Author Topic: 2000 Express - Where are they now?  (Read 6426 times)

VirtualBob

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2000 Express - Where are they now?
« on: July 10, 2007, 11:00:41 am »
Sitting with Jim & Mark at the game the other night, I got to reminiscing about past Express teams.  So ... I tracked down what has happened to the inaugural 2000 team, and decided to share it in case anyone else is interested.  I left out a couple of very minor "contributors" (E.g. Brandon Buckley and his 5 AB; Greg Miller and his 2.1 IP), but I covered most everyone that had a real role.  Enjoy.

Starters
C:  Carlos Maldonado
  After three seasons mostly with the Express, he spent two years in the White Sox organization at Birmingham (AA) and the past three years in the Pirates organization at Altoona (AA) & Indianapolis (AAA).  He did have a brief look at the majors for Pittsbugh in 2006.  Currently on the inactive list at Indianapolis. 
1B:  Aaron McNeal  Traded after 2000 for the forgettable Cristian Berroa, Aaron knocked around several organizations mostly at AA before being cut by Colorado in June, 2005.
1B/DH:  Kevin Burns   Split time in both 2000 and 2001 between the Express and AAA New Orleans, with most of the time in Round Rock.  As a six-year free agent in 2002 he signed with Anaheim, but a back injury sidelined him early.  After a brief attempt at a comeback for AA Arkansas, he was released in July, 2002.
2B:  Keith Ginter   Included in the 2002 trade with Milwaukee for Mark Loretta, he spent most of 2003-04 in the majors before being traded to Oakland.  He spent much of 2005 in a utility role there before being optioned to Sacramento where he spent all of 2006.  This year he has been playing at Buffalo (AAA) in the Indians organization.  He has never come close to the performance he gave in 2000.
3B:  Morgan Ensberg  No comment necessary.
SS:  David Matranga  After spending most of 2000 and 2001 with the Express, he spent two years in New Orleans before returning to the AA Express in 2004.  He did get a brief shot at the majors in 2003, going yard in his first at bat.  Most of the last three years have been spent knocking around AAA at Salt Lake City, Portland and now Oklahoma.  He has also struggled with minor injuries during that time.
RF/LF:  Eric Cole  Left off the 40-man roster after seeing regular action in 2001 for AAA New Orleans, he signed with the Rangers and spent most of 2002 at AAA Oklahoma before returning to Round Rock in 2003 where he played mostly 1B.  He then spent 2004 and 2005 patrolling the outfield for the independent league Schaumberg Flyers before leaving baseball.
CF:  Colin Porter   Although Colin did return for some of 2001 to the Express, he spent most of 2001 - 2003 with AAA New Orleans, getting a brief taste of the majors in 2003.  Claimed off waivers by St. Louis, he spent most of 2004 at AAA Memphis and then split time in 2005 between the Yankee and Diamondback organizations, mostly at AAA.  Signed by Milwaukee in the off-season, he was released in April 2006 and has not played since.
LF:  Barry Wesson   After being demoted to Kissimmee for much of the 2000 season, Barry returned to Round Rock in 2001 and moved on to AAA New Orleans in 2002, even getting a brief shot with the Astros at the end of the season.  After two years mostly at AAA Salt Lake City in the Angels organization, he returned to Round Rock in 2005.  He then spent most of 2006 playing for the independent Bridgeport Bluefish, before coming back to Round Rock for the play-off season.  He continues in a reserve OF role for the Express this season.
RF:  Kyle Logan   Another outfielder who spent time in Kissimmee in 2000, Kyle returned to Round Rock in 2001 and then spent three years with AAA New Orleans.  Finding no takers as a minor league free agent, he played in 2005 for the independent Joliet JackHammers in 2005 before leaving baseball.

