3-2 Changeup
01-19-2003, 08:30 AM
John Perotto continues to demonstrate why he is the #1 Pirate beat reporter. The PPG never gets the stuff he does when he does. Nice feature on House and Bradley but check out the "Rumblings" section about 2/3 the way down about Cruz Jr. and Kenny Rogers.
Bucs' Bradley, House hope for injury-free years
By John Perrotto, Times Sports Staff 01/19/2003
BRADENTON, Fla. - Bobby Bradley and J.R. House have been nearly inseparable since they entered professional baseball.
Both were part of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 1999 draft class after standout scholastic careers in south Florida. Bradley, a right-hander, was the Pirates' first-round selection from Wellington Community and House, a catcher, was the fifth-round pick from Ormond Beach Seabreeze.
They became close friends during their pro debut season with rookie-level Bradenton in 1999, then emerged as two of the best prospects in baseball early in 2000 at Class A Hickory. Following that season, House was rated as the Pirates' No. 1 prospect by Baseball America magazine and Bradley was right behind at No. 2.
The two now have something else in common: Both are recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery and are trying to restore the luster to their lost stars.
Bradley and House have spent this week at the Pirates' minicamp, which ends today, at Pirate City as they are taking another step back on the road - which once seemed so short - to the majors.
"They're still very good prospects and we think very highly of both," Pirates General Manager Dave Littlefield said. "Obviously, they've had some setbacks. However, we're not about to write them off."
Bradley and House were encouraged to hear those words from Littlefield.
While both were extremely confident in the early stages of their pro careers, the duo has suffered some anxious moments since undergoing the scalpel of noted orthopedist James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.
"You can't help but wonder what might be if you wouldn't have gotten hurt, that's human nature," Bradley, 22, said. "You don't plan on having these kinds of setbacks."
"There are times when you wonder what will happen to you next," House, 23, said.
Two years ago at this time, neither Bradley nor House had concerns.
Although he was slowed by elbow soreness in the second half of the 2000 season, Bradley was coming off a year in which he was 8-2 with a 2.29 ERA for Hickory. House had won Most Valuable Player honors in the South Atlantic League by hitting .348 with 23 homers and 90 RBIs in 110 games for the Crawdads despite battling mononucleosis.
Both were invited to major-league camp the next season and it seemed they would likely push their way into the majors as soon as 2003.
Then the injuries began.
Bradley had arthroscopic elbow surgery midway through the 2001 season for Class A Lynchburg. He hasn't pitched since. He wound up needing reconstructive surgery that October and sat out all of last season recovering.
House went to Class AA Altoona in 2001 and hit only .258 with 11 homers and 56 RBIs in 112 games. He returned to the Curve last season and played in 30 games before he was forced to undergo two abdominal surgeries to repair a hernia and subsequent scar tissue.
After hitting .264 with just two homers and 11 RBIs in 91 at-bats last season, House's season ended early when he began to feel pain in his throwing elbow. In mid-September, he had the reconstructive surgery.
"It was a major blow to find out I needed that kind of surgery," House said. "I was certain I was only going to have a couple of bone spurs or chips cleaned out."
The recovery time for a catcher is much quicker than a pitcher. House is already playing catch at 90 feet and has warmed up pitchers in minicamp, lobbing the ball back to the mound.
There is a chance House could serve as a designated hitter in minor-league games by the time the season starts in April. He could be back behind the plate by sometime in June.
Bradley can also see the light, though the rehabilitative tunnel he has is longer. He has not pitched competitively since June, 2001, and is likely to return to Lynchburg this season.
"I'm very optimistic that I'm going to have a good season and be knocking on the door of the major-league club when it's over,"Bradley said.
Rumors and rumblings
If the market for free-agent outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. continues to bottom out, perhaps to the $1-million range, look for the Pirates to make a move. Cruz hit only .245 with 18 homers and 70 RBIs last season for Toronto but had 34 homers the year before and 31 in 2000.
One Pirates veteran believes signing left-hander Kenny Rogers as a free agent could push Pittsburgh into contention in the National League Central. However, it is doubtful Rogers' price will fall that far.
When the contracts of Kevin Young and Pat Meares expire at the end of the season, it will free up over $10 million for the Pirates. Don't expect them to be big players in the free-agent market next winter because most of the money will be earmarked for raises for players already on the club.
There is a school of thought among scouts that right-hander Rolando Arrojo, signed by the Pirates as a minor-league free agent, would be better utilized in relief. Arrojo held right-handed hitters to a .221 average last season while pitching for Boston. Lefties hit him at a .313 clip.
Why would Cincinnati sign lefty Jimmy Anderson, released by the Pirates last month? Well, he was 3-1 with a 3.56 ERA against the Reds in 2002 and 5-12 against the rest of the majors.
If I were a carpenter
Pirates right-hander Bronson Arroyo has been able to take part in all drills during minicamp. In mid-November, he broke some ribs when he fell through a wooden deck he is adding to the back of a home he bought in Brooksville, Fla.
"I couldn't do anything for about three weeks but I'm fine now," Arroyo said.
The spring will be an important one for the Arroyo, 25. He is out of minor-league options and the Pirates can't remove him from the 40-man roster without putting him through waivers. Arroyo has gone 9-14 with a 5.44 ERA in 53 games, 29 starts, for the Pirates over parts of the last three seasons.
While the Pirates aren't sure whether they want to look at Arroyo as a starter or reliever during the exhibition season, he is sure of one thing: He wants to continue his carpentry hobby despite his mishap.
