders, according to Elias, in worst career at-bat/strikeout ratio among nonpitchers with 1,000 or more at-bats:
Player AB SO AB/SO
Dave Nicholson 1,419 573 2.48
Melvin Nieves 1,228 483 2.54
Rob Deer 3,881 1,409 2.75
Bo Jackson 2,393 841 2.85
Ruben Rivera 1,115 368 3.03
And now the companion list -- worst career strikeout/hit ratio among nonpitchers with 1,000 or more at-bats:
Player SO H SO/H
Ruben Rivera 368 234 1.57
Ray Oyler 359 221 1.62
Rob Deer 1,409 853 1.65
Melvin Nieves 483 284 1.70
Dave Nicholson 573 301 1.90
Reader Elliot Chalom checked in after noticing that last week's list of leaders in assorted longest-drought categories included Scott Pose in the top five in both doubles (111 games without one) and homers (202 games).
Pose didn't make the top five in triples, but Chalom pointed out that he hasn't hit one of those since 1997. He's up to 144 games without a triple (dating back to Sept. 16, 1997). Which means he's gone 111 straight games without any extra-base hits whatsoever. Hard to do.
Since Pose's last extra-base hit in the big leagues (on May 29, 1999), Carlos Delgado has 154 extra-base hits.
Our pal Ed Price, of the Valley Tribune, couldn't help but notice that when Kent arrived in San Diego last weekend for a little NCAA hoop action, its best player was named -- fittingly -- Trevor Huffman.
Trevor Huffman's vital stats: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, 16.8 points per game, 84.9% free-throw percentage.
Trevor Hoffman's vital stats: 6-foot-0, 215 pounds, 15.0 pitches per inning (in 2000), 86% save-conversion percentage.
History lesson of the week
They're back. We asked readers to try to come up with the longest continous service any team has ever gotten from one player. (If the player was traded or the club got a draft pick as compensation when he left for a free agent, that new player continued the string.) And while we're down to a trickle, we'll keep passing along the best we get.
Browns-Orioles, 38 years (1955-93)
Jack Kramer to Jim Wilson to Mike Fornieles to Billy Goodman to Jack
Harshman to Billy Hoeft to John Orsino to Woody Held to Marcelino Lopez to
Roric Harrison to Earl Williams to Jimmy Freeman to Rick Dempsey to Pete
Harnisch to Glenn Davis.
Browns, 39 years (1912-51)
Del Pratt to Urban Shocker to Joe Bush to Tom Zachery to General Crowder
to Goose Goslin to Carl Reynolds to Ivy Andrews to Joe Vosnik to Bobo
Newsom to Bob Harris to Frankie Hayes to Sam Zoldak to Bill Kennedy.
White Sox, 29 years (1941-70)
Dave Philley to Minnie Minoso to Al Smith to Ron Hansen to Bob Priddy to
Bobby Knoop.
Indians, 25 years (1942-67)
Eddie Robinson to Early Wynn to Minnie Minoso to John Romano to Rocky
Colavito to Jim King.
Philadephia-Kansas City A's, 32 years (1945-1977)
Lou Knerr to George Binks to Ray Coleman to Paul Lehner to Dave Philley to
Lee Wheat to Tim Thompson to Kent Hadley to Don Larsen to Bob Shaw to Joe
Azcue to Doc Edwards to Rollie Sheldon to Ken Sanders to Ron Clark to Bill
Voss to Matty Alou to Rich McKinney.
Red Sox, 30 years (1926-56)
Danny MacFayden to Hank Johnson to Doc Cramer to Gee Walker to Joe Dobson
to Bill Wight to George Kell to Grady Hattan.
White Sox, 28 years (1941-69)
Dave Philley to Paul Lehner to Don Lenhardt to Mel Hoderlein to Sam Mele to
Johnny Groth to Jim Busby to Larry Doby to Tito Francona to
Bob Shaw to Ray Herbert to Danny Cater to Wayne Causey to Woody Held.
(All of the above from John Felser, King of Prussia, Pa.)
Indians, 28 years, 1973-2001
Larvell Blanks to Len Barker to Brett Butler to Charlie Nagy.
(From Brian Foley.)
Trivia answer
Kenny Lofton (five times), Tim Raines (four times), Tony Womack (three times), Marquis Grissom (twice), Brian Hunter (twice).
Jayson Stark is a Senior Writer at ESPN.com. Rumblings and Grumblings appears each week.
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