« Padres Acquire Chris Burke | Main | 2010 Options: Boston Red Sox »

Rosenthal On Edmonds, Cooper, Angels

By Tim Dierkes [April 21, 2009 at 9:04am CST]

The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports...

Jim Edmonds still wants to play in 2009. Rosenthal learned from his agent that the outfielder intensified his workouts recently. It still may take him up to three weeks to be game-ready.
Rosenthal finds the Astros' decision to exercise Cecil Cooper's 2010 option questionable. Rosenthal had wondered earlier in the week if Cooper might be the first manager fired. While we're on the topic, Ron Washington's job in Texas does not seem to be in jeopardy according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.
Rosenthal notes that calling up Derek Holland now instead of letting him break camp with the Rangers will delay his free agency by a year. The Rangers were willing to make that sacrifice with Elvis Andrus (assuming he's not demoted in the future).
The Angels could consider several recently-designated pitchers: Steven Shell, Wil Ledezma, Darren O'Day, Nelson Figueroa, and Philip Humber.

Comments

What's wrong with Humber? iirc he was supposed to be a pretty good pitcher but got injured. The Twins let him go because they didn't have room for him, correct? Why hasn't anyone else taken a chance on him? Was he more a product of the NY hype machine or does he still have promise?

Posted by: pageian | April 21, 2009 at 10:48 AM

"What's wrong with Humber? iirc he was supposed to be a pretty good pitcher but got injured. The Twins let him go because they didn't have room for him, correct? Why hasn't anyone else taken a chance on him? Was he more a product of the NY hype machine or does he still have promise?"

Humber deserves all that hype he received right up until he had Tommy John surgery in June of 2005.

After that, his fastball lost some velocity and he couldn't maintain it deep into games, his offspeed stuff got flatter, and he couldn't locate his pitches as consistently.

Humber has gotten smacked around in his time in the majors, and his recent AAA performance has been nothing short of mediocre.

He's shown some homer-prone tendencies in AAA (HR/9 over 1.3 in 2007 and 2008) and he doesn't miss enough bats to make up for it.

I don't know if Humber will ever even be good enough to be a fifth starter in the majors.

Posted by: scribbletone | April 21, 2009 at 11:04 AM

I'm all for promoting Holland now that it delays his free agency by a year, and also I think pitching in the bullpen while working with Mike Maddux everyday in the majors will work out just as good as him continuing his work by starting in the minors.

Posted by: JH32 | April 21, 2009 at 11:36 AM

I would agree with JH32. Right now the Rangers bullpen could use some help. Look at their ERA's:
Wilson 5.68
Francisco 0.00
Feldman 12.60
Jennings 0.00
Rupe 15.43
Guardado 11.25
Eyre 8.10
Madrigal 13.50

Other then Francisco and Jennings how much worse could Holland do then the rest? Getting him some innings at the major league level could help him, as long as it is some consistent innings. Not a once a week pitch two innings.

Posted by: bravesfan | April 21, 2009 at 12:08 PM

I actually think that Holland should be in the rotation, rather than the bullpen.

Guys like Wilson, Feldman and Guardado should bounce back and be solid, while the rotation still has major questions.

Behind Millwood and McCarthy, they have gotten practically nothing from Padilla, Harrison and Benson, and honestly I think that they've called up Holland to push one of those guys, presumably Benson, out of the rotation.

Holland is a stud starting pitcher prospect and if he's called up, he should be starting to further his development in that role, not to mention the fact that he's probably better than Benson at this very moment.

Now that Holland is up, Ranger fans get to wait while Neftali Feliz closes in on the majors. And Michael Main. And Martin Perez. And Blake Beavan. And Kasey Kiker. And Guillermo Moscoso. And Wilmer Font. And Eric Hurley. And Wilfredo Boscan.

The Rangers have a lot of pitching prospects..

Posted by: scribbletone | April 21, 2009 at 12:54 PM

The Angels can basically get O'Day back for a profit if they want. The Mets took him in the Rule 5 and the Angels know what they are getting with him.

Posted by: AA | April 21, 2009 at 03:33 PM

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

Posted by: |

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Your comment could not be posted. Error type:

Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Rosenthal On Edmonds, Cooper, Angels

Comments

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

Post a comment

Top Stories

Search MLBTR

MLBTR Features

Recent Posts

MLBTR Mailing List

Rumors By Team

Monthly Archives

Live Chats


Home Contact About Advertise Archives Widget Twitter RSS Usage