Cashner signing

[DrungoHazewood]

4 minutes ago, Luke-OH said:

I agree it’s not a promising profile, but one thing I noticed when I was digging through the data on brooksbaseball was that it seems like the lower strikeout rate was mostly a matter of choice for Cashner. He switched from Slider to Cutter which missed far less bats. He also threw his sinker much more instead of his 4S fastball that generates almost twice as many swinging strikes. I’m tempted at least to think he could go back to 2015/2016 Cashner if he wanted to.

I think it was on purpose, and that's part of what's worrying.  He probably thinks that the change directly lead to his 2017 success.  I think if you ran his 2017 season over a bunch of times you'd see that a 3.40 ERA is about as good as it would ever get, and most pitchers with his underlying peripherals would have an ERA north of 4.50.  It'll take a period of sustained poor results for him to want to go back to his 2015-16 approach that resulted in an 81 ERA+ in National League pitcher's parks.

[Es4M11]

4 minutes ago, Luke-OH said:

I agree it’s not a promising profile, but one thing I noticed when I was digging through the data on brooksbaseball was that it seems like the lower strikeout rate was mostly a matter of choice for Cashner. He switched from Slider to Cutter which missed far less bats. He also threw his sinker much more instead of his 4S fastball that generates almost twice as many swinging strikes. I’m tempted at least to think he could go back to 2015/2016 Cashner if he wanted to.

I tend to agree with you that some of Cashner's lack of strikeouts is by choice. I suspect he elected to pitch to contact a little more with the Texas infield behind him. A ground ball pitcher playing to his strengths.

[Es4M11]

1 minute ago, DrungoHazewood said:

I think it was on purpose, and that's part of what's worrying.  He probably thinks that the change directly lead to his 2017 success.  I think if you ran his 2017 season over a bunch of times you'd see that a 3.40 ERA is about as good as it would ever get, and most pitchers with his underlying peripherals would have an ERA north of 4.50.  It'll take a period of sustained poor results for him to want to go back to his 2015-16 approach that resulted in an 81 ERA+ in National League pitcher's parks.

Cashner's regression is practically certain, but if the regression is from 3.4x ERA to 4.50, I think that is still a win for the Orioles considering the dollars that were committed. I do not discount the possibility that he could be much worse and that this could be a bad signing.

At face value, IMO, this is a good signing if there is another larger acquisition coming. If this is the best pitcher the club intends to sign then I would rather they had not even bothered.

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, sportsfan8703 said:

We made the playoffs in 2016 with a rotation of Tillman, Gausman, Ubaldo, Gallardo, Wright/Wilson/Worley. 

I think Bundy, Gausman, Cashner, Tillman, Castro/Cortes/Wright could be better. 

For 2016, you should have included Bundy, who made more starts (14) than Wright (12), Wilson (13) or Worley (4).   Miley also made 11 starts.  

I’m definitely not ready to say this rotation will be better than that one, but that one certainly wasn’t very good (4.72 ERA, 13th in the AL), so it’s possible.   

[DrungoHazewood]

7 minutes ago, Es4M11 said:

Cashner's regression is practically certain, but if the regression is from 3.4x ERA to 4.50, I think that is still a win for the Orioles considering the dollars that were committed. I do not discount the possibility that he could be much worse and that this could be a bad signing.

At face value, IMO, this is a good signing if there is another larger acquisition coming. If this is the best pitcher the club intends to sign then I would rather they had not even bothered.

Yes, it's a positive thing that they just paid for one win.  But on the other hand... they just paid for one win, and stuck it in the #3 spot in the rotation.

[atomic]

58 minutes ago, DrungoHazewood said:

There have been seven pitchers in the last five years who had a K rate under 5.00, and qualified for the ERA title.

Kevin Correia, 2013.  In 2014 he posted a 5.44 ERA, and in 2015 he pitched the last 23 innings of his career.
Jeremy Guthrie, 2013.  In 2014 he actually upped his K rate and had a better year.  In 2015 his ERA was 5.95 and his career essentially ended.
Martin Perez, 2016.  In 2017 he had a 4.82 ERA.
Cashner, Perez' teammate.
Ty Blach, 2017.  Obviously we don't know about 2018 yet. In '17 he had a 4.78 ERA, good for a 87 ERA+.
Mark Buehrle, 2015.  Retired after the season.
Mike Pelfrey, 2015.  In the following two years he combined to throw 239 innings to a 5.50.

"Ground ball pitcher" is a descriptive term, not a quality measurement.

You would have hated Scott Mcgregor.  Never struck out 5 guys per nine innings in a season in his career. 

[Es4M11]

1 minute ago, DrungoHazewood said:

Yes, it's a positive thing that they just paid for one win.  But on the other hand... they just paid for one win, and stuck it in the #3 spot in the rotation.

I'm hoping there is more to come. Not holding my breath or anything, but why defer some of Cashner's money this year unless you have immediate plans for it?

[Frobby]

7 minutes ago, cimota said:

You would have hated Scott Mcgregor.  Never struck out 5 guys per nine innings in a season in his career. 

Different era.   Strikeout rates were lower then.    

[wildbillhiccup]

16 minutes ago, Es4M11 said:

I'm hoping there is more to come. Not holding my breath or anything, but why defer some of Cashner's money this year unless you have immediate plans for it?

To resign Chris Tillman!

[Redskins Rick]

So Britton to the 60 day DL, to make room on the 40 man. Just rosterbation as BobMC puts it.

So does Cashner have to shave his beard to fall in line with Oriole's facial hair policy?

[wildbillhiccup]

36 minutes ago, Es4M11 said:

I tend to agree with you that some of Cashner's lack of strikeouts is by choice. I suspect he elected to pitch to contact a little more with the Texas infield behind him. A ground ball pitcher playing to his strengths.

Texas was ranked 25th (out of 30) in team fielding last season so I'm not sure that strategy holds up. 

[Redskins Rick]

2 minutes ago, wildbillhiccup said:

To resign Chris Tillman!

Tony OH thinks Tilly is done for and thats why he hasn't signed anywhere.

 

[wildbillhiccup]

Just now, Redskins Rick said:

Tony OH thinks Tilly is done for and thats why he hasn't signed anywhere.

 

I wouldn't rule it out. I'm pretty sure the Oriole's spring training facility has the same words engraved on it as the statue of liberty when it comes to starting pitchers. 

[Redskins Rick]

Just now, wildbillhiccup said:

I wouldn't rule it out. I'm pretty sure the Oriole's spring training facility has the same words engraved on it as the statue of liberty when it comes to starting pitchers. 

Im not ruling it out, but it makes sense, since he was willing to accept a bounce-back deal, and a few teams has kicked the tires, and nobody has inked him.

 

[Horsepower]

I think this is a good start.  My pipe dream from here would be to sign Lynn and trade for McHugh (either Bach or Givens)

 

Lynn, Gausman, Bundy, McHugh, and Cashner..............I can support that