Around Baseball 2014

[Sammy225]

Wallrus designated

 

Dem Thunder Thighs

[jaysfan2014]

A 36% K rate, poor offensive numbers and lousy defense at both 1B and 3B pretty much guaranteed Brett Wallace would be DFAd. Especially with Chris Carter still there and Johnathon Singleton a mere 1-3 months away from the majors. AA looks smart trading him now, even though Gose has struggled, Gose is still only 23 and can still improve.

 

I remember when we wanted Wallace up in the majors. Now we understand why AA didn't want him around..

[Laika]

Mariners sign Rodney.

 

Not a smart way to spend money, but 2/14 isn't really all that terrible considering the upside and what guys like Pap-smear and Soriano have gotten in years past.

[jaysfan2014]

Nice move for the Mariners. Now get Nelson Cruz and that team might have a shot in the AL West.

 

As for the Orioles.. yet again they epically fail in trying to sign a free agent. Makes you wonder if Burnett even wants to go to Baltimore, especially when Peter Angelos keeps refusing to sign anybody by finding minute medical issues so that they can void potential free agent deals. As it stands, the O's, without a decent closer, are behind the Jays overall, especially based on PECOTA predictions.

[Ziggyy108]

Why not a deal based around Santos and Nick Franklin or any other of the million relievers we have

[LunchBox]

Why not a deal based around Santos and Nick Franklin or any other of the million relievers we have

 

Why trade Franklin for a relief pitcher when Rodney is available at a slightly higher price? Even without a position, Franklin is more valuable than that.

[connorp]

Not a smart way to spend money, but 2/14 isn't really all that terrible considering the upside and what guys like Pap-smear and Soriano have gotten in years past.

 

I don't know why teams get the hate for signing known relievers for contracts like that. Its so easy to say relievers are replaced easily.. but the majority of guys are like Brett Cecil.. you really don't know what you're going to get year-to-year. Then you spend the first part of your season blowing games with a merry-go-round of guys until you find something that works.. then at the end of the season you can point to the guy that had a 2.60 ERA is a small sample size (as 1 even full year is for any reliever) and say they could've just used him.. then the next year that same guy may have a 4.60 ERA..

 

If I was a contending team I wouldn't have a problem spending some extra money on an insurance policy in terms of my BP on guys you can feel strongly on them being good...especially since they're normally on short deals..

 

all that said, I'm not a big FR guy.. I don't know what they're getting but the terms somewhat reflect that as you mentioned.

[DuckDuckGose]

I don't know why teams get the hate for signing known relievers for contracts like that. Its so easy to say relievers are replaced easily.. but the majority of guys are like Brett Cecil.. you really don't know what you're going to get year-to-year. Then you spend the first part of your season blowing games with a merry-go-round of guys until you find something that works.. then at the end of the season you can point to the guy that had a 2.60 ERA is a small sample size (as 1 even full year is for any reliever) and say they could've just used him.. then the next year that same guy may have a 4.60 ERA..

.

 

This is applicable to virtually all relievers. There is so much year-to-year variation that there really isn't a point to spend big money on them. Just fill your BP with cheap talent, let the cream rise and you'll be fine. The other big factor is your manager. If you put in a manager who understands how to use splits and leverage situations accordingly you can get by with less than optimal talent.

[Laika]

This is applicable to virtually all relievers. There is so much year-to-year variation that there really isn't a point to spend big money on them. Just fill your BP with cheap talent, let the cream rise and you'll be fine. The other big factor is your manager. If you put in a manager who understands how to use splits and leverage situations accordingly you can get by with less than optimal talent.

 

Exactly.

[connorp]

This is applicable to virtually all relievers. There is so much year-to-year variation that there really isn't a point to spend big money on them. Just fill your BP with cheap talent, let the cream rise and you'll be fine. The other big factor is your manager. If you put in a manager who understands how to use splits and leverage situations accordingly you can get by with less than optimal talent.

 

Most relievers.. I agree with that.. but there's some worthy of a contract on the open market..

[DuckDuckGose]

Most relievers.. I agree with that.. but there's some worthy of a contract on the open market..

 

Like who?

[connorp]

Exactly.

 

Really? What about when you realize your BP f'n blows and then if you want to try to salvage your season if youre a playoff team and you pay 5x the going rate for elite relievers..

s***** strategy

[connorp]

Like who?

