Are Rays Relievers Autobots or Decepticons?
by Jason Collette on Jan 4, 2012 11:53 AM EST
in Features & Analysis
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PrintCBS Sports' Jon Heyman tweeted this thought earlier today
A lot of people say it, a lot of people even joke about the fact that everyone reacts to Andrew Freidman moves differently than signings by other GM's. The big question: is the axiom actually true?
The table below shows the stable of relievers that have been brought in via trade or free agency and have thrown at least a full season's of work in a Rays uniform.
| PITCHER | IP | ERA | FIP | H/9 | K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 |
| Lance Cormier (TB) | 139.1 | 3.55 | 4.65 | 9.2 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 0.8 |
| Lance Cormier (preTB) | 455 | 4.93 | 5.16 | 10.2 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 1.2 |
| Grant Balfour (TB) | 203 | 3.33 | 3.04 | 6.9 | 10.4 | 4.0 | 0.6 |
| Grant Balfour (preTB) | 70.2 | 4.33 | 3.91 | 7.5 | 10.3 | 4.6 | 1.0 |
| Juan Cruz (TB) | 48.2 | 3.88 | 4.25 | 6.7 | 8.5 | 5.2 | 0.9 |
| Juan Cruz (preTB) | 619.1 | 4.13 | 4.24 | 7.8 | 9.1 | 4.8 | 0.9 |
| Joaquin Benoit (TB) | 60.1 | 1.34 | 2.50 | 4.5 | 11.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| Joaquin Benoit (preTB) | 591.1 | 4.79 | 4.57 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 4.3 | 1.2 |
| Kyle Farnsworth (TB) | 57.2 | 2.18 | 3.29 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 1.9 | 0.8 |
| Kyle Farnsworth (preTB) | 894.2 | 4.25 | 4.27 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 3.8 | 1.2 |
| Troy Percival (TB) | 57 | 4.89 | 6.15 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 5.1 | 1.9 |
| Troy Percival (preTB) | 708.2 | 3.17 | 3.86 | 6.1 | 9.9 | 3.9 | 1.1 |
| Joel Peralta (TB) | 67.2 | 2.93 | 3.41 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 2.4 | 0.9 |
| Joel Peralta (preTB) | 390 | 3.99 | 4.05 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 2.4 | 1.3 |
| J.P. Howell (TB) | 280 | 4.21 | 4.05 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 |
| J.P. Howell (preTB) | 72.2 | 6.19 | 5.18 | 9.0 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 1.1 |
| Al Reyes (TB) | 83.1 | 4.75 | 4.52 | 7.6 | 9.6 | 3.3 | 1.6 |
| Al Reyes (preTB) | 428.2 | 4.03 | 4.25 | 7.1 | 8.9 | 4.1 | 1.1 |
| Dan Wheeler (2nd TB) | 197.1 | 3.10 | 4.26 | 6.8 | 7.8 | 2.6 | 1.4 |
| Dan Wheeler (preTB2) | 310.1 | 3.42 | 3.63 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 2.7 | 1.0 |
| Rafael Soriano (TB) | 62.1 | 1.73 | 2.83 | 5.2 | 8.2 | 2.0 | 0.6 |
| Rafael Soriano (preTB) | 332.2 | 2.79 | 3.37 | 6.5 | 9.6 | 2.8 | 0.9 |
| Joe Nelson (TB) | 40.1 | 4.02 | 5.68 | 7.1 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 1.6 |
| Joe Nelson (preTB) | 101.1 | 4.17 | 3.91 | 8.0 | 9.7 | 4.5 | 1.0 |
Indeed, most were indeed better in their time with the Rays than they were prior to arriving in Tampa Bay. Percival and Reyes clearly did not do better overall, but they were both already near the end of their careers and both made Tampa Bay the final stop in their careers. Wheeler improved in hits allowed but gave up more home runs and struck out less his second time around than he did earlier in his career.
Only Juan Cruz had a career walk rate close to where Rodney is as he comes to town. Rodney has had a walk rate of at least 4.9 for four consecutive seasons and has not walked less than 4.0 per nine innings since the 2007 season in Detroit.
Most of the pitchers that come to Tampa Bay and work in the bullpen do indeed find more success here, but some do not and past performance is certainly no guarantee of future results. Rodney does some things well:
- Career OPS vs RH bats below .700
- Career .573 OPS vs all hitters when ahead in the count
- OPS over the pas four seasons with runners in scoring position: .755, .702, .678., .599
- Has been better than league average in limiting base hits against groundballs over the past three seasons
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A lot of credit is usually given to the training staff
But those guys and Hickey have a lot to work on here. Can’t be easy teaching a 35 year old to throw more strikes. And we need Molina to go talk to him since Rodney never even learned English.
