KNIGHTS PRE-SEASON CUTS RUN DEEP

(New York Daily Mirror – January 22, 2008)

NEW YORK – Knights officials have submitted their list of league-mandated roster cuts in preparation for the 2008 draft. Some of the cuts were obvious and expected, but others raised eyebrows and still others were downright surprising.

The most prominent Knight to be cut was 2B Mark Loretta. Loretta came to the Knights via a low-key trade with Grundy County in mid-2004. He paid immediate dividends to the Knights during the second half of that season, batting a robust .351 and posting an .851 OPS in 46 games. Loretta became a fixture at second for the next three seasons and was known for his consistency at the plate, batting .300 with 15 homers in 2005 and .319 in 2006, while playing excellent defense. With age perhaps starting to catch up to him, Loretta slumped to .265 and a .641 OPS in 2007 with just 2 home runs, although he did have 150 hits and 55 RBI. The Knights always liked Loretta for his glove and were expected to retain him in 2008. Unless Mitch Pak can draft a big-time second baseman, look for Ty Wigginton to be positioned there in 2008.

Another Knight whose departure is surprising is outfielder Mike Cuddyer. Cuddyer came to the Knights via a six-player trade in mid-2006. After struggling in New York for the remainder of that season (.197, .610 OPS in 39 games), Cuddyer won a starting outfielder’s spot during spring training of 2007 and went on to have a productive season for New York, hitting 20 homers and posting an .810 OPS. While Cuddyer most likely became expendable with the full-time return of Hideki Matsui to the Knights lineup, Knights observers believe that GM Mitch Pak liked Cuddyer and thought he had a future in New York.

Another player who came over in that 2006 trade was Jacque Jones, who also was let go. Jones (.253 with 12 homers in 65 games) had a better ’06 for the Knights than Cuddyer but he turned it up a notch in 2007, batting .292 with 24 homers, 73 RBI and an .832 OPS. Rumors are that Jones was one of the last players to be cut, as he was instrumental in the team’s playoff run in 2007.

The Knights also apparently have decided to cut their losses and released catcher Jason Kendall. Kendall’s .311 average in 105 games in 2007 was a pleasant surprise but Knights brass, not believing that he had another season like that left in his bat, decided to let him go. Kendall’s light-hitting backup, Gerry Laird (.241, 7 homers) was also let go. The club apparently never forgave Kendall for not being Bengie Molina.

Other Knights to be released included journeyman infielder (and 2007 superstar) Olmedo Saenz, outfielder Kevin Mench, an aging Bernie Williams, and seldom-used but talented first baseman Mike Jacobs. With the LaRoche-Saenz tandem providing the Knights with 37 homers and a .338 batting average in 2007, Jacobs was reduced to third on the 1B depth chart and had just 8 at bats all season. Upon learning that he was released, Jacobs quipped “I’m surprised they even knew I was on the club in the first place."

On the pitching side, the most surprising cut was Chad Qualls. Qualls, a 2006 draft pick, struggled through a dreadful 2006 but rebounded to have a solid 2007, posting a 2.55 ERA and 5 wins out of the bullpen. Brian Tallet, a forced 2007 pick, was also let go, after posting a 3-0 record and a 4.37 ERA in middle relief.

To no one’s surprise, malcontent Kyle Farnsworth was given his walking papers. Originally seen as a set-up man for Takashi Saito, Farnsworth was a brutal flop, posting an 8.59 ERA and complained all season that his poor showing was due to a lack of use (just 10 appearances).

Remaining with the team for 2008 are all five starting pitchers, closer and LF Rookie of the Year Takashi Saito and middle relievers Kevin Gregg and Scott Linebrink. On the hitting side, the Knights obviously retained their keystone trio of Michael Young, Garret Atkins and Grady Sizemore, as well as 1B Adam LaRoche and infielder Ty Wigginton. Also returning for the Knights is 1B Scott Hatteberg, who also played for the club in 2003, when he batted .308 in 75 games while backing up Jim Thome.