Bully 2014

[Frayed Knot]

Our lefty relievers to date have faced 15 hitters and retired 6 of them.
12 of those 15 hitters were LHBs, 2 were RHB + 1 switchy

Rice: 7 batters faced over 4 outings
Outing #1) Walk
#2) Single - Sac Bunt - Single
#3) Groundout - Strikeout
#4) Single


Lannan: 8 batters faced over 3 outings
#1) Walk - HR - Groundout
#2) Strikeout - Single - Groundout - HR
#3) Single

So in sum that's 2 walks, 7 hits (5 singles + 2 HRs), 3 groundouts, 2 strikeouts, 1 Sac Bunt (aka: trying to make an out)


Now I may have to study this topic in a little more depth before I go off making some half-cocked statements, but my preliminary conclusion is that this isn't very good.

[Frayed Knot]

It's a small sample size of course (so were the stats leading up to this point) but a nice recovery by the LHRs on Saturday ight/Sunday morning.
Rice & Lannan faced a combined total of eight batters and retired all of them, more batters than they had gotten out the entire season before yesterday.



Valverde on the other hand ...
During my year-long look at closers last season, only 3% of three-run/one-inning saves were blown (10 times in 318 chances) and I'd be willing to bet that few if any in that situation are EVER blown after two are out and none on.
My brother's friend e-mailed him right after that about Papa Grande "pulling a Benitez" but my comment was that, after even a partial season of Valverde closing, he's going to be wishing for the days of Armando.

[Frayed Knot]

Not a lot of immediate help brewing down below, at least not from the likely sources:

at AAA Vegas
Vic Black -- 3-1/3 IP over 4 games; only 1 hit but 4 walks to go along with 5 Ks
Eric Goeddel -- also 3.1 IP; 6 runs on 6 hits and [u:3mt4owrq]8 BBs[/u:3mt4owrq] for a 16.20 ERA and 4.20 WHiP
Josh Edgin (now that we're down to one LHR in Queens) -- 8.44 ERA over 5+ IP
Dana Eveland -- a 8.44 ERA over 5+ IPs (sounds like a theme)
Ryan Reid -- 8 runs on 13 hits in just 4-2/3
and Jeff Walters (who looked good briefly in ST) -- 5 runs on 11 hits in 7 innings [6.43 ERA, 1.86 WHiP]

only Miguel Socolovich (what kind of an ethnic stew name is that?!?) is covering himself with any glory -- 1 ER over 6.1 IP in 6 appearances (2 BBs, 3 Ks)


and in AA, Jack Leathersich continues his ridonculous K-happy but erratic ways with a line of : 6-2/3 IP, 7 Hits, 6 Walks [1.95 WHiP] and an ERA of 5.40 despite [u:3mt4owrq]14 Ks[/u:3mt4owrq]!!

[Frayed Knot]

Terry's reasoning for bringing Dice-K back out after securing the final batter of the 7th in Wednesday's game: 'Because he's not by 8th inning guy - Torres is'

Ugh ... that 'Ugh' being directed not at Torres but at the logic.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

On the plus side, though... Bully for the advent of the Dice-K Closer Experience. You know it's going to happen at least as often as Recker starts, right?

[Frayed Knot]

Well, the idea that he showed some flexibility in the era of being married to one closer is nice, although I suspect that has more to do with the fact Farnsworth hasn't had enough time to cement down the role than it does some sort of advanced thinking, "advanced" in this case means: going with the guy who you think might be best TODAY rather than whose "job" it is.

[Ceetar]

Well, the idea that he showed some flexibility in the era of being married to one closer is nice, although I suspect that has more to do with the fact Farnsworth hasn't had enough time to cement down the role than it does some sort of advanced thinking, "advanced" in this case means: going with the guy who you think might be best TODAY rather than whose "job" it is.

I do think Collins will be a little more flexible choosing the 9th inning guy (for now, until/if Valverde has like 3 good appearances in a row and gets re-installed as closer) I'm just worried he's going to base it on something like Chase Utley being 1-9 against Dice-K as if that was meaningful.

[Frayed Knot]

Meanwhile, ex-Mets on the save front this year:
F. Rodriguez - Milwaukee - 9 Saves [12 appearances, 12 innings, 12 games finished; 0.00 ERA; 5 hits, 3 Walks, 18 Ks; 0.667 WHiP]
L. Hawkins - Colorado - 6 Saves [9 games, 8.1 IP; 1.08; 0.96]

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mike Puma, N.Y. Post wrote: Despite the fact Vic Black hadn�t allowed a run in six appearances at Triple-A Las Vegas entering Wednesday, Collins indicated the right-hander isn�t close to returning to the big leagues. Collins cited the fact Black had seven walks over 7 �/? innings. The right-hander was demoted to the minors in spring training because of control problems.

[Edgy MD]

Black got all crazy wild last night.

Tacoma Top of the 8th

Pitching Change: Buddy Carlyle replaces Jeff Walters.

• Ty Kelly walks.
  
• Jabari Blash lines into an unassisted double play, first baseman Allan Dykstra. Ty Kelly doubled off 1st.

Pitching Change: Vic Black replaces Buddy Carlyle.

• Jesus Sucre walks.
  
• Leury Bonilla walks. Jesus Sucre to 2nd.
  
• With Endy Chavez (ENDY!) batting, wild pitch by Vic Black, Jesus Sucre to 3rd. Leury Bonilla to 2nd.
  
• Endy Chavez strikes out swinging.

Phew, right?! That's a dramatic third of an inning. Presumably he heads to the bench and gets coached: "Just bear down and throw strikes. Trust your stuff."

Tacoma Top of the 9th

• Xavier Avery walks.
  
• Chris Taylor grounds into a double play, shortstop Rylan Sandoval to second baseman Daniel Muno to first baseman Allan Dykstra. Xavier Avery out at 2nd.
  
• Nick Franklin singles on a line drive to right fielder Cesar Puello.
  
• With Jesus Montero batting, Nick Franklin steals (6) 2nd base.
  
• Jesus Montero doubles (7) on a line drive to right fielder Cesar Puello. Nick Franklin scores.
  
• Ty Kelly flies out to center fielder Matt den Dekker.

So, oddly enough, it wasn't until he threw strikes that he coughed it up. All those guys who were walked either left stranded or erased by double play.

Not a sustainable model, though, one imagines.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Looks like Jeff Walters may be meeting Tommy John.

[Edgy MD]

That's a shame.

I'm having trouble seeing Eveland fitting in.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Gonzo Germen to the rescue.

[Edgy MD]

There we go.

Wonder how much more rope Rice gets.

[Edgy MD]

John Lannan finally reports to Vegas after getting sent down seven weeks ago, but kept on reserve after clearing waivers, while he attended to family issues.

There's a lefty.