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Monday, May 23, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves, Bedtime Edition
Reds DFA Closer Danny Graves After Digit Incident
After his awful explosion (following a not-too-bad Ramon Ortiz performance), Graves flipped off a member of the Cincinnati audience. Subsequently, management decided the better part of valor is eating his contract and designated him for assignment, meaning the team has ten days to either release him or trade him."If I recall I'm not the only closer who has struggled this year. I expected to lose my closer job as a couple of guys have. I don't feel like anything is wrong (physically) or it may be just my time to go. Changing roles to a starter may have ruined my career. I don't know."Some words to think about for Dodger Thoughts commenters who have recently started in on a "Start Gagné" meme. Just Say "Close".After averaging 31.3 saves with Cincinnati between 2000-02, Graves was converted to a starter in 2003, going 4-14 with a 5.33 ERA in 26 starts. He was put back into the bullpen before the close of the season.
Update 5/24: Yard Work, aye: 'tis enough; 'twill serve.
Speaking Of "Game Over"...
Jon, I think you just handed me the quill I needed to slay the argument that Gagné should be used, at least unsparingly, in non-save situations. At 84 2/3 IP, I'd like to see the "small sample size" crowd shrug that off. Add in his pre-2002 starts and the case becomes airtight. I need to keep reading my stats textbook to get a good handle on what the parameters of the minimum sample size is for the error bands, but I think this is getting better and better.Roster Notes
- Barry Bonds has been cleared to start rehab.
- Padres 2B Mark Loretta will have surgery on his thumb as a result of a headfirst slide into first base. He will miss two months for sure, and could miss the entire season if reconstructive surgery is needed. Loretta is hitting .300/.388/.344 in 160 AB for the Pads.
Lookout Landing Analyzes Sele's Stunning Outing
If you ever needed a reason to love bloggers, here's a really good one: insightful commentary you will never, and I mean never, find on ESPN or any of the big dailies. Check out this Lookout Landing tour de force analyzing Aaron Sele's recent complete game shutout. As he makes plain in the stills, Sele finally managed to get his mechanics straight so the batter hasn't a clue whether he's throwing a curve or a fastball. Before, his body leaned just a little to first base on his fastball, and straightened up on his curve, telegraphing his pitches. During his complete-game shutout, he cleaned up his delivery so as to fool the batters. This is brilliant stuff. I may have to get a RAM card for my TV so I can capture a few stills.Snark
From The Fourth Outfielder:Remind me never again to visit the dodgers.com fan forum message boards. I’m not exactly sure what segment of the population frequents them, but it surely must be a distinct section, if you catch my drift. Plenty of intelligent posts surrounded by, well, not-so-intelligent posts. Moving on.Seconded.
Comments:
I guess if your point is just whenever possible, use Gagne in a save situation, I don't have a problem with it.
But if your choice is between Gagne in a key non-save situation and some other pitcher, you're going to have to show me that the other pitcher has better stats than Gagne's 2.76 ERA and 12.6 K/9. I think you're going to have trouble finding such a pitcher.
As for using Gagne's starts as evidence of his non-save weakness, how relevant is his performance at age 23, 24 and 25 to the Gagne that is now 29? Seems like you should give more weight to what's happened more recently.
But if your choice is between Gagne in a key non-save situation and some other pitcher, you're going to have to show me that the other pitcher has better stats than Gagne's 2.76 ERA and 12.6 K/9. I think you're going to have trouble finding such a pitcher.
As for using Gagne's starts as evidence of his non-save weakness, how relevant is his performance at age 23, 24 and 25 to the Gagne that is now 29? Seems like you should give more weight to what's happened more recently.
Fine. Even taking his 2002 and beyond years where he was more-or-less exclusively used as a closer, if your 84.2 non-close innings figure is correct, that means there is indeed a significant difference between his non-close situations performance and his closes. And I'm sorry, Jon, but putting him in against guys who have hit him hard previously (the Jones "brothers") was asking for trouble. In fact, wasn't it a repeat of the 2003 situation that got him this rep in the first place?
You're still avoiding the point in my second paragraph of my comment.
As for Gagne vs. the Jones brothers, before the game this month, Chipper was 4 for 16 with one home run and five strikeouts against Gagne. Andruw was 6 for 16 with four home runs. Chipper's numbers are nothing to give one pause - Andruw's are if the small sample size doesn't bother you.
As for Gagne vs. the Jones brothers, before the game this month, Chipper was 4 for 16 with one home run and five strikeouts against Gagne. Andruw was 6 for 16 with four home runs. Chipper's numbers are nothing to give one pause - Andruw's are if the small sample size doesn't bother you.
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