2013 IPP: Greg Burke

[Benjamin Grimm]

What's an IPP? In 2011 we called it "Expectations of Eleven". In 2012 it was "You Make the Call". I figured it's time to make this a tradition, and to grant it a TLA. (Three-letter acronym.) IPP stands for "Individual Player Prediction".

What do you expect of Greg Burke this year?

[Guest themetfairy]

D-Dad thinks highly of him.

[seawolf17]

I love sidearmers, so I want him to be a piece of the puzzle, but there are a lot of arms in the mix.

Doesn't make the team in April, but puts in 35 reasonably effective innings over the summer. 4.00ish ERA, 1.30ish WHIP.

[Benjamin Grimm]

He seems to be generating some nice buzz. I'll predict 50 games for him, and a 3.80 ERA. And one Schaefer Mets Relief Pitcher of the Month award.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: What do you expect of Greg Burke this year?

I expect to soon find out who Greg Burke is.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

This is Greg Burke.

He's on the 40, so he's got an edge on a spot if, say, Perpetual can't go out of ST. I'll go 60 appearances, 46 IP, 3.70-3.80 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.0 BB/9... he'll suffer a bit from mild White Jerry misuse.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Has an odd motion even for a sidearmer, gets low but also has a hiccup in the middle. Hope he can keep it consistent and that the bad guys don't figure it out in time.

I predict Burke tests everyone's tolerance for BS (Bullpen Specialism) since I'm sure Terry worn't bring him in until he needs a groundball and a right-handed batter is up, and will take him out the minute the opponent switches up with a lefty.

3-3, 3.55 in 54 games/44 innings

[Frayed Knot]

Kevin Kernan plows a lot of the same Greg Burkian ground as that Amazing Avenue article linked above, but then throws in the added bonus of some ammo for all the wifey watchers out there.

[Ceetar]

I expect a good first half, maybe not as good second half as perhaps teams catch up to him a little. But he had amazin' success last year in the minors after reconfiguring his delivery, so maybe he's a lesser-Dickey story.

7.1 K/9 3 BB/9 over 55.1 IP.

He didn't give up many home runs last year, I don't know if that's just luck or a factor of his delivery, but if it's repeatable that should bode well for the Mets bullpen a bit. Parnell isn't prone to the long ball either, and keeping them in the park in the late innings could be very very helpful.

[Edgy MD]

Sidewinders and submariners tend to be homer-stingy. Whether he can maintain control with that delivery is the trick.

[smg58]

Ceetar wrote: I expect a good first half, maybe not as good second half as perhaps teams catch up to him a little. But he had amazin' success last year in the minors after reconfiguring his delivery, so maybe he's a lesser-Dickey story. 7.1 K/9 3 BB/9 over 55.1 IP. He didn't give up many home runs last year, I don't know if that's just luck or a factor of his delivery, but if it's repeatable that should bode well for the Mets bullpen a bit. Parnell isn't prone to the long ball either, and keeping them in the park in the late innings could be very very helpful.

I'll be an optimist and go with something like this as well.

[Vic Sage]

i like sidewinders, and he looks to be decent. plus he's already on the roster. I see success as a situational RHer.