Check out the revisited Pedro Sanchez feature from November 2011: Pedro Sanchez, Grand SlamA good bat can make up for a bad glove and a good glove can make up for a bad bat. A bad bat and a bad glove is never a good combination, something Pedro Sanchez learned in 1990 with the Tucson Toros.
Sanchez was beginning his sixth season in the Astros system in 1990. He signed with the Astros out of baseball rich San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. A long list of major leaguers have called San Pedro home, including George Bell, Sammy Sosa, Robinson Cano and free-swinging fellow 1990 CMC setter Jose Offerman.
Sanchez began with the Astros in 1985, making steady progress, if nothing else. He moved to short-season Auburn in 1986, Sally League Asheville in 1987 and Florida State League Osceola in 1988. In September of that year, Sanchez helped Osceola to the league championship series, scoring the winning run in extra innings in the deciding game the semifinal series.
In 1989, Sanchez found himself at AA Columbus with the Mudcats. He hit a pair of run-scoring singles in April, helping the Mudcats to a win. Another extra inning thriller Aug. 18 saw Sanchez play a big role late. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Sanchez hit a grand slam, sending the Mudcats to a 9-5 victory.
But, through 198+, Sanchez' batting average never average never topped .270. He also was error-prone, muffing 27 in 91 games with Osceola and 37 in 122 games with Columbus.
In 1990, with Tucson, the bottom fell out of both his average, and his glove. By June 10, Sanchez was batting a horrid .177. He also had 17 errors. The Houston Chronicle, in a minor league report that day recounting roster changes, called Sanchez the odd man out.
His batting average that year only improved to .183 in 73 total games. He played 64 games at shortstop, dropping 22 errors - one every three games played. He did not return for 1991.
1990 CMC Tally
Cards Reviewed: 54/880 - 6.1%
Made the Majors: 32 - 59%
Never Made the Majors: 22 - 41%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 12
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 17
No comments:
Post a Comment