Cleanup man
April 7, 2008 by Jason Guarente
The Barnstormers’ seemingly endless search for a cleanup hitter has ended. The team has signed 1B/C Matt LeCroy.
LeCroy, 32, spent parts of the last eight seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the Twins. He’s a former first-round pick and he has the second-most major-league at-bats of any player in Barnstormers history — behind Felix Jose.
This is the first of several significant additions the Barnstormers will make to their lineup this week.
“We had a good offensive club last year, but we really lacked another big bat in the middle of the lineup,” said Keith Lupton, the team’s head of baseball operations. “This is a very fortunate addition for us. I expect LeCroy to have an instant impact.”
LeCroy’s big-league stats are solid. He has posted a .766 OPS in 476 games since 2000. Twice he hit 17 homers in fewer than 350 at-bats. He isn’t known for his glove and has served as a DH more than a position player during his time with the Twins. His career statistics are here.
The Barnstormers haven’t had a legitimate right-handed hitting slugger since Jose Ortiz batted fourth for the 2006 championship club. The team spent most of last summer trying to find a home-run threat to complement its core players, but it never happened.
LeCroy is expected to be that guy. He could have the same impact on the lineup that Ryan Minor provided in 2005. The Clemson grad and South Carolina native has a lifetime slugging percentage of .505 in the minors. While that’s great, there is one potential warning sign: He is coming off the worst season of his pro career – batting .194 in 80 games for Triple-A Rochester.
As was pointed out in this blog entry, the DH spot was a black hole for the Barnstormers last season. They never had consistent production in one of the most important slots in the lineup. Going from Russ Cleveland or Steve Booker to LeCroy is a gigantic upgrade. It’s reason for optimism that the team’s offense will fare better than last season, when it finished fifth in the league in runs scored.
The Barnstormers were close to signing LeCroy in February when he was picked up by the A’s shortly before affiliated camp opened. LeCroy was released on March 17. The A’s offered him a spot on their Triple-A roster, but he turned it down.
“We’re very excited to have him in the middle of our lineup,” manager Von Hayes said. “He’s a proven power hitter, somebody who obviously should do very well in this league. He still has quite a few years left to play.
“He didn’t get much of a chance in spring training with Oakland. It might take him a while to get going, but once he gets going we’re going to surround him with some good left-handed hitting. He’s going to get some pitches to hit.”
LeCroy is expected to play some 1B, along with former Road Warrior Ian Bladergroen, some C and DH for the Barnstormers.
For a look at the entire roster to date, check out the Meet the Team page.
Are we sure he isn’t heading to Mexico any time soon ?????
Now this is an awesome signing…very excited about this one!
I was doing some research on him and found this intertest bit of trivia …
“LeCroy has the distinction of being the active player with the most plate appearances without a stolen base in his career.”
Heh….well I can’t say I’m surprised he’s not a big base stealer, judging by that picture of him in the snazzy Nats uniform (thanks Jason). Hopefully last year was a one-off for him, he looks pretty solid otherwise.
What was his reason for turning down the affiliated deal with the A’s? I know that has happened before in this league, but still a little puzzling at first glance.
From the San Francisco Chronicle in March …
Catcher Matt LeCroy asked for his release after being reassigned and he was given it. LeCroy had the option of helping catch at Triple-A Sacramento until Landon Powell can play regularly, but that probably would only be a month or so of work, so he plans to look for something more long-term.
I wonder what the chances are of LeCroy and Boots Day becoming drinking buddies.
Great signing! Hope he’s in Lancaster until at least the All Star break!
Turning down an affiliated deal to sign with an AL team worked out well for another catcher, Chris Widger. That’s probably the most notable occurence of that scenario…
Maybe it was all the talk of the home cooked meals we’re sending our boys in the locker room
From what I’ve heard, LeCroy wanted to come to Lancaster because he likes the rural, small-town atmosphere.
Widger was mistreated by the Cardinals in 2004. He was signed to back up Mike Matheny, but didn’t get much playing time in spring training and lost his job to Cody McKay, who was the son of the team’s first base coach Dave McKay. I imagine that’s one reason Widger wanted to get out of affiliated ball for a while. That had to be pretty frustrating.
