Diamondbacks-Cubs Series

[AZZenny]

I had my crow yesterday with a side of slaw. Tasted fine; usually does.

 

[Lefty]

Tony goes deep. That is five homers today. Maybe the Diamondbacks can move their home games to Wrigley?

 

[Lefty]

I know it's 13-4 now but Koplove is making me nervous. He can't get anyone out.

 

[green machine]

Koplove needs to be waived. He hasnt' been good at all this year. Even bringing him into a game that's a complete blowout, he finds a way to give up runs and make it interesting.

 

[Chaz]

Now 13-5, 1st and 3rd with 1 out.




ARGHHHHH

Then the shallow fly drops in.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I believe Koplove will be designated for assignment after today's game to clear space for Buddy Groom...

I wouldnt demote down Medders since he's been even effective in crucial situations (and you dont want to use up his options too quickly).....

Also..if not to clear a spot for Groom...More than likely Koplove will be gone whenever Lyon or Villarreal will be reactivated.....

 

[Lefty]

Padre update. The Reds are up 3-0 in the 4th.

 

[AZZenny]

Options don't matter - they go by year, use it once and you can send a guy up and down all you want that year.

Medders isn't really getting enough use; he's likely to go back down first, and since they have dough invested in Koppy, I'd be surprised if he gets designated for Groom. He's got a better ERA and WHIP than Worrell or Bruney, for that matter - that's depressing. However someone will have to get moved out if Lyons looks good enough to come back up - I wouldn't be too surprised if they try to trade Koppy or put him on an extended vague DL stint.

Hmmm... I'm getting about ready to designate Worrell, at this rate.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Options don't matter - they go by year, use it once and you can send a guy up and down all you want that year.

Medders isn't really getting enough use; he's likely to go back down first, and since they have dough invested in Koppy, I'd be surprised if he gets designated for Groom. He's got a better ERA and WHIP than Worrell or Bruney, for that matter - that's depressing. However someone will have to get moved out if Lyons looks good enough to come back up - I wouldn't be too surprised if they try to trade Koppy or put him on an extended vague DL stint.

Thanks for clearing me on "options".... For some reason I always thought that it based on an individual year, rather than the accumulative (such as they rolled-over every year).....

I believe in "Sabrematics" to a certain extent, however, stats like WHIP and even a very relevant stat like ERA can be extremely misleading...especially in the case of relievers when one horrid inning can inflate it to high proportions...

True... Medders has been used seldom, however, it's just the same for Koplove... Also.. it seems that Melvin has more confidence to call on Medders whenever the game is still on-the-line compared to using Koplove in those situations....

As far as Koplove ever been trading... wont happen since he has absolutely no redeemable value whatsoever and everyone around the league knows he has nothing left... I dont think a change of scenery will do him better in his case because I bet it's purely physical...it seems he's had the history of pitching injured before w/out disclosing it to anyone and I believe that applies to him now...He's afraid that admitting injury would cost him a spot on the team, but doesnt understand that his horrible pitching eventually will.....

Lord.. even Worrell made it eventful in the Cubs 9th..... I was really hoping he'd just go in there and retire the side in order, but he was hit somewhat hard..... He needs to put a string of decent outings together to gain the confidence he needs.....

Lord.. the Dbacks win 3/4 from the Cubs at Wrigley and now have a tall-order this wk versus the Astros....

We're in the midst of a pennant-race folks and it promises to be thrilling/exciting... cant wait.......

 

[Lefty]

I wonder if Groom will be effective or will he be another Lopez? His stats are not impressive but the Diamondbacks need a lefty. Hopefully he can get lefties out.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I wonder if Groom will be effective or will he be another Lopez? His stats are not impressive but the Diamondbacks need a lefty. Hopefully he can get lefties out.

Groom has had a long-standing track record of retiring lefties and has a rubber arm that the Dbacks desperately need....

The likes of Lopez, Alamanza, Nance and Choate only had a couple of decent years between them and were unprovens, however, at least Groom has proven himself capable in the league with his longevity..... He's not flashy, but I'm glad it's a low risk situation with potential high reward (I'll even accept a marginal return from him at this point).....

Just so glad that didnt succumb to the such demands that the Royals were making for Affeldt (the likes of Jackson and Quentin)..... So.. again..I must applaud the Dbacks proper use of restraint in this case.....

I still contend that Hairston would have been dealt if it wasnt for his season-ending surgery and I wouldnt be shocked to see him gone during by Spring Training....

 

[Lefty]

Groom has had a long-standing track record of retiring lefties and has a rubber arm that the Dbacks desperately need....

The likes of Lopez, Alamanza, Nance and Choate only had a couple of decent years between them and were unprovens, however, at least Groom has proven himself capable in the league with his longevity..... He's not flashy, but I'm glad it's a low risk situation with potential high reward (I'll even accept a marginal return from him at this point).....

