Take a second. Breathe deeply. Take your time. Yes, the 06′ season is upon us, but we must grasp the last shred of baseball reality to discuss the future of the league. A future that could lie in the hands of the past. A past that has a chance to tumble downward as time as told or a past that might be able to, while watched down on by some distant baseball god, rise from the ashes and prevail with glory. I’m simply talking about those old faces, drenched in worry with a mean chip on their shoulder, dying to form some sort of…..comeback? Or as some would often put it, A RISE FROM THE ASHES!
Post war symptoms come at times of distress and seem to prove nothing towards survival itself. But as we follow deeply, the recurrent symbols that have seemingly passed us by, more than a few can coronate a comeback season. Prone for great numbers, following sort of a wishy washy downfall, lies a few players that are more than familiar. Our first patient, planting his seed in Minnesota for the 4th year in a row, subject to blackout, is Shannon Stewart. I know, you’re a little surprised that Shannon Stewart would be mentioned as a candidate for a comeback in 06′, let alone even be murmured on the back of an elementary bus, but he is a serious choice. Stewart has always been praised for his potential to overthrow pitchers around the league and hopefully swipe over 30 bags, and like it or not, it is going to happen sooner or later . As we go back into the past, we are reminded off such a talent, settling down north of the border some seven years ago, and posting such numbers of an all-star caliber player over a five-year span. First off, any player who can steal 51 bases and look pretty damn good doing it, deserves a passing grade in my book, but a player who can score 90 plus runs in five straight seasons, on a team which had less power than a 90 year-old woman, can teach the lessons himself. Although Stewart only managed to bat .279 in the 98′ campaign, he rebounded by posting .304, .319, .316, and .303 averages over the following four seasons, leaving little imagination for the mind. Not only was he able to post these great leadoff numbers, but he was able to belt 76 homers, and knock home an average of 59 runs.
Plagued by a series of injuries in his last season in Toronto and through the first two season with Minnesota, Stewart was unable to get back to that, “do whatever you can to get around the bases”, mentality. Not until last season, was he able to approach the plate over 380 times, and he still wasn’t able to steal more than seven times, ailing that right foot he has be known to injure. Primed for a fresh start, free of injury, Stewart has, more or less, an uneasy path to regain his position as one of the best leadoff hitters in the league, but it is surely reachable. Time will tell, for if he is unable to refuel his career during the 06` season, he will forever be a Luis Castillo mini-me.
Mr. Second, goes by the name of Randy “My Man” Winn. I’ll say it again. Randy “My Man” Winn. He’s never been a “top tier” player but for the 06′ season, he just might be. Winn who posted pretty good numbers from 2002-2004, averaging about 13 HR, 75 RBI’s, 25 SB, and around a .293 average, is primed for a great season batting leadoff for the Giants this year. Winn’s number seemed to soar when he joined the Mariners in 03′, but pressure from Prospect Jeremy Reed and too high of expectations forced his production to drop big time in the first half of the 2005 season. Winn only batted .275, only had success 50% of the time while stealing his 12 bases, managed to hit only 6 homers, and struck out 53 times.
Re-energized! Winn’s mid season, 400 bat later, trade to the San Francisco Giants, proved to be that push he so dearly needed. Focused and fresh, Winn posted some of the best 2nd half numbers in the league. He batted .359, hit 14 homers with 26 RBI’s, and had a OBP of over 1.000. He is due for another, more productive year, sort of serving as Bond’s on base possum. With over 500 AB, he will surely post over 100 runs and could easily go 20/20. Winn’s stock is on the rise and should be mentioned as one of the best options for a LF/CF in the league.
There are clearly more comebacks in the waiting, but these guys suggest it is going to happen real soon. Each have the power to smack 15-20 homers, while stealing 25 bases, and posting an average near .295. The Phoenix will rise this year and when the smoke clears, Winn and Stewart will be standing tall atop the poor faces of those desperate slumpees.