Diamondbacks Bullpen

EStreetMan · September Call-Up Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 84

Some notes from Sunday notes columns around the country..............

The Astros and Roy Oswalt are far apart in their discussions of a long-term contract, and the Astros are likely to shop Oswalt, who can be a free agent after next year, this winter.

A rival National League scout who had witnessed Mark Mulder's four-inning rehab start against Class AAA Iowa on Friday night offered a blunt assessment hours afterward:

"If his name wasn't Mark Mulder, there would have been no need to file a report."

Mulder's 71-pitch outing -- his second rehab appearance since the Cardinals put him on the disabled list June 22 with shoulder stiffness resulting from an impingement -- offered one positive and one cautionary note. The velocity that ebbed from his pitches before the June roster move has partly returned. But the same complications with his delivery that hurt his control two months ago remain an issue.

Mulder's fastball tickled 90 miles per hour on hand-held radar.

But Mulder left Memphis encouraged. He says he can now correct the too-low arm slot that nagged him for weeks before the roster move.

"When I went on the DL, I couldn't do it," Mulder said. "Now I know when I'm doing it and when I'm not."

The adjustment remains a conscious one rather than part of his muscle memory. Mulder especially struggled Friday to command his cut fastball, which often dragged inside to righthanded hitters.

Until shoulder concerns sidelined him, Mulder, tied with the Los Angeles Angels' Bartolo Colon as the game's winningest pitcher from 2001-05, appeared likely to command a contract similar to the five-year, $55 million deal the Toronto Blue Jays gave free agent A.J. Burnett last December. Now he might consider a shorter-term, incentive-heavy arrangement such as those signed in recent years by former All-Star pitchers Kevin Millwood and Matt Morris.

Rumored interest by the Arizona Diamondbacks in a healthy Mulder has percolated for months. (A golf nut, Mulder resides in Scottsdale, where he belongs to the same club as Phil Mickelson.)

Thoughts?........................

scott (Notes Our Us)

shoewizard · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:47 am Post subject:

Pass

We have been over this before. Every one of his peripherals except GB rate has declined very badly. Some other team can overpay him for his name.

If he were cheap....like a one year, incentive laden contract with a team option for the second year...then sure. But no way would I support him getting a long term guaranteed contract from this team.
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moviegeekjn · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:57 am Post subject:

Some of the locals will be calling for him... Mulder is often a regular on one of the radio sports shows, so a number of local pundits "know" him as a "great guy" and all the assorted "intangibles"

The Cards will make a low ball offer that Mulder will reject. Even with his questionable health, he has declined badly and is going to be WAY overpaid by some team. It has best NOT be the Dbacks.

TAP · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:59 am Post subject:

McCray · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:20 pm Post subject:

pass, definitely. but why would you send your pitcher all the way to a rehab game without correcting the arm angle problem? that's just retarded. i'm sorry, but these are million dollar investments, and once you spot something that's tearing up a shoulder, you sure as hell don't allow it to continue AFTER the guy has rested and healed his shoulder. that's priority #1.

B. O. N. D. · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:36 pm Post subject:

I think we're all agreed on Mulder...

Dangerfield · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:41 pm Post subject:

Webb, Livian, then let all the different kids battle it out.
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moviegeekjn · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:53 pm Post subject:

Additional press on Mulder in St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Oden · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:54 pm Post subject:

Webb, Livian, then let all the different kids battle it out.

I don't think that's realistic. Considering how many league-minimum players they'll have on the roster (or close to it) and how much money they'll have available for salaries next year, they WILL add a couple of pitchers to the staff. It's just a question of how (free agency, trades, etc) and who.

B. O. N. D. · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:55 pm Post subject:

baldmaga · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:00 pm Post subject:

One thing about Mulder is...he's a former Moorad Client...

EvilJuan · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:07 pm Post subject:

Robert S. · Everyday Player Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 530

Well, that seals it.

I wonder if the Cards will offer him arbitration - that could be a factor for the D-backs. He seems like a guy the Giants might sign ASAP just to get rid of those pesky draft picks, though.

If he makes it here, my guess is $7 millionish plus incentives.

baldmaga · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject:

Mulder's Club option is priced at 7.25 million, so I don't see the Cards picking that up...although, they did sign Jeff Weaver AND Sidney Ponson AND Bradan Looper Shocked

just to add to the agent situation...He now is managed by Gregg Clifton, who also represents Casey Daigle, fmr D-Back Brian Bruney, and most importantly Luis Gonzalez

moviegeekjn · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:28 pm Post subject:

baldmaga · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject:

One potential guy that will be a FA is Adam Eaton of Texas. He is also recovering from injury but was very solid in San Diego. One thing that may be odd is that he still may not have acheived his sixth year of service time. He's been on the DL all year, but was still below the 6.000 mark.