State of the Diamond address
The hot news this month is all 8 players are employed again (barely) and we have our first starter of the group
Frank Cardoza - Starting RF Washington
The 19 year old Cardoza finds himself thrust into the lineup as the starter ahead of Larry Biittner after only 2 at bats in April. The move has many scratching their heads and indeed it appears the youngster is in over his head as he goes 9 straight games without a hit at one point, yet he continues to get the nod.....for the time being.
Willis Wilson - Backup 1B Kansas City
The powerfully built youngster is Bob Olivers backup in KC and the only other 1B on the major league roster. Used primarily as a pinch hitter (only 4 starts), the 20 year old rookie is showing well, though his lack of both speed and defense are liabilities.
Mathurin Hawkins - Backup LF Montreal
Despite being buried in a crowded Outfield that features Rusty Staub, Curt Flood and Mack Jones the 18 year old youngster barely a year out of high school is becoming a cult figure in Montreal. With amazing speed for a big man the 'Irishman' leads our group in runs scored and steals as a pinch runner extraodinaire has sparked Mathurin-mania in the great white north.
Pedro Gonzales - AAA 2B/SS Chicago White Sox
'The Streaker' is a speedy, scrappy little middle infielder currently trapped in the minors as the Sox have Rich McKinney and Bobby Knoop at 2B and the venerable Luis Aparicio at SS on the big club. Still Gonzales has turned heads hitting over .300 in triple A with an OBP over .400 and is showing his worth as a table setter that should puch McKinney down the road.
TC Crooks - #3 Starter San Diego
Crooks joins Wyomings favorite son Rick Inman on the destitute Padres roster after spending nearly 2 months in the unemployment line. After nearly accepting the fact that his summers would be spent on the east coast in some independant league and his winters on the Ski patrol in Utah, Crooks not only got the call, but was immediately placed in the rotation and will make his first major league start in July.
Diego Delavega - AAA Starter Chicago Cubs
It has been a tough go for our Pitchers as the 19 year old Delavega was released by the Mets after concerns over his wildness, only to be snatched up by the Cubs the day after Crooks signed with San Diego. Delavega will have to work out his wildness in the minors, but the Cubs brass feel he has great upside.
Jace Hunter - AAA 1B Cleveland
Why the hell is Jace Hunter still in the minors is the question many Indians fans are asking as the 20 year old prospect continues to shred International League pitching. Cleveland looked poised to bring Hunter up, but Duke Sims has raised his average to .292 and appears to be safe for now. The Indians also have Chuck Hinton and Ken Harrelson listed as 1B on the major league roster, but all three players ahead of Hunter are 30 or older, meaning his chance will eventually come.
Rick Inman - Backup 3B San Diego
The Padres are bringing the 21 year old Inman along slowly and if he starts to hit he could take the starting job away from Nate Colbert, who is a first sacker playing out of position at 3B as another rookie (Dave Kingman) has been given the 1B job. Inman started 14 games in May, but has not shown the consistency needed to hold down the job. As one sportswriter put it "You think he is about to break out, then he can't hit a thing for 5-6 games, it's like he has a dark Cloud over his head."
Edit: Inman is only hitting .133, missed that.
On deck
Al Mighty SS
Larry McGillicuddy 1B
Ivan Carillo SP
Dan Schoonover 3B
Will Brown 2B