Jake McGee issues

by JWallace on Jun 23, 2008 1:15 PM EDT

Cruising BaseballAmerica.com, I came accross this nugget filed over the weekend by Ben Badler. Badler does a very nice job analyzing McGee's problems pitching beyond the fouth inning. Makes me wonder of McGee is really a starter prospect long term. Could his future be the bullpen....anyhow, here's what Badler wrote:

"For McGee, the problems have usually come after the fourth inning. In innings one through four, McGee has a 2.41 ERA and a 54-20 K-BB mark in 56 innings. In innings five through seven, McGee’s ERA is 8.07 in 21 2/3 innings. Part of that could be due to the bullpen allowing an above-average number of its inherited runners from McGee to score, but McGee’s K-BB in those innings of 11-17 indicates that’s probably not the main source of his problems. That’s a small sample size but still noteworthy for a player who scouts believe could excel as a power reliever if his secondary stuff and control don’t develop.

Checking last year’s numbers with Vero Beach, McGee’s ERA took a hit after the fourth inning, but his strikeouts and walks remained similar. In innings one through four, McGee had a 1.85 ERA, 106 strikeouts and 31 walks in 82 2/3 innings. In innings five through seven, McGee’s ERA ballooned to 5.56 in 34 innings, though his 39-8 K-BB mark remained solid."

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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Good stuff J

Nice to know that if he is only needed for 3 outs he is pretty much automatic.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 23, 2008 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting stuff.

I’ve had McGee pegged for a relief role for a while.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 23, 2008 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

Lefties don't close though...

Wouldn’t it be a waste for him to be a set up man? Sure we can go against the norm and have him close, but..

by matthan on Jun 23, 2008 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

If Mad Dog has proven anything

it is that he doesn’t much care for stereotypes like lefties can’t close. If he is still around when Jake gets to the majors I don’t think he will hesitate to use the kid in that role if he feels it gives us the best chance to win.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 23, 2008 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Billy Wagner???

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jun 23, 2008 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

B.J. Ryan?

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 23, 2008 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Mitch Williams? John Rocker? George Sherill? Jesse Orosco?

Longlorious.

by RATW on Jun 23, 2008 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Randy Myers?

Longlorious.

by RATW on Jun 23, 2008 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm aware there are some lefty closers. Sherrill is another. But the stereotype is still that it is a just for a righty

by matthan on Jun 23, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

If he is going to end up in the pen

and he carries the type of value people say he does than I think he’s more valuable to the team in a trade. If he can be the main peice(s) in a blockbuster type trade then we should pull the trigger.

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jun 23, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

McGee as closer

sounds pretty good. Actually, in the 2008 prospect handbook, Baseball America projects the Rays 2011 lineup and McGee is listed as the closer. I’ll agree with the guy above me though, if a guy who projects to be a relief pitcher is the best prospect we have to give up to get a star at the deadline, we should probably do it.

by hibachi7_7_7 on Jun 23, 2008 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

McGee is definatley header towards being a closer

if we don’t trade for a young stud my dream rotation would be something like

1. Scott Kazmir
2. David Price.
3. James Shields
4. Wade Davis
5. Matt Garza
CL Jacob McGee

thats why I love this team so much, Hellickson is prob my 2nd fav spect after Price and I don’t even know where he would have a roll.

by joeybw on Jun 23, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

What a nice problem to have

We have so much talent coming through the pipeline, we could have guys like Houser, Neimann, Hellickson, Jax, Hammel, Sonny fighting just to be in the pen with King Howell. And I’m still not convinced that Juan Salas’ mound composure won’t put him back in the mix at some point. I’ve always loved his mound presence out there. Anyhow, that’s a lot of talent all beating on the door by next summer if all breaks well.

by JWallace on Jun 23, 2008 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't forgest Eduardo Morlan

Blake
USF--Class of '09

by usfraysfan on Jun 24, 2008 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Closer

If McGee is going to move into a closing role and we do not trade him then I REALLY would love to see him sitting in the bullpen this September and all next year so Ol’ Red Ass Percy can mentor him as much as possible.

