In a statement released through the commissioner's office by the CDL players' union president Tim Foli, he demands a stop to the complaining by several players who felt they were snubbed in the all-star game voting. Specifically Foli took St. Louis' Canseco, San Francisco's Roof, and San Diego's Lynch to task in his statement.
"Jose (Canseco) is a fine ballplayer there is no doubt in my mind. However if he would spend more time fine-tuning his skills and less time complaining, he could be a superstar. Does he belong in the all-star game? Maybe. But did he deserve the rookie of the year in 1986 when he hit a pathetic .250? Of course not! Sometimes things balance themselves out in life and in baseball!"
Foli continued, "Who the hell is Gene Roof? These players need to realize that if they are so fortunate to have one good year, that doesn't really qualify them for an all-star game selection. Sure Gene has a .303 lifetime average and a .386 on base percentage. But what about his lack of pop in the old Gene Roof lumber and his stone glove in the outfield. These players need to realize that just because they do a couple things well that doesn't constitute them being in all-star. Roof's all-star status in 1989 should suffice for a player as average as him."
Foli finally closed his rant with San Diego's Ed Lynch, "Ed should know better. It seems that guy is on the DL more than Texas' Lyman Bostock on steroids. He's had a fine season, one that everyone in the union has been shocked by. He was a deserving all-star last season but let's take a stroll back to 1984 shall we? He was a less-deserving all-star that year in his sophmore campaign due almost entirely to the fact that the Giants' marketing machine made it happen. So once again things seem to balance themselves out quite well."
Foli concluded by saying, "What is up with the NL? The players and owners are chronically negative and I'm fed up. Why can't they be more like their AL bretheren and specifically Milwaukee's Edgar Martinez? Edgar is hitting .311 with a .405 on base percentage. He also has 46 RBI, 42 runs scored, and a stolen base! Now that is production and he isn't complaining about his lack of all-star game status. Now he's a true professional and reminds me of myself when I basically defined it. If there were more Edgar Martinez's and Tim Foli's and less Jose Canseco's, Ed Lynch's, and Gene Roof's in the CDL then the baseball world would be a much better place. Thank you for your time."
Even though Foli didn't resign, a new players' union president is expected to be announced within a week.
After the outcries of fellow CDLPA members who felt they we're "snubbed" during recent All-Star voting, Padres hurler Ed Lynch gave them all an ear full.
"You want to talk snubbed! I didn't get to go to the damn game because I was nursing a ruptured tendon! Put up some of the best #s in my career, and do they at least let me come and sit in the dugout? Hell, no! Not even a friggin' honorable mention! The whole thing just makes me so mad..."
Lynch was 2nd in the league in ERA at the time of his injury, 6th in Wins.
All Shane Mack could do was snicker when Gene Roof approached him after Mack's all star selection and wondered out loud what Mack did better than Roof this year. A cast off of the Dodgers earlier this year, Roof leads the Giants with a .324 average, a league leading .431 obp and 21 steals. While Mack is batting over .300 and leads the club in ribbies, Roof has been the oil in the Giants offense this year. Mack added, "looks like poor little gene is gonna hit the roof..hehe".
Giants Manager, Bill Stoneman, responded that he was disappointed in Roof's absense in the all star game but added, superstar Bryan Harvey was excluded as well despite having a 0.00 era for most of the first half (presently sitting at .064 in 70 innings). When asked about the whining that was going on in St. Louis by Jose "Cry me a River" Cansesco, Stoneman responded with "Jose Who?".
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Cardinals' outfielder Jose Canseco was so sure he was going to Baltimore to the All-Star Game that he had already bought plane tickets for his family and friends.
Coming off his best half-season in his career, he's hitting ,278 with already 23 homeruns and 61 RBIs. That's only one less homerun than his total for the whole 1990 season, and five less than his career best. He also has 21 stolen bases.
Canseco was definetly bitter : "Do these guys consider only the teams with good records? I mean, come on! Shane Mack? Tony freakin' Armas? What the hell is that? What did they do that I haven't done this year? It's not my (beep) fault that McGriff got hurt and that the team is stuck in third place! It's just disgusting!"
"There was me and my 23 homers, Straw with his 22, Kevin (Mitchell) got snubbed by that single-hitting dude in Chicago (Wade Boggs), (Francisco) Barrios and (Mark) Portugal would have been better choices that Bryn Smith. Yeah, what a surprise he took the loss."
"At least Doc (Gooden) made the team, but sure, he wasn't gonna pitch. Might have helped our league win. And, then, what's the deal with (Mike) Walters? The guy pitches every day, unhittable, but when you don't have those (beep) saves, you have no chances."
"It's official, I'm gonna boycott this thing next year. But they better pick me."
1991 saw a good crop of rookies enter the CDL..Lets have a look at how they are doing half way through the 91 season.
1. California: First pick overall, Jeff Bagwell is batting .256 with 6 homers and 38 ribbies on the big club for the last place Angels. He looks very good but has some distance to go before he grows into his talent.
2. Houston: Bernie Williams is in AAA ball batting .290 for the last place Astros. Bernie is a very similair player to Bagwell and only needs to grow into his talent before he becomes a huge star.
3. Baltimore: Jim Thome is in AAA ball batting .290. Like Williams and Bagwell, he has great talent but needs to see his ratings improve before he becomes a huge star.
4. Mets: "Moose" Mussina is with the big club pitching at a 4.93 pace with two wins. Mussina is the best of the pitching prospects with the added bonus of being "loyal during negotations" and durable. He will needs a few years and some support on the Mets but should be a solid number one pitcher.
