Andy Tracy to Japan

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:51 pm

Didn't see this posted as a thread here, haven't looked through each thread, but it looks like the "local boy" is headed across the big pond.

http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/rocki ... 37,00.html

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:01 pm

I knew they designated him to AAA Colorado Springs after spring training. Andy had such an outstanding year last year in AAA. He didn't do a whole lot when he got the call up late last year to the Rockies, largely because he only pinch hitted, which is difficult for any player. Hopefully this trip to Japan will be his ticket back the the Bigs.

Class of 61 · Post by **Class of 61** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:23 pm

I don't follow the Natl. League very much, but does Colo. have such outstanding hitters that they can let a guy go who had those numbers at Triple A? That said, I guess, he's "not getting any younger", and they might figure him as" just" a solid minor league player...Cleve. has several of those guys who play for Buffalo...they get a chance once in awhile, in case of an injury to the "big club", but mostly stay at AAA.

factman · Post by **factman** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:50 pm

I think Colorado has always used Andy as an "insurance policy" for Tod Helton 1B and whoever they have at 3rd. I think alot of us had hope he would stick when they traded Castillo last winter, but they seem to have another 3B that is ahead of Andy. This should be a GREAT financial move for Andy, as the Japanese leagues pay VERY well for American players

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:09 pm

factman wrote:I think Colorado has always used Andy as an "insurance policy" for Tod Helton 1B and whoever they have at 3rd. I think alot of us had hope he would stick when they traded Castillo last winter, but they seem to have another 3B that is ahead of Andy. This should be a GREAT financial move for Andy, as the Japanese leagues pay VERY well for American players

Yeah, they made it quite obvious Andy was not going to be playing 3B for the Rockies. When they assigned him to triple A and gave rookie Garrett Atkins the nod this preseason, I thought he may have a shot to get called back up later in the season. But then Atkins got hurt right away and they instead decided to go with another rookie in Jeff Baker and have been using journeyman Desi Relaford as the backup. Everyone knew Andy would never play first with Helton there, but he really got sh!t on at 3B. I don't blame Andy one bit on jumping on the opportunity to play elsewhere, even if it is Japan.

dduncan · Post by **dduncan** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:12 pm

Since I've known Andy since little league, where he had a nasty curve, I'm going to try to update his progress in Japan as much as possible. I'm happy for him. A real good guy.

He signed a 50 mil. yen contract. I think it's something like $450,000, for the year.

I'm having a hard time finding his stats, but I think he hit his first homer back in early May.

dduncan · Post by **dduncan** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:56 pm

Actually, I found his stats

Through June 9th:

Average: .272
AB: 81
H: 22
2B: 4
HR: 1
RBI: 2
BB: 9
K: 30

Looks like he is adjusting fairly well. New pitchers, different style of pitching.

http://www.geocities.com/s_borisov/jb2005/05rge.html