I got tired and went to bed before I finished up writing the bullpen grades last night. So, here they be:
Eric Gagne (D+)
He couldn't have been any worse in the first half of the season. Blowing save after save, and seemingly giving up more dingers than recorded outs. His ERA was over 7.00, absolutely unacceptable for a reliever, much less a closer. But after the All-Star break, he carried a 3.52 ERA and given Torres' struggles in September, almost seemed ready to re-claim the closer role. But $10 million isn't forked out for a 7th inning guy. He gets the "+" for being a local philanthropist, donating absurd amounts of money to the MACC Fund and buying 5,000 tickets to a game vs. Pittsburgh for the fans to enjoy free of charge.
Saloman Torres (B+)
Only his shaky September stopped him from earning an A. He stepped into the closer role admirably. I had no idea he was such a groundball pitcher, which is always a good thing when you play at Miller Park. But who would have thought he'd put together such a fine season when Melvin flipped a couple of nobody prospects for Torres in the offseason?
Guillermo Mota (C+)
He should get an A for the way he saved his hide after being the worst pitcher in the pen right around the All-Star break. But check out his pre/post AS game splits:(Pre) 2-5, 5.77 ERA, 1.61 WHIP/(Post) 3-1, 1.59 ERA, 1.12 WHIP. Seems most of the pen was just terrible at one point during the season, then turned it around. Or in Torres' case, vice versa.
David Riskie (D+)
Just never found that consistency that is a must-have as a reliever and spent a lot of time on the DL.
Brian Shouse (A-)
The best lefty specialist in the league. His ERA vs. lefties was 0.93. Vs. righties, 5.24. So why did Ned and Sveum once leave him in to face righties again?
Carlos Villanueva (B)
Nothing but solid in relief after faltering as a starter. 2.12 ERA as a reliever opposed to a plus 6.00 as a starter. Hmm, some site once boldly declared him as a possible closer of the future because of his great accuracy and nasty change-up...which site could that have been (shameless plug for Justin...deal with it)
Seth McClung (B-)
Became a cult icon hero for his 4 innings of 1 hit ball vs. the Cubs the last weekend of the season where he was pumping 98-mph flame balls with consistency and movement. Look for McNasty, as Brew Crew Ball once labeled him, to be in the rotation in 2009.
Mitch Stetter (B-)
Was actually quite solid as a secondary lefty out of the pen, compiling a 1.64 ERA vs. lefties, but plum forgot how to throw strikes during one stretch which punched his ticket back to Nashville.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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2 comments:
I'd give Gagne an F for the first half, but I'd give him a B for the second half. He really became a rock and as reliable a bullpen arm as we had down the stretch. For whatever reason, the guy was money in the 7th inning, but no others. It was almost as if Bill Castro was a hypnotist and hypnotized Gagne each time he was entering a game in the 7th
"It's 2003 Eric...We're at Dodger stadium...Welcome to the Jungle is blaring over the speakers...Game Over is flashing on the scoreboard...NO GO GET 'EM!"
If Gagne would accept a one year 2-3 million dollar deal I'd welcome him back as a set up man next year.
I think Gagne would be a great guy to keep around another year...for $2-3M...I agree with Justin. He showed great control and stability in that 7th inning role. He can work in the off season on improving his strengths and weaknesses and coould come back as a dangerous closer. I think it should be a definite consideraion by the Brewers...and Eric Gagne.
And he was a tremendous plus for Milwaukee as far as his philanthropy. Even if you don't like him, you cannot deny that. Nobody can.
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