I'm pretty sure the general consensus is that Ozzie Guillen left Jose Contreras out there far too long
during tonight's debacle. What I'm not sure about is how much the 10 spot under the earned runs column affected his trade value.
Yes, 10 is an ugly number, and it raised his ERA to an unsightly 5.76. But considering how Sox relievers pick up a starter about once every two weeks (and the bullpen just helped out Javier Vazquez yesterday), there were no guarantees that calling in Ehren Wassermann would have saved Contreras' line score.
In the previous two times Contreras found himself in big-time trouble (three if you count the first inning), he did nothing to limit damage. Leaving the game in the midst of another one won't wow the scouts, but getting out of a jam for once could've left a somewhat positive impression.
Of course, Jose did the exact opposite, throwing one of those dopey, drop-down, do-nothing "sliders" that Lugo crushed over the Green Monster. But if that moment was the dealbreaker for any MLB GM, then chances are he isn't a good one.
Contreras' struggles are by no means a secret, and Kenny Williams won't be able to pull wool over anybody's eyes. His velocity comes and goes, his command isn't there, he can't hold runners, he doesn't field his position particularly well and nobody trusts his age. There's such a collection of question marks that a GM or scout watching Contreras tonight isn't going to be swayed by his manager leaving him in five batters too long.
The only hope is that a GM thinks Contreras' stuff is still live enough to get hitters out for his respective team. If anything's going to help boost Contreras' trade value, threatening to deport him for dropping down in big situations might actually make a difference.
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With an 0-for-4 night, Josh Fields is in an 0-for-12 slump, and has started his second half 4-for-35. Worse yet, he looks as bad as his numbers indicate.
While on the subject of trade value, now might be a good time to give Rob Mackowiak a spot start there. Expand his horizons, and maybe it'll expand the number of teams
interested in his services.
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Minor league round-up:- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 8, Charlotte 4
- Lance Broadway pitched decently -- he gave up four runs and seven hits over six innings, but he only walked two and kept the ball in the yard. He also struck out seven.
- Scott Podsednik went 2-for-4 and drew a walk, but he was caught stealing two of the three times he reached.
- Ryan Sweeney went 0-for-3 with a walk, RBI and outfield assist; Danny Richar went 0-for-3 with two walks.
- Chattanooga 4, Birmingham 3
- Ryan Wing threw six shutout innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out nine. Carlos Torres promptly gave up four runs the next inning.
- Thomas Collaro went 1-for-4 with a double; at .268, he owned the Barons' highest batting average tonight.
- Charleston 10, Kannapolis 8
- Jacob Rasner had a bad night -- nine hits, three walks, five earned runs over three innings.
- Chris Carter hit his 21st homer, a two-run shot, for his only hit of the night.
- Francisco Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a double; Sergio Miranda recorded his first professional triple.
- Winston-Salem doubleheader PPD