(AP) WASHINGTON--The Washington Sea Dogs' long-fought battle to get a
cleanup hitter has finally been won.
Washington called a press conference today to announce that they had
traded top prospect Don Coker, third baseman Bill Mueller and backup first
baseman Pete O'Neill today for Robin Ventura and John Olerud.
Washington General Manager Aaron Weiner spoke about the trade.
"Obviously, this is a very big day in Sea Dogs history," Weiner said.
"We've been looking for a cleanup hitter all winter long, and Robin
Ventura certainly fits the bill."
Despite having to deal an up-and-coming player in Bill Mueller, who hit 13
homers last season, Washington acquired in Ventura a player who hit 22
homers last year with a .260 average and could easily better that this
season.
"It's not that Medina's lineup was subpar last year; far from it. But we
feel like Ventura will have better protection with Barry Larkin in front
of him and Chuck Knoblauch behind," Weiner said.
Olerud is no small acquisition either. The first baseman hit 23 homers in
full-time action, but Weiner said that it's not that probable that Olerud
will see full-time action this season.
"Well, he's going to be our first person off the bench," Weiner said, "but
we have a young phenom in Mickey Kelly who has to get playing time.
Olerud's definitely going to get his 300 at bats, especially filling in
for Harold Baines at DH."
Ventura, at the press conference, spoke about how much he's looking
forward to playing on the Sea Dogs.
"Well, I'm going to a team that won the Defiant League pennant last year,"
Ventura said. "From what they tell me, we've got a really good shot at
doing it again, and I'm really looking forward to a shot at a ring."
Olerud, who also spoke, was a little disappointed about his role on the
Sea Dogs.
"Well, I hate to lose my starting job," Olerud said, "but I love the fact
that I'm on a good team. The manager (Aaron Weiner) has assured me that
I'll be in the lineup a lot this season, and that's all I asked for."
Washington now looks forward to the new season with perhaps the best team
in Sea Dogs history. But Weiner is keeping it in perspective.
"We haven't played a single game yet," Weiner said. "But I will say this
- Washington just got a whole lot better with this trade. We're really
psyched for the new season."
* * *
Notes and Quotes:
"They want me to do WHAT???"
-Chuck Knoblauch, after learning
he would be the #5 hitter this year
"Robin's a real pro, and he's a great team leader. We're really fortunate
to get this kind of a guy into the clubhouse."
-Barry Larkin
* * *
The ramifications of getting a cleanup hitter for the Sea Dogs are
immense. Barry Larkin, who collected 117 RBI last season, had to do much
of the RBI work for the Sea Dogs until Harold Baines's arrival.
But this season, Washington has Robin Ventura and John Olerud to drive in
runs, and Larkin doesn't have nearly as much pressure.
"Not that Harold Baines didn't do a great job last year, 'cause he did,"
Larkin said. "But having a guy with Robin's power batting behind
me...I don't have to worry about driving in every single run this season."
Washington manager Aaron Weiner was especially pleased about the lineup
possibilities that this deal provided them.
"We're really ecstatic with this deal, because it means that Barry Larkin
isn't going to have to play every game this season," Weiner said. "We can
use Knoblauch or Young to give him a day off; similarly, we can rest
Knoblauch, anyone."
Weiner said that the addition of Olerud was just as big.
"Well, John can play first base and the outfield," Weiner said. "That
way, we can use him to spell our guys out there, to rest Harold Baines,
and still not lose any hitting."
How many games does Weiner expect Larkin to play this season?
"About 150, which is a lot less than 162, that's for certain. He was
getting tired near the end of last season; I felt awful having to play him
every day, but that's the way it went," Weiner said.
"We felt like team fatigue was a big reason we broke down during the World
Series. That won't happen this year."
* * *
The Sea Dogs believe this was a very important trade for the franchise
because Washington did not have to give up either Johnny Damon, Mickey
Kelly or Dennis Abreu.
"Damon and Kelly are two of the guys we're building our team around,"
Weiner said. "Johnny didn't have a great season last year, but he's
bulked up and could hit anywhere from 10-15 homers this season, we think."
Mickey Kelly, who was acquired in the Chuck Finley deal last year, is one
of the top prospects in all of the major leagues. Already a solid hitter,
with a lifetime .293 average, Kelly is already good enough that Chuck
Knoblauch, who was third on the team in slugging, can bat #5.
"Well, Mickey Kelly is one of our franchise players," Weiner said.
"Getting him was one of the biggest moments in our franchise's history."
Besides Coker, the #1 overall right field prospect in the minors,
Washington managed to hold onto the rest of their other prospects as well.
Most notably, Dennis Abreu, Barry Larkin's heir apparent, but also
pitching prospects Buddy Moisan and Mike Baldwin.
"We've still got one of the best nucleii of youth in the league, and we're
proud of that fact," Weiner said.
