Hall of Scrubs

Carlos Martinez appears on every show about sports greatest bloopers.  He is the one who hit the “home run” that bounced off Jose Canseco’s head.  You can see the smirk (or scowl) on his face as he rounds first.

At this time in his career, Carlos was a failed prospect who gained a reputation for being a malcontent.  He was just another player who never lived up to his potential.  After being acquired from the Yankees for the great Ron Kittle, Carlos reached the majors in 1989 with the Chicago White Sox.  As their regular third baseman, he hit .300 with limited power.  It was enough to get White Sox fans excited about his future.  Unfortunately, he followed it up with a .224 year in 1990 after being switched to first base. 

He was quickly dumped due to lack of performance and lack of a good attitude.  Cleveland gave him a shot.  He hit .284 for them in 1991 before struggling again.  He was released in 1994 and ended his career hitting .180 for the Angels in 1995.

You can view Carlos’s stats at www.thebaseballcube.com:

Carlos’s stats

One of the more disturbing memories I have as a young man is the image of my father prancing about at home, singing “Are we going to see Scarborough Green?.. Rocky, Sage, Rosemary and Tim..” He sang it repeatedly until my brother, Tim, told him to shut up.

We did end up seeing Scarborough play that evening for the Cardinals in 1997. It was during one of his three brief stints in the majors. He later joined the Rangers and played there in 1999 and 2000. Texas gave him a chance to play regularly in 2000, but he it only .234 with 10 SB. Ultimately, this weak hitting, speedy center fielder did not have what it took to play in the majors.

But why the goofy first name? It is actually his middle name. His real name is Bertrum. I don’t blame him for going by Scarborough instead.

You can view Scarborough’s major and minor league stats at www.thebaseballcube.com:

Scarborough’s stats

Walter Young earned a unique nickname during his short playing career - Big. He got this nickname due to his enormous size - 6′5″, 320 lbs. As you may have guessed, Big Walter was a first baseman when he was forced to play in the field. He was, however, a subpar fielder. He also was a bit slow on the basepaths. But, man, did he have power.

Big Walter spent most of his career in the minors for the Pirates and Orioles. He hit 33 home runs at AA Bowie in the Orioles system in 2004. He also managed to steal 2 bases that year. How?

Baltimore promoted him to the majors in 2005 at the age of 25. He got 33 at bats as a 1B-DH. He hit only 1 homer and had a .303 batting average. It was the last we saw of him at the major league level.

The Padres claimed him on waivers in 2006, but he never played on their big league club. He was last seen playing for an independent league team in Winnipeg.

He is still young. Maybe he will return someday. I will keep an eye out for him. He would be hard to miss.

You can view Walter’s minor and major league stats at www.thebaseballcube.com:

Walter’s Stats

Oh no! Not another scrubby middle reliever from the Grilli family!  Well, you are only partially right.  Guido was also a scrubby middle reliever.  But he is not related to Jason and Steve.

Guido pitched only one year in the majors for the Kansas City A’s and the Boston Red Sox.  He had a bloated ERA for both teams and finished the year with a 7.08 ERA.

Guido was involved in a mid-season trade as he was sent (banished?) to KC in exchange for Jose Tartabull, father of Jose Tartabull, Jr. and Danny Tartabull.

Even though Guido is not related to the other two Grilli’s, he no doubt inspired Steve to some day become a scrubby pitcher in the majors.  Can we blame Guido for two decades of scrubby Grilli relievers??

You can view Guido’s stats at www.baseball-reference.com:

Guido’s stats

Scrubs beget scrubs.  Such is the case in the Grilli family.  Steve Grilli, former scrubby middle reliever, is the father of Jason Grilli, current scrubby middle reliever.  Steve enjoyed four years in the major leagues.  Three with the Tigers, one for the Blue Jays.  He kept his ERA around 4.50 for most of his career.  But like his son, he probably let in his fair share of inherited runners.

I sometimes try to imagine Tigers fans in the late seventies trying to predict that, some day, the son of the scrubby middle reliever they were currently watching would become an even scrubbier reliever on a future Tigers team. 

Steve did have good pitches and he threw hard, but he struggled with his control.  He ended his career in 1981 after struggling in the minors for the AAA teams in the Blue Jays and Orioles organizations.  He had a 6.26 ERA that year.

 You can view Steve’s major league stats at www.baseball-reference.com:

Steve’s stats

De Wayne paid his dues in the minors.  He spent 10 years there for three different organizations before finally get a shot in the majors in 1987.  In the year of the “Rabbit Ball”, this career minor leaguer shocked everyone by becoming a closer for the Angels.  He struck out 109 batters with a nasty forkball and managed to save 17 games.   Buice was the story of the year as his years of determination in the minors finally paid off.

Unfortunately, Buice was a one year wonder.  His ERA jumperd to 5.88 the next year and he was shipped off to Toronto where he had an equally atrocious season with a 5.82 ERA in his last year in the majors.

Buice had a short career, but he managed to become a millionaire.  He made his money getting the Upper Deck card company in touch with the MLBPA to sign a card deal in 1989.  De Wayne turned out to be a very shrewd business man as he made 17 million dollars as a part owner of the company.

