An Anchor at Third Base

Ducks Sign former Oriole Jose Leon

By Brian Bohl

August 22, 2007

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY— Jose Offerman’s arrest and subsequent suspension created a void in the lineup and left the Long Island Ducks an infielder short on the roster. To replace his offense, manager Dave LaPoint still can pencil in five everyday players who are hitting over .300. But Offerman’s absence left the roster at 23 players, two below the maximum.

LaPoint addressed that problem and replenished the infield corps, signing former Oriole Jose Leon (pictured at right) on Tuesday. The move gives them six infielders, not including Ray Navarrete, who has appeared at every position except catcher, first and pitcher despite being listed as an outfielder.

With Dionys Cesar shifting over to second base to replace Offerman, LaPoint brought in Leon, a third baseman with 13 years of professional experience. He made his Atlantic League debut last night, finishing 0-4 in a 6-3 loss to the Bridgeport Bluefish at Citibank Park.

The newest Duck batted fifth, protecting RBI-leader Carl Everett in the order. LaPoint said he brought in the 30-year-old after he finished playing in the Mexican league. Two weeks removed from that season, he comes north of the border as the starting third baseman for a contending club.

“He’s a good power hitter and he’s a solid third baseman,” said LaPoint (pictured at right), who said he managed Leon when both were in the Cardinals’ Double-A team in Arkansas. “Let’s give him some at-bats and let him get used to it. We need to get him comfortable. We have an anchor now at third base, and we’ll just leave him there.

“He’s always been a good player, a hard-nose player. That’s the type we need,” the skipper added.

The Cardinals drafted Leon in the 22nd round in 1994. St. Louis turned the late-round pick into a trade-deadline chip when they sent him to the Orioles for Will Clark in 2000. Leon eventually made it to the big leagues, appearing in 88 games for Baltimore over parts of three seasons. From 2002-2004, he batted .225, hitting five home runs along with 18 RBIs.

His acquisition provides LaPoint with a right-handed bat to protect Everett and Navarrete in the lineup. It also makes it possible for veteran players like Edgardo Alfonzo (pictured at left) to take an occasional day off during the upcoming stretch run.

“The opportunity came in. I never try to close doors,” Leon said. “I have a bunch of friends who played over here and told me the league keeps getting better and better. When I talked to them [coaches] today, they told me I was going to play first and third. I’ve played third base throughout my career, and I’m going to try and help the team as best I can.”

The Caguas, Puerto Rico native also played in Mexico last season, a league considered to be at a Triple-A level. He batted a career-high .348 in 47 games for Campeche, belting 17 home runs and 49 RBIs. Two years ago, Leon said he considered retirement because of injuries to his face and knee, among other ailments. Playing in Mexico helped rejuvenated his body, and Leon said he hopes a stint in the independent minor leagues will lead to another chance to catch on with an a MLB-affiliated team next year.

“If I feel healthy, I’m going to be all right,” he said. “I had face surgery, and I had my knee surgery last year. I’m still 30 years old, if I stay healthy, I’ll continue to play.

“Coming over here is a good opportunity to come back next year with some team. I hope it happens. If not, I’ll go back to Mexico.”

Leon joins a championship contender, as the Ducks extended their lead over Newark to six games in the second-half North Division title race. He grounded out weakly to first base in his first at-bat. The result got worse in his next at-bat in the third, after he struck out with two men in scoring position to end the inning. That whiff came immediately after he lost the grip on his bat, sending the wood flying into the seats behind the visitors’ dugout.

“I felt a little bit lost today because it was my first game in a couple of weeks,” he said. “I’m going to come in and try to get my rhythm and my swing back. It always takes a couple of days, and I hope it comes early. I know a lot of players in here; I’ve played winter ball with them.”

Four errors by the Ducks led to three unearned runs, although Leon made a sparkling defensive play to end the seventh. He made a dive to his left to glove Nick Ortiz’ hard-hit grounder, throwing to first from his knees to get the force. Though Ortiz appeared to beat the throw, first base umpire Eric Diaz called him out, keeping Bridgeport’s lead at 5-2.

Notes: The five errors the Ducks committed tied a season high, home and away. Bridgeport was also the opponent the two previous times, which occurred May 27 in Connecticut and August 5 at home…Even in defeat, the Ducks caught a break. Newark dropped a doubleheader earlier in the evening, dropping a half-game in the standings. The Ducks are at least .500 against six Atlantic League teams. They only possess a losing record against the Bluefish. Last night marked the final meeting between the two teams this season. The Ducks lost the season series, 8-10…Ray Navarrete (pictured above right) received the day off. His 17-game hitting streak remains intact.

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