Comments on: Ah, the closer by committee http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/ News, views, and analysis on the Detroit Tigers and baseball Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:06:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: scotsw http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102355 scotsw Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:46:08 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102355 By the way, Billfer, I agree on Seay. He's far and away their best pitcher right now. He's simply pitching well. If anyone in that bullpen has earned a shot, he has. By the way, Billfer, I agree on Seay. He’s far and away their best pitcher right now. He’s simply pitching well. If anyone in that bullpen has earned a shot, he has.

]]> By: scotsw http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102354 scotsw Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:42:19 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102354 I'm getting pretty sick of hearing "(Player X) needs to go" after every instance of bad pitching, bad hitting, bad fielding, etc. Christie says Zumaya needs to go, for instance. That's madness. The guy is about six weeks back from major surgery, and having some control problems. But nobody here doubts he has major-league stuff, or that he's one of the very best prospects in MLB. He's adjusting to the loss of a couple MPH, and learning to pitch in the high 90s, rather than triple digits. Cut him a little break -- do we want him recovering and helping Minnesota or Cleveland win pennants? Before everyone has an aneurysm, keep in mind that the Tigers have lost one starting pitcher for the season, and lost another to, well, whatever they lost Dontrelle to. In the bullpen, Rodney and Zumaya have dealt with injury, and now Jones has apparently been trying to pitch through injury. Is it good enough? No, but injury is part of the game. It just is. You don't give up on guys just because they're injured. Zumaya's first injury, tendonitis, hasn't recurred, and I haven't heard a peep about his finger tendon being a problem again this year, either... He's just not 100% yet after his surgery. Rodney is, and has always been, hot and cold. Yesterday, he was hot. Tomorrow? Maybe cold. But he's got a major-league arm, and guys all over the league are similar. There are very few lights-out relievers. These are they guys we have -- they have to play better. You can get mad at Dombrowski or Leyland, you have that right. But they've brought in guys with good track records and plenty of talent to win. The organization has been very good at bringing along guys like Raburn, Joyce, Thomas, Dolsi, Verlander, Granderson, Thames, etc. Polanco, Ordonez, Guillen, Cabrera (now that he's getting healthy) and Rogers have been, on balance, contributors. The problem is guys failing in key spots, and that's on them. Yeah, I'd love to have Jair Jurrjens back, and it doesn't look like a good trade in retrospect. But at the time, the deal made sense. I’m getting pretty sick of hearing “(Player X) needs to go” after every instance of bad pitching, bad hitting, bad fielding, etc. Christie says Zumaya needs to go, for instance. That’s madness. The guy is about six weeks back from major surgery, and having some control problems. But nobody here doubts he has major-league stuff, or that he’s one of the very best prospects in MLB. He’s adjusting to the loss of a couple MPH, and learning to pitch in the high 90s, rather than triple digits. Cut him a little break — do we want him recovering and helping Minnesota or Cleveland win pennants?

Before everyone has an aneurysm, keep in mind that the Tigers have lost one starting pitcher for the season, and lost another to, well, whatever they lost Dontrelle to.

In the bullpen, Rodney and Zumaya have dealt with injury, and now Jones has apparently been trying to pitch through injury. Is it good enough? No, but injury is part of the game. It just is. You don’t give up on guys just because they’re injured. Zumaya’s first injury, tendonitis, hasn’t recurred, and I haven’t heard a peep about his finger tendon being a problem again this year, either… He’s just not 100% yet after his surgery. Rodney is, and has always been, hot and cold. Yesterday, he was hot. Tomorrow? Maybe cold. But he’s got a major-league arm, and guys all over the league are similar. There are very few lights-out relievers.

These are they guys we have — they have to play better. You can get mad at Dombrowski or Leyland, you have that right. But they’ve brought in guys with good track records and plenty of talent to win. The organization has been very good at bringing along guys like Raburn, Joyce, Thomas, Dolsi, Verlander, Granderson, Thames, etc. Polanco, Ordonez, Guillen, Cabrera (now that he’s getting healthy) and Rogers have been, on balance, contributors.

The problem is guys failing in key spots, and that’s on them.

Yeah, I’d love to have Jair Jurrjens back, and it doesn’t look like a good trade in retrospect. But at the time, the deal made sense.

]]> By: Palmcroft http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102347 Palmcroft Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:41:48 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102347 Using the top guy in the highest leverage situations would be best, but we need to find a stat beyond the "Hold" for that, otherwise were's the status? I still maintain that Zumaya was the best pitcher in the league in 2006 and was used in just this way, by accident, but still, that was his role. Using the top guy in the highest leverage situations would be best, but we need to find a stat beyond the “Hold” for that, otherwise were’s the status? I still maintain that Zumaya was the best pitcher in the league in 2006 and was used in just this way, by accident, but still, that was his role.

