Comments on: Look back at 2006′s free agent pitching buffet

By: studes

studes — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 01:58:42 +0000

Actually, the HR/OF part of xFIP is adjusted for ballpark, the most important part, IMO. We probably don’t label it well on our site.

By: Gomez

Gomez — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 00:10:59 +0000

To wit then… are all those hits and home runs Weaver surrendered as blind a coincidence as Washburn’s? Wouldn’t Washburn have done similarly bad, even with Safeco helping him here and there?

Also, note Washburn’s somewhat tactical use of the fastball (whether or not his stuff is all that great), compared to Weaver’s throw-ball-over-plate approach to pitching.

By: DMZ

DMZ — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:47:05 +0000

So two points – my Beltran v Burnett argument wasn’t about those two, though I think that should have been clearer, certainly. It was that, in general, it seems like you’re much better off paying premium hitters at premium positions over even the best hitters at first base, or the best starting pitchers.

And to Weaver/Washburn — you’re essentially arguing there that scattering hits is a skill Washburn has, and I don’t see that there’s any evidence that any pitcher has that skill.

By: Gomez

Gomez — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:28:06 +0000

The problem is that in every serious way you want to measure it, Jeff Weaver has performed better than Jarrod Washburn….

Wait, WHAT? Sure, you look at Ks and BBs alone, and you can make that argument in a vacuum, but Weaver’s done nothing but hang pitches over the plate and get hit hard. His ERA sat at 6.29 when DFA’d, IIRC. Washburn at least scatters his hits and keeps the run total at 4 or below.

Unlike Washburn, who’s struggled in some starts but got robbed by the dreaded lack of run support in others… I can argue that Weaver safely earned all 10 of his Angel losses.

Though he’s been a disappointment, Washburn hasn’t been THAT bad. Bad signing, average at best… but Weaver was positively awful with Anaheim.

By: crazysob

crazysob — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 20:52:36 +0000

Beltran over Burnett? If hindsight is 20/20, I’d take Millwood over Beltre. Loaiza, supposedly the best of the worst, flopped. Morris turned out to be servicable. Kenny Rogers the 60 year old is an all star. It is all gambling.

By: LB

LB — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 18:28:18 +0000

#35: durable at least

I heard an interesting fact about Zito on the radio before the Boston/Oakland game he started a few days ago: not only has Zito never gone on the DL since reaching the major leagues, he has never even missed a start.

With Boras as his agent, the guy is very likely in for a huge payday.

By: darrylzero

darrylzero — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:39:30 +0000

Dave, why not Zito? Concerns about salary or make-up? Or would he just not be interested? Seems durable at least, and it would be nice to actually have a legitimately good LH starter here. I’m not crazy about Zito, seems kind of flaky, etc., but it would be pretty exciting. If it’s the likely pricetag, though, I understand.

#32, Hudson has been pretty bad this year. I’d be pretty nervous about giving him very much money.

By: Mariner1987

Mariner1987 — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:55:41 +0000

#30- Your probably right actually, I had a brain fart about how old their offense was and is. However it also depends on who all is going to come back for them, and your right their main focus should be offense in the off-season.

Meche has been much better this season, but he still tends to throw alot of pitches in an inning, hes not a guy that when “off” his game can at least be an innings eater, If Meche is struggling its going to be a short outing.

By: eponymous coward

eponymous coward — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:17:48 +0000

If it’s not likely to take you to the playoffs, than why bother to spend the money on resigning Moyer? Is the point to go “yaaaaay, we’re spending money, even though we probably won’t win”? We can not make the playoffs with ANYONE in our rotation.

Yeah, Meche is likely to get a multiyear deal in the mmarket. And, if he sustains his success, he’s as likely to pay off as any number of pitchers in his class. He could be Matt Clement circa 2002-2005 over his deal, or Brett Tomko, or injured. If there are better options to fill out the middle of the rotation, by all means, the M’s should use them.

By: bookbook

bookbook — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:01:37 +0000

Washburn, Felix, Moyer, Lowe, Soriano

That’s not a rotation that’s likely to take you to the playoffs, but it might beat the alternatives.

(If Hudson’s available, I’d love to plunk him atop the rotation.)