Aceves to skip the WBC

February 16, 2009 by Mike Axisa 18 Comments

Via Bryan Hoch, The Mexican Gangster is going to pass on the World Baseball Classic this year, instead focusing his efforts on making the team. Aceves made a big splash last September by making four strong starts and finishing with a 2.40 ERA in 30 big league innings, but beware the low strikeout rate (4.80 K/9), low groundball rate (1.03 GB/FB), high FIP (4.80) and absurdly low BABIP (.234). Sample size is an issue, but he still could use a little more time in a minors after his meteoric rise last season. With the rotation full, Aceves will likely start the year in the Triple-A Scranton rotation, and will be among the first called up if a spot starter is needed. (h/t Patrick)

Will

Totally unrelated, but Ortiz just said this:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=3911153
- andrew
  
  “Now that I’m off roids, it’s only fair that we should punish everyone else”
  - E-ROC
    
    And punish them retroactively no less.
    - http://mantisfists.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/julius-carry-aka-shonuff.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
      
      Did he say retroactively? The ESPN article doesn’t quote him, it just says “David Ortiz says players who test positive for steroids should be suspended from baseball for the whole season.” I don’t read that to mean the punishment should apply retroactively, and I’d be surprised if that was Ortiz’s intent.
      - andrew
        
        Well i’m assuming in context this answer had some relation to the Arod incident
        
        http://mantisfists.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/julius-carry-aka-shonuff.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        I get that you’re making that assumption. I disagree and don’t think that’s a fair assumption to make. The article discusses testing/punishment as a way to “clean up the game.” It says nothing about A-Rod or retroactively punishing anyone. If anything, it pertains to Miguel Tejada’s situation.
        
        Lanny
        
        If there is any active player that I think was on something it was ortiz.
        
        Not just because he had a meteoric rise and now his body is breaking down ala Giambi.
        
        http://mantisfists.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/julius-carry-aka-shonuff.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        So what are your other reasons?
        
        RCK
        
        That he’s being asked about it certainly is related to A-Rod, but aren’t the two of them good friends? I don’t think he was suggesting any sort of punishment for A-Rod.
      - Drew
        
        He specifically said don’t look back. From here on out prove that mlb is clean. That’s not retroactive people.
Andy In Sunny Daytona

“Sample size is an issue, but he still could use a little more time in a minors after his meteoric rise last season”

Sample size, shample size. Name one case where 30 innings don’t translate to a career.
Ryan S.

I’m glad to see that Aceves is prioritizing making the club over participating in the WBC. While maybe not quite as compelling as the position battles in the outfield, I think the competition for the long reliever role will also be fun to watch – it’ll be Giese vs Aceves for who gets to be Ramiro Mendoza 2.0.
IE

Aceves should play for his country. He has no chance of starting the season in the rotation and the WBC is a great chance for him to play against top-notch competition.
Lanny

I think he can earn a better nickname than Mexican Gangster especially with all the drug gang problems that mexico has right now.
AndrewYF

Aceves is the new Rasner.

Remember when Rasner and Karstens had good major league debuts back in 2006? This is like that. Unless he’s the new Ramiro Mendoza.
- whozat
  
  So…worst case, he’s a replacement-level-or-better spot-starter in the bigs for a couple years? Best case, he throws 100+ quality innings out of the pen for a couple seasons?
  
  Ok. Sign me up.
A.D.

I like where his head it at, but I’d be in favor of him going and playing for Mexico
http://www.yanksblog.com Patrick

Thanks Mike.