252 replies to this topic

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I'd be ok with Flaherty if Skubal came with him.

[makoman]

I don't want Flaherty, pretty much entirely because of last year, but I suppose if Elias and Hyde haven't black listed him there's no reason for me to. Hopefully it's someone else though.

[BobPhelan]

I don't want Flaherty, pretty much entirely because of last year, but I suppose if Elias and Hyde haven't black listed him there's no reason for me to. Hopefully it's someone else though.

He’s been so good this year and yet I feel the same way.

[jamesdean]

I'm not against another Flaherty try.  He's pitched really well this year and is definitely better than the back end of the Orioles staff.  McDermott is still an unknown quantity, although I thought he pitched decent enough last night.  If they get him, I won't be upset about it. 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Martín Gallegos@MartinJGallegos

 

Per source, A's will place All-Star closer Mason Miller on the injured list today with a fracture of the fifth metacarpal (pinkie) in his left hand. It's a non-pitching injury he suffered after pounding a padded training room table in frustration following Monday night's win.

[Mackus]

I doubt they were gonna move him, but this injury doesn't seem like a meaningful hurdle.  I'd imagine he can pitch just with a broken pinky in his glove hand, and would do so for a contender throughout his recovery.

 

Dumb to punch things in frustration, but at least he used his non-pitching hand and hit something he thought was padded, so not close to the dumbest we've seen!

[BaltBird 24]

I wish Kimbrel would punch something. (Joking, kinda).

[Mackus]

I wish Kimbrel would punch something. (Joking, kinda).

 

Its really strange how good he's been overall and yet how bad he's been at times and how little any of us trust him.  Guess that's the nature of closers and RP in general, but Kimbrel really makes it into an artform.  

[jamesdean]

All closers implode occasionally, and Kimbrel has been excellent for the most part.  I'm not going to brood about today and not giving him the ball in another save opportunity.  That's what they're paying him to do.  He'll be fine.  

[Nigel Tufnel]

I'm hoping Kimbel's problem is just lack of regular work, but I guess we'll see.

[BaltBird 24]

Some bad luck and bad pitching today. The walks didn't help, but an infield single when Norby tripped then the Gunnar error.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I looked at the current saves leaders for the season. Top 20 in saves. Kimberly has blown 6 saves in 29 chances. Clay Holmes has also blown 6 but in only 27 chances. Those are the two WORST save percentages in the top 20. Kimbrel stinks.

[makoman]

We've won 4 of his 6 blown saves so at least the team doesn't seem to let it bother them. 

[Mackus]

I looked at the current saves leaders for the season. Top 20 in saves. Kimberly has blown 6 saves in 29 chances. Clay Holmes has also blown 6 but in only 27 chances. Those are the two WORST save percentages in the top 20. Kimbrel stinks.

 

Not all blown saves are equal.  Today was an abomination, three run saves should never be blown (Felix blew one last year and lost it outright, though, so it does happen even to the elite).  But 1-run saves are hard.  Kimbrel has had a bad habit of not just having blown 1-run saves though but BS,L which shouldn't happen.  Giving up 1-run here and there is excusable.  Multiple runs is harder to stomach.

 

I'd prefer someone else be closing for us down the stretch and in the postseason.  Scott or Estevez or Yates.  Would probably keep Kimbrel in the role over Foley or Finnegan if they are the target.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Need two starters.  Flaherty would be a fine addition.

 

Ideally you'd add one starter that would make Rodriguez your 3rd.  

[makoman]

Not all blown saves are equal.  Today was an abomination, three run saves should never be blown (Felix blew one last year and lost it outright, though, so it does happen even to the elite).  But 1-run saves are hard.  Kimbrel has had a bad habit of not just having blown 1-run saves though but BS,L which shouldn't happen.  Giving up 1-run here and there is excusable.  Multiple runs is harder to stomach.

 

I'd prefer someone else be closing for us down the stretch and in the postseason.  Scott or Estevez or Yates.  Would probably keep Kimbrel in the role over Foley or Finnegan if they are the target.

I'd be pretty surprised if they demoted Kimbrel, he hasn't really earned that, he has pitched better overall than our collective confidence in him, less than two weeks ago we were claiming he was an all star snub. 6 BS in 29 chances isn't great but it isn't egregious or anything, Felix was dominant as anybody and he blew 5 of his first 25 last year. I feel like none of the other guys except Yates are head and shoulders above him stats wise.

[Slidemaster]

Get what you can without trading the top 4. Wherever that takes them is fine. They have too many holes to fill to leverage the future, and a deep playoff run feels unlikely.

Reload in the offseason and try again.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I'd be pretty surprised if they demoted Kimbrel, he hasn't really earned that, he has pitched better overall than our collective confidence in him, less than two weeks ago we were claiming he was an all star snub. 6 BS in 29 chances isn't great but it isn't egregious or anything, Felix was dominant as anybody and he blew 5 of his first 25 last year. I feel like none of the other guys except Yates are head and shoulders above him stats wise.

6 blown saves in 29 chances is the worst save percentage of the top 20 guys in saves. Most everybody in the top 20 has a failure rate around 10%. A couple are at 15%. Kimbrel and Holmes are 20%. Pretty egregious to me!

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Get what you can without trading the top 4. Wherever that takes them is fine. They have too many holes to fill to leverage the future, and a deep playoff run feels unlikely.

Reload in the offseason and try again.

You keep saying that over and over. I will give you that you consistent. But you have not once answered the where are we going to get deep run playoff caliber pitching? We may or may not have Burnes next year. Behind him we have GRod and a whole hand full of #5/6s. 

 

We do NOT have playoff caliber starters in AAA and maybe not even in AA.

If we try and buy playoff caliber starters you are competing with the usual teams (Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, etc). We likely don't buy what we need this way. But we do have better trade chips than all of these teams. We do not have roster space for all of them. But you just want to hold on to them which I get. So tell me where we get this playoff starting pitching?

[Slidemaster]

You keep saying that over and over. I will give you that you consistent. But you have not once answered the where are we going to get deep run playoff caliber pitching? We may or may not have Burnes next year. Behind him we have GRod and a whole hand full of #5/6s.

We do NOT have playoff caliber starters in AAA and maybe not even in AA.
If we try and buy playoff caliber starters you are competing with the usual teams (Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, etc). We likely don't buy what we need this way. But we do have better trade chips than all of these teams. We do not have roster space for all of them. But you just want to hold on to them which I get. So tell me where we get this playoff starting pitching?

I have no idea, and neither does anyone else. However, what I do know is that prices will not be quite so high because there's no desperation driving a midseason deal. I believe the front office will want to make a splash, and we'll probably sign one, if not two starting pitchers in the off season. Qith that said, just because I don't know how they will solve this problem 6 months from now doesn't mean I'm going to make a bad decision now. They will figure it out.

For what it's worth, I would trade one of their top prospects for a cost-controlled pitcher. If they wanted to pursue Crochet in the offseason, I would be willing to. If they wanted to check in on Skubal in the offseason, I would be willing to. But I'm not paying these ridiculous prices that are being bandied about, like Kjerstad and Basallo and Norby for 2.5 years of Skubal. Not a chance.

More options open up in the offseason, and I have no doubt they will pursue some of them. Getting stupid at the deadline isn't ever a good idea.