Friday, June 21, 2002
Atlanta's first basemen have produced eight home runs and only 29 RBIs, and there is talk around baseball that the Braves are considering bold measures to address the situation.
A Philadephia Phillies source said the Braves have discussed making a trade for third baseman Scott Rolen and moving Vinny Castilla from third to first base.
And in Cleveland, the Braves and Boston Red Sox reportedly have expressed interest in Indians first baseman Jim Thome, who has 19 home runs this season and 301 in his career.
Thome, making $7.8 million this season in an option year, has hit an additional 17 postseason home runs, third on the all-time list.
The asking price for either player could be relatively steep, especially considering there may be no guarantees that Rolen or Thome would re-sign with any team that might acquire him.
The Phillies might want infielder Wes Helms and promising rookie left-hander Damian Moss. The Aussie lefty could be a sticking point with the Braves, who, if they dealt him, wouldn't be assured of a lefty in next season's rotation with Tom Glavine eligible for free agency.
It's unclear what the Indians would want for Thome or even if they would trade the player, who has become a blue-collar icon in Cleveland. Thome, 31, amassed 49 homers and 124 RBIs last season and now carries more of the load than ever for a team with at least some playoff hopes.
Rolen is almost certain to be moved before the July 31 no-waiver trade deadline. The three-time Gold Glove winner has fallen out of favor with Phillies fans, who were peeved when Rolen turned down the team's offer last winter worth up to $140 million over 10 years.
The situation worsened as Rolen has gotten off to his worst start --- .237 with 10 homers and 39 RBIs before Thursday --- and an anonymous teammate was quoted last week calling him a "clubhouse cancer."
Widely regarded as the best all-around third baseman in the National League, Rolen averaged 26 homers and 95 RBIs in his first five seasons.
He wants to play for a team committed to winning, and some close to Rolen believe it wouldn't take anywhere near $14 million annually for an elite organization to sign him.
Some in the Braves' organization believe AOL Time Warner's budget plans won't make the dollars available to re-sign a Rolen or Thome, especially if the Braves intend to try to keep Glavine and Greg Maddux as free agents.
Castilla hamstrung
Castilla's strained right hamstring has sidelined him for four days and may keep him out of the lineup for all or part of the three-game series against the Chicago White Sox that begins tonight.
Infielder Mark DeRosa is working out with the team but might not be ready to begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment for another week. He had surgery a month ago to repair supportive tissue in his right ankle.
Facts and figures
Maddux has pitched six innings or fewer in five of his past six starts, including five innings Thursday before leaving with a strained left calf. . . . Left-hander Chris Hammond had held first batters faced to a league-best 0-for-20 before surrendering a single by Chris Truby to start the sixth inning, after Hammond replaced Maddux.
ON DECK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX
> When, where: Today at 7:35 p.m., Saturday at 7:05 and Sunday at 1:05 at Turner Field.
> TV; radio: All on TBS and WSB-AM (750).
> Series history: This is the first meeting between the teams.
> Probable starting pitchers: Tonight --- RHP Todd Ritchie (4-8, 5.23 ERA) vs. LHP Tom Glavine (11-3, 1.71); Saturday --- RHP Gary Glover (2-2, 4.62) vs. LHP Damian Moss (3-2, 3.28); Sunday --- RHP Dan Wright (5-7, 5.44) vs. RHP Jason Marquis (5-4, 4.67).
> Worth noting: The White Sox have won five of eight since a 3-12 stretch. They have hit 13 home runs in the past eight games after hitting 19 in the previous 22 games. . . . Former Braves infielder Tony Graffanino, who has a .229 average in 227 at-bats at Turner Field, is batting .293 for the Sox and went 2-for-5 with a triple and an RBI in Thursday's victory at Philadelphia. . . . The White Sox are batting .300 with runners in scoring position, fourth in the AL behind the Mariners, Red Sox and Angels. . . . On the disabled list --- C Sandy Alomar (right shoulder).
> Starters:
C --- Mark Johnson
1B --- Paul Konerko
2B --- Ray Durham
3B --- Tony Graffanino
SS --- Jose Valentin
LF --- Carlos Lee
CF --- Kenny Lofton
RF --- Magglio Ordonez
> Who's hot: Konerko is 10-for-28 (.357) with five home runs and 10 RBIs in his past eight games, including a three-run homer Thursday. At .324, he ranks fourth in the AL in hitting. . . . Ordonez is 34-for-89 (.382) with six home runs and 15 RBIs in his past 24 road games.
> Who's not: Lofton is 4-for-34 (.118) in his last 11 games and has one stolen base and no home runs in 15 June games. . . . . 1B Frank Thomas is 16-for-76 (.211) with three home runs, five walks and 21 strikeouts in his past 22 games. . . . Valentin is 8-for-74 (.108) with 23 strikeouts in his past 22 road games.
> Tonight's pitching matchup: Ritchie is 1-5 with a 5.36 ERA in eight road starts. Against the Braves, he's 1-3 with a 3.63 ERA in six games (five starts), including 0-2 at Turner Field despite a 1.69 ERA in three games (two starts). He has struggled mightily this season with runners in scoring position (.355 average allowed) and when hitters put the first pitch in play (.455, 20-for-44). Andruw Jones is 5-for-14 with two homers against Ritchie. Glavine, whose six-start winning streak was snapped Saturday against Boston, has been baseball's most consistent pitcher since last summer. He's 21-5 with a 2.11 ERA in 35 starts since June 28 and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 32 of the 35. In the loss to Boston, he was charged with seven hits and five runs (three earned) in five innings, his shortest start since going five on Sept. 8 against the Chicago Cubs
Atlanta's first basemen have produced eight home runs and only 29 RBIs, and there is talk around baseball that the Braves are considering bold measures to address the situation.