]]> By: Anthony L. http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102344 Anthony L. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:37:22 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102344 Boy howdy did gettin Farnsworth ever pay off. It truly is a "win, win". I mean the Yankess got a reliable catcher who is having on okay year, and we get to see how many dingers Farnsworth can give up when the game is on the line. Who wants to set up a new drinking game? Boy howdy did gettin Farnsworth ever pay off. It truly is a “win, win”. I mean the Yankess got a reliable catcher who is having on okay year, and we get to see how many dingers Farnsworth can give up when the game is on the line.

Who wants to set up a new drinking game?

]]> By: Sean C. in Illinois http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102340 Sean C. in Illinois Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:03:13 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102340 Good post, Sky. I agree. I've noticed an odd correlation between "good posts" and posts I agree with. I need to investigate this. Good post, Sky. I agree.

I’ve noticed an odd correlation between “good posts” and posts I agree with. I need to investigate this.

]]> By: Sky http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102336 Sky Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:38:40 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102336 This is the bad kind of closer-by-committee, where a team doesn't have any really good bullpen options, so it might as well throw anyone out there and pray. The good kind, which is given a bad name by the bad kind, is when the bullpen actually does have an hierarchy, but the best reliever isn't always used in save situations -- he pitchers in the most important situations, which don't include three-run leads. Up one in the ninth? #1 reliever. Bases loaded up two in the eighth? #1 reliever. Up three in the ninth? #3 reliever -- he's the "closer" that night, racking up the save, but not being put into a fire. This is the bad kind of closer-by-committee, where a team doesn’t have any really good bullpen options, so it might as well throw anyone out there and pray.

The good kind, which is given a bad name by the bad kind, is when the bullpen actually does have an hierarchy, but the best reliever isn’t always used in save situations — he pitchers in the most important situations, which don’t include three-run leads. Up one in the ninth? #1 reliever. Bases loaded up two in the eighth? #1 reliever. Up three in the ninth? #3 reliever — he’s the “closer” that night, racking up the save, but not being put into a fire.

]]> By: ron http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102332 ron Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:26:59 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102332 Ronnie, exactly. Ronnie, exactly.

]]> By: Walt at UMN http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102325 Walt at UMN Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:51:56 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102325 Seay is not considered for the committee of closers simply because he has not thrown a game away as of late. This is clearly the role of a closer in Detroit. It seems that whoever is tapped to be the closer on a given day explodes when they get into the game. I think Leyland should tell one of them that they are the closer before the game, then not pitch that guy that day. I know that this sounds silly, but could it really get any worse? Seay is not considered for the committee of closers simply because he has not thrown a game away as of late. This is clearly the role of a closer in Detroit. It seems that whoever is tapped to be the closer on a given day explodes when they get into the game. I think Leyland should tell one of them that they are the closer before the game, then not pitch that guy that day. I know that this sounds silly, but could it really get any worse?

]]> By: Blake http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102321 Blake Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:31:36 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102321 So...that didn't go so well. So…that didn’t go so well.

]]> By: Joe http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102316 Joe Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:12:49 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102316 I just read our relievers are 22 of 42 in save situations! I just read our relievers are 22 of 42 in save situations!

]]> By: Christie http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102273 Christie Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:17:03 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102273 Zumaya and Renteria must go. No excuses for the loss tonight. Zumaya and Renteria must go. No excuses for the loss tonight.

]]> By: greg http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102084 greg Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:51:36 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102084 Boy, Rodney is making some nice pitches tonight Boy, Rodney is making some nice pitches tonight

]]> By: greg http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102083 greg Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:49:51 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102083 How many times does Rodney have to throw that wild pitch when he tries to throw it too hard to learn not to do that? How many times does Rodney have to throw that wild pitch when he tries to throw it too hard to learn not to do that?

]]> By: greg http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102077 greg Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:46:39 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-102077 Is it just me, or does it seem like Seay is pretty good with nobody on base but horrible when he comes into the game with runners on base? Anyone see the #'s on that? Odds on this going 11 innings w/ Rodney on the hill? Odds he walks nobody? Is it just me, or does it seem like Seay is pretty good with nobody on base but horrible when he comes into the game with runners on base? Anyone see the #’s on that?

Odds on this going 11 innings w/ Rodney on the hill?

Odds he walks nobody?

]]> By: Chris http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-101981 Chris Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:03:46 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/#comment-101981 Closer by committee would work, if only those making up the committee can keep the ball over the plate while keeping the ball in the park.... Do we have those guy's on this committee? Closer by committee would work, if only those making up the committee can keep the ball over the plate while keeping the ball in the park…. Do we have those guy’s on this committee?

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