Kimbrel got the save tonight despite allowing a run on a 65 mph infield chopper, a 2 base error and an RBI grounder.
Kimbrel has allowed 5 hits this season:
4/1: 70.5 mph bloop that eluded Gunnar and Hays
4/14: 74.4 mph single
4/14: 104.4 mph
4/21 71.1 mph doink single
4/24 65.5 mph infield chopper single
Really, only one hard-hit ball among the 5 hits, all singles.
7 saves in 8 chances, with the one blown save in his first appearance ending up in a win for Kimbrel, who’s now 3-0 in addition to the 7 saves.
He’s appeared 11 times in 24 games, which is not sustainable. We need to do a better job of maintaining 4+ run leads and not letting our opponents back into the game.
This is incredibly stupid. If a 30 year old is 1 WAR better than a 25 year old with multiple years of team control, it doesn’t justify having the 30 year old on a $20 million contract while the 25 year old rots.