 

I wanted Jays to keep Downs for 3/15 I can think of right away.. $5m wasn't much to not deal with seeing the s*** show of late innings that Jays can do one year and be good the next

[connorp]

Craig Kimbrel

Aroldis Chapman

Kenley Janssen

Greg Holland

 

and that's it lol

 

So a guy like G. Balfour doesn't fit what I said?

[connorp]

well TB disagrees, so that's 2/3:p

[DuckDuckGose]

Really? What about when you realize your BP f'n blows and then if you want to try to salvage your season if youre a playoff team and you pay 5x the going rate for elite relievers..

s***** strategy

 

The thing is you don't need elite relievers. You need guys you can leverage in situations where you are failing and a manager who knows wtf he is doing.

[Laika]

Really? What about when you realize your BP f'n blows and then if you want to try to salvage your season if youre a playoff team and you pay 5x the going rate for elite relievers..

s***** strategy

 

Sign some cheap RP depth then. You can get guys for 1M, league min, or on minor league deals with decent enough chances to turn into something. Robert Coello? Danny Farquhar? Did anyone give half a f*** when Toronto let them go? They were nothing.

[connorp]

And most people hated that signing.

 

They obviously did it for a reason.. sometimes TAM does some weird s*** but it usually turns out good.. so even if a contract like Loney looks fishy.. they get the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise

[connorp]

Sign some cheap RP depth then. You can get guys for 1M, league min, or on minor league deals with decent enough chances to turn into something. Robert Coello? Danny Farquhar? Did anyone give half a f*** when Toronto let them go? They were nothing.

 

Good strategy for a team that doesn't have pressure to get to the playoffs and win, sure.. honestly its like paying for an insurance policy.. you may end up having wasted the money but when s*** goes down, youre happy you spent the money

[connorp]

Also I don't condone like a Pap signing.. we're talking about guys like GB

[Laika]

Good strategy for a team that doesn't have pressure to get to the playoffs and win, sure.. honestly its like paying for an insurance policy.. you may end up having wasted the money but when s*** goes down, youre happy you spent the money

 

No.

[connorp]

Well.. for more backup.. Beane apparently disagrees too. So you have the best two FOs in bb perhaps that both made stupid mistakes..

[connorp]

Closers are vastly overrated and grow on trees relatively speaking.

 

Janssen failed starter.

Santos failed SS.

Delabar failed elbow.

Cecil failed starter.

 

Doesn't have to be closer.. can be like David Robertson.. we're talking about guys that you know will be good.. or can feel good about.. not one of the people you mentioned outside CJ is a guy I would bet any money on having an ERA under 4.. though they very well might.. maybe Santos but I wouldnt feel good on him giving IP.. so same thing

[G-Snarls]

Closers are vastly overrated and grow on trees relatively speaking.

 

Janssen failed starter.

Santos failed SS.

Delabar failed elbow.

Cecil failed starter.

 

And the list of recent "star closers" who then busted is just as long

[LunchBox]

Doesn't have to be closer.. can be like David Robertson.. we're talking about guys that you know will be good.. or can feel good about.. not one of the people you mentioned outside CJ is a guy I would bet any money on having an ERA under 4.. though they very well might.. maybe Santos but I wouldnt feel good on him giving IP.. so same thing

 

David Robertson is a top-five reliever bro

[G-Snarls]

Omfg

 

[connorp]

You guys are clearly wrong.. if teams had an opp to take on David Robertson's contract (1/5) w/o giving up compensation.. just about every team would be tripping over themselves to sign him.. including TAM, OAk, and any other well run FO you can think of

[Laika]

Well.. for more backup.. Beane apparently disagrees too. So you have the best two FOs in bb perhaps that both made stupid mistakes..

 

Even the best aren't infallible.

 

- Rasmus trade for Moz was crud.

- Loney re-signing was poo for Rays. GB signing was weird as well.

- Doesn't Beane trade Pena for Rincon in Moneyball?

- I'm a fantasy baseball superstar but even I don't win every trade.

[connorp]

Even the best aren't infallible.

 

- Rasmus trade for Moz was crud.

- Loney re-signing was poo for Rays. GB signing was weird as well.

- Doesn't Beane trade Pena for Rincon in Moneyball?

- I'm a fantasy baseball superstar but even I don't win every trade.

 

So Robertson wouldnt be a good signing at 1/5? Not putting words in your mouth, just asking

[Laika]

So Robertson wouldnt be a good signing at 1/5? Not putting words in your mouth, just asking

 

1/5? I'd probably do that. But, I'd need the payroll space and nothing more efficient to spend it on. So if I had five mill to spend, buying a reliever would be way down my list.

 

I'm not an absolutist. General rules here.