You can view De Waynes’ stats as www.baseball-reference.com

De Wayne’s stats

What was Rufino’s birth name? That is a common question when discussing this former scrub outfielder for the Braves and Angels.  Rufino was actually named Rufino De La Cruz Linares.  He shortened it to Rufino Linares when he signed with the Braves in 1973.

Rufino was not related to Omar Linares, the greatest third baseman never to play in the majors.  Omar, of course, is from Cuba while Rufino was from the Dominican Republic. 

Rufino got a chance to establish himself as a part-time outfielder in Atlanta in 1981 after spending many years in the minors.  He responded nicely by hitting .265 in 253 AB’s.  He followed that with a .298 average in 1982.  Surprisingly, he did not play in the majors in ‘83.  He returned in ‘84 and managed to play two more years before getting released by the Angels in 1985.

 Rufino was killed in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 1998 at the age of 47.

You can view Rufino’s stats at www.baseball-reference.com:

Rufino’s stats

Let the great debate begin. Was John Shelby really a scrub? We say yes, and we say he was one of the best. Some people may claim he was a starting outfielder, a star performer. They point to his year in 1987 when he hit 21 homers and stole 16 bases. Guess what…. everybody hit 20 homers in 1987. Even Larry Sheets managed to do that.

John was a solid player, but he was no star. Other than his 1987 year, he averaged about 390 at bats with 9 homers and 10 steals. Not bad for a skinny kid from Kentucky.

The good news for Shelby fans is that his son, John Shelby, Jr., is a top prospect for the White Sox. He may emerge as the true star in that family.

John Shelby, Sr.’s career began in Baltimore as a platoon outfielder. He was a member of the championship team in 1983. In 1987, he was traded to L.A. where he established himself as a starter. He got a second ring in 1988 when Kirk Gibson led the Dodgers to World Series championship.

John struggled after 1988 and ended up as a reserve for the lowly Tigers in 1990 and 1991. He ended his career in Detroit after hitting .154 - well below the Mendoza line.

You can view John’s stats at www.baseball-reference.com:

John’s Stats

The Hall of Scrubs has decided that all scrubs listed in the Mitchell Report will be permanently banned from entering the Hall of Scrubs. We firmly believe that if you need performance enhancing drugs to be a scrub in the majors, you are not worthy of being honored in the same way that we honor scrubs who do not cheat.

The following list of players are permanently banned:

Marvin Benard

Larry Bigbie

Jack Cust - You could have been the greatest scrub of all time. Your AAA power rivaled that of Bernardo Brito’s. Now we know why.

Brendan Donnelly

Jeremy Giambi - A classic scrub brother of a superstar. You blew it!

Jerry Hairston, Jr. - Son of a scrub. Your father did not need drugs to scrub it up in the majors.

Glenallen Hill - More fake power.

Tim Laker - Backup catcher. Why would you need the drugs at all?

Armando Rios - Great scrub name. What a waste!

Bobby Estalella - Classic scrub catcher with a little pop. Could have been one of the greatest scrubs of all-time.

Josias Manzanillo - Did brother, Ravelo, use it too?

Mark Carreon - Another son of a scrub who soils the legacy of his father (Cam Carreon).

Matt Franco - who?

Jason Grimsley - No relation to Ross…. good news for the Ross Grimsley fans.

Gregg Zaun - ANother scrubby catcher looking for a little more pop in the bat.

F.P. Santangelo - By far, one of the best scrubs in history. He is our Joe Jackson on this list. It is a shame that we cannot induct him into the Hall of Scrubs now. Say it ain’t so, F.P.!!!

Chris Donnels

Todd Williams

Phil Hiatt - More fake AAA power.

Todd Pratt - Another scrubby catcher.

Adam Piatt - Sure hit a lot of homers in AAA. The drugs must work better in that league.

Adam Riggs - A 2B with a lot of AAA power. Mystery solved now.

Mike and David Bell - Like Mark Carreon and Jerry Hairston, Jr., the sons of a major leaguer soils the legacy of their family. Did you have to disappoint both papa Buddy and grandpa Gus like that? Double shame!!

Gary Bennett Jr.

Jim Parque - A one-year wonder.

Chad Allen

Jeff Williams

Nook Logan - Another classic scrub name. He could have been a great one. No-hit speedster with a goofy grin.

Mike Judd

Ricky Stone

Paxton Crawford - Almost won the Stan Papi Award in 2000.

Ryan Jorgenson

Ricky Bones

Steve Woodard

Dan Naulty

Nikco Riesgo was a mediocre outfielder in the minors who got a surprise promotion to the Expos in 1991 where he got one hit in 7 at bats. 

Besides his brief stay in the majors, Nikco’s claim to fame was being traded by the Mets to the Phillies in 1991 for Tommy Herr. 

Nikco spent most of his career in Single A and Double A.  He did get 79 at bats in AAA in the Brewers system before bing traded to the Tigers in 1993 and subsequently released.

Nikco settled in the Detroit area and is now the president and sole member of the Major League Players Organization of Bloomfield Hills.  He runs a web site that motivates young baseball players for a subscription fee of $10 a month.  The funds from his endeavor are intended to help people who cannot afford their own legal defense. 

You can read more about Nikco’s fight in The Detroit News:
Ex-ballplayer takes issue with legal-defense system

You can also view Nikco’s stats at www.baseball-reference.com:

Nikco’s Stats