Around the Majors: Larkin retires
1) Barry Larkin retired and took a job as special assistant to Nationals GM Jim Bowden.
Larkin finished with a .815 career OPS, compared to his league average of .750, and 271 RCAA in 2180 games, including a .419 SLG, .352 OBA, .771 OPS, 0 RCAA in 111 games in 2004. He had consecutive years with 40+ RCAA in 1995-96. Larkin ranked in the top 10 in the NL in RCAA and OBA 3 times each and SLG twice.
Larkin ranks 4th on the career RCAA by a SS–
RCAA 1 Honus Wagner 850 2 Arky Vaughan 464 3 Alex Rodriguez 400 4 Barry Larkin 271 5 Derek Jeter 251 6 Nomar Garciaparra 248 7 Ernie Banks 239 8 Joe Cronin 236 9 Luke Appling 225 10 Lou Boudreau 202
2) The Brewers re-signed P Ben Sheets to a 1 year, $6 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.
After 4.15 ERA/-4 RSAA and 4.45 ERA/-1 RSAA seasons, Sheets had a 2.70 ERA/45 RSAA in 34 starts. It was his first year with a positive RSAA, but he never had a season worse than -6. Sheets has a 3.92 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.26, and 34 RSAA in 127 games.
In addition to setting the team’s single season SO record in 2004, he also set the record vs. the league average–
STRIKEOUTS YEAR DIFF PLAYER LEAGUE 1 Ben Sheets 2004 87 264 177 2 Teddy Higuera 1987 66 240 174 3 Teddy Higuera 1988 53 192 139 4 Teddy Higuera 1986 46 207 161 5 Julio Machado 1991 42 98 56 T6 Mark Clear 1986 37 85 48 T6 Chris Bosio 1987 37 150 113 8 Dan Plesac 1987 36 89 53 9 Juan Nieves 1987 33 163 130 10 Jesse Orosco 1993 31 67 36
3) Nelson Briles died at the age of 61.
Briles pitched for 5 teams from 1965-78. He had a 3.43 career ERA, compared to his league average of 3.55, and 22 RSAA in 452 games.
4) The Whitesox traded OF Alex Escobar to the Nationals for OF Jerry Owens. To make room for Escobar on the 40 man roster, the Nationals designated INF Alejandro Machado for assignment.
Escobar has -8 RCAA/.677 OPS in 92 career games, including a .309 SLG, .318 OBA, .627 OPS, -7 RCAA in 46 games with the 2004 Indians.
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