Poll - Bigger Need… Game Three level SP or Elite Closer?

[btdart20]

7 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

A #1 starter? Who could we acquire better than Burnes? 

I interpreted that as a top 15-25ish type SP.  A guy most teams would slot as a #1.

[ScGO's]

17 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

A #1 starter? Who could we acquire better than Burnes? 

Not better, but of the same ilk. Schrezer, Crochet, Gausmann, one of Seattle's dawgs?

[vab]

What elite closer is out there other than Miller who's price will be sky high. That's going to be a lot to gamble on a UCL that could go on any pitch. 

[Bemorewins]

4 minutes ago, ScGO's said:

Not better, but of the same ilk. Schrezer, Crochet, Gausmann, one of Seattle's dawgs?

I don’t want to give you a hard time. Because I essentially agree with the need to improve our starting pitching.

But Scherzer not Gausman are of the same ilk/ability as Burnes at this point. It’s not particularly close IMO. Look at Burnes’ numbers this year and compare to what Gausman has done this year. Or what Scherzer did last year.

Yes one of SEA’s starters, Logan Webb, Tarik Skubal, even Crochet (if he is still able to start/allowed to throw that many innings in a season given the injury risk/history).

But Gausman or Scherzer, no thanks! 

I would prefer Gausman’s teammate Berrios over him at this point.

I don’t want Mad Max at all. Great career! But like Verlander, he is at the end and likely doesn’t have much if anything left in the tank.

[DrinkinWithFermi]

Like some others, I went with the SP because I don't think we need an explicit closer, just a bullpen arm or two that can be deployed in high leverage spots. If it had been framed that way, I probably would not have responded to the poll itself because I think the need is equal if we are to make a deep playoff run this year.

[Bemorewins]

3 minutes ago, vab said:

What elite closer is out there other than Miller who's price will be sky high. That's going to be a lot to gamble on a UCL that could go on any pitch. 

I get your point that there aren’t that many elite closets to begin with. And probably one Miller is available.

Maybe Helsley will available? While he is not  elite, he is better than any reliever that we currently have. Maybe Tyler or Taylor Rodgers from SF will be available? Maybe Lucas Erceg? Tanner Scott?

Again, none of these guys is elite but most are better than what we have now as guys who can be used in late inning/high leverage situations.

[Rbiggs2525]

I think game 3 starter is a bigger need to get to the playoffs. I think closer will be more important in the playoffs. 

[sportsfan8703]

I think our recent 5 game losing streak gave us a unique perspective that we haven't really had since Adley made his debut in 2022...  How valuable is a closer if they don't have a lead to protect?  Why trade for an elite closer when an elite closer affecting the game hinges on the Game 3 SP pitching well enough to even create a save situation?

[vab]

13 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

I get your point that there aren’t that many elite closets to begin with. And probably one Miller is available.

Maybe Helsley will available? While he is not  elite, he is better than any reliever that we currently have. Maybe Tyler or Taylor Rodgers from SF will be available? Maybe Lucas Erceg? Tanner Scott?

Again, none of these guys is elite but most are better than what we have now as guys who can be used in late inning/high leverage situations.

St. Louis is holding a wild card right now so highly unlikely they will drop to seller status by the deadline. Those other guys you mentioned are set-up which is the way Elias is probably going to have to go wrt the bullpen. 

[Orange]

I picked the closer option because it said "elite" versus a 'game three starter' which implies a decent option (not someone on Bradish's level). In the playoffs I want that guaranteed shortened game. Plus, our bullpen hasn't been all that impressive and I have hope for Povich and Kremer and Irvin to be good enough.

[DrinkinWithFermi]

19 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

Maybe Helsley will available? While he is not  elite, he is better than any reliever that we currently have.

1.97 ERA, 209 ERA+, 2.44 FIP, 0.96 WHIP, 5.2 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 12.4 K/9 since opening day 2022.

Seems pretty elite to me.

 

[Orange]

If you asked me if I'd rather have a healthy Bradish or a healthy Bautista, it's Bradish all day long.

[Bemorewins]

2 minutes ago, vab said:

St. Louis is holding a wild card right now so highly unlikely they will drop to seller status by the deadline. Those other guys you mentioned are set-up which is the way Elias is probably going to have to go wrt the bullpen. 

It’s not like we don’t have plenty of good room for “setup” guys. Right now Baker is our best guy in the pen besides Kimbrel.

[Bemorewins]

2 minutes ago, DrinkinWithFermi said:

1.97 ERA, 209 ERA+, 2.44 FIP, 0.96 WHIP, 5.2 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 12.4 K/9 since opening day 2022.

Seems pretty elite to me.

 

The stats I see for this season say 2.75 ERA.l and 1.25 WHIP. But yes most of the peripherals are good.

[interloper]

5 minutes ago, Orange said:

If you asked me if I'd rather have a healthy Bradish or a healthy Bautista, it's Bradish all day long.

I actually don't know. I find that kind of a tough question. Bautista was worth 5.4 rWAR. Bradish was 4.9. Not that those numbers are everything, especially when we're short good starters. 

But man, Felix was REALLY good. It's a shame we'll go two playoff years without seeing what he can do in the postseason.