SB Nation User Blog: RunninRedbird

Hocking a LOOGY

RunninRedbird — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:13:32 -0000

On Monday the Cardinals signed LHRP Royce Ring. That brings the running total of LOOGY's signed this offseason to three. As much as some of us (myself included) shake our heads at yet another LOOGY signing, in actuality, it makes sense. This is simply because we have essentially let go of our three left-handed guys from last year, and we need to refill the role. Villone is gone to FA, we want no part of Flores, and Johnson has been non-tendered after not playing due to injury in '08. Now that we have a new group of left handed hurlers, I decided to take a look at some of their numbers compared to the old guys. (As well, I through in a couple of other names we may recognize)

LOOGY's	2008 IP	Car. K/9	2008 K/9	Car. BB/9	2008 BB/9	Car. FIP	2008 FIP	Car. Splits		Splits 2008
								LHB BA	LHP OBP%	LHB BA	LH OBP%
Trever Miller	43.1	7.54	9.14	4.22	4.15	4.49	3.36	0.235	0.327	0.209	0.305

Charlie Manning	42	7.93	7.93	6.64	6.64	6.06	6.06	0.203	0.284	0.203	0.284

Royce Ring	22.1	7.26	6.45	5.48	4.03	4.44	4.48	0.229	0.35	0.264	0.339

Randy Flores	25.2	7.3	5.96	3.87	7.01	4.3	5.27	0.273	0.344	0.314	0.422

Ron Villone	50	4.5	9	4.5	6.66	4.81	4.51	0.237	0.344	0.176	0.311

Tyler Johnson (2007)	38	7.6	5.68	4.91	3.79	4.93	4.84	0.228	0.326	0.224	0.307

Will Ohman*	58.2	9.01	8.13	4.36	3.38	3.91	3.17	0.197	0.285	0.2	0.257

Jeremy Affeldt**	78.1	6.81	9.19	3.97	2.87	4.23	3.66	0.25	0.335	0.269	0.301

Kyle McClellan***	75.2	7.02	7.02	3.09	3.09	3.96	3.96	0.238	0.321	0.238	0.321

So out of these new pickups Miller easily looks like the best candidate to become the regular LOOGY, IF he can stay healthy. Manning's splits look great, but that FIP is God-awful and that BB rate is pretty high. Ring looks ?okay? in his limited appearances in 2008; I know his numbers got inflated from a few bad innings late in the year.

Obviously, anyone could be better than Randy Flores was last year. I was surprised, however, at Villone's splits. They were remarkably solid. So the conclusion I came to was that if Tony uses a LOOGY only as a LOOGY, he can be an effective role player. Wild thought, I know! I was really hoping TJ could have bounced back and been effective for us, but apparently he ain't coming back.

*Now look at Mr. Ohman. Don't those numbers look pretty? I sure like them. Good FIP, Great splits (career and '08), and good K/BB ratio. And he still hasn't signed!

**Affeldt has already signed, but I just wanted to remind all of what we let go to the Giants....

***I threw K-Mac in here simply because his splits show he can be just as effective at getting lefties out as some of these other guys, and he will most likely get better.

Hot Stove Catch-All Thread 12/21 until 300-ish comments

RunninRedbird — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:47:25 -0000

So all has been quiet on the Cardinals' front this past week. Everything has pretty much been at a stand still since the offer was made to Fuentes, and now it seems the front office is waiting for his response before they make another move. But, the general consensus around here seems to be that a starting pitcher would be much more beneficial to the ball club. (I know this doe not reflect everyone's opinion around here)

So...

Poll

Which free agent starting pitcher should the Cardinals sign?

Ben Sheets (Please!!!!)

202 votes

Randy Johnson

59 votes

Derek Lowe

43 votes

Randy Wolf

18 votes

Jon Garland

18 votes

Other (Please list)

15 votes

None, our rotation is set

4 votes

359 votes | Poll has closed

Build Your Own 1-Year Free Agent Team

RunninRedbird — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:23:00 -0000

Okay, this is a lighthearted FanPost. Reading DanUp's post the other day got me to thinking...The list of free agents this year isn't the most impressive, but I started playing with an idea in my head. Let's say you are a GM of a team which has no players. That's right, none, zilch, nada. Then your owner decides to give you unlimited funds to create a team composed of only players from the 2009 free agent market. Basically, he's saying "sign all of these guys to one year deals and win the World Series in 2009 or you're fired!" You got one shot at this so, who do you sign?

Here's the list

I ignored the club options and buyouts and just assumed all the players reach the FA market. After sifting through the potential candidates this would be my team:

1B: Mark Texieria

2B: David Eckstein

SS: Rafael Furcal

3B: Joe Crede

OF: Manny Ramirez, Mike Cameron, Bobby Abreu

C: Jason Varitek

UTIL: Mark Kotsay

SP: CC Sabathia, Ryan Dempster, Jon Lackey, Derek Lowe, Braden Looper

CL: Jason Isringhausen (just kidding...K-Rod)

As you can see I didn't simply pick the best offensive players at each position (although that rotation seems pretty well stacked). I wanted to get a combination of guys who were talented, mixed with guys who have won it all in the past. I didn't include bench players/middle relievers/backups/etc...but feel free to if you like. Again this was just one of those ideas occupying my head since the Cards aren't playing right now. Would this team win the WS? What team would you guys put together?

Getting Ramirez...no not that Ramirez, or that one.

RunninRedbird — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:53:07 -0000

Ok, we all know that the Cards need some middle infield help and Mo has already said that will be one of their priorities in the offseason. Brian Roberts and Robby Cano have been mentioned here as possible options to go after. Personally, I think Cano would be the better option of the two.

But I'm going to throw out a name that I haven't seen mentioned yet on VEB. (and if it has and I missed it I apologize). Would it be out of the question for the Cards to pursue a trade with the ChiSox for Alexei Ramirez? The guy is in his first year in the league after playing in Cuba for seven years then defecting. His slash line is .297/.320/.483 with an OPS of .803. He's also got some decent power with 19 homers.

Ramirez has three years left on his contract and is earning about $1.1 million per. He has played mostly at 2B for the ChiSox this season, but says he's most comfortable at SS. The Cards just happen to have a second baseman who says he wants to be traded and just played one hell of a game in Chicago yesterday (yes, still hard to believe, but that was Adam Kennedy going 4-for-5 with 5 RBI's) The Sox look like they are going to need another 1B because it seems Konerko's finest days are behind him. Would a trade like AK, Dunc/Mather, and a prospect (not Rasmus) be too much? If the Sox decide to make Swisher their permanent 1B, I would think a trade like Kennedy and Schumaker/Mather could do it.

I think Ramirez has a much better upside then say a Roberts. He's cheaper, fairly comparable offensively, only 27, and could play either MIF spot. So, is this out of the question? Thoughts?