An Englishman in New York (or, British Invasion:The Second Echelon)

[kevarms]

STARTERS

Tom Seaver (93/94) Age 24 (15-9 3.45 ERA 7 CG)
CON: $14,100 until Arb 71 ACQ: April 1966 (Amateur Free Agent)
MLB: 1967 New York Mets (3rd season)

Jack Fisher (87/93) Age 30 (11-9 4.75 2)
CON: $226,000 thru 1971 ACQ: Off season 1964 from San Francisco (special draft)
MLB: 1959 Baltimore (11th season)

Bobby Bolin (83) Age 30 (2-1 4.42 0 in 36.2 IP)
CON: $161,000 thru 1970 ACQ: July 1968 from San Francisco
MLB: 1961 San Francisco Giants (9th season)

Don Cardwell (77) Age 33 (12-14 4.51 4)
CON: $121,000 thru 1969 ACQ: Off season 1967 from Pittsburgh
MLB: 1957 Philadelphia Phillies (13th season)

Ralph Terry (75/76) Age 33 (7-10 4.95 3 )
CON: $100,000 thru 1971 ACQ: August 1966 from Kansas City
MLB: 1956 New York Yankees (14th season)

Seaver had an outstanding season in only his second in the major leagues. This is the kind of kid that franchises are built around. This year he may well make a run for the Cy Young award. Veterans Cardwell and Terry will only be around until either Koosman gets his act together or we can make a good trade. They are both experienced enough to hold their own in the meantime.


RELIEVERS

Ron Taylor (79) Age 31 (6-7 2.77 16 SV )
CON: $80,000 thru 1968 ACQ: Off season 1967 from Houston
MLB: 1962 Cleveland (7th season)

Jim McAndrew (83/85) Age 25 (1-2 4.86 1 SV)
CON: $14,100 until Arb 72 ACQ: Jun 1965 (Amateur Draft 11th round pick)
MLB: 1967 New York Mets (2nd season)

Jack Dilauro (76/86) Age 25 (4-2 2.03 11 SV in AA)
CON: $14,100 until Arb 72 ACQ: Off season 1967 from Detroit
MLB: Rookie

Bob Johnson (72/74) Age 25 (9-2 2.64 0 SV in AA)
CON: $14,100 until Arb 72 ACQ: Off season 1964 (Amateur Free Agent)
MLB: Rookie

Bob Shaw (71/72) Age 35 (1-0 4.57 2 )
CON: $120,000 thru 1969 ACQ: June 1966 from San Francisco
MLB: 1957 Detroit (13th season)

Jerry Koosman (92/93) Age 26 (3-10 5.70 0)
CON: $14,100 until Arb 71 ACQ: August 1964 (Amateur Free Agent)
MLB: 1967 New York Mets (3rd season)


The bullpen is a mess. We lost a couple of guys I had planned to use so Dilauro and Johnson are both called up. The only reason Koosman is not with the Tides is because we need a spot starter. He will either be a starter or a Triple-A pitcher by the trade deadline.

[kevarms]

DOWN ON THE FARM

AAA-Tidewater Tides (International League)

Bobby Pfeil 3B


AA-Memphis Blues (Texas League)

Joe Moock 3B


A-Visalia Mets (California League)

Gary Matthews RF/LF

Last year's first round pick steps up.


R-Marion Mets (Appalachian League)

Bob Heise IF
Mike Reinbach RF
Craig Caskey SP
Bob Babcock RP
Jim Wright SP
Rudy Arroyo RP
Richie Moloney RP
Tom Brown RP

We have some great pitching prospects. One or two may find themselves in Single-A or higher later in the season.

[kevarms]

Here's a brief look at where the top free agents will be playing in 1969.

Player			1969	(1968)
1B Fred Whitfield	BOS	(CLE)
1B Wes Parker		LAD	(LAD)	held out and the Dodgers caved in
OF Jimmie Hall		KCR	(MIN)	expansion team splashes out
3B Ken McMullen	        NYY	(CAL)
OF Maty Alou		WSA	(PIT)	Sens look to rebuild

SP Pete Richert		PIT	(NYY)
RP Dick Selma		BOS	(NYM)
SP Ken Johnson	        LAD	(ATL)
SP Whitey Ford		---	(NYY)	18 year veteran has no team
SP Sonny Siebert	SDA	(DET)

And here's where the players we released ended up:

SS Bud Harrelson	ATL
OF Ron Swoboda	        CAL
RP Dick Selma		BOS
RP Tug McGraw 	        STL

With four new expansion teams here are the top players they managed to acquire through the expansion draft and free agency.

Arizona Coyotes

CF Mickey Stanley (88/92) 
SP Ray Culp (86)		former All Star


Kansas City Royals

OF Jimmie Hall (85)		All Star


Oakland Oaks

IF Dennis Menke (88)		All Star
OF Art Shamsky (88/92)		


Vancouver Canadians

Rick Reichardt (85)