J.P. Howell Will Take Your Cheetos Without Asking

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 4, 2009 7:56 PM EDT

Entering today, J.P. Howell had the fourth best FIP amongst relievers in the American League. Better than Papelbon, better than Rivera, better than every single closer in the league except Scott Downs. In terms of whiffs, Howell has more than Papelbon, more than Valverde, more than Aardsma, Rivera, and so on. Howell might be the second best reliever in the division on this day despite sharing the division with two of the best relievers of the past decade. Howell only had one save though, and for that, rarely gets a mention amongst the game's best relievers. Howell notched save number two today in rather effortless fashion. Seven pitches, six strikes, three outs, game over.

Anyone who wants to pencil a closer to the Rays via trade should probably take note. There's a difference in role and actual quality. Howell has the latter, and if the Rays must have a closer, he should take the former. He's one of the best relievers in the league, no matter the role. Hopefully Joe Maddon rewards Howell with a trip to St. Louis in a few weeks along with a few of his teammates.

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Indeed.

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Did that just happen?

Game winning HR by Upton with 2 outs in the 8th, then JP called upon for the save. I’ve been waiting for this combo all season.

by RayFanNY on Jun 4, 2009 9:40 PM EDT reply actions

I'd rather have Howell and the other pitchers get some rest during the All-Star break

by rays1234 on Jun 4, 2009 10:55 PM EDT reply actions

Ha

by .Taylor on Jun 4, 2009 11:23 PM EDT reply actions

I like the imagery of JP Howell reaching into someone's bag of cheetos and forcefully taking several

by .Taylor on Jun 4, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

JP's just about to give Percy the milkshake speech

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jun 5, 2009 8:05 AM EDT up reply actions

JP's milkshake brings all the boys to the yard

by .Taylor on Jun 5, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

It's the chron that makes them stay

Rays Win!

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 5, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

The fuck

Swav or Die
For the lulz

by SRQman on Jun 5, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Heh

by .Taylor on Jun 5, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

About the all-star game

After watching last year, I came up with an idea to try to alleviate a manager’s desire to get everyone in the game while setting up a situation where a game could go deep into extra innings.

Each manager is allowed to take their team’s most rested starter to the all-star game. This starter has rules applied to them very similar to those of the 3rd string quarterback in football; by that I mean he can only come in as the last reliever out of the bullpen, and once he comes in, no other relievers can replace him. As the most rested starter he should be capable of 6+ innings. He gets all-star pay, but he doesn’t count as an all-star. He’s there with an understanding that he is the emergency pitcher and will not be used unless there is no other choice.

Oh, and it would be absolutely tragic if Maddon can’t find a way to get Howell to the ASG. He should have gone last year.

"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."

by kericr on Jun 5, 2009 12:28 AM EDT reply actions

I like this idea.

I’d have no issue with taking two or even three starters and making them “emergency pitchers” in the situation that you laid out. Another thing I would like changed is having every team represented. I’m not sure the fans of Pittsburg care if Freddy Sanchez plays in the All-Star Game. Nor do I think it would matter for ratings at all.

I guess if you wanted to keep this rule, you could take the best starter from a team that does not have a worthy representative and put them in the emergency role. In the National League Paul Maholm & Jordan Zimmerman could be their teams selection and be in the emergency role. Same for someone like Eric Bedard and maybe Jared Weaver in the American League. (These names are off the top of my head, no idea if they would be the team selections) This would also eliminate us having to suffer through the managers bringing in two of them for one inning, just to get them in.

Jeter Sucks.

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jun 5, 2009 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions