03/08/99
J.D. Drew as good as advertised
by Rod Beaton

I have seen the future, and it's name is J.D. Drew.

It looks like all the hype was legitimate. I had a chance to watch Drew's debut this week with the St. Louis Cardinals. It was little more than a sidebar to Mark McGwire's cozy little accomplishment, but some day it might be seen as something more.

I know, I know, you figure I've gone daft from turning my neck too often, too quickly to watch McGwire's home runs. The fact is major league talent evaluators much more discerning than I have been just as impressed.

Drew hit a 485-foot home run in his second game. That got everyone's attention real fast.

One scout, who chose not to be identified, compared the center field and batting skills Drew has and the grace with which he uses them to Joe DiMaggio. Former Phillies general manager Lee Thomas and Twins coach Wayne Terwilliger have used the name Mickey Mantle when talking about Drew. This is important, Thomas made that comparison after he left the Phillies. It is obvious that Drew will play a good center field, and I think just as obvious that he projects to be a .300 hitter who blasts up to 40 home runs, drives in 100 runs, and even steals some bases.

It seems to be obvious to the Cardinals, too. They are really making no effort to re-sign outfielder Brian Jordan, which is bad news for those of you who are keeping Jordan on your team for next year. Drew will take Jordan's place and my guess is Jordan will take center field in San Francisco or perhaps Colorado if the Rockies are foiled in their bid to sign Bernie Williams. The latter would be good news if you have Jordan.

At least all the evidence is Jordan will stay in the National League, so if you have him in an NL-only fantasy league you won't miss out.

Seeing the Cardinals after September call-ups presents an opportunity to check out a prospect of theirs who has gotten lost in all the attention paid to Drew, left-hander Rick Ankiel, right-hander Braden Looper, shortstop Adam Kennedy and one or two others.

This guy is right-hander "My name" Jose Jimenez.

If you're old enough, or you saw the movie The Right Stuff, you remember the Bill Dana comedy sketch about a scared Hispanic in the space program whose constant refrain was "My name Jose Jimenez."

This Jose Jimenez is no joke. He was Texas League Pitcher of the Year, really impressed Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan and he could very well be a part of the rotation next season.

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