Adam Wainwright Day

I understand that Mr. Anderson isn’t THE back-up catcher, but how bad can he be? I mean really now, if the everyday catcher goes 20 (20!) I think it is more than reasonable, and perhaps even a really good idea, to give him a slab of pine the next day. If the back-up, ad hoc as he may be, is basically at emergency catcher status, why even bother having him there?

isn’t that what mangers are for? players are always ready to go. Paging Scott Rolen….

I’d probably have them as the worst in baseball, actually.

I am assuming all bullpens are healthy. Sorry, should’ve been more specific. I guess that probably puts the Indians ahead of us, though I agree that without Wood it’s very close (and arguably we’re better, and you could argue Wood wasn’t too good last year). Perez and Todd, despite their various warts, are two guys who I think would be at the front end of our pen if they were still here (yes, I know Perez doesn’t seem to be coming on at all, but his career FIP is still better than guys like Motte and Boggs and I feel there’s more chance of him figuring it out this year than, say, Motte). Joe Smith is, I feel, pretty under-rated; I think he’s as good as any righty in our pen. I agree we’re stronger from the left-hand side, but, overall, with a healthy Wood I give them the slight advantage on paper.

The Orioles have Gonzalez who, despite sucking so far this year is better than anyone we have (3.29 career FIP, albeit injury prone). Will Ohman is as good as any of our lefties, Jason Berken is probably as good as any of our lesser righties (Boggs etc), Jim Johnson is basically Kyle McClellan, and Cla Meredith is as good as any arm in our pen, and especially good against righties (better than any of our guys on that front). I should point out that, with the exception of the lefty specialists, we probably don’t have a league average reliever in our pen either (yeah, I know it depends on how you determine that), but I’d rather have their guys than ours. But I agree that it’s very close.

The Cubs, I think I’ll give you that one. With Guzman getting hurt they really don’t have anything much behind Marmol, and his 2009 has to be a concern for them. They’re good on the left, though – I actually think I like their two lefties better than ours, due to Marshall’s ability to pitch multiple innings and get righties out. Their righty set-up situation is pretty ugly. I don’t think they’re far behind us, and if Marmol rediscovers his pre-2009 form, I think he alone makes them better, and (if you’re keen on using 2010 data, which it seems you are on Hoffman & Qualls) he’s been absolutely lights-out good this year.

As for the D’Backs – you’re writing off Chad Qualls after 5 innings? He has literally been one of the top ten relievers in baseball for the last two years IMO, and I think he’s streets ahead of anyone we’ve got. I think it’s too early to call time on his no-walking, groundballing excellence. I agree the rest aren’t anything special, and they’re weak on the left side, but Rosales, Gutierrez and Heilmann are all capable enough, in comparison to our righties. I think, kinda like a few of the other teams you mentioned, simply having ONE good reliever (Qualls) along with a bunch of averagey ones, when all we have is pretty average ones, puts the D’Backs a nose ahead.

As for the poor old Natinals, yeah, I think I’ve got to agree there. If Capps makes some sort of comeback they’re probably similar to us but really their backup arms are so poor, I think we’re in a much stronger position overall.

I think the Brewers pen is better than ours, again, I think you’re attaching too much importance to a lucky/one-in-a-hundred swing from Nick Stavinoha and a couple of dingers from the two best right-handed hitters in his division (AP and Lego). Hoffman’s been good enough to still deserve the benefit of the doubt, and I think Hawkins and Coffey and a couple of other guys they have are a competent supporting cast. They HAVE spent way too much cash on the pen, though, and I think we’re getting more bang for our buck.

You could definitely have made a case for the Marlins. Their closer (Nunez) had a 5+ FIP last year and a lengthy career of relative mediocrity, and I can’t see an average arm behind him (although there are a couple of young guys with some promise).

So, in summary, I think I’d (personally, but I can see the argument either way) give the D’Backs, O’s and Indians the benefit of the doubt. In my view, the Nationals, Astros, Marlins and now maybe (depending on my mood) the Cubs are worse than us, in my eyes.

Sorry, Metalocalypse flashback.

it’s a tiny tiny booth
no room for a full swing slap to start the luggaging going

Morgan, My bad

Harry CarAy*

to say that throwing a “half-ass” curve leads to less chance of hanging it. Any time you throw a breaking ball you have a chance of hanging it. It doesn’t make sense to say that he has MORE of a chance of doing that by not attempting to throw his best curveball all the time. In fact, I’d say that if he’s half-assing it up there, there’s a much greater chance of hanging it over the middle of the plate that there is otherwise.

FWIW, fastballs and curves are different. You can change speeds with your fastball by positioning it in your hand a bit differently. It’s hard to do that with a curveball — you need the same grip and release point to get the proper rotation.

She’s attractive, but she gets played on country stations around here, and I don’t listen to country.

diff’rent strokes and all that.

I definitely agree with the walks and although I’m not sure we’ll be able to keep the GB% that low, it wouldn’t be surprising for us to lead MLB in that category.

I don’t think we disagree…I guess a big part of what I meant re: the pitching was that a huge part of this model of success assumes that these 5 guys who have been incredibly successful so far (fair to say that Carp’s been the shakiest?) will be the 5 guys making the vast majority of the starts over the next 5+ months.

And yes, I realize that “health is a huge concern” for every team.

seems right on track. for a Duncan pitcher, he’s key. and on, so far.

Though my eyeball-test stat free assumption could be wrong. But the BABIP police will stop shutting us down so much at some point, especially Craig, Jesus is he driving the ball just foul/ right at people and hitting less than .100 because of it(he has k’d a few times but I think even in those AB’s he’s been hitting loud fouls)

Though my eyeball-test stat free assumption could be wrong. But the BABIP police will stop shutting us down so much at some point, especially Craig, Jesus is he driving the ball just foul/ right at people and hitting less than .100 because of it(he has k’d a few times but I think even in those AB’s he’s been hitting loud fouls)

So really this beginning of the season’s offensive struggles with RISP can be attributed basically to guys trying to hook up?

Makes sense.