"Do you know how much it costs to hire a carpenter?" Arroyo said with a smile.
Bucs' Bradley, House hope for injury-free years
By John Perrotto, Times Sports Staff 01/19/2003
BRADENTON, Fla. - Bobby Bradley and J.R. House have been nearly inseparable since they entered professional baseball.
Both were part of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 1999 draft class after standout scholastic careers in south Florida. Bradley, a right-hander, was the Pirates' first-round selection from Wellington Community and House, a catcher, was the fifth-round pick from Ormond Beach Seabreeze.
They became close friends during their pro debut season with rookie-level Bradenton in 1999, then emerged as two of the best prospects in baseball early in 2000 at Class A Hickory. Following that season, House was rated as the Pirates' No. 1 prospect by Baseball America magazine and Bradley was right behind at No. 2.
The two now have something else in common: Both are recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery and are trying to restore the luster to their lost stars.
Bradley and House have spent this week at the Pirates' minicamp, which ends today, at Pirate City as they are taking another step back on the road - which once seemed so short - to the majors.
"They're still very good prospects and we think very highly of both," Pirates General Manager Dave Littlefield said. "Obviously, they've had some setbacks. However, we're not about to write them off."
Bradley and House were encouraged to hear those words from Littlefield.
While both were extremely confident in the early stages of their pro careers, the duo has suffered some anxious moments since undergoing the scalpel of noted orthopedist James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.
"You can't help but wonder what might be if you wouldn't have gotten hurt, that's human nature," Bradley, 22, said. "You don't plan on having these kinds of setbacks."
"There are times when you wonder what will happen to you next," House, 23, said.
Two years ago at this time, neither Bradley nor House had concerns.
Although he was slowed by elbow soreness in the second half of the 2000 season, Bradley was coming off a year in which he was 8-2 with a 2.29 ERA for Hickory. House had won Most Valuable Player honors in the South Atlantic League by hitting .348 with 23 homers and 90 RBIs in 110 games for the Crawdads despite battling mononucleosis.
Both were invited to major-league camp the next season and it seemed they would likely push their way into the majors as soon as 2003.
Then the injuries began.
Bradley had arthroscopic elbow surgery midway through the 2001 season for Class A Lynchburg. He hasn't pitched since. He wound up needing reconstructive surgery that October and sat out all of last season recovering.
House went to Class AA Altoona in 2001 and hit only .258 with 11 homers and 56 RBIs in 112 games. He returned to the Curve last season and played in 30 games before he was forced to undergo two abdominal surgeries to repair a hernia and subsequent scar tissue.
After hitting .264 with just two homers and 11 RBIs in 91 at-bats last season, House's season ended early when he began to feel pain in his throwing elbow. In mid-September, he had the reconstructive surgery.
"It was a major blow to find out I needed that kind of surgery," House said. "I was certain I was only going to have a couple of bone spurs or chips cleaned out."
The recovery time for a catcher is much quicker than a pitcher. House is already playing catch at 90 feet and has warmed up pitchers in minicamp, lobbing the ball back to the mound.
There is a chance House could serve as a designated hitter in minor-league games by the time the season starts in April. He could be back behind the plate by sometime in June.
Bradley can also see the light, though the rehabilitative tunnel he has is longer. He has not pitched competitively since June, 2001, and is likely to return to Lynchburg this season.
"I'm very optimistic that I'm going to have a good season and be knocking on the door of the major-league club when it's over,"Bradley said.
Rumors and rumblings
If the market for free-agent outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. continues to bottom out, perhaps to the $1-million range, look for the Pirates to make a move. Cruz hit only .245 with 18 homers and 70 RBIs last season for Toronto but had 34 homers the year before and 31 in 2000.
One Pirates veteran believes signing left-hander Kenny Rogers as a free agent could push Pittsburgh into contention in the National League Central. However, it is doubtful Rogers' price will fall that far.
When the contracts of Kevin Young and Pat Meares expire at the end of the season, it will free up over $10 million for the Pirates. Don't expect them to be big players in the free-agent market next winter because most of the money will be earmarked for raises for players already on the club.
There is a school of thought among scouts that right-hander Rolando Arrojo, signed by the Pirates as a minor-league free agent, would be better utilized in relief. Arrojo held right-handed hitters to a .221 average last season while pitching for Boston. Lefties hit him at a .313 clip.
Why would Cincinnati sign lefty Jimmy Anderson, released by the Pirates last month? Well, he was 3-1 with a 3.56 ERA against the Reds in 2002 and 5-12 against the rest of the majors.
If I were a carpenter
Pirates right-hander Bronson Arroyo has been able to take part in all drills during minicamp. In mid-November, he broke some ribs when he fell through a wooden deck he is adding to the back of a home he bought in Brooksville, Fla.
"I couldn't do anything for about three weeks but I'm fine now," Arroyo said.
The spring will be an important one for the Arroyo, 25. He is out of minor-league options and the Pirates can't remove him from the 40-man roster without putting him through waivers. Arroyo has gone 9-14 with a 5.44 ERA in 53 games, 29 starts, for the Pirates over parts of the last three seasons.
While the Pirates aren't sure whether they want to look at Arroyo as a starter or reliever during the exhibition season, he is sure of one thing: He wants to continue his carpentry hobby despite his mishap.
"Do you know how much it costs to hire a carpenter?" Arroyo said with a smile.