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Ringolsby: Pirates get no bang from payroll boost

Published September 1, 2006 at midnight

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Word out of Pittsburgh is that for the second year in a row, ownership is going to beef up the payroll for 2007. What nobody is saying is who's going to be spending the money.

General manager Dave Littlefield is under contract, but he also has been on the job for more than five years, brought in his hand-picked manager, Jim Tracy, last offseason and is facing the potential of having a worse record than the year before for the third season in a row. The Pirates also could lose 100 games for the second time in 21 years.

Having money is one thing, but spending it properly is another.

Too often teams looking for credibility feel they have to spend whatever budget they have, regardless of the return on their investment.

Pittsburgh has suffered from that since long before Littlefield got the job, but last offseason was another display of misspending simply because the payroll budget jumped to nearly $48 million.

The Pirates made three key free agent signings - third baseman Joe Randa, outfielder Jeromy Burnitz and reliever Roberto Hernandez. Hernandez was dealt to the Mets a couple of weeks ago.

Randa and Burnitz have combined to drive in 75 runs for the $10 million investment and are spending the bulk of their time on the bench, waiting for the season to end so they can become unemployed.

Overheard

• Chad McDonald, assistant scouting director in Arizona, is considered general manager Josh Byrnes' personal favorite to take over as scouting director for the Diamondbacks. McDonald originally was hired by Byrnes in Cleveland and worked with Byrnes in Boston before coming with him to Arizona. Others getting lots of talk among scouts are Dave Finley of Boston and DeJon Watson of Cleveland.

• Washington manager Frank Robinson would like a three-year deal from the Nationals' new ownership, but indications are the Nationals will make a managerial change. Atlanta third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez is at the top of the list of candidates.

• Designated hitter Frank Thomas wants to return to Oakland, but he wants a two-year guarantee. Thomas received a base of $500,000 this year and was given incentives of $200,000 each at 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 and 550 plate appearances.

Sneak peek

Philadelphia is back in the National League wild card hunt. But can the Phillies survive the next few days?

For a look at the stretch-run status of each team, check out my team- by-team breakdowns at www.Rocky MountainNews.com/Rockies.

It's a fact

Mike Baldwin is curious about who decides start times for games on the final day of a series.

The individual clubs determine their start times.

The only rule regarding game times on getaway days is if a team is traveling west to east and there is a two- time zone time change, then the getaway game must be a day game.

The Rockies more often than not play day games on the final day of a series, but the Dodgers are notorious for night games.

The only time the Dodgers play a midweek day game is if they happen to be leaving town after that game.

Got a question? E-mail it to ringols byt@RockyMountainNews.com.

Two cents' worth

Today the active rosters expand from 25 to a potential 40 players on each major league team.

It's a part of baseball that needs to become history.

For five months, 30 major league teams compete under rules that limit roster space to 25 active players. Then in the final month, when it's time to separate the postseason teams from the pretenders, suddenly there are expanded rosters.

The game is played differently. Managers don't have to be as discreet in roster moves and can make pitching changes left and right.

It's not right.

The final month, when postseason berths are wrapped up, shouldn't be played differently than the first five months. The one concern teams do have is the potential of an injury with a limited pool of replacements because minor league seasons end in the first days of September.

That could be handled by allowing teams to have a handful of players working out but not active - sort of a taxi squad.

MILE HIGH WATCH

First, catcher Chris Iannetta got the call to the big leagues by the Rockies last weekend. Then, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki joined the team Wednesday. Next, look for outfielder Jeff Baker and right-handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to be summoned in the next week to provide the major league staff with an idea of where they might fit with next year's team.

Baker was given a challenge during spring training to put a healthy season together. He has. And he has produced. Baker is hitting .302 for Triple-A Colorado Springs with 16 home runs and 101 RBI, third best in the Pacific Coast League.

Originally a third baseman, Baker has been playing right field for the Sky Sox and with the second-half struggles of Brad Hawpe, it would seem he will get an extended look in right field with the Rockies this month. Baker could win the right field job next season. He also could wind up being a bench player, sharing right field with Hawpe and backing up Todd Helton at first base and Garrett Atkins at third base.

Jimenez has split his season between Double-A Tulsa (Okla.) and Colorado Springs. He has been challenged with the Sky Sox, but given the recent fades of Rockies starters Byung-Hyun Kim and Josh Fogg, it would seem the Rockies should be able to find some starts for Jimenez this month so they can gauge how he fares against major league hitters.

