2012 8th Inning Guy

[sveumrules]

Whether you agree or disagree with the idea of an 8th inning guy it seems pretty clear with Loe's usage pattern early and then the success that the team had with K-Rod in that role later in the year that RRR definitely subscribes to the theory. That said, who gets the job in 2012?

I'd love to bring Saito back but with his age/health I'd rather count on him for the 7th when he is able to pitch. Who is out there as a free agent that can be had on a one year deal that isn't going to get a closer's job? Nathan? Francisco? Discuss...

[PrinceEatMeat]

The Brewers were rumored to have interest in Francisco. I think it's too early to tell how much money will be available to spend on the pen though. If there is some money out there Francisco, or someone else could be a target. If not, it might just be Saito and in-house options. Hawkins is also a possibility to be re-signed, but he'll be more expensive than Saito. Kintzler is an intriguing in-house option if he can bounce back from injury.

[Invader3K]

I don't think Saito is durable enough to always be the setup man, so they'll probably want one more top notch reliever. Fortunately, there seem to be a lot of options out there.

[yoshii8]

I wouldn't mind seeing the Brewers trade for Huston Street. I hear he's available.

[Invader3K]

I wouldn't mind seeing the Brewers trade for Huston Street. I hear he's available.

That would be nice. Good stuff, and his career WHIP has been consistently low, and he's only 28. The thing is that he is scheduled to make $7.5 million next season. In 2013 he will make $9 million, though there's a $500,000 buyout. I think that salary explains why the Rockies are open to trading him.

[reillymcshane]

I think Melvin loved having a 'second closer' on the team.

 

I wouldn't be shocked if he splurged on a a guy who's been a successful closer, such as Street (obviously a trade), Lidge, Capps, Nathan, Francisco, Broxton.

 

I'd love to have a guy like Broxton or Lidge - guys coming off injuries but potentially really good - come in on a one year deal and let them set up.

[StearnsFTW]

^^ Those are the exact 2 names I had targeted. Seem like Melvin-type moves.

[dadofandrew]

Doug will wait until the market cools down and see who is left. Saito isn't able to do back-to-back days or more than one inning, so it won't be him, unless they just go with a group. Francisco was a good bet, but so many teams need a closer, he looks to get a 9th inning job. A guy recovering from injury, like Broxton, or Capps, looking to reestablish himself as a closer, would be good bets.

[JohnBriggs12]

How about a swap of Randy Wolf and Eric Farris for Huston Street and Tommy Field?

 

Give Field #28 so fans can rip off the er on their jerseys and save a little money.

[The Truth]

My concern is that Roenicke will again look at Kameron Loe as a credible 8th inning option if he doesn't a very clear and solid 8th inning guy...

[StearnsFTW]

My concern is that Roenicke will again look at Kameron Loe as a credible 8th inning option if he doesn't a very clear and solid 8th inning guy...

 

 

Dear god I hoe not. I don't think he's that dumb.

[dadofandrew]

Briggs' proposed deal would leave us short 130 innings. COL also has terrible results with breaking ball guys. They don't work at altitude.

[The Truth]

My concern is that Roenicke will again look at Kameron Loe as a credible 8th inning option if he doesn't a very clear and solid 8th inning guy...

 

 

Dear god I hoe not. I don't think he's that dumb.

We're talking about a manager who started Mark Kotsay in CF in a playoff game and who continued to let Loe pitch to LHB's. He also continued to use Loe in the 8th inning until we aquired K-Rod. The only way to guarantee that RR won't consider Loe in the set-up spot is to not resign Loe or to give RR such a better & obvious option for a set-up man that Loe wouldn't be considered

[dadofandrew]

Loe pitched very well in 2011, including versus LH's.

[YoungGeezy]

Broxton is #1 target for me. Street has been a favorite of mine since he was lighting it up as a 3rd baseman/ Closer for Texas in their powerhouse days.

 

Rogers and Braddock would make up the dream 8th inning if potential met results. But not banking on it.

[RockCoCougars]

Loe pitched very well in 2011, including versus LH's.

 

I must have been seeing a mirage in May and June then. From what I remember he singlehandedly blew at least 3 or 4 games during that stretch.

[dadofandrew]

Memory is fuzzy at best...that's why the "I saw it with my own eyes" guys are wrong almost all the time.

 

Loe vs. LH---.306/.384

Krod vs, LH--.347/.429

 

I'm sure Loe did have a couple bad games. So did Verlander. Not sure what the point is. Axford wasn't perfect either, just superb.

[The Truth]

Memory is fuzzy at best...that's why the "I saw it with my own eyes" guys are wrong almost all the time.

 

Loe vs. LH---.306/.384

Krod vs, LH--.347/.429

 

I'm sure Loe did have a couple bad games. So did Verlander. Not sure what the point is. Axford wasn't perfect either, just superb.

I'm going to call small sample on that one, despite that the fact that LHBs had a 90 point better OPS against Loe than RHBs in '11... career wise, LHBs have an .837 OPS against Loe, as opposed to a .675 OPS for RHBs. I remain convinced that Loe should very rarely face LHBs, certainly not in a close game

[pingman]

an interesting flyer would be Andrew Miller from the Red Sox....he's out of options & supposedly on the market....

 

deal for him & start him out in long relief....maybe by midseason he'll earn a better role such as setup man, the dude has the talent

[yoshii8]

I saw Franklin Morales listed also, I wouldn't mind trading for him either.

[Mr Southpaw]

Mark Rogers?

[Bnowell4evr]

Octavio Dotel became a lot more attractive with the new CBA eliminating Type A status from relievers.

[JohnBriggs12]

Memory is fuzzy at best...that's why the "I saw it with my own eyes" guys are wrong almost all the time.

 

Loe vs. LH---.306/.384

Krod vs, LH--.347/.429

 

I'm sure Loe did have a couple bad games. So did Verlander. Not sure what the point is. Axford wasn't perfect either, just superb.

I'm going to call small sample on that one, despite that the fact that LHBs had a 90 point better OPS against Loe than RHBs in '11... career wise, LHBs have an .837 OPS against Loe, as opposed to a .675 OPS for RHBs. I remain convinced that Loe should very rarely face LHBs, certainly not in a close game

The problem with Loe is not so much his splits but his inconsistency. When he's on his sinker is one nasty pitch and good enough to get hitters out from either side. In fact he can look so dominant it can make a manager feel very good about using him late. But when he's off, well he's usually way off and you can't get him out of there quickly enough and no lead is safe. It's that inconsistency that ended up costing him his late inning role.

[monty57]

The problem with Loe is not so much his splits but his inconsistency. When he's on his sinker is one nasty pitch and good enough to get hitters out from either side. In fact he can look so dominant it can make a manager feel very good about using him late. But when he's off, well he's usually way off and you can't get him out of there quickly enough and no lead is safe. It's that inconsistency that ended up costing him his late inning role.

 

This makes me wonder about the competency of our bullpen coach and bullpen catcher. They should have been able to see if Loe was on or not and let Roenicke know. The hitters could sure tell when Loe's sinker wasn't working.

 

Loe is a valueable tool when used correctly. When not used correctly, he really hurt our team last year. Tabbing him as the "no questions asked 8th inning guy" is using him incorrectly. The Truth hit it on the head that we either need to cut Loe or bring in someone who can no doubt be a better option for Roenicke to use as the "8th inning guy." Plus, if Loe is due $2.8MM in arby, as MLBTR has suggested, then I don't think he's worth that to this year's Brewers (who can't pony up $5MM for a starting SS).

[jmeks23]

I don't even feel like Loe should be on the team next year, at least not for what he's due in arbitration. You're going to be paying him close to what you paid Saito this year, and that's far too much. He's a good groundball pitcher that shouldn't be used in many high leverage situations. That type of guy screams league minimum to me.