Bench
OF:  Jhonny Perez
  A free agent after 2000, Jhonny spent the next three years playing 2B in the Tigers organization, splitting time between AA Erie and AAA Toledo.  He then spent 2004 playing for the independent Somerset Patriots before leaving baseball.
OF:  Nelson Samboy  Released early in the 2000 season, Nelson knocked around the independent leagues through 2003 playing for the Westbury Spirit, the New Jersey Jackals, the Berkshire Black Bears and the Pensacola Pelicans.
C:  Jerrey Thurston  A seldom-used backup, he was promoted to AAA New Orleans mid-season.  He split time in 2001 between Chattanooga (AA) and Lake Elsinore (High A) before retiring from baseball.
C:  Joe Depastino   Signed mid-year to replace Thurston, Joe then spent the next three years in the Mets organization at Norfolk (AAA).  After backup duty at AAA Richmond in 2004 and AAA Syracuse in 2005, he retired from baseball.
IF:  Brian Dallimore   Traded to Arizona early in the season, Brian spent most of 2000 and 2001 at AA El Paso before getting the call to AAA Tucson in 2002.  He spent the next three years in the Giants organization, mostly at AAA Fresno, but with a brief look at the majors in both 2004 and 2005.  He signed with Milwaukee in the off season, but retired before spring training in 2006.
IF/OF: Cesar Morillo  Coming to the Express in return for Dallimore, Cesar became a crowd favorite and near-regular fill-in at a number of positions.  Returning in 2001, he was infured early in the year and has not played since.
1B:  Charlie Carter  After a brief stint with the Express in 2000 (filling in for Burns), Charlie was a regular at 1B in 2001, but left after the season as a free agent.  He played for AA Erie in the Tigers organization in 2002 and then, having signed with Baltimore, retired before spring training in 2003.  After three years out of baseball, he is playing OF this year for the independent Fort Worth Cats.
IF:  Royce Huffman  A late call-up in 2000 who saw some time at 2B, Royce became a Round Rock institution over the next seven years.  A starter at 3B in 2001 and at 1B in 2002, he then spent 2003 and 2004 with AAA New Orleans.  With the Express moving to AAA, Royce returned to the Dell Diamond, playing mostly 1B in 2005 and 2006.  Signed by San Diego as a free agent, he has spent this year at AAA Portland.