RIGHT-HANDER Kyle Winters, a Marlins fifth-round draft choice last year out of Pomona High School, has put together a solid summer for short-season Single-A Jamestown (N.Y.) of the New York-Penn League. Winters is 5-6 with a 2.75 ERA. He debuted in the Gulf Coast League last year, going 0-4 with a 3.64 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts).

Winters was an All-Colorado selection by the Rocky Mountain News last year after going 8-1 with an 0.79 ERA in his senior year with Pomona.

TEAM-BY-TEAM CAPSULES

Stretch-run status

National League

Statistics through Wednesday, Aug. 30

ARIZONA has to come to grips with reality. The Diamondbacks challenge in final month is staying ahead of Rockies in the NL West standings. Right-handed pitcher Greg Aquino (elbow) has begun a rehab assignment.

ATLANTA has seven games with Philadelphia, including a four-game series this weekend, which will decide whether the Braves are legit wild-card contenders. The Braves have 17 games remaining at home, but are 30-34 at Turner Field. The only sub-.500 teams remaining on schedule are: at Cubs (four games), Washington (two games) and Rockies (four games). Right-handed pitcher Joey Devine (back) had 14 strikes and three walks in his first seven innings of a rehab assignment at Double-A Mississippi.

CHICAGO has 18 games remaining at Wrigley Field, but it doesn’t matter. They have the worst home record (27-36) in the big leagues.

CINCINNATI is fading fast in the NL Central and wild-card races. The Reds have lost six in a row. They can make a statement, however, against wild-card-leading San Diego, playing at Petco Park this weekend, and hosting the Padres next weekend. Cincinnati hopes that righty Gary Majewski (shoulder) can be activated this weekend.

COLORADO is looking at next year, bringing up catcher Chris Iannetta and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki before rosters expanded to get a better look at them.

FLORIDA has a chance to make a statement against Philadelphia in the wild-card race. The Marlins have 10 games remaining with the Phillies, including seven of the final 10 games of the season. The telling trip will be a nine-game tour to Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia beginning Sept. 15.

HOUSTON is trying to hang on in the wild-card, but has 15 of its final 29 games on the road, where the Astros are 29-37. The only non-contender on Astros schedule in next 24 days is Milwaukee, which hosts the Astros next weekend.

LOS ANGELES is making its move in the NL West, taking a three-game lead. The Dodgers do have 16 of final 29 games on the road, where they are only 29-36. They rank second in NL with a 42-26 home record. The remaining games outside of NL West including three games in Milwaukee, four at New York and three at home with Pittsburgh.

MILWAUKEE is headed to its 14th consecutive season without a winning record. The Brewers have played well at home (39-26), but their 23-45 record on road is better than only Pittsburgh.

NEW YORK went into Thursday with best winning percentage in the big leagues, and a 15 ½ game lead in the NL East, which allows manager Willie Randolph to keep everybody sharp, and eases temptation to try and rush back right-handed pitcher Pedro Martinez, whose rehab in Port St. Lucie was interrupted by threats of Hurricane Ernesto, and lefty Tom Glavine. At their age, the rest will help them stay strong for October.

PHILADELPHIA has pulled within a half game in the wild-card, but finds out real quick if they are for real. This weekend they embark on a 16-game stretch with home-and-away series against Atlanta and Houston sandwiched around a trip to Florida. Closer Tom Gordon is expected off the disabled list tonight, but outfielder Aaron Rowand is out for the season. GM Pat Gillick addressed that right-handed bat void by acquiring Jeff Conine and Jose Hernandez.

PITTSBURGH needs to finish the season 10-18 to avoid its second 100 loss season since 1985. The Pirates have 16 games remaining on the road, where they are 17-48, worst in the big leagues. Left-handed closer Mike Gonzalez has been shut down for the season.

ST. LOUIS has taken control in the NL Central, but has reasons for concern. Left-handed pitcher Mark Mulder has said he doesn’t expect to pitch again this year because of a shoulder problem, which leaves a major rotation hole for the postseason. Catcher Yadier Molina has been sidelined with a strained elbow.

SAN DIEGO has taken a half-game lead in NL wild card. The Padres have only 12 of final 29 games at Petco Park, which isn’t bad considering they are 35-29 on the road and 33-36 at Petco Park. First baseman Ryan Klesko’s rehab from shoulder surgery was disrupted when he injured hurt his back.

