BBTF's Transaction Oracle Discussion :: Atlanta Braves

Transaction Oracle
— A Timely Look at Transactions as They Happen

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Atlanta Braves - Claimed Brooks

Atlanta Braves - Claimed P Frank Brooks off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dodgers got caught in a roster squeeze here - 5 of the other 39 players on their 40-man roster were on the 15-day DL and practically every other player on the 40-man but not the 25-man are prospects that they just don’t want to outright. Even the easiest decision, simply releasing Scott Erickson, doesn’t work since they would have to either use that roster spot in picking up a replacement or throwing Edwin Jackson or Derek Thompson in there, neither of which are good ideas at this point.

Attempting to outright Brooks was the least unpleasant decision; even though he’s hardly a top-tier lefty reliever, it does put the Dodgers in an uncomfortable situation, having to rely on Kelly Wunsch as the only viable bullpen southpaw in the organization until Wilson Alvarez is healthy. Unless someone really likes Mike Venafro, which I don’t.

Brooks will be in Richmond now, but don’t be surprised to see him in Atlanta this season. Him and Tom Martin are the only two lefty relievers on the Brave 40-man and someone like Adam Bernero isn’t well enough established that his job is locked up.

Dan Szymborski Posted: April 14, 2005 at 01:30 PM | 24 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. flournoy Posted: April 14, 2005 at 02:08 PM (#1255825)

If all is right with the world, Tom Martin doesn't last another week on the big league roster, whether his replacement be Frank Brooks, Buddy Hernandez, or Kevin Barry.

2. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: April 14, 2005 at 02:18 PM (#1255844)

Flournoy is right. This is the beginning of the countdown for Tom Martin, who hasn't gotten left handers out since August of last year.

3. Brandon_F Posted: April 14, 2005 at 02:40 PM (#1255880)

It's been hard watching the pen flounder. I don't know anything about Brooks; is he worth anything?

4. Gaylord Perry the Platypus (oi!) Posted: April 14, 2005 at 03:03 PM (#1255915)

Well, so far this season Martin is allowing lefties an .800 batting average. Also, 2 walks. And given up a home run. Yes, it's a small sample size, but if your only reason for being on an MLB roster is "get lefties out", you shouldn't ever have a week like that. And I don't think that he was that good last season (although I'm having trouble finding his stats v. lefties online), and certainly he stunk up the joint in spring training.

5. Didi Dodo Doodoo (1k5v3L)

Posted: April 14, 2005 at 03:10 PM (#1255932)

Heh. Let me know when Brooke Shields lands on waivers...

6. "Andruw for HoF" sure died down Posted: April 14, 2005 at 03:48 PM (#1256002)

His minor league stats are here

Seems to be a pretty solid pitcher, and I thought it was a pretty astute move by DePodesta to pick him up.

I might've preferred they DFA Erickson and call up someone useless. Carlyle, Carrara, and Houlton are all in the pen and have started fairly recently, so it's not the end of the world if a starter is knocked out early. I guess they still have faith in Erickson's good spring training though, and didn't want to cut him.

7. esseff Posted: April 14, 2005 at 06:31 PM (#1256340)

Poor guy has to wonder if he'll ever be unable to put away his suitcase. Brooks was in the Phillies' organization until midway through 2003 when he was traded to the Pirates. At the end of the season, he was taken by the Mets in the Rule V draft. Then he was traded to the A's, who had to pick up the Rule V stipulation to keep him or send him back. When the A's waived him, the Red Sox claimed him, picking up the same stipulation. The Red Sox returned him to Pittsburgh, which let him go after the '04 seaon. He signed with the Dodgers' organization, and now he's claimed by the Braves. That makes seven organizations -- eight if you count the Pirates twice -- in less than two years.

8. Snowboy Posted: April 14, 2005 at 07:12 PM (#1256469)

He's the Gary "Suitcase" Smith of baseball!

9. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: April 14, 2005 at 07:19 PM (#1256499)

He's the Gary "Suitcase" Smith of baseball!

Or the Harry "Suitcase" Simpson of baseball, if Harry "Suitcase" Simpson wasn't already the Harry "Suitcase" Simpson of baseball.

10. Mister High Standards Posted: April 14, 2005 at 07:56 PM (#1256604)

I like Frank Brooks a lot. Add him with Buddy Hernandez and you have a Ken Phelps all star setup tandem in richmond.

11. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: April 14, 2005 at 09:56 PM (#1256914)

On the front page it said Brave sign Brooks... I thought the ... would be Kiesnich, the pitcher/outfielder released by the Brewers. Does anybody know what happened to him? Even though he isn't very good, I always liked him for being such a unique player.

12. _Jed Posted: April 14, 2005 at 10:09 PM (#1256952)

G55, I thought the same thing when I arrived on BTF this morning. Turns out Kieschnick signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on April 7.

13. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: April 14, 2005 at 10:58 PM (#1257057)

14. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: April 15, 2005 at 12:42 AM (#1257494)

Anybody have any information on Nakamura (the player added to the 40 man roster), such as why the Dodgers would pick up a 31 year-old Japanes League player?

15. JoeHova Posted: April 15, 2005 at 04:02 AM (#1258309)

If it's Michael Nakamura, he's not a Japanese League's player, he's an Aussie who was in MLB the last couple years with Toronto and Minny. He went overseas this year though because no one would give him a contract. BP compares him to Steve Reed.

16. JoeHova Posted: April 15, 2005 at 04:04 AM (#1258314)

If it's just that 2nd baseman that they had in ST (norihiro?), I can say that he does have an interesting batting stance, at least.

17. esseff Posted: April 15, 2005 at 04:16 AM (#1258354)

That's the guy. His stance is to hitting what Nomo's motion was to pitching

18. vortex of dissipation Posted: April 15, 2005 at 04:19 AM (#1258368)

At least it isn't Garth Brooks...

19. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: April 15, 2005 at 05:24 AM (#1258574)

So Brooks Robinson gave up on the comeback, I guess.

20. esseff Posted: April 15, 2005 at 05:27 AM (#1258582)

As did Hubie Brooks (first post-Banks NL SS to drive in 100 in a season if I remember correctly).

21. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: April 15, 2005 at 01:09 PM (#1258820)

Brooks is a pretty good lefty-killer, but he's more of a tricky delivery guy than a pure stuff guy, so he probably won't be more than that. Which is fine; there's nothing wrong with a good LOOGY in the pen.

Reads the above sentence.
Looks at Tom Martin.
Reads the above sentence.
Looks at Tom Martin.
Reads the above sentence.
Begins helping Tom Martin pack.

22. J.C. Bradbury Posted: April 15, 2005 at 02:41 PM (#1258971)

Sources reporting John Foster has been called up.

23. Danny Posted: April 15, 2005 at 02:46 PM (#1258991)

I like Frank Brooks a lot. Add him with Buddy Hernandez and you have a Ken Phelps all star setup tandem in richmond.

Both were Rule 5ers with Oakland. It's surprising that neither of them could make the squad, but Mike Neu could.

24. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: April 16, 2005 at 10:12 PM (#1262584)

The Red Sox returned him to Pittsburgh, which let him go after the '04 seaon.

I thought this guy sounded familiar.

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Thursday, April 14, 2005

Atlanta Braves - Claimed Brooks

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