what players do you feel have never gotten a chance or will never get a chance

by gashousegang on Jun 12, 2007 12:13 PM EDT

I am starting a diary to discuss players past and present that you think never got a fair shot in the big leagues....Guys, that for whatever reason (maybe they were blocked by a star or had bad gm's that did not see their talent) faded away into baseabll obscurity. I thought of this because I had wondered what had happened to Jamal Strong and why he never got a chance in Seattle despite having the ability to get on base steal bases and play solid defense. There have been a ton of guys like this and I am sure that some greay tales could be told why they never made it....

a few others:

OF-Bombo Rivera put up decent numbers in part time play but never got much action in the bigs after his 27th birthday

C- Mike Rose always seems to be able to hit from the left side of the plate (i have seen him 3 times in spring and he is raking the ball)

INF-Pete Coachman seemed to be a pretty decent prospect with the Halos but never got a shot

anyway just a few guys....would love to hear some of oyour thoughts. I know there are tons, but these are a couple of names that popped up in the useless information part of my brain

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Jack Cust

Jack Cust never really got a fair chance to prove himself at the major league level. He has been given some playing time now with the A's but even they were quick to bench him when he started to show signs of struggling.

Mike Zagurski Fan Club

by Grrranderson on Jun 12, 2007 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

yes

because players who can only hit tend to not get ABs when they are not hitting.
It makes sense.

And he wasnt ever THAT great of a minor league hitter.
He had 3 below-average years (for a DH) in AAA in a row

by nms on Jun 12, 2007 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Petagine

Roberto Petagine

There are many triple-A first basemen who probably deserved more big league at bats, however.

by FI @ Minor League Ball on Jun 12, 2007 12:32 PM EDT reply actions

+1

A.J. Zapp and Bucky Jacobsen. Big Bucky definitely should have gotten a second chance, he left a whole cult fan club out to dry.

Hey fish, leave those kids alone!

by The Congo Hammer on Jun 12, 2007 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh

after the injury, Bucky was never the same. He looked huuuuge, like 330LBS huge, and I think he had trouble with his swing.

Sad story after his M's tenure, but you see it in the stats - he didn't deserve another shot the way he was hitting. I saw he got cut off a mexican league roster this year. Wonder what he's doing now?

by marc w @ Minor League Ball on Jun 12, 2007 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Justin Huber!

It's not too late, Royals.

Hey fish, leave those kids alone!

by The Congo Hammer on Jun 12, 2007 12:35 PM EDT reply actions

Yep

One of my favorites.

Guy needs a change of scenery in the worst way.

by marc w @ Minor League Ball on Jun 12, 2007 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

seriously

if they don't want him, why don't they trade him? there has to be a niche for him someplace, defense or no defense. the mariners have been paying like 8 million to DH jose vidro. and they could corner the market on j. hubers.

by wily mo on Jun 12, 2007 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I wanted the M's to get him in the off season. Maybe a straight Aussie for Aussie swap, if the decree came down that Snelling HAD TO GO.

Seriously, I would LOVE to pair Huber with Broussard at DH.

by marc w @ Minor League Ball on Jun 12, 2007 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Jason Botts

has destroyed PCL pitching but the Rangers are reluctant to bring him up.

2005 AAA - .895 OPS
2006 AAA - .973
2007 AAA - .928

He's seen some MLB time, but inconsistently. He didn't hit for avg. when up, but continued to see lots of pitches and draw walks. One problem, no position, suspect defense. He probably won't get a real shot until Sosa hits #600 and is dumped. He has tweaked his swing this year, adding a leg kick and shortening it a bit, making him a better hitter in the long run.

by t ball on Jun 12, 2007 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

YES!

Mike Zagurski Fan Club

by Grrranderson on Jun 12, 2007 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Jamal Strong

his big problem with the M's was that he got busted for steroids. I think he'd have been in the mix in CF for the M's in their disastrous '05 and '06 seasons, when no one could stay healthy and/or hit for them there. But the M's have been moderately ruthless with guys who've tested positive.

