Agreed, and we are still feeling the affects of the last time we went "all in."
Finding the happy medium is what I think we are looking for, but I don't think the top brass viewed 2021 or 2022 as a year to even approach going "all in."
Maybe 2023 or 2024, if ever again.
If pitchers were axed over tiny sample sizes like this, nobody would be left.
I'm not saying I think he's good- just that he's likely better than 2-3 guys in the pen, right now, and I might add Diekman to that list, soon.
He was okay in '19 (101 ERA+/ 1.29 WHIP/ .722 OPS Against) and had just 37 IP from '20-'21, due mostly to injuries.
I'm not tooting his horn, but I'd axe 2-3 other guys before him.
I think with Kike being a FA after this year, and JBJ's offense being a huge question mark, keeping Duran made some sense.
I doubt it would have taken much to get Manaea.
The starters have now caught up...
Game by Game Breakdown
Starters IP/ER vs Relievers IP/ER
SP- RP
L 5.0/3 - 5.0/1 (2 ghost runs allowed)
L 5.2/4 - 2.1/0
W 3.1/3 - 5.2/1
L 4.1/1 - 3.2/2
W 4.1/3 - 4.2/0
W 5.0/2 - 4.0/5
L 2.0/5 - 7.0/4
W 5.2/0 - 3.1/0
W 5.0/0 - 4.0/1
L 4.2/4 - 4.1/4
W 4.2/1 - 4.1/1
L 4.0/5 - 5.0/1
L 5.0/2 - 4.0/1
W 5.0/2- 4.0/0
L 4.0/0- 5.2/3
L 4.0/ 0- 4.0/5
L 7.0/2- 1.0/4
L 4.2/2- 5.0/3 (plus 1 ghost runner)
The pen has done better in 8 games.
The starters have done better in 8.
They did about the same in 2 games.
The pen as done okay to well in 11 games.
The starters have done okay to well in 11 games.
True dat.
But, if everyone was healthy and pitching near expectations, none of these guys, except a healthy Paxton (is that an oxymoron?) is a top 5 SP'er on this team.
Eovaldi
Sale
Houck
Whitlock
Pivetta/Paxton
Wacha
Hill
From day one, I shook my head at his signing.
I know it wasn't much money, but Bloom has given so few contracts longer than 1 year, that I wondered why Diekman.
Super cool!
I remember the day Fed Lynn went 5 for 6 in Detroit. 3 HRs and a triple! 10 RBI in a 15-1 win.
His only out was a scorcher- line out to 2B.
I also remember Roger's 20 Ks vs SEA in 1986.