Seattle Times. 1995.v2. Your Seattle Storm: Pitching Staff

[drbowden]

It is clear that for Seattle to have any success, it will depend on the pitching. Seattle is built to win now from an offensive side; however, the pitching staff is a work in progress. Upon taking up the team, the general manager made a bold trade to help improve the team’s staff. The trade between the Madison Wolves and the Seattle Storm involved sending several of the Storm’s top prospects for some solid arms. Madison gets: Imou (OF), Brunson (IF), Mendosa (C), Rasmussen (P), Higuera (RP), and Anderson (OF). Seattle gets: Walter, Barbosa, Dever, Vanslyke, and Robinson (see completed trades page for details). Although Seattle gave up most of its talented farm players (positional players), most of Seattle’s current positional players are young and holding down their positions. Thus, trading from a standpoint of flexibility, Seattle aimed for a bold move to upgrade their staff. In addition to unloading two bad contracts (Higuera and Anderson, shedding multiple years and approximately 11 million), Seattle received a tremendous RP in Dever, who immediately was transplanted into the closer’s role, and two solid SP arms in Barbosa and Walter. It also received a backup catcher in Vanslyke, and a speedy outfielder in Robinson, all of which will be on the team opening day. This added financial flexibility will allow the team to resign the team’s star, Pennebaker.

Opening Day Staff:
SP Juan Nieves Nieves
SP Lenard Barbosa Barbosa
SP John Rhoades Rhoades
SP Dick Spivey Spivey
SP Dave Walter Walter
RP David Schuster Schuster
RP Dick Bacon, Jr. Bacon
RP Hugh Wiggins Wiggins
RP Dennis Walley Walley
RP Bryce Florie Florie
RP Alfredo Gutierrez Gutierrez
CL Ted Dever Dever

Who to watch:
Ted Dever CL (24): Hard-throwing closer who should man this position for the team for years to come. Look for him to add some stability to the relief staff.

Dave Walter SP (25): Nothing jumps out at you about him, just a steady pitcher with great command. Could be a great addition to staff this season.

David Shuster RP (24): A hybrid pitcher, good enough to start but without a spot. Will start year in bullpen, but don’t be surprised if he is in the starting rotation by season’s end. Excellent control.

John Rhoades SP (28): Has tremendous stuff but lacks stamina. He will tax the bullpen with his stamina liability, but his stuff is good enough to be a dominant pitcher for 5+ innings each time he takes the ball.

[recte44]

I remember Juan Nieves' no hitter for the Brewers in 1987 vividly. Too bad he got hurt. Guy had some serious talent.