Baseball in Fort Wayne

Note: This article also appears at DugoutCentral.

In my fantasy draft, I selected Yankees’ pitcher Joba Chamberlain knowing that he might or might not split time between reliever and starter this season. I am in a league that has a holds category, so I was delighted when he started the season in the bullpen. But now that the Yankees have announced he is joining the starting rotation, I am scrambling to figure out who will fill the very large void that it creates in the set-up spot.

The current depth chart in the bullpen boasts of the youthful Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, the recently recalled Chris Britton, the unpredictable Kyle Farnsworth and the experienced LaTroy Hawkins. Most of what I have read and heard suggests that Farnsworth will get first crack at the spot because of his supposed resurgent season (and possibly his personal relationship with skipper Joe Girardi). I’ve also heard one analyst suggest that Ramirez will ultimately win the role. But of all the relievers, only Latroy Hawkins has a valid case. Sure, he has had some struggles over the last couple years but that should not disqualify his earlier track record and experience.

He signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2004 as a free agent and was coming off an impressive stint with the Minnesota Twins that saw him dominate as one of the most reliable set-up men in all of Major League Baseball. At the time, it was no secret that Hawkins’ preference was to remain a setup man. The Cubs obliged and put him in that role where he did quite well as the eighth inning bridge to then-closer Joe Borowski.

“Joe is the closer here in Chicago,” Hawkins said at the time of his signing. “I came in to help him accomplish that. I came in to get the ball to Joe. That’s my job. “

With the Cubs in 2004, Hawkins was 5-4 with a 2.63 ERA and 25 saves over 82 innings pitched. That year, he gave up 24 runs and struck out 69. The year before, with the Twins, he had a 9-3 record and a 1.86 ERA while giving up just 16 earned runs over 77.1 innings pitched.

But, when Borowski went down, Hawkins was the in-house option to take over. He was converted to a closer late in 2004 and began 2005 as the Cubs’ only option. Hawkins struggled and the Cubs faithful turned on him – as they have on so many quality players. The right hander has never been quite the same. Hawkins was traded to the Baltimore Orioles where he played the 2006 season before signing with Colorado.

With the Rockies, he went 2-5 with a 3.42 ERA. He had five post-season appearances in which he allowed just one run and one hit over five innings. After Colorado declined their 2008 option, Hawkins signed with the Yankees where he is off to a rough start. In the 2008 campaign, Hawkins is 1-1 with a 6.75 earned run average over 24 innings in 20 games. He’s given up 18 runs on 25 hits and 11 walks while striking out 15. He also blew his only save opportunity.

In addition to his gruesome stats, he’s experienced other on-field drama. He was suspended for three games and fined $2,000 by Major League Baseball, who claims that he intentionally threw at Baltimore’s Luke Scott in the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 20th. He is currently appealing it through the MLB Players Association.

However, what most fans see is the “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately?” statistics. Hawkins is an experienced set-up man who has shown he is capable of dominating hitters. He’s just never been given the chance to truly return to the spot where he is most comfortable.

Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1991, he played all of the 1993 season in Fort Wayne of the Midwest League and compiled a dominant season that saw him post crazy numbers. With the Wizards, Hawkins went 15-5 with a 2.06 ERA and 179 strikeouts (including 15 in one game) over 157.1 innings pitched. He also tossed 2 shutouts and 4 complete games. The ERA, wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts in a season and game are all still Fort Wayne Wizards’ records to this day.

In route to his MLB debut season in 1995, Hawkins continued to produce solid numbers. But it was with the Twins that he earned recognition as one of the best set-up men in the game. By the time he earned free agency and joined the Cubs, he was highly sought by several teams – including the Yankess.

In 2002 and 2003, he went 15-3 with a 2.00 ERA in 139 with the twins. 2003 saw him tie for third in the majors with 28 holds and didn’t allow a run from July 31 to Sept. 14, which spanned 20 games.

Sure, he’s had a few bumps in the road as of late, but Hawkins has a proven track record that he is capable of being the type of pitcher who can step into the eighth and get the ball to Mariano Rivera for the Yankees. Since he left Minnesota and the Cubs set him up to fail, he really has not been given a chance to return to his comfort zone as the set-up guy. Will he get the chance with the Yankees this season?

If not, it may be closing time for a career that has gone largely unappreciated and undervalued.