Cobbfather Post Gazette: S61 Rule 5 Look Back

Gabrielle O. Alvarez-Tillman - Contributing Reporter

Here we are close to the end of the season, let's take a quick look at how the Rule 5 panned out for teams this year.

Cincinnati - Opted not to select a player. Imagine either of the next two on this team and how much more depth they would have as the #1 seed in the NL.
New York - Alex Terrero. Last year the team lucked into Gordon Eyre because he wasn't protected and this year they luck into Terrero because Cincy didn't do the correct paperwork. There must be something going on in Anaheim between the Scouts and the Front Office. Terrero originally signed in S57 with a near $30M signing bonus but the Front Office team didn't want to protect him, perhaps it was a paperwork issue as well. That paperwork can be a real killer. Gotta hire the right admins! Don't cheap out.

Chicago - Nicky Anderson. Paperwork hits again! Appears Mexico City promoted Anderson just hours before the Rule 5 draft and shifted him to the Inactive list; likely meaning to add him to their 40-man instead. Was it a language barrier or too many cervezas? Safe to say had Cincy nabbed Terrero, Anderson would have gone to New York instead. Leaving Chicago with who?

Fargo - Clarence Levis. Almost immediately offered back to Augusta and declined. He's spent all season in the AAA bullpen. At least it's not the Augusta Rookie level where he spent the first three seasons of his career. Imagine being a 3rd year prospect still being in Rookie ball and only getting 11 games in. He was so close to his dreams of pitching in the Majors. He offers two great pitches a change up and Cut FB; but that's about it about him.

Austin - Ralph Leon. Solid add for the Odins', that greatly improved their bullpen. The strange thing is, Tucson had just traded for Leon in S60 in the Edgar Amaro deal to Jacksonville. I guess they don't need bullpen help over in Tucson so they let him walk.

Charleston - Ted Rzepczynski. While Austin made the smart play at pick #5, they immediately realized they missed their own paperwork when division rival snagged their #35 pick from S54. Teddy Rzeppy had been simmering in AAA since S57 so it was time to get off the pot for sure! And what a season he had coming out of the bullpen in long relief.

Dover - No pick. Last season was the first time above 63 wins since S53, but they elected to stay quite and not grab a player. But really, 68 wins last year and couldn't find a single player here? In their defense, I don't think any pick here would have improved them much - or gotten them back to the 68 win mark; so Hazmat fans are left with another sub .420 record for the last 8 seasons. Maybe there's too much 420 going on up in Dover.
Anaheim - After losing Terrero you gotta pick up at least someone.
Augusta - Kenny Damon. The #28 pick from S57 is now an Alcoholic and we mean that in the nicest of ways. He made quite a few starts this season and done so decently well.

Colorado Springs- Took the Cincy route and passed on a Rule 5 pick this season. The team is looking good, no matter what the other blog writers say.
Buffalo - No pick. The team is back to their .500+ winning ways.
Scottsdale- No pick. Rumor has it they were only looking at Terrero and Anderson as picks and there was no way they'd last until pick 12.
Philadelphia - No pick and they FINALLY decided to become sellers. Looking forward to their rebuild.
Jacksonville - No pick. Seems to be a weak Rule 5 this year so don't blame them at this pick.
Boston - Lonnie Loney. Became the 7th player selected in this season's Rule 5 draft, not bad for Boston who had the 15th pick. That's a lot of teams overlooking Loney; whose value is really on the base paths but also as an above average centerfielder.

Minnesota - Brooks Houck. Selected by Minny and immediately waived but claimed by Philly....who passed on him just a few picks before this one. Perhaps another scouting issue or ownership being overwhelmed with names to look at. Back to back picks from Montreal too.

New Orleans - Dewayne Jones. He's no Rock, that's for sure. And not really cooking much, as he landed on the DL this season but also didn't really put up solid numbers in the time he was up.

Vancouver - No pick. Or maybe they just couldn't convince any players to move to Canada. On that note, did you hear? Robin Sparkles has another album coming out soon.
Hartford- No pick. This season is only the 3rd losing season in jverrier's 13 season ownership. Looks like rebuild mode is on its way, we'll see how quickly they can come out of it. They turned the franchise around pretty quickly the first time.
Tucson - Flash Ochinko. Yet another player offered back and declined but it wasn't a total loss for Tucson as they were able to trade him later in the season to Tacoma in the Vince Saarloos deal. Don't get too excited, every at-bat this year as been at Double A. If Flash was the main piece coming back to Tacoma - maybe they can hide their tears in all that rain they get up there.

Oklahoma City - No pick. Playing in the weak division has helped them resecure yet another division title, but guess they didn't see much value this late in the draft.
Washington DC - No pick. A late slip had them missing the playoffs.
Mexico City - No pick. Next year they will have pick #1! What a different a year makes, but will it be under the same ownership? Only time will tell.
Columbus - No pick. Another team who slipped into complete rebuild mode. This will be within the top 10 next season.
Salem - Jamie Porter. Yet another declined offer back who was demoted to the minors; crushing EVERY little dream they've had about making it to the majors.

Montreal - Tesocar Telemaco. See Porter and many above him: drafted, offered back, declined, demoted.

Huntington - Pasqual Javier. Javier knows the drill as he was a Rule 5 pick by Minney in S60 - though still didn't see any ML time. Also don't see this often: drafted, added to 40 man, offered back a few days later and then Minny accepted the return. Unfortunately he only got 6 games in and 2 ABs before being demoted back to AAA.

Tacoma - Desmond Ferrell. Rinse and repeat: selected, offered back, declined, demoted - but this time all the way down to AA. No way he makes it back up before he retires and becomes a fielding coach making millions of dollars being overpaid and finally buys that fancy home he's always dreamed of.

Alright folks, that's the first round of the Rule 5, productive year? Pass.

Cobbfather Post Gazette