Spring Training 2015

I don't think we'd get as much for Kimbrel as some are thinking. The only reason to trade him is if Hart needs more cash to work with. Late relief pitcher has to be the deepest position in baseball right now relative to need.

Yeah, I think you are right. It's at the point where teams really devalue relief pitchers. We might be at a point where it just makes more sense to hang on to him.
 
Oh my God. Here's an example of Statheads Gone Wild.

Look, as much as you want to, you cannot always use past results as a predictor of the future. Miller has a great fastball and a spectacular curveball, but didn't have a reliable third pitch first half of last year. As a result, he started getting lit up.

But he's not a finished product. Masterson couldn't get anybody out with the Cards last year, but he did teach Miller his sinker. Second half, Miller was far more efficient and effective.

So I don't give a **** what FIP says, I would bet the farm this guy is going to be money for us.

As a postscript, his HR/9 were up, K-BB% down, FIP way up until September - then in 5 starts, HR/9 .59, K% 22.4, BB% 4.3%, K/9 7.8, BB/9 1.48, BABIP .229, FIP 2.77. Although it is a small sample size, I believe it is more likely than not that he figured it out

He wasn't some swingin' d*ck, he was the Cards #1 draft pick in '09. We stole him.
 
There are certainly some encouraging signs from his second half but partially due to luck.

2nd half he increased his K rate and lowered his walk rate. Unfortunately homers went up despite his new and improved sinker.

FIP first half 4.77; 2nd half 4.20

xFIP first half 4.81; 2nd half 3.98

For some reason Shelby Miller has become a very polarizing pitcher. Ask Cardinal fans about him; there are still some that hold out hope for him bc of prospect ratings and a high velocity fastball.

So a "New and improved pitch" is already maxed out effectiveness at what...age 25? He has been throwing it for what? 100 innings?
 
As a postscript, his HR/9 were up, K-BB% down, FIP way up until September - then in 5 starts, HR/9 .59, K% 22.4, BB% 4.3%, K/9 7.8, BB/9 1.48, BABIP .229, FIP 2.77. Although it is a small sample size, I believe it is more likely than not that he figured it out

He wasn't some swingin' d*ck, he was the Cards #1 draft pick in '09. We stole him.

So...stats are meaningful when you want them to be?
 
As a postscript, his HR/9 were up, K-BB% down, FIP way up until September - then in 5 starts, HR/9 .59, K% 22.4, BB% 4.3%, K/9 7.8, BB/9 1.48, BABIP .229, FIP 2.77. Although it is a small sample size, I believe it is more likely than not that he figured it out

He wasn't some swingin' d*ck, he was the Cards #1 draft pick in '09. We stole him.

Its a shame those stats aren't "predictive," huh?
 
Its a shame those stats aren't "predictive," huh?

The problem is small sample size. We don't know which of his first two years is more representative of his true ability. His minor league track record suggests that his K/9 and K/BB ratios will be more similar to his 2013 numbers.
 
2. Freeman

7. Simmons

8. Betahncourt

9. Pitcher

I prefer best hitter batting 2nd. These are the four I would pencil in. THe other 5 really doesn't matter.
 
This afternoon's lineup. Important game for Todd Cunningham. With Benson and Gosselin being discussed as the backup CF (in addition to trade options), it seems that he may be getting passed over.

CBWv6xJXEAE4nNq.jpg
 
Vizcaino down to minor league camp as well.

EDIT: Actually, DOB just says he was "optioned to Triple-A," whatever the meaningful difference is between those two things right now.

I would assume only that they know they're going to put Vizcaino at Gwinnett and haven't yet decided about Kohn.

Have always found that to be rather curious too since you'd expect that they had some plan in place when they decided to send each player down. Would have to figure that Gwinnett's roster would be the last to be filled in the event you were going to try to tuck NRIs away and have them available at the drop of a hat.
 
They just said on the game that Folty will make the team either as the 5th starter or as the long man in the pen.
 
They just said on the game that Folty will make the team either as the 5th starter or as the long man in the pen.

Hmm. That strikes me as an odd decision. He doesn't seem to be ready for the rotation and using him as the long man would be a waste. It would allow him to see big-league action in relatively low-pressure situations, but wouldn't he be better served by getting regular starts and development time in AAA?

He gave up a run in the first and was partially bailed out by CBet throwing out Kinsler at 2B.
 
Hmm. That strikes me as an odd decision. He doesn't seem to be ready for the rotation and using him as the long man would be a waste. It would allow him to see big-league action in relatively low-pressure situations, but wouldn't he be better served by getting regular starts and development time in AAA?

He gave up a run in the first and was partially bailed out by CBet throwing out Kinsler at 2B.

Struck me that way as well. Unless his clock is already ticking from his time in Houston?
 
Hmm. That strikes me as an odd decision. He doesn't seem to be ready for the rotation and using him as the long man would be a waste. It would allow him to see big-league action in relatively low-pressure situations, but wouldn't he be better served by getting regular starts and development time in AAA?

He gave up a run in the first and was partially bailed out by CBet throwing out Kinsler at 2B.

But why start his arb clock as a reliever?
 
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