P-D reports: Smotlz a Cardinal
by bgh on Aug 19, 2009 11:02 AM EDT
Email
Print
The P-D's Strauss reports that John Smotlz has joined the St. Louis Cardinals after clearing waivers at noon today.
The cost of adding the future Hall of Famer to TLR's stable of Proven Veterans is negligible, even for Bill DeWitt:
The Cardinals would be liable for only a pro-rated share of the major-league minimum, about $100,000; the Red Sox remains responsible for the balance.
Straussy goes on to highlight why LaDunc is (they have reached a level of a common consciousness after all of these years reforming Proven Veterans, you see) foaming at the mouth. You see, the Cards will gain "one of his generation's most experienced postseason arms." Strauss engages in speculation, which makes one wonder if it is informed speculation based on conversations with LaDunc.
In return, the Cardinals gain one of his generation’s most experienced postseason arms, at least a temporary fill for their unsettled fifth starter role, and perhaps ultimately a valuable option to set up closer Ryan Franklin.
John Smoltz, future Hall of Famer, struck out 33 in 40 IP for the Sawx, good for 7.43 K/9, which is higher than Chris Carpenter's 6.80 K/9 this season and would be second on the rotation only to Wagonmaker, who is striking out 7.80 per 9 inning. His career K/9 is 7.98. Of concern, his HR/FB rate skyrocketted to the extraordinarily high rate of 14.8% in the vaunted AL East. For comparison's sake, Todd Wellemeyer's HR/FB is about 10.8%. Since 2002, Smoltz's HR/FB rate was in the double digits twice, each time just over 10%, so a rate of near 15% is out of character and that is why Smoltz's numbers for Boston are out of character. Nonetheless, Smoltz's FIP was 4.94 and Fangraphs has his ZIPS RoS FIP at 3.44 (which may project even lower with a change to the pitchers hit ninth league). For the ERA-inclined, the RoS ERA projection is a paltry 3.81. If we are getting a FIPer of about 3.50 for $100K, we have quite a bargain. If we are getting a FIPer of 4.94 for $100K, it's not a bad price to pay, especially with the limited number of Number 5 Starts remaining.
73 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Could this be this year's Chuck Finley?
Please be true. Although I do have hope for Boggs for next year, I can only watch Welle and Boggs so much right now . . .
On with the (good) youth movement!
I was thinking more along the lines of this year's Troy Percival
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Aug 19, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
More like Jeff Weaver...
effective slider against the righties, an adventure against the lefties.
Whether he’ll start or relieve in September is mostly irrelevant, since we can win on day 5 anyway. He’ll relieve in the post-season, unless he’s lights-out starting. I can’t imagine Lohse getting bumped in a seven game series.
Please take this comment in the spirit it was intended.
Boggs
I was actually ok with Bogg’s last start even we lost. He still walked a few, I think they were mostly lefties. But he was aggressive to many hitters and got ahead in the count. When he left, it was only 3-0, but with runners on base. I would not be unhappy with Boggs for the few remaining starts, but that’s moot now.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
vs Manny
was pretty cool
"It was like two ankles." AVENGE BOOG
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
His last two haven't been good.....
He was lucky to get out of the Cincy game as well as he did.
His last two starts: 10 innings, 18 hits, and 7 walks. Ouchy. 2.50 whip.
He has the stuff, but he has to learn to pitch, and not throw. I wouldn’t have a HUGE problem letting him pitch every 5th day for the remainder of the season (as long as we keep leading the standings but a decent margin), but that isn’t going to happen. We need to find out if he is going to help us in the future or not. Sure wish we’d have sent him to Cleveland instead of one of the other guys. Not so much from a talent stand point, but from a needs standpoint (MR vs SP).
Matt Holliday. Nuff said.
by SoonerfanTU on Aug 20, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
RP isn't a defined role
Boggs could move to the pen and would likely be much better than in the rotation.
Thanks
by vivaelpujols on Aug 24, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm puzzled about what his role will be
The various rumor sites I’ve seen seem to be pretty evenly split on whether he’ll be the 5th starter or a set-up guy for Franklin.
by BTown Birds fan on Aug 19, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions
My thought would
be 5th starter for at least a couple turns, then he can slide into the 8th inning when we don’t need a 5th starter anymore.
Albert Pujols is ridiculous.
