Tuesday, August 30, 2005 |
Escobar For Closer: A's 2, Angels 1
Not quite.
Frankie also has a 5.68 ERA this month, with no signs of him correcting this problem for more than a batter or three. Second innings, consecutive games, whatever, and he's toast.
I'm running out of patience. Some of this can be blamed on his participation in winter ball, and now that that's been canned, good. But I get the strong impression that with Frankie in middle relief, Mike was more easily able to get him days off. Now, all it takes is for him to pitch a second inning in the same game and he chokes. When Escobar comes out, give the closer role to him. Frankie's abdicated it.
And as for the appalling news that Jason Christiansen is joining the staff -- well, why is it that Bill Stoneman has to make one step forward (eliminating Finley as a starter now that he's proven he can't hit anymore) and immediately take one step back (giving up two prospects for a piece of useless junk like Christiansen)? And, he makes room for said piece of junk by optioning Joel Peralta back to AAA? I'm not quite yet to the Fire Stoneman chant. But it's a position I find myself warming up to.
I just don't know why Bergman wasn't promoted instead of trading for Christiansen. Bergman probably is a better major league pitcher right now than Christiansen and he would have been free. Does Stoney know how to look at MLE's? If not, he needs to hire someone now that understands them.
Bill, I'm available and I'd do the job for $150,000 a year. Think of all of Arte's money you'd have saved just on Christianses - you could pay me for 5 years.
This is a very dumb trade by Stoneman.
Has anyone ever heard of thinking long term (more than a month) and decided it is more important that instant gratification?
BTW what if you make Escobar the closer and he fails, then what?
: 8/31/2005 08:56:00 AMFrankie's so-called "electric stuff" he has not been able to harness over the last month. Were you even watching the game last night? As usual lately, all he threw were sliders, and occaisionally using his fastball, but never in the zone if he could help it. His fastball ended up in the stands, by the way.
Electric stuff my ass. He's got control problems up the gazoo right now, and he's one or two mechanical problems away from a Tommy John surgery.
He gets out of a man on third (the winning run) and one out situation in the tenth inning.
And you want to ruin him for the next ten years because he had a bad month.
If you don't know anything about baseball you ought to give up blogging.
: 8/31/2005 11:02:00 AMYes, I'm perfectly aware of the utility of looking at a guy's K/9 rate. I'm also aware that is NOT the alpha and omega of pitcher analysis. He is blowing games, right here and right now; post All Star break, he carries a 4.50 ERA, has blown three saves and lost another three, and owns a 1.44 WHIP.
There's one last point that needs to be made here: This is Frankie's first year trying this closing thing. There were no guarantees going in he was going to be good at it. I'm not convinced he is, judging by his late performances, and moreover, I'm not convinced he can stand up to a full year of this. So if what you want a guy who shows up for three months of the season, have a time. Enjoy watching the Angels lose in late innings. Me, I'll recommend adjustments as I see 'em.
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