From Covers.com
You can't tell the players without a program ? unless you read this column. These four pitchers are fresh off the minor-league bus, and they want to prove today that they belong in the land of limousines and private jets. With rosters expanding to 40 players next month, now is their time to shine, or it's back to the bus.
National League
Josh Hall (R) - Cincinnati
The Reds considered giving Oakland expatriate Aaron Harang the start today against Jesse Foppert and the Giants, but instead they called the 6' 2" right-handed Hall from AA-Chattanooga.
Hall is a 22-year-old native of Lynchburg, Virginia, and was a seventh-round selection in the 1998 Draft. He's got 91 starts and a relief appearance in the minor leagues under his belt, putting up a 3.61 ERA and six complete games.
In 2001, Hall was 11-5 with a 2.65 ERA and 122 strikeouts for the Dayton Dragons of the Single-A Midwest League. He moved on to A-Stockton last year before finally getting promoted to Chattanooga in May, but had some trouble walking batters at that level (3.5 walks per nine innings).
Hall's 90-mph fastball doesn't get as many Ks as it did in Single-A. Instead he employs a wicked curveball and a fine change-up to keep batters off-kilter.
Oddsmakers have the Giants set as -175 favorites on the overnight line, and the 'total' is set ten. For more on this pitching matchup, click here.
David Manning (R) - Milwaukee
Looks like Glendon Rusch won't be losing 20 games this year. He's on the 15-day DL with a strained left groin, so Milwaukee has called up Manning from AAA-Indianapolis. He'll be making his major-league debut against Javier Vazquez and the Montreal Expos.
The 30-year-old Manning is the oldest rookie to make his debut since Masato Yoshii five years ago. He's a 12-year veteran of the minor leagues, where he's languished since being drafted in the third round by Texas in 1992. He was 6-7 with a 4.64 ERA in 22 games for the Indianapolis Indians this season, starting on 16 occasions.
"He's got a good fastball and a good changeup from time to time," pitching coach Mike Maddux told reporters. "He's a couple years off Tommy John surgery, I believe, so he's got some life back in his arm."
Manning had the reconstructive surgery on his elbow in 2000, and it looked at the time like his career might be over. He stayed in the game by offering pitching clinics to Little Leaguers in his hometown in West Palm Beach.
"It will be like the seventh game of the World Series," Manning told the Palm Beach Post.
Oddsmakers have the Expos as -220 favorites, and the 'total' is set at 8 1/2. For more on this pitching matchup, click here.
American League
Dan Wright (R) - Chicago
After an excellent second half to the 2002 campaign, Wright was supposed to be one of the young anchors of the White Sox rotation. Instead, the 6' 5" righty from Longview, Texas posted a 5.93 ERA in 11 starts. Thanks to some unusual run support, Chicago went 6-5 during those starts, earning 1.2 units. The 'over' was 7-4.
Wright was recalled yesterday from a month-long stay at Triple-A Charlotte, where he went 1-3 with a 4.64 ERA. Some minor-league seasoning was long overdue for Wright. After being drafted in the second round in 1999, he went straight from the University of Arkansas to Double-A, and then joined the parent club in 2000.
Wright has awesome mid-90s heat and a wicked knuckle-curve, but one thing he never learned is how to avoid the 'big inning'. A little command goes a long way.
Chicago puts Wright back into the rotation today against Ryan Franklin and the Seattle Mariners. Oddsmakers have Seattle as a -165 favorite, and the 'total' is set at nine.
For more on this pitching matchup, click here.
Corey Thurman (R) - Toronto
Toronto's merry-go-round approach to pitching continued Thursday when John Wasdin was optioned to AAA-Syracuse. In his place, 6' 1" righty Corey Thurman will make his second major-league start against Jarrod Washburn and the Anaheim Angels.
"We're going to have to start taking a look at some guys to see what we've got for next season," Jays manager Carlos Tosca told the Toronto Star. It'll be Tosca's third look at Thurman this year ? he's got a 1.42 ERA in 6 1/3 relief innings for Toronto, striking out six batters. He was 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 14 starts with Syracuse.
Thurman was one of Kansas City's better prospects, but they exposed him in the 2001 Rule 5 draft to grab Miguel Ascencio from the Phillies. Thurman was kept on the Jays roster all of last season, making 43 appearances and one start in his rookie year and posting a 4.37 ERA.
The Augusta native has a funky three-quarters delivery and a high leg kick. Thurman's four-seam fastball gets into the low 90s, and he relies on a nasty change-up that dips sharply at the plate.
If he can gain some command of his curveball, he'll have the third pitch he needs to stay in the rotation. That's what the Jays (and the Angels) will be looking for tonight at Edison Field.
Oddsmakers have Anahiem as a -175 favorite, and the 'total' is set at nine. For more on this pitching matchup, click here.
