Royals Bullpen Status

by dasox313 on Mar 8, 2009 6:19 PM EDT

The Royals had one of the best bullpens leading into the offseason last year. They were also a little short on hitting. The players they needed to supplement their offense cost them some of their best bullpen pitchers in Ramon Rameriz and Leo Nunez. They signed some bullpen talent in the offseason in Oscar Villareal, Horacio Rameriz, and Jaun Cruz. This didn't totally make up for the trades, but it helped.

Eric Gagne just got released from his minor league contract by the Brewers a few hours ago, and if the Royals could get him signed to a cheap minor league deal, it might provide some upside. Having an old closer to teach the young players in the bullpen will be alone worth whatever his contract will be, an pitching help is an upside.

I think that the Royals bullpen needs just a little more, maybe signing Eric gagne might be all they need, maybe not. Tell me what you think the Royals should do.

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If we could sign him cheap

I wouldn’t see why not, an expensive contract, though, would not be something I’d be excited about.

by I need more Esteban on Mar 8, 2009 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Also, I've reading, and they say Gagne's arm is done, I just don't beleive that

Changing up the way you blog about baseball, one post at a time.

by dasox313 on Mar 8, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe he is done

he’s had one ok season in his last several and has been outright bad in the others. I say pass.

by TXroyal on Mar 8, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions

nope

soria, cruz, mahay, tejeda, farnsy…i think we are fine. plus some nice depth with guys like rosa, dinardo…

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Mar 8, 2009 7:53 PM EDT reply actions

The bullpen is just fine

PLEASE just let it be.

by stram#1 on Mar 8, 2009 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

Waechter at this point

has the same upside as Gagne.

by wildthang on Mar 8, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

I have the same upside as Gagne

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Mar 8, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Even Ryan Lefbreiverbvbvr

thinks Gagne’s career is over and said so yesterday.

Fourth to First

by kabrink on Mar 9, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

take that for what you will

Fourth to First

by kabrink on Mar 9, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

This is the man who still thinks TPJ can be Frank White

so if he thinks someone is done, they’re probably done

by Top Ramen on Mar 9, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Gagne sucks now

I don’t think he’ll be useful. I think the pen as we have it now will be pretty darn good. We may be looking at Chad Cordero too.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Mar 9, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions

Beyond Soria and Cruz, who is actually good and healthy?

Tejeda has a chance, if they give him one. Rosa.

Mahay is hurt, and isn’t that great anyway.

I think they bullpen will be decent, but I’d be (pleasantly) surprised if it is anywhere as good as 2008’s.

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary since sometime in 2008.

by Matt Klaassen on Mar 9, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

They won't be as good as last year, but it should be darn good

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Mar 9, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Everyone is saying Bale should recover from surgery pretty quickly

…and he did alright in the ’pen during the 2nd half of 2008.

And if Yimmy Yobble goes back to being used mostly as a LOOGY, he’ll be pretty effective. I think Tejeda will make the 25-man roster, especially if Mahay starts the season on the DL (which, given his chronic injury problems since last August, is a distinct possibility).

by DarthYoshi on Mar 9, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

good thing we kept him for $4 million and didnt pick up any prospects last july...

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Mar 11, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Chad Cordero

is going to bounce back this year

Changing up the way you blog about baseball, one post at a time.

by dasox313 on Mar 9, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

i swear i read not long ago that his fb was struggling to hit 88

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Mar 11, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Projected FIP

Eric Gagne::
CHONE: 3.69
PECOTA: 4.69
ZiPS: 4.75
Average: 4.38
Win%: .509
WAR (including projected 1.2 “setup” leverage): 0.2

Kyle Farnsworth:
CHONE: 4.5
PECOTA: 4.42
ZiPS: 4.73

Average: 4.55
Win%: .491
Projected 2009 WAR (including 1.2 “setup” leverage): 0.1

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary since sometime in 2008.

by Matt Klaassen on Mar 9, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

assumes 67 innings each

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary since sometime in 2008.

by Matt Klaassen on Mar 9, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Doing the same thing for three other relievers in 2009

(and, yes, In know that it’s dicey assuming Nunez could give 67 innings)

Leo Nunez
FIP 4.00
Win% .550
WAR 0.5

Juan Cruz
FIP 3.64
Win% .592
WAR 0.8

Ramon Ramirez
FIP 3.59
WIn% .598
WAR 0.9

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary since sometime in 2008.

by Matt Klaassen on Mar 9, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

note that a setup guy's leverage is usually more like 1.4

but I think for projection, you have to average expected leverage with “1” for varios reasons relating to bullpen chaining, etc.

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary since sometime in 2008.

by Matt Klaassen on Mar 9, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

thats a DAMN good bullpen that altogether costs about 1/2 of Farns 2009 salary...

with Mahay, Gobble, Bale and whoever else….damn good pen. Too many good powerful righties, they’d almost be forced to move soria to the rotation…

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Mar 11, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

that's probably why they traded them away

:-|

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary since sometime in 2008.

by Matt Klaassen on Mar 11, 2009 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions

completely irrelevant

go back and read the reasons why Gagne was released.

i would take Farnsworth 100 times out of 100 over Gagne.

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Mar 9, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

oh, no doubt

given Gagne’s health status and stuff. If i had to pick between the two of them for a ~league minimum/split contract, it would definitely be Farnsworth

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary since sometime in 2008.

by Matt Klaassen on Mar 9, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

league minimum

snickers

Fourth to First

by kabrink on Mar 9, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

talk about damning with faint praise...

…re: Farnsy. Same for d_f’s post.

Heh.

by DarthYoshi on Mar 9, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

good :)

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Mar 9, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

despite using this for a long time

i still often fail at using “reply”

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Mar 9, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

that's OK

I spent a while this morning setting up my ZiPS spreadsheet for FIP, made that long reply no one cared about about, then a couple hours later, ZiPS got posted on FanGraphs…

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary since sometime in 2008.

by Matt Klaassen on Mar 9, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions