Can Seth McClung save this bullpen?

[AJAY]

What are your thoughts on Seth McClung so far? He seems to have a nice power arm. I wonder if he might be counted on more in key situations down the stretch?

[owbc]

He seems to have good stuff, but I would hate to see him blow a game like Balfour did, especially at home, where he would most certainly get booed.

 

However, I would also rather see him in a close game than Linebrink at this point. So I guess I would be fine with him pitching the 7th in a close game.

[bacon06]

In McClung's two appearances, he looks like a Turnbow who can consistently control his breaking ball. Of course, they were only a batter apiece, but still provides some hope that he's another quality arm.

[DHonks]

McClung has looked like the man he was traded for...Balfour. Throws hard with a nice breaking pitch, but often gets a lot of the plate.

[Fatter than Joey]

McClung has looked like the man he was traded for...Balfour.

 

The difference being that they have used him better -- early on when he struggled the games were out of reach -- and now he is pitching to one/two batters -- it seems like they are doing a better job letting him get settled in.

[splitterpfj]

I think it helps that most of the hitters he's facing are seeing him for the first time. Sometimes when you get to this point in the year, the new guys can make a big difference because they have something to prove, and they're harder for opponents go plan for.

 

I think Joe Dillon is also in this category.

[sgtcluels]

FTJ hit the nail on the head! He was eased back into the majors much better then Balfour. Lower Leverage, able to make mistakes and not be the goat. Balfour has really settled down for Tampa. 4 IP, 6K, 3BB, 3H 0ER.

 

But so far so good with McClung, he hasn't seemed overly wild, hopefully someone has figured out his control issues. He's ok in my book, I still wouldn't put him in an overly high leverage situation, but I trust him more then Linebrink.

[afeter]

no

[TauPentaRei]

I certainly trust McClung more than Wise, who - by the way - has pitched exactly 1/3 of meaningless junkball in the last 12 days! You know, like someone who can come with heat, pitch two nights in a row? He is doing a great job.

 

There seems to be a lot of dead weight in the bullpen right now with the funked Wiser, the artist formerly known as the 2006 all-star, the spot starting Parra, and a 'how-do-we-use-him' Gallardo... not the easiest management task. Roster expansion will be nice, but of course, not without its risks.

 

Both Turnbow and Cordero had a nice week-long vacation prior to being used last night... they should be so fresh and so clean clean.

[endaround]

Wise has been a good reliever for three years. McClung? Never has been. Not sure why people think Wise is a bad pitcher.

[Tbadder]

I think I heard somewhere that his previous team messed with his mechanics and his walk ration went beserk. The implication was, that the Crew will let him go back to his natural tendencies, and let the chips fall where they may. I think it was Powell who said it? In any case, a guy who can throw 95-100 needs a creditble shot.

[Tbadder]

Oh yeah, sorry for back to back responses. As to Wise. I like him, but believe he's a reclamation (sic) project at this time. I don't want to give up on him.

[JJHardy7]

As some of you know here, I'm pretty high on McClung. I've seen him pitch in Nashville a bit and he really can throw the heat. I know the Sounds used him a bit as a starter. I don't know if that's exactly where he fits anymore after his surgery. I think he can help out the Brewers -- but I don't think he can save the bullpen.

 

In my opinion, he is an upgrade over Balfour (3 years younger and throws 8 - 10 mph faster). Was Balfour misused? I really don't get into that kind of stuff. When it's your turn to pitch, you have a job to do just like any other person.

 

I'd love to see McClung pitch a lot due to the face we'd be able to see what he's made of and because he's out of options after this year. His walks scare me, but I think he can throw the heat. He told me he was looking forward to getting back in the bigs and it would take him a bit to relax once he's up.

 

This all being said I think he has a future. One red mark on him is what happened this spring. He pretty much had the closer job before spring training and showed up 20 - 25 pounds too heavy and thus was sent to AAA (he had rough spring numbers also). He played outstanding in AAA, but didn't really get a shot with the D Rays.

 

If anyone can save the bullpen, it's the starting pitchers.

[patrickgpe]

he seems to have a role and it is as a ROOGY. With his stuff it appears he can come in with 2 outs, and get someone out. We saw in Arizona he has trouble and tires when forced to pitch a full inning. When the pen expands Saturday I think he can definitely help up.

[HebrewHammer]

Definitely one of those guys I'd like to see come in to get a single out when needed. But I don't like the idea of him pitching to 3 guys or being expected to get lefties out.

[jeffy]

Both Turnbow and Cordero had a nice week-long vacation prior to being used last night... they should be so fresh and so clean clean.

 

Yeah, but it pisses me off that Yost let them rot there instead of using them to, I don't know, maybe keep the score close, even if the team is behind.

[T B0NE 10]

does anyone else get the feeling he is kinda like a time bomb......i mean if he was this good tampa bay wouldnt have just given him away. there has to be a reason for his past struggles. the same can be said for turnbow

[TooLiveBrew]

true, but as mentioned, it seems like there is some credibility to the 'they messed with his mechanics' notion. I understand your point is meant to be bigger-picture than that, but he's had some good outings thus far. And, kinda like Turnbow, more often than not, with gas like his, McClung will be 'good' as opposed to 'bad.'

 

Although Turnbow really can be spooky sometimes, it's just plain easier to remember meltdowns than what is widely viewed as Doing Your Job. Please keep this in mind regarding Derrick: In 58 1/3 IP, 1.23 WHIP, .302 OBA, .266 SLGA, .568 OPSA, .179 BAA. The guy, while he certainly can be hit-or-miss, just tends to hit so much more often than miss. I guarantee you other teams don't look forward to facing him (especially given that fastball he threw over the batter's head not too long ago...)

[brettac1]

I think McClung can basically be Turnbow, but with better ability to throw consecutive days, as well as multiple innings in a single game - which are things Turnbow seems to struggle with. With that being said, the chances of this happening this season, especially with Maddux only having about a month to work with him, are pretty slim. He has decent stuff, but like others have said, his performance record is pretty bad. I'm not going to proclaim him savior of the bullpen after getting one out in two games in a row.

 

I think in the future he can be a very good reliever for this team, though, but as of now I don't trust him anwhere near as much as I do Wise. I think the entire Wise situation has been blown way out of proportion, and that him throwing that three inning save had more to do with his struggles than the HBP. That remains to me the biggest puzzler of the season as far as managerial moves go. If you're looking for a guy who could "save" the pen, that's one there, and he has a record of past success.

[JJHardy7]

It's at least good to see Seth get a little brewerfan love. I know I posted a bunch of things in the minor league forum and it quickly turned into why Balfour is better than McClung. He still does have some potential and hopefully he can be a piece to what we all are hoping for which is playoff baseball.

[Nearsighted Views]

When it's your turn to pitch, you have a job to do just like any other person.

 

That's the key to this entire pitching staff. It's nice to throw blame around but (I may be getting a little jumpy) it felt like Benny came out last night and said, "THERE!" to the whole pitching staff. They say these things are contageous. I think Suppan was on his way to doing that the other night but got a quick hook. Hopefull they'll all pick it up and be accountable.

[hart attack 2006]

A little bit off topic...before yesterday's game I was watching BP in the bleachers. Some Brewers fans were trying to get Seth's attention as he was the closest player to the stands. He was mostly ignoring people and trying to concentrate on not getting smoked with a line drive, but when one guy yelled out "hey Seth, at least you're not with the D-Rays anymore", Seth turned around with a wide grin and said "thank God!"http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/roll.gif

[dadofandrew]

He throws in the high 90's and has a decent breaking ball...I'd say he's all but guaranteed a spot on the 25 next year and will be forced to fail.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

At this point he's a one-two batter guy. Great velocity, but no movement. He can go 98-100 for 1-2 batters, but 95 with no movement is very hittable in the big leagues. If he can develop some movement and improve his control, he could be very valuable...but he's not there yet. Seems like a good Melvin-esque flyer.

[Fatter than Joey]

I know I posted a bunch of things in the minor league forum and it quickly turned into why Balfour is better than McClung.

 

The biggest difference between the 2 for me is that McClung has never been productive in MLB, while Balfour was a decent MLB pitcher before getting hurt.

 

I wouldn't say I would rather have Balfour than McClung, however, independent of McClung, I think the way Balfour was handled was horrible at best.