I believe that its common knowledge
that it’s Pegacorns, not pixie dust.
The guy who really needs to come back to earth is Julio Lugo. He flat-out sucks, or at least he did until he sold his soul at the foot of the Gateway Arch. by Not Bruce Froemming BCB
The 5th starter
I think is just sweetener. It seems important to Smoltzy, for his career, that he come into the organization as a starter. The cards can acquiesce to that (I mean, we only need a 5th what, 3 or 4 more times?) and then put him into his real role — a post-season set up man. If there’s one thing we need, it’s a solid set up from the right side out of the pen, and Smoltz gives us that in spades. In short work, he’ll be great. His ERA has been solid the first time through line ups with the Sawks. The real question to me is how his arm will rebound from the shorter rest of bullpen use, even if it is only for an inning at a time. I’m liking this move. Let’s see an ’04 team get an ’06 ending.
There is no way that he comes out as the 5th starter
I like Smoltz, but his stuff this year isn’t as good as it could have been. He’s obviously showing his age and while in Boston, he couldn’t manage to get past the 2nd or 3rd inning while starting. Relief would be the best option as he could come out of the pen, throw an inning, then call it a night, and then turn around and throw again the next day, taking the 3rd day off to rest. Starting is out of the question in my own opinion
I don't care how well he does for the M's...FUCK ENDY CHAVEZ
Teach him the cutter?
It seems to be Dunc’s favorite pitch, but it might be appropriate in this case as it would give Smoltz something to use against lefties.
Of course, I would also love to see Smoltz learn PJ Walters’ screwball for use against lefties.
I'm dumb, she's a lesbian. I thought I had found the one.
We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good.
Pink triangle on her sleeve let me know the truth.
Wouldn't that put a lot of torque on an already iffy shoulder?
For a twenty-something it’s not as big of a deal as for a 42 year old, but I would think that couldn’t be healthy. Unless PJ throws it in a different way than I am imagining. But I have been wrong before.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I mean the screwball not the cutter.
What I think and what gets typed are two different things sometimes.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
No for the cutter
It’s thrown by gripping the ball off-center.
It does increase the load on the elbow, but not the shoulder.
I'm dumb, she's a lesbian. I thought I had found the one.
We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good.
Pink triangle on her sleeve let me know the truth.
The cutter doesn't bother me at all as long as the mechanics are sound.
I just thought that for a screwball it would take too much snap back the other way. I used to throw a screwball and stopped because it seemed to get into my shoulder. I was probably throwing it the wrong way, but I had really good movement on it.
But that was a loooong time ago in a galaxy far away.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
For screwball
You need to look up at the sky momentarily to get the mechanics right. J/K. Just reminiscing about Fernando. I think he was Diner’s idol.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
I thought his eyes rolled back in his head,
so he could breathe thru his eyelids better?
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions
No
The screwball is thrown by pronating the forearm (which helps to protect the elbow).
The force on the shoulder is the same.
I'm dumb, she's a lesbian. I thought I had found the one.
We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good.
Pink triangle on her sleeve let me know the truth.
Do you really think
Smoltz is going to learn a new pitch at this point in his career? Not likely. In fact, by now I don’t see why he really even needs a pitching coach.
by MdRedbirdFreak on Aug 19, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I was speaking mostly in jest
However, Smoltz does need to figure out how to handle lefties if he’s going to start, and the cutter is a fairly easy pitch to learn. You just grip your fastball off-center.
I'm dumb, she's a lesbian. I thought I had found the one.
We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good.
Pink triangle on her sleeve let me know the truth.
I figured you might have been joking about the screwball, but I couldn't help myself.
The cutter really isn’t a bad idea. Maybe an old dog can learn a new trick.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
A screwball would be the perfect pitch for him versus lefties
But it’s a pretty big undertaking to master that pitch.
I'm dumb, she's a lesbian. I thought I had found the one.
We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good.
Pink triangle on her sleeve let me know the truth.
It would be a beautiful pitch from a RH.
I just didn’t think a righty could throw it safely, but I defer to your judgement.
Are you a doctor or chiropractor? Don’t answer if you don’t want to. Just a curiosity question.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
No, but I've studied the research
All of the bad stuff about the screwball is anecdotal, and the science makes sense.
I also know people at the major league level who believe in pronation (which is how you get a screwball).
I'm dumb, she's a lesbian. I thought I had found the one.
