Francisco Cruceta

Subject: Francisco Cruceta Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:43 am

	G	GS	W	L	IP	ER	H	B	K	ERA
Career	6	3	0	1	14.1	16	20	10	11	10.05

Are you excited or what?
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bow

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:45 am

It's only a matter of time, and this will change into a Tigers uniform. I don't know how they do it...
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bow

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:26 am

Subject: Cruceta background info Fri Nov 30, 2007 12:42 pm

Cruceta, 26, spent the 2007 season with Triple A Oklahoma in the Texas Rangers organization. In 25 outings (five starts), he compiled a 3-0 record, 3.02 ERA (65.2IP/22ER) and 70 strikeouts. Cruceta has appeared in 13 games with Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, posting a 1-1 record, 1.08 ERA (16.2IP/2ER) and 25 strikeouts. He is fourth in the league with 25 strikeouts.

“Cruceta has pitched very well this winter in the Dominican Republic,” Dombrowski said. “He is a quality prospect and we expect him to compete for a spot in our bullpen in 2008.”

Cruceta has compiled a 63-49 record and 3.77 ERA (943.2IP/395ER) in 214 appearances (145 starts) during his career at the minor league level. He briefly saw action at the major league level with the Cleveland Indians in 2004 and Seattle Mariners in 2006.

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Conference Call Notes

from http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/11/tigers-sign-kenny-rogers-and-francisco-cruceta/

Cruceta throws in the mid 90’s and the Tigers look at him as some who can help the team.
The team is aware of Cruceta’s suspension but the team is confident that Cruceta learned from the experience and that Cruceta can help the team.

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From http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=259

Cruceta Garners 50-Game Suspension

Posted May. 9, 2007 5:58 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Daily Dish, Suspensions

Rangers righthander Francisco Cruceta has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Cruceta has twice led his minor league in strikeouts, finishing second in the minors last season with 185 for Tacoma, the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate. While a member of the Indians organization, he struck out an Eastern League-leading 134 batters in 2003 for Double-A Akron. He’s gone 61-49, 3.84 in 909 minor league innings.

The Dodgers originally signed Cruceta in 1999 then traded him to the Indians in a deal for righthander Paul Shuey in 2002. The Mariners then claimed him on waivers in 2005, and he signed with the Rangers as a minor league free agent following the 2006 season.

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:02 pm

So he's like a "Young Jose Mesa"??

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:03 pm

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:12 pm

Funny, but quite scary!! Wonder what everyone sees in him? Hope we do too.....

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:33 pm

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:56 pm

No, but I was thinking old Jose Mesa quality in young Francisco's arm!!

Either way..... puke

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:14 pm

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:05 pm

I'd be happy if he was a little better than Grilli.....

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:33 pm

Good Luck Cruceta!

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:21 am

Does this guy really have a shot to make the team?

Seay
Byrdak
Grilli
Rodney

Bazardo
Miner
Jones

Howzat??

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:04 pm

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:25 pm

NO NO NO NO

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:50 pm

Lets make a list of the 2007 40 man roster and then the 2008 40 man roster and I bet you the only people left are going to be JBV, Maggs, Granderson, Polly and Carlos!

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:53 pm

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:58 pm

Never, they will probably trade him tomorrow.

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:01 pm

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:37 pm

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:39 am

She is so icky Sigh

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:19 am

I happen to LIKE icky..... Perturbed

She likes GIRLS too, y'know!!

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:20 pm

omg, speaking of which... do I have a story for YOU whistle

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:57 pm

OMG....I am ALL ears.....TALK!!

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:22 am

haha ok, PM coming whistle

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:26 pm

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:20 pm

Mine too!! Stunned

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:09 pm

04/16/2008 8:30 PM ET
Reliever Cruceta throwing stateside
Visa problems nixed righty's spring; could hit Minors next week
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CLEVELAND -- Francisco Cruceta could begin pitching in Minor League games next week as the Tigers try to get the well-touted right-handed reliever ready for the big leagues.

Cruceta, signed last fall as a potential setup man in the Detroit bullpen, missed all of Spring Training while dealing with visa issues in the Dominican Republic. His application for a U.S. visa was finally approved a week ago, allowing him to report to extended Spring Training in Lakeland, Fla.

From there, he has been working his way back into game shape, though he pitched in the Tigers' Dominican complex for part of the time while he waited on his visa. So far, he has had no troubles getting ready. He threw two innings on Monday, and is scheduled to pitch in back-to-back outings Thursday and Friday, according to player development director Glenn Ezell.

If he completes his outings, the Tigers will evaluate where he's at and decide where he will go from there. Whatever the choice, he's expected to pitch in Minor League contests at some level before the Tigers make the decision on whether and when to promote him to the Majors.

Time is on the Tigers' side. Because the team placed Cruceta on Major League Baseball's restricted list when the season started, they received a 30-day period in which to evaluate him before they have to decide whether to add him back onto the 25-man roster, trade him or designate him for assignment. That countdown began when he reported to extended Spring Training and began working out. Once he begins pitching in Minor League games, however, that countdown will drop to 15 days.

If he can pitch like he did in winter ball, he could make the Tigers' decision relatively simple. The 26-year-old displayed a mid-90s fastball and nasty slider while pitching in the Dominican Winter League before continuing into the Caribbean Series in early February. The Tigers beat other clubs to sign him in November with a big league contract offer and a chance to pitch in late innings. His situation was one of several setbacks the Tigers suffered in their bullpen during the spring, forcing them to go into the season with several pitchers untested in new roles besides closer Todd Jones.

If the Tigers do call up Cruceta, it would mark his first big league appearance since 2006, when he made a start and three relief appearances for the Mariners. He spent 2007 at Triple-A Oklahoma in the Rangers farm system, where he allowed just 38 hits over 65 2/3 innings with 40 walks and 70 strikeouts. He made just 25 appearances in part because of a 50-game suspension he received for testing positive for performance enhancing substances. Evil or Very Mad

The suspension was believed to be one reason behind the delay in his visa. Rays Minor Leaguer and fellow Dominican national Juan Salas faced similar delays this spring after a 50-game suspension last year.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:54 am

Lets find out what this guy has got!!

Subject: Re: Francisco Cruceta Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:56 pm

I know there sure were enough teams trying to sign him this year! But these players have got to stay away from the drugs!!!