Matt Moore. That is all.
not easy but can be done
Farnsworth re-invented himself. I’m guessing the Rays believe they can help Rodney do the same. Maybe the Rays can’t get the Angels to trade Trumbo or Morales, so now they are going to humiliate them again by taking a pitcher that didn’t do well for them, and making him super awesome. That oughta show ’em.
by raysfaninminnesota on Jan 4, 2012 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
Farnsie reinvented himself??
Did you check out his numbers in the season immediately prior to joining the rays? Not much different then his first year with the rays…
i didnt mean he reinvented himself just last season
But with KC. Everyone said he couldn’t handle closer and look how he did with NY. Rays saw he became a different pitcher and signed him. They could believe Rodney is capable of the same, and confident they can reduce his walks, and with this D encourage him to pitch to contact.
by raysfaninminnesota on Jan 4, 2012 6:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Don't underestimate pitchers' confidence levels throwing in front of a top flight defense in a hitters park
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
or in a pitcher's park like Tropicana
Camerica was another pitcher’s park. The Rays hit the nail on the head with Farnsworth. I’m hoping they do the same with Rodney.
by raysfaninminnesota on Jan 4, 2012 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
never learning english
that’s interesting i did not know that. It seems like something that one would be interested in or at least pick up over a decade…not to be egocentric but it seems like learning English would be valuable while playing in the US.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Jan 4, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
I should feel attacked.
My un-english speaking wife would like to have a word with you(in Spanish).
RIP OTTOTD
by DeadeyeRR on Jan 4, 2012 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
wahmbulance on its way
I'm not a fanboy, I'm an awesome dude
by Jason Collette on Jan 4, 2012 1:43 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I know where you got the title for this piece
Kevin Millar’s shoulder blade tattoos of course
by Professor Twain on Jan 4, 2012 12:14 PM EST reply actions
Rodney missing piece?
I was feeling pretty good about the bullpen after the other recent acquisitions. Thinking the 2mil could of been put toward getting Los back in town on a home town discount.
^ could have
RayJoeyZone
@RealNolenBailey
by Hatfield on Jan 4, 2012 1:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If Rodney's the missing piece, buy a different puzzle.
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
by Imperialism32 on Jan 4, 2012 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Indeed?
Indeed, most were indeed better in
Indeed!
I'll make out with a guy if he knocks it in
by Jason Collette on Jun 11, 2011 9:00 PM CDT
(Kotchman knocked it in)
Not that anyone cares, but Rob Delaney signed with MIA.
Joins Brian Baker (MIL), Matt Carson (MIN), Mike Ekstrom (COL), Ray Olmedo (CWS), Adam Russel (ATL), and Sonny as MILFA’s who signed elsewhere.
I'll make out with a guy if he knocks it in
by Jason Collette on Jun 11, 2011 9:00 PM CDT
(Kotchman knocked it in)
Saw that Friedman specifically said that he can challenge batters in AND out of the strike zone.
Friedman usually leaves a little piece in those types of comments. I’m curious if any of you guys see anything that Friedman is hinting towards in his numbers.
Just in case the yankees and boston pull away from us early
If it looks like we can’t beat’em, we’re planning to maim’em.
"I couldn't have done it without my players." - Casey Stengel
Not sure what Friedman meant exactly
But looking at statcorner.com, they have oMs%, which is the “percentage of swings on pitches located outside the strike zone that the batter misses”. MLB average is 27.6%.
Rodney was 32.5% in 2011
Peralta was 29.2%
Farnsworth was 38.9%
Kimbrel was an amazing 54.4%
Wade Davis was 19.6%
Adam Russel was 21.7%
It looks like it correlates well to “stuff” and not just a product of wildness since Juan Cruz was at 26.9% only.
by Ben Tumbling on Jan 4, 2012 7:54 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
excellent stuff, thanks!
by raysfaninminnesota on Jan 4, 2012 7:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Do they break the stat down?
Is there an isolated percentage for a swinging strike 3?
"I couldn't have done it without my players." - Casey Stengel
We have more on this tomorrow from Whelk
I'm not a fanboy, I'm an awesome dude
by Jason Collette on Jan 4, 2012 10:31 PM EST up reply actions
I'd ask Ben to expand but I can't trust him to do a fanpost without awful puns everywhere.
"I don't always post off-topic, but when I do, I post at http://ottotd.com" - $tinky $tu
"Please break your typewriter and computer and never come out of your ass cave again"
I don't mind this signing and think he will provide some value as a GB MR guy.
Over the past 3 years, he is 14th in MLB for relief pitchers GB%(min 150 ip). Being so GB heavy, he limits his HRs against and can still get a K. Obviously his BB are a problem, but if he can get it back to pre-2010 levels and settle under 5 BB/9 he could be useful. Another FA acquisition this year, Badenhop is 10th in GB% over that span. I wonder if Friedman is targeting this skillset to pair with our defense. Could be a cheap way to find RP who should outperform their peripherals.
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