Just so glad that didnt succumb to the such demands that the Royals were making for Affeldt (the likes of Jackson and Quentin)..... So.. again..I must applaud the Dbacks proper use of restraint in this case.....

I still contend that Hairston would have been dealt if it wasnt for his season-ending surgery and I wouldnt be shocked to see him gone during by Spring Training....

Longevity does not mean that much. If Groom was right handed, he probably be out of the league. The Yankees are desperate for a lefty in their bullpen and he could not last there. I am giving the guy the benefit of the doubt. I am just getting tired of the Diamondbacks bring in retreads to fill that position.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Longevity does not mean that much. If Groom was right handed, he probably be out of the league. The Yankees are desperate for a lefty in their bullpen and he could not last there. I am giving the guy the benefit of the doubt. I am just getting tired of the Diamondbacks bring in retreads to fill that position.

Oh..I agree that the "longevity" can be faulty/misleading, but was just pointing out that at least he has that attribute in his favor compare to the other "lefty-specialists" that the Dbacks have sought salvation from.. for whatever that is worth..... At least he's proven himself on a consistant basis regardless of what type of situation he's been called upon......

I wouldnt completely classify him as a "retread", but they would have had to sacfrice one of their uber prospects in order to obtain someone more worthwhile than Groom and I'm glad they didnt because that would have been quite the outrage....

 

[IndyDevil]

Reds - Padres update

7-0 Reds, top of the 7th...as long as the Reds don't send Bruney or Koplove (1.0 IP 4 ER today)...er, blow this lead, we will be tied for first shortly!!

 

[AZZenny]

As far as Koplove ever been trading... wont happen since he has absolutely no redeemable value whatsoever and everyone around the league knows he has nothing left...

LOL. Think Jose Cruz, Jr. Buddy Groom. Todd Worrell. Mike Fetters. Adam Petersen.
The NL average ERA for relievers is 4.44. As of a couple days ago, Koplove was 4.37 (same as Ugueth Urbina). (It's now 5.05) He has .. er, had a very good WHIP of 1.28, now 1.36 which is still respectable. In the same way that we are happy to pick up other teams' retreads, which a 40-year-old on his 6th or 7th team most certainly is - someone will want Koplove. Trade him home to the Phillies and get Kata back. LOL.

Btw, Groom is .265 vs Lefties and .339 vs righties this season. Koplove is .250/.234. Heck, Lightenberg and Lopez were no worse. The grass isn't always really greener....

stats like WHIP and even a very relevant stat like ERA can be extremely misleading...especially in the case of relievers when one horrid inning can inflate it to high proportions...

Maybe if you are talking about 5-6 IP, but they aren't that misleading when you get enough appearances. Do you think they mislead the other way? One perfect inning dramatically drops a pitchers' overall WHIP/ERA? What stats do is offer a correction to the very human tendency - I indulge in it myself - to focus on recent performance or extreme performance. We will always be more swayed by a more recent terrible outing by a reliever than on two or three decent ones before that - like that a week ago Koplove pitched 3.2 no-run innings over 2-3 games.

Overall, Koplove is roughly average for the NL. He sucked today. He's sucked too frequently this year, and it appears he's not the pitcher he used to be, thenkyew Mr. Brenly. But he's also done his job much of the time.

Besides, in the case of Bruney we all know the stats are not misleading, and that it was not just 'one horrid inning.' He's had a bunch of them at the most inopportune times. My guess is Worrell also probably needed more than one inning to jack his ERA up over 7.00 with 17 IP this year when he came to us.

 

[green machine]

I don't think anyone can blame Brenly for ruining Koplove.

I don't even care if he's average, it seems to me that Koplove has given up a run in the majority of his appearences...I'm too lazy to check the numbers, but that's what it seems like.

 

[AZZenny]

More like several runs every 2-3 appearances, actually. Koplove - (28 R/46.1 IP = .60). Better than Bruney (28 R/38 IP= .74) (If you just look at Earned Runs, Koplove has an even greater advantage.)

Where Koplove really is bad this year is holding inherited runners. Slightly more than half score, while Bruney (who faces a lot fewer) gets 3/4 of them out. Add those to both their run totals and they are - Wow. damn near identical. Both allow almost one run to cross the plate per inning, right you are greenmachine.

- Good God, what are they thinking letting Bruney close with almost a run per inning?!? I mean, we wouldn't for a second let Koplove close - but if you really look at the numbers, Bruney's only advantage is he gets more Ks. That may be why they think he looks like a closer.

 

[green machine]

I agree, Bruney has been terrible also. And I think when you look at Koplove's ERA and such it is misleading because he does allow many a runner to score.

Let's just agree, both Koplove and Bruney don't help things.