SAN FRANCISCO is hanging around the wild-card race, but the age factor is starting to show, and will become even more significant in the final weeks. On Monday, Giants opened a trip to Atlanta, Chicago and Cincinnati. Then return home for six games, and then hit the road for St. Louis, Colorado and Milwaukee. The Giants are 38-31 at home, but have only 12 games remaining at AT&T Park.

WASHINGTON has the second worst record in the NL, just two wins ahead of Pittsburgh. Manager Frank Robinson is in his final days with the Nationals, who have 19 games remaining at home.

American League

Statistics through Wednesday, Aug. 30

BALTIMORE once again is just playing out the season, having nailed down fourth place in the AL East for the eighth time in nine years. The Orioles have 19 games remaining on the road, where they are 24-38. Catcher Ramon Hernandez came out of a game this week with pulled rib cage muscle, and center fielder Corey Patterson injured a shoulder.

BOSTON has not recovered from being swept by the Yankees in five-game series at Fenway Park. The Red Sox went into Thursday having lost six in a row, falling eight games behind the Yankees in AL East, and 7 ½ back of the White Sox in the wild-card race. They do have 18 games remaining at Fenway, where they are 39-24, but the injury list is painful to look at, including designated hitter David Ortiz (irregular heartbeat), outfielder Manny Ramirez (patellar tendon), and right-handed pitcher Matt Clement (shoulder). Catcher Jason Varitek, outfielder Trot Nixon and shortstop Alex Gonzalez are all on rehab assignments.

CHICAGO is making its push, leading the AL wild-card and within 3 ½ games of Detroit in AL Central. The White Sox are going to have to win it on the road though. Chicago has 18 of its final 29 games on the road. The Sox are 34-29 outside of U.S. Cellular Park. Only three of first 15 games in September are at home. The season ends with three games at Minnesota.

CLEVELAND has 17 of its final 30 games on the road, where the Indians are 26-38. The Indians open a three-city trip this weekend that takes them to Texas, Toronto and Chicago. They need to win 18 of 30 to avoid their fourth losing season in five years.

DETROIT is in the position where every day off the calendar is a blessing. The Tigers have seen the White Sox pull within 3 ½ games. Left-handed pitcher Mike Maroth is on the active roster, but still uncertain about his left elbow, which caused him to skip a start at Yankee Stadium this week. They do have 17 of their final 28 games at Comerica Park, where they are 40-24.

KANSAS CITY has had one of those forgettable seasons. They had hoped to unload outfielder Reggie Sanders and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz on contenders, but Mienkiewicz underwent back surgery and Sanders has a partial tear in his left patellar tendon.

LOS ANGELES has faded into the background in the AL West, falling 7 ½ games back of Oakland. The Angels are nine games out in AL wild-card race. They are expected to get Darrin Erstad back this weekend in Detroit. Los Angeles has 16 of its final 28 games at home.

MINNESOTA is only 1 ½ games behind the White Sox in the wild card, but there are growing questions about how many more pitches right-hander Brad Radke’s right shoulder will allow him to throw. Rookie left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano (forearm) was given clearance to start rehabbing.

NEW YORK is in an enviable position. Manager Joe Torre can rest his bullpen and gear towards the postseason. The Yankees not only have an eight-game lead on Boston in AL East, but have 17 games remaining at Yankee Stadium, where they are 40-24. Outfielder Hideki Matsui took batting practice Wednesday.

OAKLAND has taken charge in the AL West, which gives the A’s the luxury of bringing closer Houston Street (groin) and starter Rich Harden (elbow) along slowly. Shortstop Bobby Crosby (back) is expected back in mid-September.

SEATTLE is facing the possibility of managerial change. The Mariners have 17 of their final 29 games on the road, where they are 25-39.

TAMPA BAY does have 16 games remaining at home, where the Devil Rays are 34-31. Infielder Ty Wiggington (hand) has begun a rehab assignment. The Devil Rays do miss left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir (shoulder), who is on the disabled list.

TEXAS had its season summed up when it traded for right-handed pitcher Kip Wells and then lost him for the season after only two starts. The Rangers will be challenged to finish above .500 at home, where they are 33-34.

TORONTO should at least finish with a winning record, but they do have eight games remaining with Boston, six with the Yankees and three at Detroit.

Listen to Tracy Ringolsby at 5:12 p.m. Friday with Dave and Lois on The Ride Home on KOA-AM (850) and watch him on the pregame show when FSN Rocky Mountain televises Rockies games.