The other guy like this, and another guy who I'm somewhat surprised never got a shot, is Greg Jacobs, a converted pitching 'spect who raked in the M's system. He played indie ball last year, but is in the Phillies' system now (and has an ops near .900, but is pushing 30). Never a big power guy for a corner OF, but I loved his line-drive swing. I hope he at least gets a good shot at a half year of AAA and finally makes the majors in September.

by marc w @ Minor League Ball on Jun 12, 2007 1:02 PM EDT reply actions

Jacobs

I saw him play for the Kansas City T-Bones last year. He was a real fan favorite and I am pretty sure he was a "juicer" Hard nose guy though.

Frank Tanana is my all time favorite player and he was a member of VTTigers beloved team....my tribute to VTTigers

by gashousegang on Jun 12, 2007 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Right

I meant he was another guy that may have gotten a shot w/the M's if it hadn't been for that positive test.
The pitching example is Troy Cate, who now IS getting a shot with St. Louis.

Glad to hear he was a fan fave in KC. A friend and I were going to start a fan club when he was in tacoma, perhaps Greg's Jacobins. But then came the suspension, and that was that.

Ironically, his walk-up song was 'So Fresh, So Clean.'

by marc w @ Minor League Ball on Jun 12, 2007 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Jeff Kepinger

He isn't a prospect with huge upside but he's been putting up solid numbers for a few years now.

by AdRoK on Jun 12, 2007 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

Keppinger

Agree totally, he always but up solid numbers for the Pirates minor league teams, especially for a middle infielder. Even though he was a high round pick, the pirates never liked him and were slow to promote him from level to level. I think he was eventually dumped in the Benson trade. Anyone know where he is now ?

by baseballgg24 on Jun 12, 2007 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Reds

Traded to Reds from Royals this offseason.

by doublestix on Jun 12, 2007 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

mark hendrickson

i really think he could be a good mid-rotation starter in the big leagues if somebody would only give him a chance. but he's been consistently discriminated against because he's a short right-hander.

by jpahk on Jun 12, 2007 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

Do you mean Ben?

Mark is a tall lefty.

Vice-Chairman of the Sonnanstine Underground Railroad

by Brickhaus on Jun 12, 2007 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

no

ben hendrickson is 6'4". i meant mark.

by jpahk on Jun 12, 2007 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Ben Hendrickson?

by doublestix on Jun 12, 2007 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

i got it.

by wily mo on Jun 12, 2007 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks buddy

that makes it all worthwhile.

by jpahk on Jun 12, 2007 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

????Hendrickson

Correct me if I am wrong, but Mark Hendrickson is the opposite of a short right hander isn't he?

As a Pirate fan, I hope you will check out these numbers on a guy named Eric Ridener. Why this guy is in indy ball is beyond me.

Two years in GCL..2.03 ERA, 67 K in 62 IP, ONE homer allowed 22 BB.. now dominating in indy ball (Frontier)
I am not saying he should be in the majors, but he should at least be affiliated ball I'd say..

by joemorgansaysdeadredtoomuch on Jun 12, 2007 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

darnell mcdonald:

age 24, AAA, .296/.374/.355
age 25, AAA, .234/.294/.368
age 26, AAA, .281/.337/.457
age 27, AAA, .292/.351/.435
age 28, AAA, .327/.389/.462

not stellar numbers, but he would have gotten a real chance to play in 2004, had he not shat a brick.

ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't

by overlord on Jun 12, 2007 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

I almost thought of listing him

then I went back and looked at his numbers again. Still, there's no reason he couldn't be a 4th outfielder somewhere. He has some pop, can get on base, and plays solid enough center.

Vice-Chairman of the Sonnanstine Underground Railroad

by Brickhaus on Jun 12, 2007 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Buddy Hernandez

I can't believe he never got the call considering some of the garbage that has been in Atlanta's pen over the past few years.

by emagnes01 on Jun 12, 2007 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

Gronky

I think you could throw Lee Gronkiewicz into that mix of relievers that have not received a shot

Frank Tanana is my all time favorite player and he was a member of VTTigers beloved team....my tribute to VTTigers

by gashousegang on Jun 12, 2007 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Hee Seop Choi...

After his rookie year (and the Wood collision), the only time he got consistent ABs was with the Marlins...he hit .270/.388/.495.

