Jump to content

Money aside, would you rather have Jim Johnson or Grant Balfour as closer in 2014?

Frobby

By Frobby
in Orioles Talk

Money aside, would you rather have Balfour or JJ closing for the Orioles in 2014?  

143 members have voted

  1. 1. Money aside, would you rather have Balfour or JJ closing for the Orioles in 2014?


Recommended Posts

Can_of_corn Hangout Grand Counsel

Can_of_corn

Posted
Posted

I think it is a toss up who has a better season next year and who would do better in OPACY.

Johnson is substantially younger and a ground ball pitcher but Balfour strikes out a lot more batters and doesn't allow as many baserunners.

Either should do an adequate job.

Push comes to shove give me Balfour for the strikeouts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 79
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Jonesy10 Hangout Veteran Council

Jonesy10

Posted
Posted

Maybe if we were talking about a non closer role I'd take JJ, but Balfour just seems like he's better fit to be a closer. Low hit totals, lots of k's, and a swagger on the mound. JJ often looked rattled last year on the mound and it's hard to feel confident in your closer when he doesn't look confident in himself.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rene88 Hangout Grand Counsel

Rene88

Posted
Posted
Seems to me when Johnson's bad, he's very bad. Obviously, I haven't watched Balfour for an entire year but J.J. seems to totally lose it for 3-4 games at a time (even in 2012).

In all fairness to JJ, he was flat out overused at times this season by Buck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DrungoHazewood Hangout Grand Counsel

DrungoHazewood

Posted
Posted
I think it is a toss up who has a better season next year and who would do better in OPACY.

Johnson is substantially younger and a ground ball pitcher but Balfour strikes out a lot more batters and doesn't allow as many baserunners.

Either should do an adequate job.

Push comes to shove give me Balfour for the strikeouts.

I don't see how there's a ton of difference between the two. I guess I'd rather have Balfour, but whatever.

I guess he's now the O's first Aussie closer. But it shoulda been John Stephens.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DrungoHazewood Hangout Grand Counsel

DrungoHazewood

Posted
Posted
Maybe if we were talking about a non closer role I'd take JJ, but Balfour just seems like he's better fit to be a closer. Low hit totals, lots of k's, and a swagger on the mound. JJ often looked rattled last year on the mound and it's hard to feel confident in your closer when he doesn't look confident in himself.

Swagger is good and all, but who is ahead in #want, #sparkle and #rig?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
weams Hangout Grand Counsel

weams

Posted
Posted
I think it is a toss up who has a better season next year and who would do better in OPACY.

Johnson is substantially younger and a ground ball pitcher but Balfour strikes out a lot more batters and doesn't allow as many baserunners.

Either should do an adequate job.

Push comes to shove give me Balfour for the strikeouts.

And for the much more reasonable money right? 11 Million dollar closers? Pfft.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Il BuonO Hangout Grand Counsel

Il BuonO

Posted
Posted

Yeah, what I think is going unsaid which I pointed out in the Balfour thread are his splits. I don't think there's much difference between the two either unless you hold up the fact the Balfour has been a much better pitcher at home than away.

[h=4]Home or Away[/h]Direct Link ? Glossary ? SHARE ? Embed ? CSV ? PRE ? LINK ? ?

[TABLE=class: sortable stats_table]

<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup><thead>[TR]

[TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: left]Split[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]G[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]PA[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]AB[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]R[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]H[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]2B[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]3B[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HR[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SB[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]CS[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]BB[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SO[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]SO/BB[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]BA[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OBP[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]SLG[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OPS[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]TB[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]GDP[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HBP[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SH[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SF[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]IBB[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]ROE[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]BAbip[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]tOPS+[/TH]

[TH=class: tooltip, align: center]sOPS+[/TH]

[/TR]

</thead><tbody>[TR]

[TD]Home[/TD]

[TD=align: right]36[/TD]

[TD=align: right]145[/TD]

[TD=align: right]134[/TD]

[TD=align: right]8[/TD]

[TD=align: right]27[/TD]

