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Still think O's were wrong on Balfour?

LookitsPuck

By LookitsPuck
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Tx Oriole Hangout Grand Counsel

Tx Oriole

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Just allowed 5 ER to Mariners in 9th. 4 H, 2 BB. ERA now up to 6.46. His BB/9 is a whopping 7.6. He's never been a control guy, but that is abysmal. 1.650 WHIP after this appearance.

I never did believe the O's were wrong about him.

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Stotle Hangout Grand Counsel

Stotle

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Just allowed 5 ER to Mariners in 9th. 4 H, 2 BB. ERA now up to 6.46. His BB/9 is a whopping 7.6. He's never been a control guy, but that is abysmal. 1.650 WHIP after this appearance.

Wrong for trying to sign him? I haven't seen anything on down velocity or injury, which was all that kept him out of Baltimore, right?

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Can_of_corn Hangout Grand Counsel

Can_of_corn

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Wrong for trying to sign him? I haven't seen anything on down velocity or injury, which was all that kept him out of Baltimore, right?

Exactly, the official word is he failed his physical not that the FO suddenly noticed he was a candidate for regression.

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CaptainRedbeard All-Star

CaptainRedbeard

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Wrong for trying to sign him? I haven't seen anything on down velocity or injury, which was all that kept him out of Baltimore, right?

His average fastball velocity is down to 91.4 mph from 93.4 mph last year. That's a big drop. Add in that his walk rate is nearly double his career rate, and I think a physical issue contributing to his performance is a high possibility.

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bpilktree Hangout Grand Counsel

bpilktree

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I don't know what Balfour's problem is. Looks like we may have dodged a bullet, whether for the wrong reason or the right one.

With Ubaldo and Balfour that could have been some awful money spent. His velocity is still the same but the wildness shows that their maybe an injury or he is compensating for something and his mechanics are off just like Tillman.

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CaptainRedbeard All-Star

CaptainRedbeard

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If Balfour is hurting, his arm will have to fall off before he admits it.

That's completely true. After he made a big stink about being completely healthy and not deserving the Orioles backing out of the deal, you better believe he is going to insist he's 100% until they drag him off the mound. And he's getting close to reaching that point.

On a sidenote, how about Maddon sticking with Balfour as the closer this long? That's far worse than Buck was with Johnson. And Maddon is a very highly respected manager as well.

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Stotle Hangout Grand Counsel

Stotle

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I believe Tampa is one of the orgs that looks at Pitch F/X data to try and identify potential issues. I am not certain, but if that is correct than any quirky data stuff would have them examining him.

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Can_of_corn Hangout Grand Counsel

Can_of_corn

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That's completely true. After he made a big stink about being completely healthy and not deserving the Orioles backing out of the deal, you better believe he is going to insist he's 100% until they drag him off the mound. And he's getting close to reaching that point.

On a sidenote, how about Maddon sticking with Balfour as the closer this long? That's far worse than Buck was with Johnson. And Maddon is a very highly respected manager as well.

1- He's a fan favorite.

2- Bell and the rapist have been released.

3- Lost season at this point.

4- Do they have anyone in the pen getting guys out?

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