After that he never got consistent ABs again. Even when he hit like 6 HRs in 3 games, I'm pretty sure he sat out right after that.

by SenorGato88 on Jun 12, 2007 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

Spot on

has always baffled me. Love his approach at the plate.

Mike Zagurski Fan Club

by Grrranderson on Jun 12, 2007 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Joe Koshanksy

by asianinvasion on Jun 12, 2007 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

Dan Hare- oh....

seriously, though, John Gall comes to mind...

by mateodh on Jun 12, 2007 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

booming power hitters

Calvin Pickering
Wily Mo Pena
Toe Nash

by Curtis Pride on Jun 12, 2007 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

Toe

I saw Toe Nash during his season in the Appy League and he was awful... he brought almost nothing to the table in terms of baseball ability

by tmsnow on Jun 12, 2007 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I think

Scott Hairtson is one

by Havok1517 on Jun 12, 2007 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

Kind of different choice here: John VanBenschoten

but not as a pitcher, as a hitter.

He was a multi position guy in college and in his junior (and final) year at Kent State the guy hit .440 .551 .982 for an OPS of 1.533

He had 31 HRs in 225 ABs that year as well as 23 SB and 2 CS (33 and 3 for his career).

He has never been able to put it together as a pitcher, and we are left to think what might have been with him as an offensive player.

Mike Zagurski Fan Club

by Grrranderson on Jun 12, 2007 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

+1

He had the potential to be a better version of Brooks Kieshnick*(however you spell it). The guy's bat was ridiculous in college...

Lincecum is the truth!

by JT12340 on Jun 12, 2007 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Carlos Garcia - belated opportunity

One of the many Latin players whose age increased after their careers were underway, Carlos still would have had a much better ML career if he hadn't been stuck behind Jay Bell during the early 90's in Pittsburgh. Garcia spent 1990-1992 as the full-time SS (ages 22-24) at AAA Buffalo (.280/.431/.325) before finally being promoted to Pittsburgh. He eventually earned All-Star honors as a ML 2B in his second season in 1994.

As a Pirate hitter, Garcia hit .280/.395/.323 from 1993-1996 (at ages 25-28) before being moved to Toronto as a part of a large deal that mainly netted the Bucs 1B/OF/C Craig Wilson. He had a steep decline after leaving the 'Burgh -spending a year apiece in Toronto, Anaheim, and San Diego before playing in Columbus (AAA) at age 32 in his last professional season.

Garcia was a pleasure to watch play as he gave solid effort day-in and day-out, even as he waited in Buffalo for his turn in the Bigs. He's one of my favorite all-time players.

by doug frobel on Jun 12, 2007 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

Todd Linden

Can't say he didn't have his chances, but I'd still like to see what would happen if he was given at least 250 contiguous AB's.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jun 12, 2007 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

val

val pascucci, decent defender, .400 on base at age 24 in AAA, good power, no chance...

by LindInMoskva on Jun 12, 2007 6:22 PM EDT reply actions

On the flip side...

Two guys who I've liked forever and could have been buried like a ton of the guys on this list. But both have ended up making decent careers for themselves...Dave Delucci and Mark DeRosa.

It's funny how fate works some times. That, and the ability to play at least a little defense somewhere other than 1B.

by Yakker on Jun 12, 2007 7:25 PM EDT reply actions

Dave Hansen

He may not have ever been a star, but he could have ended up with a decent career.

by count sutton on Jun 12, 2007 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

Matt Watson

If any team was going to give him a chance it should have been the Oakland A's.

by grover on Jun 12, 2007 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

Bombo memories...

saw Bombo play RF for the Twins in the first ML game I ever attended. He played a routine fly ball into a triple in the first inning. We named our fantasy league in his honor.

by sgrape13 on Jun 13, 2007 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

Billy Ashley

I never thought he would do much, but the Dodgers handled him about as poorly as possible. Someone with his skill-set/limitations needed regular at-bats, but pinch-hitting duties until he caught on (which never happened).

I can't tell you the number of times the Dodgers would send him up to pinch hit in a sacrifice fly scenario? How stupid can you be to send up someone who strikes out in 40% of their at-bats when all you need is a ball in play? Of course, the Dodgers pretty much are trying to same thing with Wilson Betemit now.

by bleedjaxblue on Jun 13, 2007 5:31 PM EDT reply actions