The Week in the Ones that Got Away

For Jim Bowden's first two years here, he established a virtually unbroken record of moves that gave up young for old, improving for declining, cheap guys under team control for expensive soon-to-be FAs, more players for fewer in return. As a service to our readers, we'll provide a regular brief update on how some of the young 'uns that Bowden gave away are faring lately:

• Armando Galarraga (traded with Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge for Alfonso Soriano): A talented though oft-injured prospect at the time of the trade, Galarraga is proving to be the real deal in his first year in the bigs. After getting wins in 5 of his last 7 starts, this week Galarraga struggled a bit in a start against the Cardinals, giving up 4 ER on 8 H in 4.2 IP. He's now 7-2 with a 3.32 ERA on the year.
• Daryl Thompson (traded with Billy Bray, Gary Majewski, Brendan Harris, and Royce Clayton for Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez): Thompson debuted with a splash against the Yankees last Saturday, going 6 innings and giving up zero runs in a no-decision. In his second start against the Indians, he started the game with 4 scoreless frames, giving him 9 in a row to open his career. After giving up one run in the fifth, the wheels fell off in the sixth, when he gave up a walk and two base hits and was pulled. Both inherited runners were allowed to score, leaving him with 3.60 ERA in 10 IP, though he also has an unsustainably high 1.80 WHIP.
• Bill Bray: the lefty reliever is putting together a comeback season after shoulder problems that kept him off the mound most of the last two years. This week, he threw in 4 games and posted 1.1 IP, 2 H, and 1 ER, leaving him with a 2.63 ERA in 24 IP for the season.
• Brendan Harris: Playing SS for the Twins, Harris had a big week, with 6 hits, 2 HR, 3 RBI, and 3 R in 20 AB. He hit a tie-breaking homer off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning Tuesday. to lead the Twins to a 3-1 win over the Padres. Then the next night, he hit another go-ahead HR, this time off Greg Maddux. Click here and here to see the highlights (hit the video tab in the upper right and click the play buttons).
• Darrell Rasner (claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees): Rasner is starting for the Yankees due to injuries, and in his first six starts, he shined, posting a 2.58 ERA. Since then, he has one ok start wrapped around two bad ones. Last week he gave up 7 ER on 10 H in 5 IP in Pittsburgh.
• Scott Downs (released): Downs, converted by the Blue Jays into one of baseball's most reliable relief arms the last two seasons, this week threw 4.1 innings and to extend his scoreless streak to 25 IP, giving up just 1 hit and 1 BB and 5 Ks. He hasn't given up a run for the entire month of June. Didn't give up a run in May either. On the year, his ERA is 1.23 in 35 appearances. He ain't that good, but yowsa!
• Maicer Izturis (traded with Juan Rivera for Jose Guillen): A very good utility guy who has been the Angels' starting SS most of the year after Expo-rt Orlando Cabrera went to Chicago, Izturis had an awful April, went on the DL with a back injury, and then bounced back to hit .303 since his return May 13. He missed most of last week with a hamstring strain, but returned Saturday night and pulled an oh-fer.
• Juan Rivera: In limited playing time in the Angels' crowded outfield, Rivera has not come close to repeating his .319-.362-.510 performance of 2006, his last healthy season. He's currently hitting .164 in 55 AB and struck out in his only PA last week.