-GM Phil Raisor has announced the 2001 coaching staff for the Outlaws:
Don Slaught, Manager
Alvin Davis, hitting instructor
Diego Segui, Pitching Coach
Jim Prestley, Bench Coach
Ken Phelps, First base coach
Spike Owen, Third base coach
2000 Manager, Johnny Bench will stay with the club as an assistant to the
General Manager.
-The Outlaws have released the following players:
OF Chris James
OF Warren Newson
1B Eduardo Perez
RHP Mark Leiter
It's possible that these four players may be brought back with minor league
invites to Spring Training, though no decesion has been reached yet.
-INF Chris Gomez has accepted a minor league contract, but retains the right
to sign with another team if a major league contract is offered.
-The club is expecting to lose either C Charles Johnson, C Craig Sorrento,
RHP Chan Ho Park, or restricted free agent RHP Felipe Lira in the upcoming
Free Agent signing period. Park and Lira both struggled for the entire
season, but Johnson and Sorrento made up a subpurb catching platoon. Both
the right hand hitting Johnson and the switch hitting Sorrento played
excelent defense while belting over 30 homers combined. Johnson has
received the most interest from other teams. If an Outlaw catcher is signed
away, look for rookie Bill Harrington to share the catching duties with the
other hold over. Harrington was called up to the majors for the first time
in September, DHing most of the time, and while he didn't hit all that well,
Deadwood's coaches were impressed with his work ethic.
-The club has narrowed it's free agent search to two starting pitchers,
rumored to be Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera. Ownership has OK'd the
signing of one big free agent this offseason, and GM Phil Raisor has
centered his talks with these two right handers.
At one point, it was rumored that Raisor was interested in bringing back
short time Outlaw David Wells, but those talks fell through. The 34 year
old lefty wanted a four year deal, and Raisor was interested in a two year
deal.
-For months now, it's been believed that Raisor would take starting pitching
with the Outlaw's two first round FA Draft picks, but the club has been
discussing taking a leadoff type centerfielder with one of the picks.
Currently Brooks Kieschnick or Trot Nixon will have that job, but neither is
considered the proto-typical leadoff hitter.
Going into the free agent siging period, here's what the Outlaw lineup looks
like:
C Charles Johnson/Craig Sorrento/Bill Harrington
1B David Ortiz
2B Mendy Lopez/Frank Catalantto
3B Bobby Smith
SS Deivi Cruz/Hal Black
LF Trot Nixon
CF Brooks Kieschnick
RF Mike Dashiell
DH Brad Fullmer
This is an extremely young lineup, with Deivi Cruz having the most major
league experience, but, if all goes well, should be able to score some runs.
Closer: Dan Miceli/Nealy Becker
setup: Alan Embree/Brad Clontz
middle: who knows?
long: who knows?
RHP Frank Callahan is the best pitcher on the roster, and is coming off a
sub 3.00 ERA, but is that ERA a fluke? He's got a sub .500 record and a
3.80ish career ERA, and his durability is a question. RHP Felipe Lira has
the best stuff on the staff, but has never put together a productive season.
He is, only 24 years old, so should improve.
Dan Miceli only through 13 innings, and Nealy Becker was effective in
Washington, but saw his ERA baloon once arriving in Deadwood.
