Let's Talk About LOOGYs

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 7, 2008 3:17 PM EST

Over at the Boxscore I came up with seven names that teams looking for LOOGYs should be interested in. The Rays are without a "true" LOOGY and thankfully are smart enough to realize free talent can do the job just as well as Mr. Multimillionaire McLefty. Here are the seven names:

John Rheinecker

Carmen Cali

Royce Ring

Randy Williams

Ian Ostlund

Stephen Randolph

Mariano Gomez

That's roughly in order of preference, although past the first few it doesn't matter too much. Rheinecker is the most interesting, he's only 29, and he's coming off an injury derailed season, but despite being a starter for almost half of his major league career his success against lefties is astounding. Oh and he gets groundballs, God I love that. Carmen Cali is more of the same, older guy, has some major league experience, throws low-90's, got a decent amount of swinging strikes, and gets a ton of grounders.

Odds are, guys like Will Ohman, Brian Fuentes, and possibly even Jeremy Affeldt are going to be out of the Rays price range. These alternatives would probably sign for the minimum and on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. What's the worst that can happen, they become Kurt Birkins?

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Signing Carmen Cali? Heh, I don't think so.

by floridaroar on Nov 7, 2008 3:53 PM EST reply actions

Just sign 2-3 of them, see what they can do, hopefully one sticks.

Sounds like a good plan.

This.

by Blicks on Nov 8, 2008 1:22 AM EST reply actions

Sadly, I think you are right about Affeldt

He made 3M last year and had a very good, though quiet season. I’m sure there is more than 1 GM out there that saw how phenomenal he was and he’ll end up getting like 15/3

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found
a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up
that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Nov 8, 2008 11:21 AM EST reply actions

Is that too much for another great reliever?

I am actually asking, I was never a fan of paying relievers too much money(K-Rod’s demands make me vomit) so is 5 mil a year too much for him?

Affeldt, JP, Balfour, Niemann/Talbot, Wheeler(as long as we dont make him the “closer” again) is pretty awesome. Then the other 2(for now) would be Edwin and….maybe Niemann and Talbot both get a job

by joeybw on Nov 8, 2008 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

For one who had a statistically anomalous year this year, yes.

His 2008 tRA, tRA*, and FIP are way better than his career averages.

That’s the biggest red flag.

This.

by Blicks on Nov 8, 2008 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

It looks (to me) like him and J.P. were clones this year.

JA has been doing this a little longer, but they both were great firemen in the pen for multiple innings. Affeldt’s biggest uptick was his swstr% . It is very similar to his 2003, the only other time he has had a sub-4 tRA. Looking at his pitch f/x you can see that most of his swinging strikes come from his riding fastball and diving curveball. His change is not bad either and would appear to mimic his fastball quite well. What I like is that all his pitches have a ton of movement. He really reminds me of J. P. His splits for last season show a guy that can get out lefties and righties and his babip looks like it could come down a little as well. His OPSa vs. righties this year was about .040 lower than his career numbers. If he has found a way to get out righties then this success will continue.

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found
a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up
that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Nov 8, 2008 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

Mmmm. Definitely see the resemblance b/w him and J.P.

Interesting. If he could keep up those numbers, he will be a bargain for somebody. Although, I’d be wary to give him 3/15 or any more than two years with an option for a 3rd, simply b/c who knows whether he’ll actually repeat his 2008 success. I think its sustainable though.

He’s also a smart signing, as his tRA was better than that of K-Rod.

This.

by Blicks on Nov 9, 2008 3:13 PM EST up reply actions