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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