Repeated slurs directed at a succession of ineffective Mets relievers (Mel Rojas, Doug Sisk, Jorge Sosa) has long been a CSTB crutch tradition, but on the weekend Armando Benitez was cut by Toronto, let’s spare a positive thought for Danny Graves, who seems to be getting his life back together in the Twins organization. From the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Kelsie Smith :

After spending 2007 in the Atlantic League, Graves e-mailed about 20 general managers in January. He asked for a last chance, said his drinking was under control and he had found peace after his divorce. He was ready, mentally and physically, he wrote, to pitch again. Graves got three or four thanks-but-no-thanks responses and, from Twins GM Bill Smith, one maybe.

“Over the course of a year, we get a ton of e-mail,” Smith says. “Once in a while, something just strikes you. It was a heartfelt letter that said “I’ve made a lot of changes in my life, and I’m looking for one last chance.” Once in a while, you see that and you think, “well, what the heck.” It didn’t cost us anything to bring him down (to throw for scouts in Fort Myers). You might get lucky on the field, and maybe something benefits him off the field.”

Throwing in front of senior adviser Terry Ryan, minor league pitching coordinator Rick Knapp and vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff, Graves “made enough of an impression for us to sign him and give him that chance,” Smith says.

Graves began in extended spring training, the first time he’d been there in his career. He moved to Class A Fort Myers, then to AA New Britain and finally to Rochester.

“The timing of everything,” Graves says, “was almost like it was on time for Danny Graves.”

When he arrived in Rochester, Cliburn had a question for the reliever — would he start?

Starting baseball games does not bring back good memories for Graves, who went 4-15 with a 5.33 ERA during his season as a Reds starter and who says he “always told myself that if I ever had to start again I would probably retire.” But throughout his evolution as a person, Graves has evolved as a pitcher. Unable to throw in the mid-90s as he did during his closer days, Graves says, he has finally learned how to pitch, throwing four pitches for strikes with a hard-sinking fastball that induces ground outs.

So when Cliburn asked about starting, Graves said yes. He’s now 2-1 with a 3.99 ERA in six starts for the Red Wings and, to his own surprise, “it turns out that this is the most fun I’ve had. I love starting now.”

(cantstopthebleeding.com)

Danny Graves didn't pitch in the majors last year after posting a 6.52 ERA in 2005 and a 5.79 ERA in 2006, so when the Twins signed the 34-year-old former All-Star to a minor-league deal he looked like Triple-A roster filler. Instead, with a 3.24 ERA and 14-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 25 innings in the minors he reportedly may soon be a bullpen option. Lots of washed-up relievers have gotten chances in the Twins' bullpen over the years, but expect him to be more Jesse Orosco than Mike Jackson.

(minnpost.com)

It's been a long time since Danny Graves was an effective major legue pitcher. He hasn't for example had an ERA under 4.00 since 2004; hasn't really ever recovered from the ill-fated attempt in 2003 to turn him from a 100-innings-a-year relief ace to a starter.

But he's still around, not yet 35, pitching in the Twins farm system after signing a minor-league deal late in spring training.

He started Monday night for the Rochester Red Wings, the Twins' Triple A affiliate, and at least statistically fared well: four shutout innings, two hits allowed, two strikeouts.

It's not that the Twins are seriously looking at him as starter. They wanted to see some innings; they wanted to get a serious evaluation of his stuff.

There is, after all, a serious hole in the Minnesota bullpen now. Pat Neshek in many ways was the most important guy in that pen — the man Ron Gardenhire called on both to get out of late-inning jams (well, Nesek and Dennys Reyes, with Reyes handling the lefties) and his top eighth-inning guy.

That was probably too heavy a workload. In 2006, Gardy used Neshek and Reyes in the middle of innings and relied on Juan Rincon and Jesse Crain to handle the eighth. But last year Rincon was ineffective and Crain blew out his shoulder, and the bulk of the eight-inning work got added to Neshek's duties. Now Neshek's elbow is shot, and the Twins have a problem.

Matt Guerrier doesn't fit the preferred profile of a late-inning reliever; the post-surgical Crain is unlikely to be used in the middle of an inning or on consecutive days; Rincon, despite four shutout innings in the Boston series, hasn't proved that his back to his 2004-06 form, when he was as good an eighth-inning option as there was in the game.

If Graves has any juice left in his arm, there's a job available.

(mankatofreepress.com)

New Britain, CT – In a league usually reserved for young prospects and seasoned minor leaguers chasing the dream, Danny Graves toes the rubber as a Major League veteran who has been around the block and simply isn’t ready to give up the game he loves. From his Major League debut to the Major League All-Star Game, Graves has seen and done it all. Yet, there he is every night donning a uniform of the Double-A Rock Cats. A man who holds the record for the most career saves in Reds’ history has returned to the world of smaller stadiums, on-field promotions, and bus rides to visiting cities.

By the look on his face, he is enjoying every moment of it. Click here to continue reading...

Two superlatives stand out in following the baseball career of relief pitcher Danny Graves.

One of them sets him apart for all time.

Graves, now 34 and wearing uniform No. 39 for the Fort Myers Miracle, became the first player born in Vietnam to reach the big leagues. The former University of Miami Hurricane and Orlando resident did so at age 22 with the Cleveland Indians in 1996.

In 1997, Graves began the first of nine seasons pitching for the Cincinnati Reds, where he set his second superlative: becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in saves.

Two events relating to his Vietnamese heritage later shaped the life and career of Graves, whose father was an American serviceman and mother was a Vietnam native.

Graves talked to The News-Press about both events.

Graves, who was released by the Colorado Rockies before the 2007 season began — he compiled 33 saves for the independent Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks last year — signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins in late March. Click here to continue reading...

The Twins have signed 34-year old righty Danny Graves to a minor league contract. He last pitched in the major leagues in 2006 with the Indians. Graves has pitched in 518 games (30 starts) in his major league career and he is 43-44 with 182 saves, a 4.05 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He could possibly help the Twins at some point in the 2008 season if he proves that he has something left in the minors.

(twinslocker.com)

As Hal McCoy and I were making our way from the field to the Reds clubhouse, we ran into Danny Graves. That Danny Graves.

Graves was wearing a No. 60 Minnesota Twins uniform. He just signed a minor league deal with the Twins three days ago.

“I was sitting home waiting,” he said. “They told me to come in. They asked me if I could pitch Sunday. I said, ‘This Sunday? Sure.’ Then today they asked if I could go two innings.”

He did.

He went 1-2-3 and threw only five pitches on the first. He gave up an infield single and two-run homer in the second.

Graves spent last year with the Long Island Ducks. He led the independent Atlantic League in saves. He was big league camp with the Colorado Rockies last year before getting released.

Since the Reds released him May 23, 2005, Graves has been with the New York Mets, the Cleveland Indians and Rockies. He’s gotten precious little big league time.

“We’ll see how this works out,” he said.

(frontier.cincinati.com)

CLEVELAND -- First, Danny Graves' hair was cut. Then, Graves himself was cut.

The Indians designated the veteran Graves for assignment after Friday's 5-4 loss to the Tigers, giving them 10 days to trade or release him. To replace Graves on the active roster and in the bullpen, the club has called up right-hander Fausto Carmona.

Graves, who was making $575,000 this year, had become the poster boy for the 'pen's struggles. He owned a 2-1 record and 5.79 ERA in 13 appearances this year and never really settled in, whether used in long relief, mopup duty or tight situations.

"Danny had showed signs," Wedge said. "But it was more about his inconsistency. He has a huge heart and a lot of guts. He's a great competitor. But ultimately, we felt we needed to make a move to helps us solidify things in our 'pen."

The 32-year-old Graves showed up to Jacobs Field on Friday with three inches of his hair cut off. He was hoping the new 'do could inspire some improvement in his performance, but he was told of the decision shortly thereafter.

Graves was not available for comment after the game.

(mlb.com)