You can't tell the players without a program ? unless you read this column. These four pitchers are fresh off the minor-league bus, and they want to prove today that they belong in the land of limousines and private jets. With rosters expanding to 40 players next month, now is their time to shine, or it's back to the bus.
National League
Josh Hall (R) - Cincinnati
The Reds considered giving Oakland expatriate Aaron Harang the start today against Jesse Foppert and the Giants, but instead they called the 6' 2" right-handed Hall from AA-Chattanooga.
Hall is a 22-year-old native of Lynchburg, Virginia, and was a seventh-round selection in the 1998 Draft. He's got 91 starts and a relief appearance in the minor leagues under his belt, putting up a 3.61 ERA and six complete games.
In 2001, Hall was 11-5 with a 2.65 ERA and 122 strikeouts for the Dayton Dragons of the Single-A Midwest League. He moved on to A-Stockton last year before finally getting promoted to Chattanooga in May, but had some trouble walking batters at that level (3.5 walks per nine innings).
Hall's 90-mph fastball doesn't get as many Ks as it did in Single-A. Instead he employs a wicked curveball and a fine change-up to keep batters off-kilter.
Oddsmakers have the Giants set as -175 favorites on the overnight line, and the 'total' is set ten. For more on this pitching matchup, click here.
David Manning (R) - Milwaukee
Looks like Glendon Rusch won't be losing 20 games this year. He's on the 15-day DL with a strained left groin, so Milwaukee has called up Manning from AAA-Indianapolis. He'll be making his major-league debut against Javier Vazquez and the Montreal Expos.
The 30-year-old Manning is the oldest rookie to make his debut since Masato Yoshii five years ago. He's a 12-year veteran of the minor leagues, where he's languished since being drafted in the third round by Texas in 1992. He was 6-7 with a 4.64 ERA in 22 games for the Indianapolis Indians this season, starting on 16 occasions.
"He's got a good fastball and a good changeup from time to time," pitching coach Mike Maddux told reporters. "He's a couple years off Tommy John surgery, I believe, so he's got some life back in his arm."
Manning had the reconstructive surgery on his elbow in 2000, and it looked at the time like his career might be over. He stayed in the game by offering pitching clinics to Little Leaguers in his hometown in West Palm Beach.
"It will be like the seventh game of the World Series," Manning told the Palm Beach Post.
Oddsmakers have the Expos as -220 favorites, and the 'total' is set at 8 1/2. For more on this pitching matchup, click here.
American League
Dan Wright (R) - Chicago
After an excellent second half to the 2002 campaign, Wright was supposed to be one of the young anchors of the White Sox rotation. Instead, the 6' 5" righty from Longview, Texas posted a 5.93 ERA in 11 starts. Thanks to some unusual run support, Chicago went 6-5 during those starts, earning 1.2 units. The 'over' was 7-4.
Wright was recalled yesterday from a month-long stay at Triple-A Charlotte, where he went 1-3 with a 4.64 ERA. Some minor-league seasoning was long overdue for Wright. After being drafted in the second round in 1999, he went straight from the University of Arkansas to Double-A, and then joined the parent club in 2000.
Wright has awesome mid-90s heat and a wicked knuckle-curve, but one thing he never learned is how to avoid the 'big inning'. A little command goes a long way.
Chicago puts Wright back into the rotation today against Ryan Franklin and the Seattle Mariners. Oddsmakers have Seattle as a -165 favorite, and the 'total' is set at nine.
For more on this pitching matchup, click here.
Corey Thurman (R) - Toronto
Toronto's merry-go-round approach to pitching continued Thursday when John Wasdin was optioned to AAA-Syracuse. In his place, 6' 1" righty Corey Thurman will make his second major-league start against Jarrod Washburn and the Anaheim Angels.
"We're going to have to start taking a look at some guys to see what we've got for next season," Jays manager Carlos Tosca told the Toronto Star. It'll be Tosca's third look at Thurman this year ? he's got a 1.42 ERA in 6 1/3 relief innings for Toronto, striking out six batters. He was 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 14 starts with Syracuse.
Thurman was one of Kansas City's better prospects, but they exposed him in the 2001 Rule 5 draft to grab Miguel Ascencio from the Phillies. Thurman was kept on the Jays roster all of last season, making 43 appearances and one start in his rookie year and posting a 4.37 ERA.
The Augusta native has a funky three-quarters delivery and a high leg kick. Thurman's four-seam fastball gets into the low 90s, and he relies on a nasty change-up that dips sharply at the plate.
If he can gain some command of his curveball, he'll have the third pitch he needs to stay in the rotation. That's what the Jays (and the Angels) will be looking for tonight at Edison Field.
Oddsmakers have Anahiem as a -175 favorite, and the 'total' is set at nine. For more on this pitching matchup, click here.
