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For the Love of LOOGYs

It has become apparent over the past few games that the Cardinals left handed relievers are absolutly terrible.  Flores was okay last year, but just doesn't have it this year and TJ is probably just as bad.  I have heard the arguement that they are good against lefties and Tony leaves them in to get pounded against righties which is why their stats suck.  Seemed reasonable to me, but the problem is that they don't do their job and that is why they often have to face righties.  For example if a lineup goes L - R - L, I think Tony will bring in Flores (or Johnson) often to face the first lefty, he anticpates walking the righty and then getting the other lefty out.  This often doesn't work because Flores (or Johnson) walks the 1st lefty or gives up a hit.  It seems like there are often situations similar to his.  Anyways I looked at the numbers finally and realized that while our LOOGYs are terrible against righties, they are not good against lefties either mediocre at best.

Randy Flores
vs Lefties
19.2 IP, 2.29 ERA, 8 BB, 1.32 WHIP, .278 SLGA, .333 OBA, .250 BAA
vs Righties
13.0 IP, 9.69 ERA, 8 BB, 2.31 WHIP, .532 SLGA, .423 OBA, .355 BAA

Actually okay verses lefties, but not dominant like you want from a LOOGY, low slugging against seems good, but it doesn't matter if Randy gives up a single or a triple to lefty because the righty behind him is going to crush Randy.  NOTE TO TONY: There is no reason Flores should have 13 IP vs. RH batters.

Tyler Johnson
vs. Lefties
14 IP, 9 BB, 1.50 WHIP, .352 SLGA, .328 OBA, .222 BAA
vs Righties
10.1 IP, 9 BB, 2.03 WHIP, .500 SLGA, .451 OBA, .300 BAA
Tyler's numbers are worse 4.50 ERA vs LHs isn't acceptable.  another NOTE TO TONY: TJ should not have 10.1 IP vs RH batters or be pitching in the major leagues

In my opinion both of our LOOGYs walk far to many batters to be effective and while they are better against lefties they aren't as good against them as they need to be.

Just for reference
Josh Hancock vs Lefties
26.1 IP, 7 BB, 1.06 WHIP, .398 SLGA, .264 OBA, .214 BAA
Izzy vs Lefties
18.1 IP, 16 BB, 1.80 WHIP, .394 SLGA, .379 OBA, .239 BAA

Seems like Hancock could do just as good against Lefties (maybe better) than TJ or Flores and guess what HE CAN GET RIGHTIES OUT TOO!!!!

We need to do something to solve this LOOGY problem.  While Walt looks for a decent starter and someone who can hit a lefthanded pitcher, he should also look for a good LOOGY.  While Walt does this Tony can do his part by stoping his use of  TJ/Flores against righties.

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yes true....
but hancock is more of a long reliever type as opposed to a setup man...not saying it cant be done, but who else would you rather have take over a game after marquis blows it in the third...besides wainwright...who should be pitching in marquis spot anyway

by Dttl89 on Aug 12, 2006 2:15 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

tell me something i dont know
about a month ago or more i started a diary about southpaw relief. noone seemed to be concerned.

at least the cardinals organization wasn't completely oblivious of this, and they know we got no proven lefty relief, apparently we were trying to swing a deal for rheal cormier, and it fell threw at the last minute.

oh, wnd welcome to 2 months ago, fans, we got shit for lefties...thanks for noticing way way too late..

by 2ndprize on Aug 12, 2006 12:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

okay...
I have noticed it all season, it has just been pain stakingly obvious the past few games.
"The right-hander is throwing up in the bullpen." -Mike Shannon

by DJ87 on Aug 12, 2006 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It seems like they've been notably
worse as of late.  I've been defending them all year but as of late...well I'm not yet ready to jump on the we need a LOOGY bandwagon but I'm not going to try and defend them either.

by azruavatar on Aug 12, 2006 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

just thank God that we
aren't crap horible as the Reds at relief pitching...
~Fox~

by pujols5 on Aug 13, 2006 1:20 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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