A Philadephia Phillies source said the Braves have discussed making a trade for third baseman Scott Rolen and moving Vinny Castilla from third to first base.
And in Cleveland, the Braves and Boston Red Sox reportedly have expressed interest in Indians first baseman Jim Thome, who has 19 home runs this season and 301 in his career.
Thome, making $7.8 million this season in an option year, has hit an additional 17 postseason home runs, third on the all-time list.
The asking price for either player could be relatively steep, especially considering there may be no guarantees that Rolen or Thome would re-sign with any team that might acquire him.
The Phillies might want infielder Wes Helms and promising rookie left-hander Damian Moss. The Aussie lefty could be a sticking point with the Braves, who, if they dealt him, wouldn't be assured of a lefty in next season's rotation with Tom Glavine eligible for free agency.
It's unclear what the Indians would want for Thome or even if they would trade the player, who has become a blue-collar icon in Cleveland. Thome, 31, amassed 49 homers and 124 RBIs last season and now carries more of the load than ever for a team with at least some playoff hopes.
Rolen is almost certain to be moved before the July 31 no-waiver trade deadline. The three-time Gold Glove winner has fallen out of favor with Phillies fans, who were peeved when Rolen turned down the team's offer last winter worth up to $140 million over 10 years.
The situation worsened as Rolen has gotten off to his worst start --- .237 with 10 homers and 39 RBIs before Thursday --- and an anonymous teammate was quoted last week calling him a "clubhouse cancer."
Widely regarded as the best all-around third baseman in the National League, Rolen averaged 26 homers and 95 RBIs in his first five seasons.
He wants to play for a team committed to winning, and some close to Rolen believe it wouldn't take anywhere near $14 million annually for an elite organization to sign him.
Some in the Braves' organization believe AOL Time Warner's budget plans won't make the dollars available to re-sign a Rolen or Thome, especially if the Braves intend to try to keep Glavine and Greg Maddux as free agents.
Castilla hamstrung
Castilla's strained right hamstring has sidelined him for four days and may keep him out of the lineup for all or part of the three-game series against the Chicago White Sox that begins tonight.
Infielder Mark DeRosa is working out with the team but might not be ready to begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment for another week. He had surgery a month ago to repair supportive tissue in his right ankle.
Facts and figures
Maddux has pitched six innings or fewer in five of his past six starts, including five innings Thursday before leaving with a strained left calf. . . . Left-hander Chris Hammond had held first batters faced to a league-best 0-for-20 before surrendering a single by Chris Truby to start the sixth inning, after Hammond replaced Maddux.
ON DECK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX
> When, where: Today at 7:35 p.m., Saturday at 7:05 and Sunday at 1:05 at Turner Field.
> TV; radio: All on TBS and WSB-AM (750).
> Series history: This is the first meeting between the teams.
> Probable starting pitchers: Tonight --- RHP Todd Ritchie (4-8, 5.23 ERA) vs. LHP Tom Glavine (11-3, 1.71); Saturday --- RHP Gary Glover (2-2, 4.62) vs. LHP Damian Moss (3-2, 3.28); Sunday --- RHP Dan Wright (5-7, 5.44) vs. RHP Jason Marquis (5-4, 4.67).
> Worth noting: The White Sox have won five of eight since a 3-12 stretch. They have hit 13 home runs in the past eight games after hitting 19 in the previous 22 games. . . . Former Braves infielder Tony Graffanino, who has a .229 average in 227 at-bats at Turner Field, is batting .293 for the Sox and went 2-for-5 with a triple and an RBI in Thursday's victory at Philadelphia. . . . The White Sox are batting .300 with runners in scoring position, fourth in the AL behind the Mariners, Red Sox and Angels. . . . On the disabled list --- C Sandy Alomar (right shoulder).
> Starters:
C --- Mark Johnson
1B --- Paul Konerko
2B --- Ray Durham
3B --- Tony Graffanino
SS --- Jose Valentin
LF --- Carlos Lee
CF --- Kenny Lofton
RF --- Magglio Ordonez
> Who's hot: Konerko is 10-for-28 (.357) with five home runs and 10 RBIs in his past eight games, including a three-run homer Thursday. At .324, he ranks fourth in the AL in hitting. . . . Ordonez is 34-for-89 (.382) with six home runs and 15 RBIs in his past 24 road games.
> Who's not: Lofton is 4-for-34 (.118) in his last 11 games and has one stolen base and no home runs in 15 June games. . . . . 1B Frank Thomas is 16-for-76 (.211) with three home runs, five walks and 21 strikeouts in his past 22 games. . . . Valentin is 8-for-74 (.108) with 23 strikeouts in his past 22 road games.
> Tonight's pitching matchup: Ritchie is 1-5 with a 5.36 ERA in eight road starts. Against the Braves, he's 1-3 with a 3.63 ERA in six games (five starts), including 0-2 at Turner Field despite a 1.69 ERA in three games (two starts). He has struggled mightily this season with runners in scoring position (.355 average allowed) and when hitters put the first pitch in play (.455, 20-for-44). Andruw Jones is 5-for-14 with two homers against Ritchie. Glavine, whose six-start winning streak was snapped Saturday against Boston, has been baseball's most consistent pitcher since last summer. He's 21-5 with a 2.11 ERA in 35 starts since June 28 and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 32 of the 35. In the loss to Boston, he was charged with seven hits and five runs (three earned) in five innings, his shortest start since going five on Sept. 8 against the Chicago Cubs
