Cory Gearrin: ROOGY Par Excellence

[nsacpi]

I've always thought that a good ROOGY was more valuable than a good LOOGY. This simply reflects the fact there are more right handed hitters. We once a very good one in Peter Moylan and he proved his value over many seasons.

And a potentially fine one in Cory Gearrin. I say potentially fine one because two things prevented him from realizing his potential. One was an extreme case of pitcher abuse that contributed to his elbow blowing out. The second was a failure to use him optimally.

The second point is illustrated by how Bruce Bochy is utilizing him. So far this season he has faced 83 right-handed hitters and 18 lefties, a ratio of better than 4 to 1. His FIP against righties is 1.99. Against lefties a not-so-good 4.76. But because Bochy has minimized the number of appearances against lefties his overall numbers are strong.

When we had him in 2012-2013, he also put up much better numbers against righties. But the ratio of righties to lefty hitters he faced was about 2 to 1 rather than the better than 4 to 1 that Bochy has accomplished. It is not just an issue of day-to-day bullpen management but also goes to the ability to strategically put together a roster of players who complement each other so that each one can be used in situations that maximize his chances of success. The success of a player like Gearrin is dependent not just the skills of a manager but also the ability of the front office to properly construct a roster.

 

[clvclv]

But, but, but...Bochy can't carry Maddon's jock.

Seem to remember someone saying that.

 

[bravos4evr]

But, but, but...Bochy can't carry Maddon's jock.

Seem to remember someone saying that.

I said it as a sarcastic retort to kb21 because he insists that Bochy isn't a saber manager (thus he likes him) when it's pretty obvious to me that Bochy IS interested in using advanced statistics to formulate strategy.

 

[Braves1976]

I said it as a sarcastic retort to kb21 because he insists that Bochy isn't a saber manager (thus he likes him) when it's pretty obvious to me that Bochy IS interested in using advanced statistics to formulate strategy.

I figured as much as that is common with some around here that hate advanced stats. You'd like Rangers manager Jeff Banister, he was partly hired by the Rangers due to his views in this area after the Rangers FO had so many issues with former Rangers manager Washington who hated advanced stats. IMO Banister is the best manager in the AL and the Bochy is the best in the NL.

 

[50PoundHead]

Two things I want to contribute:

(1) Usage to today's date (6/11) between 2013 and 2016 aren't radically different. A few more appearances (32 in 2013 to 28 in 2016) and a shade more IP (27 in 2013 to 26.2 in 2016) under Fredi.

(2) Gearrin had reverse splits in 2013.

I get what you're saying, but Gearrin was probably destined for the operating table regardless of how he was used. Bullpen was pretty thin in 2013 and Fredi slated Gearrin for a significant role. Avilan was the only LHP after O'Flaherty went down and Gearrin was getting LHHs out.

 

[Braves1976]

Two things I want to contribute:

(1) Usage to today's date (6/11) between 2013 and 2016 aren't radically different. A few more appearances (32 in 2013 to 28 in 2016) and a shade more IP (27 in 2013 to 26.2 in 2016) under Fredi.

(2) Gearrin had reverse splits in 2013.

I get what you're saying, but Gearrin was probably destined for the operating table regardless of how he was used. Bullpen was pretty thin in 2013 and Fredi slated Gearrin for a significant role. Avilan was the only LHP after O'Flaherty went down and Gearrin was getting LHHs out.

Actually, it is radically different but you're missing that it wasn't just the games he came into. Gearrin was warmed up every day whether he came into the game or not and this went on a better part of a month at least. If you don't think this led to his injury then tell that to Scott Linebrink who had Fredi do him the exact same way and it ended his career (Linebrink went into detail about it that off-season but never made it back to play another MLB game). Venters, EOF, Martinez (remember him?), etc. have similar Fredi stories too.

 

[50PoundHead]

Actually, it is radically different but you're missing that it wasn't just the games he came into. Gearrin was warmed up every day whether he came into the game or not and this went on a better part of a month at least. If you don't think this led to his injury then tell that to Scott Linebrink who had Fredi do him the exact same way and it ended his career (Linebrink went into detail about it that off-season but never made it back to play another MLB game). Venters, EOF, Martinez (remember him?), etc. have similar Fredi stories too.

And how do we know Bochy isn't doing the same thing. I have seen several games this year where Gearrin ended an inning and then came out for the next inning ostensibly to pitch to a hitter or two. Are you going to tell me that's not wearing?

My primary point is that the Braves were contending in 2013 and the bullpen was light. Gearrin was somewhat effective until injured. He has the luxury of pitching for a team that has a stacked bullpen right now and his role is well-defined. Braves didn't have that working for them in 2013.

 

[bravos4evr]

And how do we know Bochy isn't doing the same thing. I have seen several games this year where Gearrin ended an inning and then came out for the next inning ostensibly to pitch to a hitter or two. Are you going to tell me that's not wearing?

as someone who used to pitch relief in HS (for wtvr that's worth) the issue was really warming up, once in the game, unless asked to go 3 or 4+ innings, I didn't feel much more wear throwing to 1 batter or going 2 1/3rd . Having to warm up, sit down, warm up, sit down, warm up, come in and pitch was like throwing 3 innings.

 

[GovClintonTyree]

as someone who used to pitch relief in HS (for wtvr that's worth) the issue was really warming up, once in the game, unless asked to go 3 or 4+ innings, I didn't feel much more wear throwing to 1 batter or going 2 1/3rd . Having to warm up, sit down, warm up, sit down, warm up, come in and pitch was like throwing 3 innings.

Right. I threw 15 complete games one year (seven innings, but still) with no issues. I knew I'd get the ball 1x/wk. Relieved two years later and the erratic use pattern led to a sore shoulder.

 

[nsacpi]

(2) Gearrin had reverse splits in 2013.

Splits over one year can be misleading, both for pitchers and hitters. Eric Hinske had one season where he hit lefties significantly better than righties. I think Francoeur hit righties better than lefties last year. Those kinds of small sample aberrations happen all the time and don't really have any predictive value. With splits career numbers or a three year average is better for a manager who wants to maximize platoon advantages than a one-year sample. Gearrin had strong conventional splits in his minor league career. I'm sure someone like Bochy knows how to evaluate the splits data. I think there are big league managers who don't.

 

[nsacpi]

In terms of usage, I have vivid memories of the stretch in 2013 where he was overused. Refreshing my memory, I see in 2013 he pitched on April 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28. His effectiveness went downhill after that. What competent manager would destroy an asset in April like that.