So the Mets added to their starting pitching depth on Friday:
The first thing I noticed about Taijuan Walker was how strange his 2020 was. (Not that anybody on earth had a normal 2020, but work with me here.) Walker split the season between Seattle and Toronto. Had a 4.00 ERA with Seattle, and a 1.73 ERA with Toronto. But his WHIP was significantly better in Seattle in 2020: 1.07 to 1.25. So all that proves is that baseball is weird.
But in total, Walker’s season was very good: a 2.70 ERA with a WHIP of 1.16 is a good enough sample size to take a flier on him. He’s got top level stuff when healthy, and before his torn UCL in 2018, Walker could be depended on for between 25-30 starts a season … which me might have gotten in 2020 if it was normal. Now, combine that with his career ERA being .070 lower while pitching for Arizona than it was for Seattle, and there very well could be a case to be made to invoke the phrase that I absolutely hate:
“Low Risk/High Reward”
Ugh.
13 comments:
Low risk/high reward, as opposed to the 2-16, 6.91 high risk, low reward guys? Sign me up.
Totally agree and was why I was pleasantly surprised we signed him after not hearing his name mentioned in connection to us at all. Also very classy move on his part to post that pic of a bottle of Seaver wine to celebrate his signing.
Why anyone would "hate" the phrase low risk/high reward is beyond me.
Though I will say that I am sooooo tired of the word "depth."
I saw a guy the other day praise the Walker move as a good "depth signing."
Well, no. He's your #4 starting pitcher.
Again: There is no depth on the planet that will allow any team in baseball to lose it's #2 and #3 starters, and get nothing from its #4, and survive. People like to kill Brodie for that but it's just stupid. And, in addition, completely blind to the reality of having the Wilpons as owners.
Back to Walker: YES, fabulous tweet showing a photo of Seaver's wine. Brilliant.
There's an excellect recetn article in Fangraphs, "Taijuan Walker Talks Pitching," that is worth looking up. He shows himself to be a thoughtful, informed, modern athlete. Modest and appealing. I came away impressed & hopeful.
Jimmy
I'd been advocating Walker as a legit signing at a relatively speaking bargain price for a few months now. Is it too early to point out that his career ERA is lower than the one owned by a new Dodger who's going to be paid four times as much? And to date Walker hasn't done anything stupid on social media. Glad to see the Mets are not capitulating to media induced frenzy and instead are looking to build a winning team.
Reese:
>> Glad to see the Mets are not capitulating to media induced frenzy and instead are looking to build a winning team. <<
Well, come on, the PLAN was Bauer, Sandy thought he had him locked up, and offered $80 for the first two years. I wouldn't be in such a hurry to praise him for not "capitulating."
In Sandy's view, Bauer was an excellent pitcher who would stand as a co-ace for the Mets. A difference maker. I don't think any of that had to do with social media frenzy.
Jimmy
Jimmy, let's hope Bauer does not pitch the Dodgers past the Mets in a post-season series. It would be something if Bauer LOST a game to Walker in the post season.
And on many teams, Walker would be a solid SP 3
Jimmy, the way I see depth is Walker pushes a guy like Lucchesi to # 6, and Yamamoto # 7, which is where the depth comes in. This year, the starting pitching 1 thru 5 is much better, and at least 2 guys you hope you can roll with in a pinch. Heck, if Lucchesi is back to 2018-19 form, he'd be a 4 or 5 with many teams. And then Thor comes back hopefully for the last 70% of the season. That is real depth.
Tom,
I understand the concept. It's just a trendy word this year, over-used to the point of meaninglessness. A couple of years ago it was all about "making adjustments." Before that, all anyone talked about was "plate discipline" and, for pitchers, "command." Remember "hunting strikes"? Oh, God, no.
Everyone picks up on the new language and beats it into the ground.
In the end, you really don't want to see your backups on the mound too often -- or it's going to be a rough season.
in 2020, back in July, the starting rotation was once: deGrom, Syndergaard, Stroman, Matz, and Porcello -- with Wacha and Peterson in the "depth" roles, with Oswalt and Lockett if things got really, really bad. Which they did.
Because of that rotation, many of us felt encouraged going into the (weird) year. Then the wheels fell off.
But, hey, maybe Yamamoto suddenly becomes NOT THE GUY WHO PITCHED LAST SEASON. Or maybe he sucks again. My head is that we don't have to see him throw much this year.
Anyway, I find "depth" a worn-out word and I'm personally tired of hearing it thrown around constantly. But I am in favor of the team having decent back-ups, to the extent that's possible for starting pitching in the MLB.
Jimmy
Jimmy, I get that argument. There are phrases that I hear that are time to be retired . . like 'right'. Yea, ya know, right?
Depth is one that could go either way for me, but I think we need to coin a new description/definition for the guys like Lucchesi, Yamamoto and McWilliams who are biding their time at AAA but are not up and coming prospects. The guys that have had their 'cup of coffee' (or more) but have no space on the MLB roster.
I cannot think of a word or term that might be better without punishing the mind on a weekend.
I personally do not like the term 'backup' for them. Backup is Tomas Nido, a guy on the major league roster that is not playing but could come into any game at any time.
Just talking terms and phrases that are now tired, it is making shortcuts out of every name - A-Rod, K-Rod, F-Mart, J-Lo, etc, etc, ad nauseum. Just stop! :-)
Jimmy, I agree with that. Let’s hope for healthy pitchers in 2021
1969. I think an appropriate phrase could be - 4 A players.
Hmm. I think I like 'depth' better :-)
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