Pitchers
SP:  Eric Ireland
  Hailed as the staff ace before the season, Eric had a solid but unimpressive year.  Removed from the 40-man roster, he was claimed by the Cubs and immediately traded to Oakland.  Assigned to AAA, he pitched in 2001 for Sacramento before being released in spring training, 2002.  After spending most of 2002 with the independent Long beach Breakers, he returned to Round Rock at the end of the season and spent most of 2003 in the Express bullpen before leaving baseball for good.
SP: Tom Shearn   A rotation fixture in 2000, Shearn returned to the Express to be the mainstay of the bullpen in 2001; playing the same role in 2002 at New Orleans after his promotion.  He was released after the season and missed all of 2003 with elbow surgery.  He has been on the comeback trail with Cincinnatti, spending 2003 at AA Chattanooga and most of the past three years at AAA Louisville, where he has returned to a starting role.
SP: Roy Oswalt   Called up from Kissimmee for a spot start early in the year, he struck out 15 and never looked back.  Easily the most impressive Express alumnus.
SP: Kyle Kessel  Split time in 2001 between the Express and AAA New Orleans before being released in August.  He finished the season with the Mets organization at AA Binghamton and then signed with the Tigers after the season.  Cut during spring training 2002, he pitched that season in the independent leagues for the Long Island Ducks and Pensylvania Road Warriors before leaving baseball for good.
SP: Wilfredo Rodriguez   Wilfredo joined the Express late after an injury suffered in spring training … a harbinger of things to come.  He showed flashes of brilliance in his two years on the Express staff, but could never develop consistency, though he did get a 3-inning look at the majors in September of 2001.  After elbow surgery in the off-season, he missed all of 2002 and 2003 where he languished on the Cubs AAA DL.  Signed by Montreal in 2004, he started at AAA Edmonton, falling first to AA Harrisburg and then High-A Brevard County before being released and finishing the season with the independent Winnepeg Goldeyes.  He did pitch well in the Venezuela winter leagues, and was signed by the Rangers prior to the 2005 season.  He split time in 2005 between AA Frisco and AAA Oklahoma, but could not reclaim the magic.  Signed by Milwaukee in the off-season, he was cut at the end of spring training and pitched briefly with the independent San Angelo Colts before leaving baseball for good.
SP: Jeriome Robertson   After struggling in 2000 at three levels (Kissimmee, Round Rock and New Orleans), Jeriome excelled out of the bullpen for the Express in 2001.  he moved back to a starting role in 2002 at New Orleans and earned a late season call up to the Astros where he became infamous as “15 game winner J-Rob” in 2003 despite a 5.10 ERA and an average of 5 IP per start.  Traded to Cleveland for Willy T and Luke before the 2004 season, he split time between the Indians and AAA Buffalo before being dealt to Montreal and finishing the season at AAA Edmonton.  He spent all of 2005 at AAA Louisville in the Reds organization, then started 2006 with the independent Newark Bears before being signed by the Mets and assigned to AAA Norfolk.  Returning to the Newark Bears at the beginning of this season, he was recently sold to Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League, where he looks to be used as a starter.
SP/RP: Brian Braswell   Having repeated AA without much success in 2000, Brian signed with the Mets in the off-season and spent most of 2001 and 2002 at Binghamton (AA) before leaving baseball.
SP/RP: Scott Navarro  Also a free agent after the season, Scott spent part of 2001 with the A’s at High-A Visalia before finishing the season with the independent Chico Heat.  He returned to the heat in 2002 and then split time in 2003 between the Somerset Patriots and the Atlantic City Surf before leaving baseball for good.
SP: Tony McKnight   Tony had a few starts early in the year before being promoted to AAA New Orleans and getting six promising starts for Houston (4-1, 3.86 ERA).  After starting 2001 in New Orleans, he was traded to Pittsburgh where he finished the season before being outrighted to AAA Nashville where he pitched all of 2002.  Signed by the Dodgers and assigned to AAA Las Vegas, he was released in August, 2003 and has not played since.
SP: Tim Redding  A familiar saga, Timmy the head case finished the season in Round Rock and then started with the Express in 2001 before being promoted to AAA New Orleans and eventually to Houston.  He spent most of 2002 with New Orleans again, before getting the call to Houston where he spent all of 2003 and most of 2004 (having beaten out 15GWJ-Rob for the last spot in the starting rotation).  It did not last, though, and he was traded to San Diego before the 2005 season for Humberto Quintero and from there to the Yankees in July for Paul Quantrill, where he was eventually demoted to AAA Columbus.  He spent all of 2006 with the White Sox organization at AAA Charlotte before returning this season to AAA Columbus, now a Washington Nationals affiliate.  He was recently recalled to the Nationals.
RP: Jason Green  The Express closer before being promoted to New Orleans and eventually to Houston, Jason did one of the world’s fastest disappearing acts.  Claimed by Colorado off waivers, he spent all of 2001 on the DL and then was assigned to High-A Tri City (NWL) before being released in June 2002.
RP: Doug Sessions   After spending most of 2000 to 2002 in the Express bullpen with a few spot starts, Doug got the call to AAA New Orleans where he spent all of 2003 and part of 2004.  Released in June, he was signed by Montreal where he split time between AAA Edmonton and AA Harrisburg.  A free agent again after the season, he signed with the Angels and pitched for AAA Salt Lake City before being released in June and leaving baseball for good.
RP: Travis Wade  Called up from Kissimmee when Green was promoted, Travis spent most of 2000 to 2003 in the Express bullpen (with a brief 2002 stint with AAA New Orleans).  He was released in June 2003 and signed by the Giants, finishing the year at AA Norwich.  He has spent the past three years with the independent Newark Bears, moving to the Long Island Ducks for the 2007 season.
RP: Mark Persails  Released by the Express in May, 2001 after an inauspicious start to his AA repeat year, Mark finished the season in the Tigers organization, moving from High-A Lakeland to AA Erie and eventually AAA Toledo.  Released by the Tigers in spring training, 2002, he appears to have sat out the year before joining the independent Jackson Senators for the 2003 season.  He split time in the independent leagues in 2004 between the Senators, the San Angelo Colts, the Coastal Bend Aviators and the Atlantic City Surf.  He returned to Atlantic City for 2005 and 2006, but appears to have left baseball for good after last season.
RP: Fernando Hernandez   Called up to AAA New Orleans early in 2000, Fernando was unsigned after the season.  He spent 2001 in the Mexican league before leaving baseball for good.
RP: David Glick  Released after the season, David spent all of 2001 and part of 2002 with the independent Sioux City Explorers before catching on with the Giants where he finished 2002 at AA Norwich.  He signed with the Yankees in 2003, but saw limited duty assigned to AA Trenton.  He was resigned by Houston in 2004, but cut at the end of spring training.  He returned to Sioux City, but was dealt to the Winnipeg Goldeyes where he finished the season.  2005 saw him back in Sioux City while he split time in 2006 between Winnipeg and the Newark Bears.  He began this season with the independent St. Joe Blacksnakes, but was cut in June; current status not known.
RP: Russ Herbert   Unsigned after the season, Russ spent 2001 with the independent Tyler Roughnecks and 2002 – 2003 with the independent Jackson Senators before leaving baseball for good.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2007, 11:39:16 am by VirtualBob »
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tbone421998