[TD=align: right]4[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right]4[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1[/TD]

[TD=align: right]10[/TD]

[TD=align: right]41[/TD]

[TD=align: right]4.10[/TD]

[TD=align: right].201[/TD]

[TD=align: right].257[/TD]

[TD=align: right].321[/TD]

[TD=align: right].578[/TD]

[TD=align: right]43[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1[/TD]

[TD=align: right]3[/TD]

[TD=align: right].258[/TD]

[TD=align: right]89[/TD]

[TD=align: right]64[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Away[/TD]

[TD=align: right]29[/TD]

[TD=align: right]117[/TD]

[TD=align: right]99[/TD]

[TD=align: right]12[/TD]

[TD=align: right]21[/TD]

[TD=align: right]2[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right]3[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right]17[/TD]

[TD=align: right]31[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1.82[/TD]

[TD=align: right].212[/TD]

[TD=align: right].328[/TD]

[TD=align: right].323[/TD]

[TD=align: right].651[/TD]

[TD=align: right]32[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1[/TD]

[TD=align: right]0[/TD]

[TD=align: right].277[/TD]

[TD=align: right]114[/TD]

[TD=align: right]82

[/TD]

[/TR]

</tbody>[/TABLE]

I've only listed 2013 but the same trend was present from the time he first pitched for Oakland. I hope some of what I'm reading here is correct, but I'd prefer the GB pitcher with the sparkling D behind him to the SO/FB pitcher who has benefited from a pitchers park the last three years.

And let's be clear, there's no way to discount the money issue. I'd rather neither of them were an Oriole.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • EddeeEddee
      Bullpen 2024

      By EddeeEddee · Posted

      Especially when you factor in the DL Hall trade too.  Suarez and Wells get bumped to the pen only if Bradish and Means are effective starters a decent part of the season.  Would the O's promote Povich or McDermott to pitch relief?  My guess is not anytime soon, but I dunno. A trade would for one or two arms would be best, but trading for good relief pitching is only harder now because so many teams can make the playoffs.  
    • EddeeEddee
      Off-season Qualifying Offer Question

      By EddeeEddee · Posted

      But O'Hearn's numbers are inflated because he never bats against lefties, plus he's trash in the outfield.  If Santander's hitting does not improve this season of course you don't give him a QO, but that's unlikely.  He'll probably pick it up as the weather heats up.  Plus Tony plays at least a decent RF and can play first base too.   Like others have said, should the O's offer Santander a QO?  Maybe -- it depends on how he performs and how Kjerstad and Stowers perform.  
    • 24fps
      Off-season Qualifying Offer Question

      By 24fps · Posted

      Wait, since when is money no object? It remains to be seen what the budget constraints are going to be with the new ownership, but if Santander is projected to put up 3.0 WAR for $20 million and his replacement (Kjerstad/Cowser/Stowers...) can put up 2.5 WAR for less than a million then that will be factored in.  The goal will never be about being better than the other 29 teams in a payroll vacuum.
    • emmett16
      Jackson Holliday 2024

      By emmett16 · Posted

      I think you have a good understanding and I assume you’ve read Ted Williams Science of Hitting.  It’s all about lining up planes of pitch and bat.  Historically with sinkers and low strikes a higher attack angle played and was more in alignment with pitch plane.  In today’s game of spin and high zone fastball an uppercut swing gives you minimal chance and results in top spin grounders and swing & miss. 
    • Can_of_corn
      Jackson Holliday 2024

      By Can_of_corn · Posted

      I'll bow to your expertise even if it seems unlikely to my laymen understanding. 
    • emmett16
      Jackson Holliday 2024

      By emmett16 · Posted

      Actually it will.  As you noted.  MLB pitch plane is like 2-3 degrees.  The more your attack angle increased the more you’re hitting a top spin tennis return.  
    • Can_of_corn
      Jackson Holliday 2024

      By Can_of_corn · Posted

      My point was an overly uppercut swing isn't going to result in that low a launch angle.  Not unless he is somehow consistently topping the pitches, which seems pretty unlikely.

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...