5. White Sox: 22 year old Chuck Knoblauch is with the big club, already batting at a .277 pace with 26 steals. He should be in the race for rookie of the year.
6. Yankees: 19 year old "Pudge" Rodriquez is in AAA ball batting .256. A strong prospect for both the long ball and average, Pudge should be the starting catcher for the Yankees next year and for many years to come.
7. Braves: Mo Vaughin was traded to the Astros for outfielder Dave Justice at the beginning of the season. Vaughin, a steal at seventh overall, is having a great year in AAA ball and should be the starting first baseman for the Astros next year.
8. Cubs: 24 year old pitcher, Juan Guzman is already an eight rated starter with the big club. He is struggling at 4-7 and a 5.35 era. Guzman may need a year or two to get it together but he will be a top number one starter. His only drawback is his prone to injury rating.
9. Oakland: Speedster Kenny Lofton sits in AA ball with a great .320 average. Lofton is one of the best young base stealers to come into the league. He will need a year or two in the minors to get ready.
10. Houston: Jeff Fassero is another key to their incredible young team. At 28, Fassero has stepped into the big league club but struggles with the last place Astros going 3-12 with an era over 4.
11. Houston: Reggie Sanders is an AA ball batting at a .275 pace. A base stealing threat of the future along with the long ball, Reggie was helped by a talent bump early in the year as well.
12. Seattle: Closer Rod Beck sits in AAA ball having a great season. He should be ready for the big leagues this year and is the best closer to come out of the draft year.
13. Royals: Mike Timlin was traded to the Giants in a three way deal that also included Boston. Timlin is with the big club in San Fran but is struggling with an era over nine.
14. Cleveland: Pat Hentgen was traded to the Royals in the blockbuster deal that saw Curt Shilling arrive in Kansas City. Hentgen sits in AAA ball with good potential to make the staff next year. While perhaps not a number one pitcher, Pat certainly should be a fine addition to Mike's staff.
15. Detriot: 22 year old pitcher, Darryl Kile is a similair prospect to Pat hentgen. Brilliant at strike outs, he should find a nice home in the upper part of the Tigers staff in a year or two. At present, he sits in AAA ball with a great 2.32 era.
16. Cardinels: Roberto Hernandez was the first reliever picked in the draft. A solid 8 rated pitcher, Christian has him on the big league roster. Hernandez has struggled, as many young star pitchers do, at 1-3 and 6.88 era. Roberto will be a star reliever in the next few years.
17. Royals: John Vander Wal is in AA ball batting .222. John got a small talent bump this season and looks to be a solid obp regular for the Royals in a few years.
18. Detriot: 22 year old Denny Neagle is in AA ball for the Tigers with a 3.89 era. A bit of a gamble, with a little help in the forum of a talent bump in allowing home runs and Detriot could have one number one starter in a few years.
19. Montreal: Steve Foster joins a team already teeming with quality young starters. Foster is better than, perhaps every other starter in the draft 'cept Mussina but he carries with him the dreaded duo of E endurance and a prone rating in injuries. At present, he sits in AAA ball with a 3.53 era. I also note here that he has not been injured this year.
20. Brewers: 23 year old third baseman, Vince Castillo has a lotta upside to him, with good ratings in average and home runs. His poor rating in walks, however, diminishes his value. Vince is batting .273 in AAA ball and should be the regular corner man for the Brewers in a year or two.
21. California: Derek Bell was traded to the Giants early in the year that saw Jose Oquendo go to the Angels and Mark Grace to the Giants. Bell is a solid steal threat prospect who is at least a year or two away from the big team. Bell sits in AA ball with a curious .000 batting average.
22. Braves: Ed Sprague is another third baseman with a good ability to hit the long ball. With some downsides in obp ability, this is made up with great defense. Sprague is in AAA ball this year and may have some difficulty unseating Brook Jacoby on the big club.
23. Toronto: 26 year old Wayne Newson is one of the few draft picks to begin the year on the big club. A great obp guy (10 rated), Wayne has a .367 obp and a surprising 8 home runs. Wayne has a curious mix of great stealing ability with no speed. Steve has Wayne set at normal steal mode...I wonder what would happen if he gave Wayne the opportunity to steal more bases. Wayne should be considered in the rookie of the year awards and is perhaps the most underrated of the crop of rookies this year.
24. Twins: Frank Castillo is a fine young pitching prospect presently sitting in AAA ball with a 9-4, 3.70 era. A talent bump of a small nature is all the stands between Frank and a job on the big league club next year. At 22, there is good reason to be optimistic about his chances.
25. Texas: Shortstop Jose Hernandez is only 21 and still in A ball. Though lacking in defense, Jose has a chance at being the regular shortstop with average ability and above average power. He will, however, require a few years of minor league care.
26. Royals: Brett Barbarie got a very nice talent bump early this year to add to the great defense he provides the Royals. Already with the big club, Brett should be the regular second baseman for the Royals for many years. At present, he bats at a .263 pace.
Best of the bunch: Bagwell and Williams look to be superstars.
Best pitcher of the bunch: Mussina by a mile
Biggest talent bump: Tie with Reggie Sanders and Barbarie
Biggest surprise: Wayne Newson proving he can play with the big boys so early and do so well.
Early Rookie of the year favorite: Larry Walker and Chito Martinez with Chuck Knoblauch and Newson needing to pick up the pace to overtake them.
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