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2007, 11:30:53 am »
Thanks for the effort to post this.  It was very interesting.  It just shows how hard it is to make it to the show. 

Taras Bulba

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2007, 11:44:48 am »
Really enjoyed reading this--very well done.

Was Cole the guy who married Nolan's daughter?
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Andyzipp

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2007, 11:49:14 am »
I remember certain posters (me being one of them) excited about a future rotation of Wade Miller, Roy Oswalt, Tim Redding and Wilfredo Rodriguez.  This would have allowed up the luxury of trading Shane Reynolds for something useful by 2002.

Ugh.

Noe

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2007, 12:28:52 pm »
Really enjoyed reading this--very well done.

Was Cole the guy who married Nolan's daughter?

Yes.

Noe

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2007, 12:30:33 pm »
One of my favorites from that team was closer Jason Green.  Not only did he perform on the field well, his movie reviews on the Jumbotrons were outstanding.  He was a very funny guy!

JimR

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2007, 12:32:41 pm »
Colin Porter was one of my favorite people on that team. all he lacked was plate discipline, but that was a big IF. he was a great guy, and i think was in the majors briefly with StL too.

didn't Jason Green have a major arm injury? good person, funny guy.

yes, Cole married Wendy Ryan, but they divorced. he was a great guy, too.

Wilfredo was a bigger disappointment than Redding because he never showed great stuff in AA at RR. i heard he had a serious case of the big heads and quit working hard. dunno if that was true. i do though the RR staff was pretty disgusted with him.

the what could have been rotation: Oswalt, Rodriguez, Redding, Hernandez, Lidge.
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MRaup

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2007, 01:48:12 pm »
Oh Kevin Burns...

"Smithers... Hit me a home run!"
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Taras Bulba

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2007, 02:39:28 pm »
I remember certain posters (me being one of them) excited about a future rotation of Wade Miller, Roy Oswalt, Tim Redding and Wilfredo Rodriguez.  This would have allowed up the luxury of trading Shane Reynolds for something useful by 2002.

Ugh.

Seeing that Elarton was throwing for Omaha the other day against RR made me think of the trades that Houston apparently spurned or had working involving him, Ward, and others.  Points out, too that bright prospects don't always pan out and being a GM is not as easy as it looks.
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Noe

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2007, 02:46:51 pm »
... and being a GM is not as easy as it looks.

Tell that to the Chron Bloggers and their readership.  It is supposedly very easy to do and hence why they can do it much better than Tim Purpura.

JimR

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Re: 2000 Express - Where are they now?
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2007, 09:30:21 am »
Seeing that Elarton was throwing for Omaha the other day against RR made me think of the trades that Houston apparently spurned or had working involving him, Ward, and others.  Points out, too that bright prospects don't always pan out and being a GM is not as easy as it looks.

Dierker blew out Elarton's arm. man, he was great that year setting up.
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