Bulger, Jepsen, and postseason eligibility

by dmhead on Sep 9, 2008 11:02 AM PDT

I'm sure this subject has been tackled here somewhere but I'd like someone with a better understanding of transaction rules to clear it up for me. It is my understanding that a player must be on the 25 man roster on 8/31 in order to be eligible for the postseason, or be on the 15-day or 60-day dl at that time. A player on the 60-day dl may be replaced by anyone in the organization and be eligible for the postseason, ala Frankie in '02.

The only player currently on the 60-day dl is Escobar, but he is not on the 40 man roster. The only players currently on the 15-day dl are Howie, Aybar, and Shane Loux. Barring any other set-backs, our middle infielders will be on the postseason roster. My question is, since Shane Loux was on the 25-man before the deadline, and is currently on the dl, can the team transfer him to the 60-day dl in order to replace him with Bulger or Jepsen and take one of those fireballers to the playoffs instead of Walk-off Spier? Would there need to be further medical clearance in order to place him on the 60-day? Obviously if the two of them sputter the rest of the month this is a non-starter, but its not too unusual to catch lightning in a bottle with hard-throwing rookie relievers.

Finally, with both of those guys pretty much dominating AAA all year, do you think the team purposely kept them down there to catch the contenders off-guard come playoff time? If so, do you think this is a wise move? Or would the two have been better off getting their big league reps before hitting the big stage in October?

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clarification

Anyone in the organization can replace a player on the 60 day DL on the postseason roster. So Bulger or Jepsen can be included on the postseason 25-man roster in plae of Kelvim Escobar.

Howie and Loux went on the DL before Sept 1 – they are eligible. Aybar never went on the DL, he is eligble.

by Rev Halofan on Sep 9, 2008 11:29 AM PDT reply actions

Correct

The rule used to be that the roster was limited to guys on the 40-man roster as of 08/31; and for guys who weren’t on the 25-man or DL as of 08/31, they could only replace a player at the same position (i.e., K-Rod for Steve Green in 2002). Now, though, the rule is simply anyone in the organization, and the position-for-position requirement no longer applies. E.g., Bobby Wilson could take the spot of Maicer Izturis.

If the player is not on the 40-man, he must first be added thereto. Bulger & Jepsen (and anybody else the Halos woul’d even consider using) are already on the 40-man.

This link has a good explanation.

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2008/08/19/8-31-exemption-and-how-use-it

by jjackflash on Sep 9, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions

God bless that lone April Day.

Seattle I would like to thank you for sucking. It allows me to get back to my roots: Hating Fremont.

Kobe tell me how my ass tastes

by hauldog on Sep 9, 2008 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions

according to the team page

Kelvim is not currently on the 40 man. I count 41 players listed, Bulger and Jepsen included. Since neither of those guys were on the 25 man on 8/31, are they eligible without a further DL move?

by dmhead on Sep 9, 2008 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions

No

Someone who was on the active roster as of 08/31 would have to be placed on the DL in order to include one of them. For example, Speier could go on the DL with inflamed ERA, and Bulger could be included in his place.

At least, that’s how I read it.

Also, they can change things up before each series. Thus, the Halos would probably only carry 10 pitchers for the division series. They’d probably increase that to 11 for the ALCS and WS.

Also, a new rule (last year) allows teams to replace players who get injured during the series. Here, though, it’s position-for-position. Thus, if an outfielder twists an ankle, he can go on the “DL” and be replaced, but he must be replaced by an outfielder; you can’t use the exception to add another pitcher, for example. However, the injured player is ineligible for the remainder of the series, as well as the next series. This prevents a team from replacing a relief pitcher who throws a lot of innings in game 2, for example, with a fresh arm.

by jjackflash on Sep 9, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions

60 day DL players ARE on the 40-Man roster

You can go up to 42 if 2 are on the 60.

by Rev Halofan on Sep 9, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions

yes and no

they don’t count against the 40. Thus, if you look at the Halos’ web site, it gives a double asterisk to Escobar, denoting him as “not on 40-man roster” when you look at the 40-man roster page.

by jjackflash on Sep 9, 2008 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions