Danny Ardoin
Danny Ardoin has been designated for assignment (8/26/06). Claimed by Baltimore and traded for a player-to-be-named-later (8/30/06).
Full Name: Daniel Wayne Ardoin
Position: C
Born: July 8, 1974 in Mamou, Louisiana
Height: 6-0 Weight: 205
Bats: Right Throws: Right
High School: Sacred Heart (Ville Platte,LA)
College: McNeese State University
Drafted: Selected by Boston Red Sox in 41st round (1143rd overall) of 1993 amateur entry draft (June Regular Phase)......Selected by Cleveland Indians in 39th round (1081st overall) of 1994 amateur entry draft (June Regular Phase)......Selected by Oakland Athletics in 5th round (120th overall) of 1995 amateur entry draft (June Regular Phase)
Dan Ardoin just couldn't hit enough to make it here in Denver.
YEAR TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
2000 Twins 15 32 4 4 1 0 1 5 8 8 10 0 0 .300 .250 .125
2004 Rangers 6 8 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 .364 .125 .125
2005 Rockies 80 210 28 48 10 0 6 22 76 20 69 1 1 .320 .362 .229
2006 Rockies 35 109 12 21 5 1 0 2 28 8 27 0 0 .261 .257 .193
2006 Orioles 5 13 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 6 0 0 .200 .077 .077
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Career 141 372 47 75 16 1 7 31 114 40 114 1 1 .298 .306 .202
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2006
Ardoin is one of those players that slipped through the cracks his whole minor league career before finally getting an extensive shot in the big leagues in 2005. It's hard to imagine an obvious defensive catching talent such as his being over looked for so long, but for whatever reason he was. His skills are very good in terms of throwing out runners. He does have problems blocking a ball thrown in the dirt sometimes but that comes more from the pitchers confidence in his ability to do so than anything else, so they are more apt to spin a pitch in the dirt knowing Ardoin will block it. He also has a good handle on the pitchers and seems to call a good game for them. The Rockie starters were much better at getting deeper into the games this year than any other year they've been around and that's a direct reflection on Ardoin. Jason Jennings calls Ardoin the best he's had since coming to the big-leagues.
"He's really good," said Jennings to the media. "He ranks up there with Sal Fasano, and Sal had a big hand in getting me to the big leagues [in 2001]. He was awesome. And he can throw the [heck] out of the ball, so you don't have to worry about the running game too much with him back there. It's very relaxing to have him behind the plate."
His offensive skills will get better as he accumulates major league at bats but he'll never be more than a .240 to .250 hitter with only marginal power. His RBI numbers will never be great either because his spot in the lineup will be in the 7th and 8th hole.
Danny will be on the team in 2006 sharing time with Yorvit Torrealba. From this stand point it will be as the number one catcher but realistically he is holding the fort until either JD Closser finds himself or Chris Iannetta is ready.
Full Name: Daniel Wayne Ardoin
Position: C
Born: July 8, 1974 in Mamou, Louisiana
Height: 6-0 Weight: 205
Bats: Right Throws: Right
High School: Sacred Heart (Ville Platte,LA)
College: McNeese State University
Drafted: Selected by Boston Red Sox in 41st round (1143rd overall) of 1993 amateur entry draft (June Regular Phase)......Selected by Cleveland Indians in 39th round (1081st overall) of 1994 amateur entry draft (June Regular Phase)......Selected by Oakland Athletics in 5th round (120th overall) of 1995 amateur entry draft (June Regular Phase)
Dan Ardoin just couldn't hit enough to make it here in Denver.
YEAR TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
2000 Twins 15 32 4 4 1 0 1 5 8 8 10 0 0 .300 .250 .125
2004 Rangers 6 8 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 .364 .125 .125
2005 Rockies 80 210 28 48 10 0 6 22 76 20 69 1 1 .320 .362 .229
2006 Rockies 35 109 12 21 5 1 0 2 28 8 27 0 0 .261 .257 .193
2006 Orioles 5 13 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 6 0 0 .200 .077 .077
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Career 141 372 47 75 16 1 7 31 114 40 114 1 1 .298 .306 .202
------------
2006
Ardoin is one of those players that slipped through the cracks his whole minor league career before finally getting an extensive shot in the big leagues in 2005. It's hard to imagine an obvious defensive catching talent such as his being over looked for so long, but for whatever reason he was. His skills are very good in terms of throwing out runners. He does have problems blocking a ball thrown in the dirt sometimes but that comes more from the pitchers confidence in his ability to do so than anything else, so they are more apt to spin a pitch in the dirt knowing Ardoin will block it. He also has a good handle on the pitchers and seems to call a good game for them. The Rockie starters were much better at getting deeper into the games this year than any other year they've been around and that's a direct reflection on Ardoin. Jason Jennings calls Ardoin the best he's had since coming to the big-leagues.
"He's really good," said Jennings to the media. "He ranks up there with Sal Fasano, and Sal had a big hand in getting me to the big leagues [in 2001]. He was awesome. And he can throw the [heck] out of the ball, so you don't have to worry about the running game too much with him back there. It's very relaxing to have him behind the plate."
His offensive skills will get better as he accumulates major league at bats but he'll never be more than a .240 to .250 hitter with only marginal power. His RBI numbers will never be great either because his spot in the lineup will be in the 7th and 8th hole.
Danny will be on the team in 2006 sharing time with Yorvit Torrealba. From this stand point it will be as the number one catcher but realistically he is holding the fort until either JD Closser finds himself or Chris Iannetta is ready.
Danny Ardoin Bio's:
In the News
9/23/06.. addition.. purplerow.com
2006 grade:
Danny Ardoin - F-- Ardoin's defense couldn't come close to making up for the sinkhole his appearance would make in the lineup. In one final cruel stab, he couldn't even net us some decent pitching prospects from the Mets through trade, getting claimed off waivers by Baltimore instead.
8/26/06.. info
Recalled C Chris Iannetta from Triple-A Colorado Springs; Designated C Danny Ardoin for assignment.
7/30/06.. addition
The Rockies announced Sunday that they activated catcher Danny Ardoin from the 15-day disabled list and optioned JD Closser to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
7/25/06.. addition.. MB.com
Catcher Danny Ardoin suffered a setback while rehabbing his knee. He was hit on his left hand with a pitch in Triple-A Colorado Springs. X-rays were negative, meaning there is no break.
The Rockies recalled him from his knee rehab assignment, and he will start a new 20-day rehab on the left wrist on Tuesday when he'll catch seven innings. He will then have a day off, then go nine innings, then another off-day and progress from there
7/3/06.. addition.. Post
Veteran catcher Danny Ardoin, coming back from a strained left knee, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Modesto (Calif.) on Wednesday
5/1/06.. addition.. MLB.com
Rockies catcher Danny Ardoin encouraged the Rockies with his offensive work during Spring Training, but he entered Tuesday batting .173. Considered strong defensively, Ardoin had thrown out just 2-of-12 on steal attempts. It's been a difficult start for Ardoin, 32, who had received nothing more than a few sips of coffee in the Majors and was considering retiring before becoming the team's primary catcher late last season. "He's still pressing for me," Hurdle said. "We talked about having fun and going out and enjoying the game. Think about where you were two years ago and where you are now." Hurdle noted that it's one thing to give the advice and another to put it into practice. "Easier said than done," Hurdle said.
3/9/06.. addition MLB.com
"It's kind of like a lab experiment," manager Clint Hurdle said of Ardoin. "Keeping [his swing] short and simple won't be a power reduction by any means. It'll probably play out in the long run that he'll have more opportunity to drive in runs because the ball will be in play more effectively, harder [and] more often."
2/1/06.. addition.. Baseball Prospectus.com
The Rockies love Danny Ardoin because of his defense, which might make you roll your eyes and invoke Nichols' Law of Catcher Defense. However, while the 31-year-old Ardoin's bat is too weak for a full-time job--many Triple-A lifers could put up a .682 OPS in Coors Field--his glove work is worthy of the accolades. Ardoin had a Rate of 122 last year and was 15 runs above average in only 80 games, third best among major league catchers behind the brothers Molina (Yadier and Jose).
1/18/06... addition... MLB.com
"I think with me and Yorvit behind the plate, we can mean runs for our team by preventing runs," Ardoin said. "Keeping them from taking that extra base is huge. In a park like Coors Field, yeah, there are home runs, but the outfield is huge and keeping the guy from stealing a base could be the difference in the other team scoring or not scoring. You'd like a 20-home run hitting guy, but we do other things, and our tandem might still get some home runs."
2006 grade:
Danny Ardoin - F-- Ardoin's defense couldn't come close to making up for the sinkhole his appearance would make in the lineup. In one final cruel stab, he couldn't even net us some decent pitching prospects from the Mets through trade, getting claimed off waivers by Baltimore instead.
8/26/06.. info
Recalled C Chris Iannetta from Triple-A Colorado Springs; Designated C Danny Ardoin for assignment.
7/30/06.. addition
The Rockies announced Sunday that they activated catcher Danny Ardoin from the 15-day disabled list and optioned JD Closser to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
7/25/06.. addition.. MB.com
Catcher Danny Ardoin suffered a setback while rehabbing his knee. He was hit on his left hand with a pitch in Triple-A Colorado Springs. X-rays were negative, meaning there is no break.
The Rockies recalled him from his knee rehab assignment, and he will start a new 20-day rehab on the left wrist on Tuesday when he'll catch seven innings. He will then have a day off, then go nine innings, then another off-day and progress from there
7/3/06.. addition.. Post
Veteran catcher Danny Ardoin, coming back from a strained left knee, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Modesto (Calif.) on Wednesday
5/1/06.. addition.. MLB.com
Rockies catcher Danny Ardoin encouraged the Rockies with his offensive work during Spring Training, but he entered Tuesday batting .173. Considered strong defensively, Ardoin had thrown out just 2-of-12 on steal attempts. It's been a difficult start for Ardoin, 32, who had received nothing more than a few sips of coffee in the Majors and was considering retiring before becoming the team's primary catcher late last season. "He's still pressing for me," Hurdle said. "We talked about having fun and going out and enjoying the game. Think about where you were two years ago and where you are now." Hurdle noted that it's one thing to give the advice and another to put it into practice. "Easier said than done," Hurdle said.
3/9/06.. addition MLB.com
"It's kind of like a lab experiment," manager Clint Hurdle said of Ardoin. "Keeping [his swing] short and simple won't be a power reduction by any means. It'll probably play out in the long run that he'll have more opportunity to drive in runs because the ball will be in play more effectively, harder [and] more often."
2/1/06.. addition.. Baseball Prospectus.com
The Rockies love Danny Ardoin because of his defense, which might make you roll your eyes and invoke Nichols' Law of Catcher Defense. However, while the 31-year-old Ardoin's bat is too weak for a full-time job--many Triple-A lifers could put up a .682 OPS in Coors Field--his glove work is worthy of the accolades. Ardoin had a Rate of 122 last year and was 15 runs above average in only 80 games, third best among major league catchers behind the brothers Molina (Yadier and Jose).
1/18/06... addition... MLB.com
"I think with me and Yorvit behind the plate, we can mean runs for our team by preventing runs," Ardoin said. "Keeping them from taking that extra base is huge. In a park like Coors Field, yeah, there are home runs, but the outfield is huge and keeping the guy from stealing a base could be the difference in the other team scoring or not scoring. You'd like a 20-home run hitting guy, but we do other things, and our tandem might still get some home runs."