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jun 23, 2008 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

I would prefer to see him starting for as long as possible

Because you want to exhaust all the opportunities you can with him in a more valuable role before converting him to a closer. McGee as a successful starter is more valuable than McGee as a successful closer, and until the team is sure that the former option is not possible, it should remain patient.

That having been said, I do believe that McGee will end up in the bullpen. Further, I think he will be very successful as a power reliever. But the time for that has not come yet, and we should be patient until it does.

BTW, I saw this troubling tidbit in the morning’s St. Petersburg Times:

LHP prospect Jake McGee left his start for Montgomery complaining of forearm soreness and expects to miss his next several starts.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jun 23, 2008 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

McGee could be the next Papelbon

His explosive fastball and the fact that he is such a stud early in the game then starts tailing off. Wouldn’t shock me if he is the next Papelbon/Chamberlain. Chamberlain is starting but he would of been an awesome closer.

by joeybw on Jun 23, 2008 7:31 PM EDT reply actions

plus

if we have him close and put Price and Davis/Hellickson in the rotation we at least come close to using all the studs. While on the subject, Niemann would be a cool bullpen arm also. Eventually there will be Mason, Houser, Cobb…..the list goes on but I am sure we will find a use for everyone whether it’s helping the team or being part of a trade.

by joeybw on Jun 23, 2008 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

jp howell had the same problem as mcgee is having now

and just look how dominanting howell has been as a 2 inning pitcher for the pen and have saved some of our starters asses, imagine howell,mcgee,morlan,salas,wheeler,percy,balfour as our pen next year wow would that pen just be down right dominating!

by RaysOfHope on Jun 23, 2008 11:28 PM EDT reply actions

Howell is a success story where a lot of other guys have failed.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 23, 2008 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

bullpen turnover

is so great these days. You can be lights out one year and fall of the face of the earth the next. Also consider that just because you have great stuff does not mean you can close. I dont know if McGee can or can’t mentally hold a closers role but if we’re not seeing him as a front line starter then he should be traded as he carries A LOT of value on the market.

Also, lets hold off putting Hellickson in the big league rotation just yet. We don’t know what he can do above A ball. Which also makes me say that if he carries that same type of value as McGee does then if we can package those two to get someone like Corey Hart, Matt Kemp, etc then we should do it ASAP. This would leave us with Davis, Neimann, Talbot, EJax, Sonny to fight for the 5th spot next year which is still a great problem to have.

Agree/Disagree?

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jun 24, 2008 7:54 AM EDT reply actions

Disagree!

Why would you trade two pitchers who have the potential to front of the rotation starters for either of those two players? Pitchers are more valuable in today’s market than position players.

Now before you reply, remember that I said potential. It would be prudent on the part of the Rays to wait and see what they have in Hellickson before they pull the trade on any trade involving him unless it is an absolute doozy.

The artist formerly known as TonyT

by acelion on Jun 24, 2008 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

also

I’m a big Ken Rosenthal guy but…

but come on now..

“The Mets, Phillies, Yankees and Rays are among the clubs interested in Fuentes. For the Rays, Fuentes could provide more potent left-handed stuff than J.P. Howell and Trever Miller and serve as a capable closer if Troy Percival wore down later in the season.”

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8276984/Dunn-doesn‘t-show-it-much,but-he-loves-baseball

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jun 24, 2008 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

I realize that pitching is of high value

but there are no guarantees with those two as one has not pitched above A ball (I know he will be soon) and one is being mentioned as a power bullpen arm. Say Hellickson where to carry the value that McGee & Davis do now, then we move him to AA ball and he takes a step back in production…then his value goes down. But if we leave him at A ball and he keeps up with Nintendo type numbers then package him with a future bullpen arm in McGee to get Corey Hart then why wouldn’t we?

I would say a power bullpen arm is cheaper and easier to find (Balfour) than someone like Corey Hart.

I just feel like we’re all saying that Davis/McGee/Hellickson/Jennings are automatics and untouchable. The only thing that we have now that is close to automatic is Price. I do think the names mentioned have a good chance at being good major leaguers but if we have the chance at a proven player then we should take it. I would say Hart is proven.

At some point we need to load up again with guys that will be ready in 3-4 years. We have enough guys that will be ready as soon as Sept or next year…

1 man’s opinion…

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jun 24, 2008 10:14 AM EDT reply actions