2012 8th Inning Guy

[Baldkin]

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.

He's a lot better than a league minimum guy. The problem last year was he was grossly overworked the first 70 games of the season (in which he threw in 37 of the games -- that's an 85 game pace for a season!!)

Funny how he ended up pitching a lot better when he wasn't throwing every other day.

[The Truth]

Funny how he ended up pitching a lot better when he wasn't throwing every other day.

Well he "ended up" with an 8.31 ERA in 5 postseason games with a 3.231 WHIP (!) ... he was also statistically worse in September than in August too

 

http://www.baseball-refer...01&year=2011&t=p

 

According to Baseball Reference dot com, he is most similar to Carlos Villanueva. That says a lot right there.

[dadofandrew]

As with all RP's, one bad outing throws off their ERA for months. Monthly splits are worthless.

 

That said, Loe basically had a single "off" month, June, which was really just a couple bad games.

[The Truth]

In the large sample of Loe's entire career, LHBs have an .837 OPS against him. He is a situational relief pitcher at best, should never be an 8th inning guy, and should very rarely face LHBs, especially with the game on the line. The numbers don'e lie

[chickinbrickin]

In the large sample of Loe's entire career, LHBs have an .837 OPS against him. He is a situational relief pitcher at best, should never be an 8th inning guy, and should very rarely face LHBs, especially with the game on the line. The numbers don'e lie

 

This, I honestly wouldn't be one bit upset to see him go. Like a prior poster stated he doesn't bring enough to the table to get the amount of money he is due.

[JohnBriggs12]

How about Grant Balfour? What would it take to get him from the A's? Would they have interest in McGehee? Perhaps say, McGehee and Kintzler? His contract isn't bad ($4 million for 2012, option for 2013 with a $375K buyout) and he's certainly a proven setup guy (26 Holds last year).

[StearnsFTW]

How about Grant Balfour? What would it take to get him from the A's? Would they have interest in McGehee? Perhaps say, McGehee and Kintzler? His contract isn't bad ($4 million for 2012, option for 2013 with a $375K buyout) and he's certainly a proven setup guy (26 Holds last year).

I think you could get Balfour, but it'd take a lot more than that. That package gets you.........well, nothing actually.

 

It might cost more like Thornburg IMO.

 

I wouldn't do that.

[Hate those Rodents]

If we want an ex-Brewer to set-up for us, let's just sign Scott Linebrink.

[JohnBriggs12]

How about Grant Balfour? What would it take to get him from the A's? Would they have interest in McGehee? Perhaps say, McGehee and Kintzler? His contract isn't bad ($4 million for 2012, option for 2013 with a $375K buyout) and he's certainly a proven setup guy (26 Holds last year).

I think you could get Balfour, but it'd take a lot more than that. That package gets you.........well, nothing actually.

 

It might cost more like Thornburg IMO.

 

I wouldn't do that.

Oakland needs bats and I think McGehee still has value and so does Kintzler. Balfour is a 33 year old set up guy. No team is going to give up an a top of the line starting pitcher prospect for a non closer reliever in his 30's. Besides Oakland has young pitching. They need offense.

[JohnBriggs12]

If we want an ex-Brewer to set-up for us, let's just sign Scott Linebrink.

Are you serious? Linebrink? He was the 12th man on a 12 man staff in Chicago and still run out of town. The Braves used him in primarily in games they trailed.

[StearnsFTW]

How about Grant Balfour? What would it take to get him from the A's? Would they have interest in McGehee? Perhaps say, McGehee and Kintzler? His contract isn't bad ($4 million for 2012, option for 2013 with a $375K buyout) and he's certainly a proven setup guy (26 Holds last year).

I think you could get Balfour, but it'd take a lot more than that. That package gets you.........well, nothing actually.

 

It might cost more like Thornburg IMO.

 

I wouldn't do that.

Oakland needs bats and I think McGehee still has value and so does Kintzler. Balfour is a 33 year old set up guy. No team is going to give up an a top of the line starting pitcher prospect for a non closer reliever in his 30's. Besides Oakland has young pitching. They need offense.

I'm not saying Thornburg himself necessarily, just that type of prospect. Borderline top 100 type. Thornburg just so happened to be my choice of example. You could maybe snag him for less, but not what you were suggesting IMO.

 

 

We disagree on McGehee. I don't think you could get anything at all for him. Whoever took him would have to tender him and pay him an arb #. I doubt anyone besides Doug Melvin (for whatever reason) wants to do that. Here's hoping I'm wrong though.

[JohnBriggs12]

cubsdie.

 

May I remind you McGehee is 1 year removed from a 104 RBI season. Oakland has not had a guy drive in that many since Frank Thomas in 2006.

 

Nobody thought Scott Podsednik had any value after he went from a .314, .822 OPS guy as a rookie in 2003 to a .244, .677 OPS guy in 2004. But he got the Brewers a middle of the lineup hitter.

 

Oakland brass isn't a bunch of Brewer fans who still have fresh in their minds McGehee struggling. Teams look at guys as bounce back candidates and he's proven he can be a productive major league hitter. Teams don't give all the weight to a guys most recent season. Look at the Cubs giving Pena $10 million after he hit .196.

[StearnsFTW]

cubsdie.

 

May I remind you McGehee is 1 year removed from a 104 RBI season. Oakland has not had a guy drive in that many since Frank Thomas in 2006.

 

Nobody thought Scott Podsednik had any value after he went from a .314, .822 OPS guy as a rookie in 2003 to a .244, .677 OPS guy in 2004. But he got the Brewers a middle of the lineup hitter.

 

Oakland brass isn't a bunch of Brewer fans who still have fresh in their minds McGehee struggling. Teams look at guys as bounce back candidates and he's proven he can be a productive major league hitter. Teams don't give all the weight to a guys most recent season. Look at the Cubs giving Pena $10 million after he hit .196.

No, but they recognize value when they see it. Balfour is a hell of a lot more valuable than Casey McGehee.

[RockCoCougars]

If we want an ex-Brewer to set-up for us, let's just sign Scott Linebrink.

Pass. Linebrink was horrible in his stretch in Milwaukee, and he's been pretty bad since. I can't believe that people keep doling out money to him.

[reillymcshane]

cubsdie.

 

May I remind you McGehee is 1 year removed from a 104 RBI season. Oakland has not had a guy drive in that many since Frank Thomas in 2006.

 

Nobody thought Scott Podsednik had any value after he went from a .314, .822 OPS guy as a rookie in 2003 to a .244, .677 OPS guy in 2004. But he got the Brewers a middle of the lineup hitter.

 

Oakland brass isn't a bunch of Brewer fans who still have fresh in their minds McGehee struggling. Teams look at guys as bounce back candidates and he's proven he can be a productive major league hitter. Teams don't give all the weight to a guys most recent season. Look at the Cubs giving Pena $10 million after he hit .196.

Balfour has been excellent three of the last four years - including the last two. They gave up a 2nd round pick to sign him in 2011. I think they can get more than McGehee and a fringey reliever.

 

But most important, Oakland will want to cut payroll. McGehee will make upwards of $2.5 million. And will only get more expensive beyond. I think they'll want guys who have little or no big league experience to keep down costs.