DUGOUT: Bailey takes the baseball world by storm

“Where did this guy come from?”

Every year that question is posed to at least one player who makes quite a splash by breaking onto the scene. This year, that player is Andrew Bailey.

A reliever in the Oakland Athletics organization, Bailey wasn’t considered much of a prospect for virtually his entire minor league career. After the departure of Huston Street to Colorado, though, Bailey was thrust into the major-league bullpen with big boots to fill.

Street had been with the Athletics his entire career, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2005. Notching 37 saves the next year, it became apparent that Street was an elite closer in the game, despite being just 22 years old.

Last year, at the age of 24, Street was nearing the end of his contract and was a heavily sought commodity. Nearly every team would have traded for Street were they given the chance, but the Athletics made a deal with the Rockies that brought slugger Matt Holiday to Oakland in return for a package including Street.

The Athletics had the slugger they had been lacking to plug into the fourth spot in their batting order, but were suddenly short a closer.

Bailey attended Wagner College, on Staten Island, N.Y. His first year was plagued with poor outings, but as a sophomore, Bailey threw five complete games and struck out nearly 10 batters per nine innings. His junior year, though, brought a potentially career-ending injury.

On a typically rainy day in the Northeast, Bailey came off the mound in the middle of one of his starts and solemnly announced to his coaches that “something popped.” Bailey underwent Tommy John surgery, but was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 16th round. Bailey didn’t sign and returned to Wagner College in hopes of improving his stock. And improve it he did.

Bailey posted an ERA of 2.03 and allowed less than one baserunner per inning during his senior year at Wagner. He was eventually chosen by Oakland in the sixth round of the amateur draft as a 22-year-old and was sent to a short-season A-league, where he dominated the younger competition.

When he reached the next level, though, Bailey realized that he couldn’t remain a starter. Bailey continued his slow climb up the organizational ladder while relying on his above-average fastball and mixing in a cutter and curveball.

Oddly enough, Bailey doesn’t throw a traditional off-speed pitch. Whether or not that led to his transition to the bullpen isn’t known, but Bailey simply wasn’t effective enough to remain a starter.

Bailey started pitching from the ‘pen just last year, and was considered a top prospect in the Athletics’ organization.

Thanks to a key injury and a key trade, however, Bailey landed on the major league roster before the 2009 season as a middle reliever. An extremely impressive performance early on led to his promotion to the closer role, where he currently has the seventh-most saves in the American League, a 1.90 ERA, and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Bailey is also the only pitcher on the team with at least 17 innings who allows less than one baserunner per inning.

An All-Star this year, Bailey is having an extremely impressive rookie season. His ERA+ of 218 indicates that he is extremely better than the league average.

“Who is this guy?” Believe it or not, Bailey has risen from the ranks of the unknown and is now a serious contender for AL Rookie of the Year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be bracing for a World Series run.

Late Monday night, Los Angeles announced the acquisition of designated hitter Jim Thome. While the 39-year-old provides some great pop, I’m not entirely sure why the Dodgers have need of another designated hitter, considering the fact that Manny Ramirez would have that department covered (were it an actual position in the National League).

When analyzing what the White Sox received in return for their slugger, though, it appears to be a great investment for Los Angeles. I spent at least an hour searching for a reliable scouting report on Justin Fuller, who was sent to the White Sox organization, but learned little more than the fact that Fuller is “just another minor leaguer.”

Thome hasn’t played a game that involves playing defense since June 13, 2007, so first baseman James Loney need not worry about losing any playing time. It was suggested that their new veteran could play the outfield, but Thome shot that down, unless it was an emergency.

With just one month of the regular season remaining, Thome will be limited to a pinch-hitter role in late-game situations. If the Dodgers reach the World Series, however, Thome could prove to be valuable as a designated hitter when the Series is housed in an American League stadium.

Another trade that could provide the Dodgers with a boost was the acquisition of Jon Garland. He was traded to Los Angeles from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later. For those not familiar with this, it simply means that general managers of both teams agreed on a list of several players who could potentially be traded later in return for Garland.

The Diamondbacks are free to select one player on that list at any time before the six-month deadline is reached.

Garland got off to a rocky start to the season, but has settled down to a 3.56 ERA during his last 17 starts. He will provide some much-needed pitching depth for the Dodgers, and providing the trade was official before midnight EST on Monday night, will be eligible for the playoff roster.

Arizona is providing much of the money required on Garland’s contract, so the prospect they receive from the Dodgers will probably be significant.

Los Angeles, with a five-and-a-half-game lead in the NL West through Monday, seems ready to advance into the playoffs. Judging from these recent trades, it appears they also have plans of bringing home their first championship since 1988.

Even though his team is in last place, Zack Greinke is doing his best to convince voters that he’s worthy of Cy Young consideration.

On Sunday, Greinke threw a complete game one-hitter against the Seattle Mariners. Greinke was two batters away from a perfect game, walking a batter and allowing a single in the second inning.

From then on Greinke was perfect, retiring the remaining 22 batters with ease.

On the season, Greinke (with a 12-6 record despite pitching for the worst offense in the American League) now has a league-leading ERA of 2.32, the second-most strikeouts in the league with 202, and a league-best 189 ERA+. Greinke also has the most complete games and shutouts in the league, as well as the best WHIP in the league.

While statistics shouldn’t have the final say, few others even come close to Greinke’s status as the best pitcher in the American League.

Andrew Kneeland is a junior at the Arizona Virtual Academy. He is an intern at the Green Valley News.