Craig Kimbrel Ranging Freely

[Edgy MD]

After DFA-ing starter Cole Irvin and losing him on waivers to Minnesota, Baltimore has doubled down and DFA'd everybody's favorite chicken-posing, 440-game-saving, nine-time All-Star reliever. The Orioles are currently sliding backwards, and addition by subtraction suddenly seems to be the strategy they are embracing.



[FIMG=500]https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TBS-L-ORIOLES-A-042824-LAM-P16.jpg?w=620[/FIMG]



The 36-year-old Kimbrel (nicknamed "Dirty Craig") had a strong first half, going 6-2 with a 2.80 ERA and 23 saves in 35 1/3 innings, striking out 53 while walking only 16. That's gone utterly sideways in the second half, with a record of 1-3 and a 10.59 ERA in 17 innings, whiffing 20 and walking 15. No saves in the second half neither. His last one was on July 7, losing his closer's role to Seranthony Dominguez, acquired in a July trade with Philly.



Tried to refind his form in lower-pressure situations, but that hasn't worked out, which doesn't mean some other post-season contender won't give him a tumble over the remaining 12 days of the season.

[Frayed Knot]

The Orioles, a 101 win team last season, have been going sideways with Kimbrel.

27 - 34 over their last 61, they're 4.0 games behind the Yanx and are a not-yet-secure 1.5, 4.0, and 5.5 games ahead of not being a WC team (KCR, MIN, DET)

[MFS62]

Steve Blass disease?

It looks like his increase in walks is a key factor in his sudden decline.

And with a crazy delivery like his, re-finding the release point is going to be a challenge.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Kimbrel's walks are up but not wildly [5.3 vs 3.8 career]. Being 36 with 15 seasons under his belt is the more likely culprit.



Blass, as a 30 y/o, finished 2nd in the 1972 CY voting (to Steve 27-10, 1.97 ERA Carlton). Up to that point his career walk rate was 3.0.

In '73 the walk rate shot up to 8.5, the ERA from 2.49 to nearly 10.00, and his wins fell from 19 to 3.

He pitched once in '74, walking 7 in 5 innings, and his career was over. That's quite a different animal.

Edited September 18, 2024 by Guest

[ashie62]

Is he a free agent?



Don't do it Stearns

[Edgy MD]

He's an Oriole designated for assignment. I'd guess that there's a pretty good chance he's already on the waiver wire, however, and probably a free agent in a few days.

[Fman99]

Frayed Knot wrote: Kimbrel's walks are up but not wildly [5.3 vs 3.8 career]. Being 36 with 15 seasons under his belt is the more likely culprit.

He suffers from a medical condition that is often colloquially referred to as being "fucking toast."

[Lefty Specialist]

Fork stuck. Done. Stay far away.

[Benjamin Grimm]

He seems likely to do more harm than good, especially with only ten games left and in a race as tight as this one is.



Maybe if we were still in the 40-man September roster days, he could eat innings in a blowout or two, but he's not worth the roster spot.

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: Kimbrel's walks are up but not wildly [5.3 vs 3.8 career]. Being 36 with 15 seasons under his belt is the more likely culprit. Blass, as a 30 y/o, finished 2nd in the 1972 CY voting (to Steve 27-10, 1.97 ERA Carlton). Up to that point his career walk rate was 3.0. In '73 the walk rate shot up to 8.5, the ERA from 2.49 to nearly 10.00, and his wins fell from 19 to 3. He pitched once in '74, walking 7 in 5 innings, and his career was over. That's quite a different animal.

Yeah, Kimbrel could walk every batter he faces in whatever career he has left, and still make it to the Hall of Fame.

[Frayed Knot]

It's not even the totality of the career that I'm talking about but the suddenness and scope of the fall.

There are pitchers who have their walk rates increase, then there's whatever happened to Steve Blass ... and there's a gulf in between.



Only Rick Ankiel comes to my mind as even a partial comparison. His crash was maybe more sudden, but he didn't have anywhere near seven

full seasons as a regular ML starter before his career trajectory went off the rails. Fortunately for him he had speed and a bat to fall back on.

[MFS62]

colloquially referred to as being "fucking toast."

"Fucking Toast" would be a great name for an ABC sitcom about a washed up bunch of rockers who are trying to make a comeback as a band.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think it's an Only Fans account of people having sex with toasted bread.

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I think it's an Only Fans account of people having sex with toasted bread.

Isn't that one of the charges against P. Diddy?

Later