Peter Moylan could be Bobby Cox’s first option for saves as Rafael Soriano faces a potential suspension this weekend (work on Soriano’s appeal of his 4-game suspension is due today). In 89 IP this year Moylan is 5-3 with a save. He has a 1.82 ERA and .201 OBA, propped up by a very favorable .232 BHIP%. His ERA has been helped as well by a favorable 79.9% strand%. But of more assistance is his 2.4 GB ratio which helps with his marginal 6.2/9 K rate and scary 3.1 BB rate. The bottom line is that is he is handed a save opp this weekend, Peter is a better than even bet to convert it. If one save would make your year Peter may provide one.
Franklin Morales went 5 IP on Thursday, limiting the Dodgers to 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk while fanning 5. He did hang around long enough to post his 3rd win of the year, and he now stands at 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA. That ERA is definitely the bright side of the picture as Morales has benefited from a favorable .272 BHIP% and a 78.2% strand %. His high walk rate (3.4/9) and low K rate (5.7) are warning signs as well, but his healthy 1.8 GB ratio helps mitigate those limitations. The point is to keep in mind that Morales’ success to this point in the majors comes with some caveats.
Bud Black says that if needed, he will bring Jake Peavy back on three day’s rest this Sunday if the Padres need to win that game to make the postseason. There is not a large enough sample over the last three years to draw any conclusions about Jake on less than 4 days rest, but there is no evidence to suggest that he is a bad play if he pitches.
Joel Pineiro threw 8 shutout IP at the Mets on Thursday allowing them just 3 hits and a walk while striking out 6. He gets the win, improving to 7-5 while his ERA drops to 4.33 … Huh? … THAT Joel Pineiro? He is 6-4 with a 3.96 ERA as a starter this season after coming over from the Red Sox at the trade deadline. I guess Theo wasn‘t so far out of line giving Joel $4M this winter … I mean he turned out to be right … right? Sort of?
Wandy Rodriguez put a nice finish on a solid season by going 7 IP against the Reds on Thursday, holding them to 2 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6. His last 6 starts are a good example of who he has been this year, 3 QS, 2 disaster starts, and a non-QS. He has been all over the map. The big thing to carry forward from here is that Wandy was 6-3, 2.94, with a .220 OBA at home this year and 3-10, 6.37, .287 away. That split was level in his previous two season so I’m not sure how to much stock to put into the concept. Wandy has shown flashes of being a quality starter at times but he can bite you on any given night as well.
How good has Jimmy Rollins season been? .295, 136 runs, 30/30, perhaps 30/40 … out of the SS position? Maybe what is overlooked in this is that he has 704 ABs after his 1- for -4 with his 38th SB last night. That is two shy of breaking Willie Wilson’s record 705 ABs for the Royals in 1980. ABs are good. Most offensive columns are cumulative so simply getting to the plate often has value in and of itself, especially in head to head leagues. Even given a very good 2006 we still will spend the spring trying to figure out if Jimmy can repeat his 2007 season in 2008. That is going to be a tall order and it is likely that he will be overvalued in most leagues as owners pay for 2007 when they are buying 2008. Will he be a good value on a draft day next year? Join us again next time … same bat time … same bat channel.
Micah Owings went 6.1 shutout IP on Thursday against the Bucs, allowing 4 hits without a walk while striking out 4. He levels his record to 8-8 with a 4.30 ERA. Oh ya, he was 4- for -4 at the plate as well and he pitched this game on an hour’s notice after Bob Melvin decided to push Brandon Webb a day due to weather concerns. I take full credit for this as Micah is 3-3, 2.98 since I released him in early August. You are welcome.