Hey Jason.. is that the same Dave McKay that played for the BLue Jays back in 78 ?
It is the same… Awwww, Dave was a Blue Jay way back when I worked for them … OK, now I really feel OLD !!!!!!
It’s amazing how #13 answered #12’s question.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.. I talk to myself a lot Stormin !!!
wow…the new ticket purchasing system is awesome.
Dawes, York was doing this system last year. It is very sweet. Individual tickets went on sale for the Blue Crabs today.
The Barnstormers agreed to terms with a SS today. They’re pretty much finished shopping and are waiting for the contracts to be formally signed. Unless a deal falls through (always possible in this league), they’re likely to take 26 players to camp and carry 24 on the opening day roster.
I seem to remember last year,Frank Robinson had to pull him from behind the plate because he was an awful catcher. Hope he sticks more at D.H. than catch. Good pickup if he just hit’s.
It was 2006.
LeCroy won’t catch much. The Barnstormers have Burkhart and Mejia. He’ll DH and play 1B mostly. But it’s good to have a third catcher on the roster just in case of emergency.
Your right,I forgot it was 2006,being Manny Acta was their manager last year. Duh.
Where are the Ducks’ big moves? I keep waiting for Sammy Sosa to show up in Central Islip.
Long Island signed Brent Abernathy today..not a huge move but a name.
Anyone think Jay Gibbons might play in the AL?
He fits the profile…. steroid user.
Just kidding.
Gibbons doesn’t have the best reputation in the world, which might explain why no one has given him a minor-league deal yet. He’s set financially. Would he play in the AL? Depends on whether he still has the desire, I guess.
So Jason, it they go with 26 down to Florida, which positions do you expect to see the 2 cuts with - bullpen?
It is surprising the Ducks haven’t made a splashy move yet,they will probably wait until the season starts before adding someone. And they will probably sign Bill Pulshiper in early Sept. for their playoff run. LOL
Hayes is leaning toward 13 pitchers and 11 position players, so that would mean all the pitchers would make it. But that could change. I think they’ll go 12 and 12 because they’re going to have a lot of talented position players.
Guessing here that one of the cuts goes to the Crabs to complete the Bladergroen deal.
I guess we still need the names of our 3rd Baseman and a Right Fielder.
Grass went down yesterday in Southern Maryland. From the photos, there are not a lot of skyboxes. Stadium looks a little smaller than York.
But hey, it’s another opportunity to see a great baseball game. That’s all I care about.
I wonder if Auntie Anne’s will have pretzels shaped like baseballs at the park?
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Whether they find a life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet.
The Barnstormers’ plan: two more OF (both lefty batters), a SS, a 3B, another reliever, a utility infielder. That puts the roster at 26. Again, nothing is set in stone in the AL, and new guys always become available, but that’s their focus.
Matt LeCroy reminds me of Bucky Jacobse who played for Long Island in 2006. He was first in RBI’s [89], third in HR’s [21], OBP [.410] and fifth in Slugging Pct. [.506]. He only played for one year. Whatever happen to him?
Jacobsen was Reggie Taylor’s teammate in the Mexican League briefly last season. Then I believe he decided to retire.
Bucky got a call to come to Royals camp this year, but that was the last I heard of him (assuming he didn’t make the cut).
I wonder if there is going to be a bet on who hits one in the pond first?
There will be a net above it…otherwise someone will get beaned. Remember the incident where a little girl got hit with a foul ball in the kids area last year? I don’t think they will take a chance with something like that again!
Stupid me, if I would read the whole article I would of seen that.
Stormin you’re not stupid!!!!….. just different.
As long as he does it with Woods and Gonzalez on base that would be great. Do you think must of his time will be at DH or First?
Thanks
Hi lil fil,
Welcome aboard. Danny Gonzalez isn’t playing in Lancaster this season. He decided to sign with Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League instead. It happened over the weekend.
If the Barnstormers land the fourth outfielder they’re seeking, then I expect LeCroy to play a lot of 1B and to see one of the OF serve as the DH.