The Tigers are back in the World Series and the Cardinals look like they’ve woken up just in time for the playoffs. Could it be 1968 all over again? (Not that I am old enough to actually remember that Series, mind you, but it’s considered a classic.)
Former Twin Hurler Excelling in Japan
In last week’s tome on the Twins and their minor league pitching, Brad Thomas was not mentioned as, of course, he was originally Dodgers’ property before Minnesota signed him. Anyways, the Australian southpaw looked like he had a promising future when he was named as the Eastern League’s All-Star lefty in 2001. But in three trips to the majors for the Twins, Thomas could never come close to duplicating his minor league success (0-3, 9.89 in 11 games, five of which were starts).
The Bosox bought him in April 2004 and after one season in their minor league system, Thomas headed to Japan. He just completed his second season with the Nippon Ham Fighters, who recently swept the second stage of the Pacific League playoffs. Thomas, who turned 29 last week, adapted to Japanese baseball much better in his second year, going 4-1, 3.74 in 40 relief appearances with four holds, 16 games finished and one save. He gave up 50 hits in 45 2/3 innings, and perhaps showed enough to earn an invitation to a big league camp next spring.
Given Stability, Cuddyer Delivers
It took almost a decade, but this season Michael Cuddyer finally delivered on his promise as the ninth overall pick in 1997. The delay to stardom was mostly caused by uncertainty over his final defensive home. Drafted as a shortstop, Cuddyer was shifted to third base and then the outfield and then back to third, etc. You get the point.
Since making his major league debut in 2001, Cuddyer has been used at first base (40 games), third base (157 games), second base (60 games), left field (nine games) and right field (212 games). The multi-position eligibility he enjoyed as somewhat of a super sub added to Cuddyer’s fantasy value, but other than flashes, his offensive game was slow to develop, largely, one may assume, because of the constant shifting around the diamond.
Early this season, after seeing action at first and in left, Minnesota finally told Cuddyer he was the everyday right fielder and left him there. The results were phenomenal as in a career-high 150 games, he enjoyed a major breakout with his first season of over 100 runs, 41 doubles, five triples, 24 homers and 109 RBI. Still just 27, Cuddyer is entering his prime power years, so I expect to see him flirt with 30 homers or more next season. The 130 strikeouts he rang up this season are of concern, and I’d definitely like to see him cut that total before we can consider him with higher than, say, a fourth-round pick in an AL-only league – especially since he loses his eligibility at third base in 2007.
Kinney’s Chances Dwindling?
After a stronger Triple-A season in 2006, but not a sniff of major league activity, it appears that 29-year-old Matt Kinney is precipitously close to becoming an organizational player. The one-time Red Sox prospect has seen five seasons’ worth of major league action, winning 19 games, but the Giants never gave him the call this season despite a decent 8-7, 4.80 performance and a good showing during spring training.
Kinney cut his home run rate and showed improved control in his 24 starts and four relief appearances for Fresno in his best Triple-A season since 2000, so perhaps there’s hope he’ll at least get a chance to win a long relief job somewhere next spring.
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NEXT: Spikes Up will return on October 23, for its penultimate appearance at CS.
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Rob Blackstien is a freelance writer and the principal of Pen-Ultimate (www.pen-ultimate.ca), a Toronto-based writing and editorial services firm. On Thursdays, he writes Offseason Lowdown and posts fantasy baseball news daily on Rotoworld, and his baseball work has also appeared on BaseballNotebook.com and the Fantasy Baseball Guide magazine. Rob has also written baseball and basketball columns for usatoday.com and foxsports.com.