Venters

[nsacpi]

Called up by the Rays. Great story.

[msstate7]

Maybe he can stick a while

[Julio3000]

One of my all-time favorites. Bravo.

[Tapate50]

Just came here to post this...


Rays purchased the contract of LHP Jonny Venters from Triple-A Durham.

Venters is back in the majors for the first time since 2012. The 33-year-old southpaw has undergone three different Tommy John surgeries, but he was one of the best relievers in baseball before his elbow gave out. Venters, who owns a 2.23 ERA and 10.1 K/9 in 229 2/3 career major league innings, will likely work in a lefty setup role for Tampa Bay

[Ozzie Swanson]

O'VentBrel was such a filthy set up/closing combination. A far cry from what we currently have.

[Orphan Black]

[Enscheff]

In hindsight, maybe it wasn't super smart use a great BP arm 164 times over 2 seasons (the most in MLB, and only player to pitch in 160+ games those 2 seasons). Add in 2 more AAA games for good measure.

Nah, those guys got paid to run a baseball team. I'm sure they knew what they were doing.

[Ozzie Swanson]

In hindsight, maybe it wasn't super smart use a great BP arm 164 times over 2 seasons (the most in MLB, and only player to pitch in 160+ games those 2 seasons). Add in 2 more AAA games for good measure.

Nah, those guys got paid to run a baseball team. I'm sure they knew what they were doing.

O'Flaherty and Venters get run into the ground for multiple years yet Kimbrel sits in the bullpen in an elimination playoff game because Fredi didn't trust him to cover 1+ innings. Super logical.

[AerchAngel]

O'Flaherty and Venters get run into the ground for multiple years yet Kimbrel sits in the bullpen in an elimination playoff game because Fredi didn't trust him to cover 1+ innings. Super logical.

Why torture us?

[zitothebrave]

Venters was abused like a rented mule by Fredi. I don't blame Fredi per se because he was bound to fall apart given his mechanics. But it's still sad that it happened.

[Ozzie Swanson]

I'm not sure what the statcast data said about Venters but I swear he had the nastiest sinker I've ever seen. Came in at 95+ and just died at the plate.

[zitothebrave]

I'm not sure what the statcast data said about Venters but I swear he had the nastiest sinker I've ever seen. Came in at 95+ and just died at the plate.

His sinker wasn't his most dangerous pitch according to pitch fx. That would be his curveball. But you're right, 95 MPH with heavy movement. It was brutal. It's why his curveball was so deadly. Unless you were sitting on it you'd have to be ready for his 95+ sinker or 4 seamer so you're jumpy and your timing is off.