Jorge Lopez traded to Twins for pitching prospects (edit)

[sportsfan8703]

1 minute ago, Frobby said:

I don’t know why you are so obsessed with Britton.  The guy has worked out for a whole bunch of teams and none of them have signed him to a contract.  Doesn’t that tell you something?  Honestly, I’d rather call up Vespi or Krehbiel than sign Britton.  But I’m not ready to do anything yet anyway.  

FWIW, I expected some regression from the bullpen this year, even before knowing about the injuries.  A lot of things went right for last year’s pen, and it’s unlikely they’ll be as fortunate this year.  So, if there was a real upgrade out there, I’d consider it.  But I really doubt Zach Britton fits the bill, and he gets no extra credit for being an ex-Oriole.  
 

Because he’s a free agent and breathing. Has nothing to do with his former oriole days. 

[Moose Milligan]

20 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Yup. Completely dicked. Let’s just pray that our SP comes up huge this series or we’re going to just be throwing batting practice to the Yankees. But hey… but his is the roster Elias built. 
 

The silver line will be that after this weekend we’ve already faced the Yankees and Sawx three times. 

You do realize you’re making the case that our bullpen’s fate rests on one dude’s pitch, right?

[RZNJ]

2 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

You do realize you’re making the case that our bullpen’s fate rests on one dude’s pitch, right?

It's a 99 mph sinker goddamit!

[wildcard]

 

I agree. Elias built this bullpen.

2022 numbers:

Perez    1.40 ERA

Bautista  2.19 ERA

Voth  3.04 ERA

Tate 3.05 ERA

Gillaspie   3.12 ERA

Akin   3.20 ERA

Baker  3.49 ERA

Krehbiel  3.90 ERA

They won 83 games with that pen.

Then added

Givens  3.40 career ERA

Coulombe 3.88 career ERA

And now they have 6 starters.   Someone is going to end up pitching some innings out for the pen.

And that does not count DL Hall who should be ready some time this year.

And one guy is panicking.

The pitchers could not feel the ball in Boston it was so cold.   That is no reason to panic.

 

 

Edited April 6, 2023 by wildcard

[Tony-OH]

1 hour ago, waroriole said:

There was the one guy who would never stop complaining about it. It probably just seemed like so many people because he brought it up more often than Corn brings up service time. 

Haha, I must've missed that. Clearly I remember the Frazier discussions though!  He's off to a nice start but no conclusions should be made and all victory celebrations should be placed on hold until the end of May. 

[Tony-OH]

All I know is that we need at least one dude with a MFin' 99 MPH sinker or we're done for this year! 

[Tony-OH]

2 hours ago, InsideCoroner said:

You’re not going to go into every old thread of ex-relievers and start a panicked discussion, are you?

(Tony, can you preemptively lock the Richard Bleier Appreciation thread?)

On it!

[Frobby]

2 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

Haha, I must've missed that. Clearly I remember the Frazier discussions though!  He's off to a nice start but no conclusions should be made and all victory celebrations should be placed on hold until the end of May. 

Even the end of May could be premature.  What were people saying about Hays even in late June?  But generally, I agree it takes about two months for players to start settling into their level.

So far, I’d say Frazier has shown a bit more zing in his bat than I expected, with four XBH already.  Otherwise, he’s been pretty much as advertised.  

[Tony-OH]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Even the end of May could be premature.  What were people saying about Hays even in late June?  But generally, I agree it takes about two months for players to start settling into their level.

So far, I’d say Frazier has shown a bit more zing in his bat than I expected, with four XBH already.  Otherwise, he’s been pretty much as advertised.  

I've been pleasantly surprised by Frazier's bat so far, but I haven't seen anything from his defense that makes me think he's special out there. Either way, there's a long way to go before anyone should start drawing conclusions. BTW, Westburg's numbers in AAA don't look that great but he's been hitting the ball hard every game. Of note, he has started just one game at 2B (Norby went to LF) and didn't get a chance.

But anyways, back to Lopez and his 99 MPH sinker!

[RZNJ]

3 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

I've been pleasantly surprised by Frazier's bat so far, but I haven't seen anything from his defense that makes me think he's special out there. Either way, there's a long way to go before anyone should start drawing conclusions. BTW, Westburg's numbers in AAA don't look that great but he's been hitting the ball hard every game. Of note, he has started just one game at 2B (Norby went to LF) and didn't get a chance.

But anyways, back to Lopez and his 99 MPH sinker!

I actually watched the game where Westburg played 2B.   The was one grounder to his left with a runner on 1B.   I think he should have gotten it.   Instead of going head first for the ball, he went into a slide, I think maybe he was thinking of pivoting and getting the runner at 2B for the force.    It would have been a very good play but he didn't get to the ball at all.   I was a little disappointed because I think it's a play a good 2B makes.

[sportsfan8703]

24 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

All I know is that we need at least one dude with a MFin' 99 MPH sinker or we're done for this year! 

Yes. To pitch in MR/SU. We’ve all seen what happens over the years when we try and change relievers roles. See Brad Brach as closer. 

[Moose Milligan]

56 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Because he’s a free agent and breathing. Has nothing to do with his former oriole days. 

So a guy who's a free agent and breathing is supposed to rescue the bullpen?

 

[RZNJ]

8 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

So a guy who's a free agent and breathing is supposed to rescue the bullpen?

 

You have admit.   It's better than Rollie Fingers.

[Frobby]

32 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Yes. To pitch in MR/SU. We’ve all seen what happens over the years when we try and change relievers roles. See Brad Brach as closer. 

Some guys take to it, some don’t.   Pretty much no reliever starts as the closer on day one.  

[Jagwar]

1 hour ago, Tony-OH said:

All I know is that we need at least one dude with a MFin' 99 MPH sinker or we're done for this year! 

What if we find someone who throws a 98 MPH sinker? Are we screwed? How about one guy who throws a 95 MPH sinker and a second guy who rolls the ball to the plate 4 MPH?