Late Comers

The MLB has its share of players joining the season late this year. Veterans are joining their respected teams to help provide a boost of talent and spark a winning streak. Players to join their teams so far are Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Andy Pettitte. Players expected to join teams soon are Manny Ramirez and Roy Oswalt.

Johnny Damon joined the Cleveland Indians for $1.25 Million over 1 year. So far Damon has played 22 games and has been relatively unproductive. He has a .152/.239/.288 slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG). He has been without an error in his 20 games in the outfield, but the Indians don't want to pay just for defense. 

Hideki Matsui joined the Tampa Bay Rays and has played in 1 game in 2012. In Matsui's 4 at bats he had one hit, but that hit was a towering solo home run. Matsui kept the item of his game that makes him most valuable. Additionally Masui played left field in that one game, he played 45 games in the  outfield the past 2 seasons. The Rays have to make up for the loss of Longoria in every way they can.

Andy Pettitte has been extremely effective for the New York Yankees. After 4 starts Pettitte holds a 3.49 ERA, but that is not a clear indication of the way he has pitched. Pettitte had 2 stellar starts and 2 sub par starts. He has gone 6 or more innings in each of his 4 starts reaching the 7th inning in 3 of them. The Yankees have the Workhorse they really needed. 

The Athletics played their 50th game last night so that means Manny Ramirez can resume activities in Major League Baseball. He may need a few games in the minor leagues to get back into the groove of things, but he will help their offense. In 2010 and 2011 Manny played in 95 games and hit just 9 home runs and 43 RBI's not the offense teams were expecting. With Reddick, Cespedes, and Manny the Oakland A's may be able to play spoiler with the Angels and Rangers. 

Roy Oswalt signed with the Texas Rangers yesterday. The Rangers improved the weakest point of their team with this addition. Matt Harrison will probably be sent the bullpen when Oswalt does return. In 2010 Oswalt pitched 211 innings with a 2.76 ERA. In 2011 Oswalt's season was shortened due to injury, but he still managed to pitch 139 innings with a 3.69 ERA. A rotation including Darvish, Lewis, Holland and Feliz now has a veteran of Oswalt. Watch out for the Texas Rangers they serious.