We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good.
Pink triangle on her sleeve let me know the truth.
I guess if I had thought to look at your profile it would have answered my question.
Impressive. Now wonder you sound like you know what you are talkin about, cuz you do.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
DId you mean to put doctor and chiro in the same sentence?
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Yes, because a chiro is not an actual MD, so I tried to distinguish between the two.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 20, 2009 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions
A line cook is also no an MD.
"Of course Kolby Rasmus was going deep! That’s what Kolby Rasmus does! You don’t give Kolby Rasmus second chances!" -Kolby Rasmus
Peeve
ZiPS doesn’t “see” Smoltz’s shoulder injury making those projections have next to no value. He’s not the same guy that ZiPS is basing its data on. That doesn’t mean he can’t be as good as the pitcher he was, just that he won’t be the same if that semantics makes sense.
Not afraid to nitpick
Noquote award to La Russa...
…for this quote in the mlb.com article on the Cardinal’s interest in Smoltz.
“My understanding is that he hasn’t cleared waivers,” La Russa said following the Cardinals’ loss to the Dodgers. “So if he hasn’t cleared waivers, somebody can take him. I could say barring somebody else taking him, he might come here. If he clears waivers, he might go someplace else and he might come here. It’s safe to say he might come here. He might go someplace else.”
this is what happens
when the manager has a law degree.
Just covering all the contingencies
I'm dumb, she's a lesbian. I thought I had found the one.
We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good.
Pink triangle on her sleeve let me know the truth.
I think its official
Per Joe Strauss just now on his Q&A – BREAKING NEWS: SMOLTZ IS DONE. ON HIS WAY TO JOIN TEAM!!!
The poster formerly known as JoeyBombs.
Yep, can't up the ante. This is almost as cheap an upgrade as Lugo.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
from the same team
no less!
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on Aug 19, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Are the Sawx our new AAA team?
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions
That's a better AAA team to have than the Pirates!
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Aug 19, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
umm no
if they were our AAA team we would be harvesting young talent, not washed-up old guys they have DFA’ed. However, if you count Joel Piniero we now have 3 guys on the roster that Boston has DFA’ed.
Basically we like to dive in the Red Sox dumpster, but hey its been working so far.
Maybe if we're good Uncle Theo will send us Youk to play 3B and bat 5th
behind AP and Holliday.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Aug 19, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe they want Thurston back
We can give em Ankiel too i guess
Man, with this outfield, need to get rid of that Rasmus, no Ankiel, wait no, Rasmus wait...To hell with Ankiel FREE KOBE RAMSIS
There's probably not a finer dumpster in baseball to be diving in to.
"F@*& Lidge and the horse he rode in on!"
-Cards Fan in Chitown, via text message shortly after the VEB Get Together Day.
A little late, I know.
But, it’s updated: Future HOFer John Smoltz is a Cardinal.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
verklempt
I once had a girlfriend who verclemped me, but good.
I'm dumb, she's a lesbian. I thought I had found the one.
We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good.
Pink triangle on her sleeve let me know the truth.
LOL
I'm dumb, she's a lesbian. I thought I had found the one.
We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good.
Pink triangle on her sleeve let me know the truth.
I think you may want to work on those last words a little bit Fritz
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Aug 20, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Thank You Boston
for picking up 1/10th of this year’s payroll.
by Birds on the Matt on Aug 19, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions
As much as we love this pitching staff,
we sure do suck at spelling their names.
Pinerio old chap! It appears you’ve spilled Smotlz all over yourself. Maybe you should lay off the Franlikins.
by Cardfanintherock on Aug 19, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
SHMOLTZ
Listening to the 101.1 ESPN radio, I head D’marco Farr call him Shmoltz several times. Then it seemed to be rubbing off on Randy Karraker and Bob Ramsey as they started adding a little Shh to the beginning of his name. I find it pretty funny that they can’t pronounce the name of a guy who is a future hall of famer and has been around 20+ years.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- The Juice: Mesoraco’s grand slam helps Reds complete four-game sweep of Braves
- Please hold: Indians’ Joe Smith jumps the gun on relief appearance
- Local radio host honors Cubs’ Tony Campana with parody song
- Roy Halladay bobblehead with glove on wrong hand selling on MLB.com
- Will Smith shows why making your big-league debut at Yankee Stadium is less than ideal
