Akin optioned

[bluedog]

I don't think I've ever seen a big league club in the heat of a pennant race option their most used and arguably most effective reliever. Anyone else ever remember this happening?

[interloper]

You're right, "most effective reliever" is very, very arguable.

[yark14]

They can trade him for a bag of bubble gum for all I care.

[RZNJ]

6 minutes ago, bluedog said:

I don't think I've ever seen a big league club in the heat of a pennant race option their most used and arguably most effective reliever. Anyone else ever remember this happening?

He might have the best numbers but no one, including Hyde, trusts him in a big spot.  He doesn’t deserve to be sent down but none of the other guys deserve to be released either.

[clapdiddy]

19 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

He might have the best numbers but no one, including Hyde, trusts him in a big spot.  He doesn’t deserve to be sent down but none of the other guys deserve to be released either.

Hyde didn't seem to be using him in close games...and DEFINITELY not with runners on.

[TopGunnar]

The fact he is “most effective reliever” in somebodies opinion shows you how bad this pen is. Everytime I saw him pitch, he got ripped 

[Tony-OH]

Akin was the only guy with an option that they would consider. He'll be back. Soto will take his role for now.

[bluedog]

42 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

Akin was the only guy with an option that they would consider. He'll be back. Soto will take his role for now.

I get the fact he'll be back and that he was the only guy with options. Been watching O's baseball for 45 years and never remembered a situation where a guy leading the bullpen in IPs and WAR and with a sub 1.00 WHIP was sent down.

Not criticizing the O's - was just asking if anyone else remembers this happening before.

[Bahama O's Fan]

I just don't understand trading for the quantity of players we did when almost all of them had no options available. 

[LookitsPuck]

Akin has mostly been used in non-close games or in fresh innings and usually not late in a game. The Guardians hit lefties better, and we’ve seen Akin struggles with high leverage situations and with runners on. There’s some redundancy now in the pen with Suarez who can actually provide length and isn’t a lefty/righty specialist as well as Soto who is dominant against lefties. 

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, clapdiddy said:

Hyde didn't seem to be using him in close games...and DEFINITELY not with runners on.

Every team needs a couple of relievers who can soak up multiple innings in low to medium leverage spots.  That’s Akin’s main role with the team.  He’s one of only two relievers who’s averaged more than one inning per appearance and he easily leads the bullpen staff in IP.  You absolutely need a guy in that role or you’d completely burn out the higher leverage guys.  

I enjoy Akin because he understands his role.  When he enters a game with a sizable lead, he doesn’t nibble or screw around.   He works super fast and he throws a ton of strikes.

He’s had an excellent year despite a couple of notable bad games, and I’m sorry that circumstances have conspired to force the team to send him down in order to preserve their assets.   I’m sure he’ll be back soon enough.  
 

[bluedog]

1 hour ago, interloper said:

You're right, "most effective reliever" is very, very arguable.

[clapdiddy]

Just now, Frobby said:

Every team needs a couple of relievers who can soak up multiple innings in low to medium leverage spots.  That’s Akin’s main role with the team.  He’s one of only two relievers who’s averaged more than one inning per appearance and he easily leads the bullpen staff in IP.  You absolutely need a guy in that role or you’d completely burn out the higher leverage guys.  

I enjoy Akin because he understands his role.  When he enters a game with a sizable lead, he doesn’t nibble or screw around.   He works super fast and he throws a ton of strikes.

He’s had an excellent year despite a couple of notable bad games, and I’m sorry that circumstances have conspired to force the team to send him down in order to preserve their assets.   I’m sure he’ll be back soon enough.  
 

Totally agree with this take.  Some guys are just not good coming into situations with men on.  Akin definitely has value.

I think of Cano in that way (coming in with men on base) as well, though he's not really a multi-inning guy like Akin.

[SteveA]

31 minutes ago, Bahama O's Fan said:

I just don't understand trading for the quantity of players we did when almost all of them had no options available. 

We traded for 2 relief pitchers who can strike guys out.   We have a lot of pitchers on this staff that can get 2 strikes on a guy and then not finish him off.   In the case of Dominguez and Soto, that was a bigger consideration than options.  

Once the playoffs arrive, which we are highly likely to be in, options don't matter.   

[bluedog]

Looked at clutch ratings and Akin is dead last on the team in high leverage situations. But he's the best pitcher on the team in low leverage situations. You need someone to get 2-3 clean innings in a low leverage situation, he's money.

Statistically Cano, Webb and Akin are similar, but Webb is far and away the best on the team (except Coulombe) in high leverage, while he struggles more than Cano or Akin in low leverage.