Catch-22: Joey Lucchesi

[Edgy MD]

NAME: Joey Lucchesi

AGE: 29

POSITION: Starting Pitcher (rp)

NUMBER: 47

NICKNAME: "Fuego," "Joey Fuego"

fWAR IN 2021: 0.7

ZIPS PROJECTION FOR 2022: 1.7



Some might say ZIPS don't know zips. Those people might be the ones asking how a starting pitcher whose prior season ended with Tommy Johnnican surgery in late June gets an fWAR prediction this year that's 11th best on the team.



Well, ZIPS might not know zip, but they certainly don't seem to know why my 2021 was abbreviated, and they likely don't have much of an idea how abbreviated my 2022 is looking as I entered camp making noise about coming back mid-season to pitch out of the bullpen. If that's the goal, as unlikely as it is, and knowing how miserly fWAR is with relievers, it all may seem unlikely. For what it's worth, STEAMER predicts a big, fat, steaming 0.0 for my 2022 fWAR total.



That may be more realistic. But neither ZIPS nor STEAMER knows me. They don't know me, they don't know my indefatigability, they don't know my churve, and they don't know how many times my girlfriend has made me see Pitch Perfect 2. (Good God! I get it! Beca "speaks" to you!)



But you? You have some idea? You've seen a little of me, and you probably have some experience with making nuanced adjustments to your expectations following UCL reconstruction. I bet you do. And I bet you're going to tell me everything you know in the space below.



[FIMG=350]https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/Joey-Lucchesi-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024[/FIMG] [FIMG=350]https://www.nydailynews.com/resizer/B9Q4FoBcsOCSTeGC3DmxADm4Sg8=/1200x0/top/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/VJ6AGK76PKKEKNKHKEJ47L3FFI.jpg[/FIMG]

[FIMG=379]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/ar_16:9,g_auto,q_auto:good,w_1024,c_fill,f_jpg/mlb/rm6tggxibwkyfzxkdwh9[/FIMG] [FIMG=321]https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2021/06/21235834/GettyImages-1317693945-scaled-e1624335443121-1024x683.jpg[/FIMG]

[Edgy MD]

Joey broke the tape on his 2022 by starting today for St. Lucie, throwing 15 pitches in one inning, allowing a hit, a walk and an unearned run while striking out 1.



I don't know if it's feasible, but it would be nice to enter into the playoffs with a lefthanded reliever wearing 47.

[nymr83]

Or, any lefthanded reliever who is NOT Jouly RodrigueZ

[Edgy MD]

Joely has gotten it done in August. In seven games, he's thrown 9 1/3 innings, giving up 1 earned run (on a homer) on 6 hits, striking out 10 and walking three.



I say he's peaking at just the right time.

[The Hot Corner]

He has definitely been better of late. He still makes me nervous, but I give him his due for getting the job done his last few appearances.

[MFS62]

The Hot Corner wrote: He has definitely been better of late. He still makes me nervous,

He has an APPF* of 9.4.

Later



* = Asshole pucker power factor. At 9.8, your seat cushion disappears up into your butt.

[Edgy MD]

Lucchesi's first AAA appearance nets 2 2/3 scoreless, one-hit innings.



Two earned runs in nine innings across three levels.