Links as Friday turns into Saturday..
- As the Phillies look for a place to move Jim Thome, the Rays and Yankees are not interested, sources tell Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Olney speculates (Twitter link) that the Orioles and Rangers could be solid fits for the veteran.
- Darren Oliver may be a name to watch for the Angels if the Blue Jays decide to be sellers at the deadline, tweets Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com.
- The Orioles have agreed in principle with three of their top seven picks, tweets Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Second-round selection Branden Kline, Christian Walker (fourth), and Matthew Price (seven) all signed for their slot recommendation.
Darren Oliver is pretty much the only good thing we have going in our bullpen…
Francisco Cordero has actually been pitching well recently. Just can’t be a crucial point in the game. And obviously Janssen and Carlos V before the move to the rotation. Frasor and Perez I would deem reliable too however when you least expect it, they’ll let you down.
As long as you don’t put Frasor in on consecutive days (which John has done a couple of times this season) he’s a fine late game reliever. He just doesn’t do well without rest.
John also put in scott richmond in a 2 run game.
And it turned out okay for the first inning!
Someone contact Ripley’s! I do not believe it!
It was sacrificial…JF couldn’t afford to have any of his other relievers’ careers tainted by Jon Hester.
This comment is incredible. So well done
casey janssen hasn’t given up a run in a close situation yet but ya.
Darren Oliver is unreal.
I think Oliver’s ‘weakness’ was exposed today when he couldn’t strike out the right handed batters. Seeing that the Angel’s lineup is comprised of only Righties and Switch hitters, it was really evident that Oliver couldn’t do much against them other than to put the ball in play.
Even whent he count was 1-2, the Angels hitters just kept fouling off good breaking pitches, and they waited for the count to creep up to 3-2. It was really evident that Oliver can’t just blow by a 95mph fastball when his breaking stuff won’t fool good hitters.
*Note: when I said today, I was referring to the game on Friday, June 29th, 2012.
I agree, his weakness was exposed today…he gave up a hit. Darren Oliver is indeed human folks.
2.80 FIP/ 1.65 ERA on a 1 year deal from a 42 year old .
umm ya.
Oliver has been great against lefties and righties and I believe he has been the past few years. He isn’t just a LOOGY. He is a really really good reliever pitcher.
It’s fun watching him even with just a 87-88 MPH fastball.
What do you guys think of the following trade suggestions:
1) Toronto and Milwaukee:
Adam Lind or David Cooper for Scooter Gennett (2B Prospect)
Ricky Weeks is occupying 2B for the Brewers, and Adam probably won’t have a place to hit in Toronto. Adam, Encarnacion, and Cooper are all stuck at 1B/DH, thus creating a log-jam, and it’s infeasible to keep Cooper stuck in the minors because it will hurt his trade value. (Cooper turns 26 before the 2013 season)
It’s an off-season type-of-move, but seeing that Kelly Johnson will probably leave Toronto, I think it might be necessary to actually grab a 2B prospect.
2) Toronto and SF
Encarnacion for Joe Panik (2B/SS prospect) and Gary Brown (OF prospect)
SF could use the extra boost in offense, and I think it would be an upgrade over Pill/Belt at 1B. It’s highly unknown if EE will re-sign with Toronto or if he’s worthy of draft pick compensation, so Toronto can get some value now.
This type of trade would obviously be for the trade deadline.
With the way Rickie Weeks is hitting I wouldn’t do that trade it I was the Brewers.
Adam Lind? The man who no one wanted off waivers? The man with no trade value? There isn’t a log jam. It’s simple, EE and Lind will continue to be the main 1B/DH compliment as long as Lind continues to hit. Cooper is not the answer to first base…he’ll be there when we need him, simple as that. He has no trade value either.
Nobody claimed Adam Lind off waivers because they don’t want to pay him the remainder of the 2012 salary, $5m in 2013 and the buyouts for options. In a trade scenario, the Blue Jays could offer money, if necessary.
Cooper has no trade value for the same reason as why Snider has no trade value: neither player has gained consistent playing time in the majors.
From what I’ve seen I think Cooper also has more power than what the stats suggest. There’s gap power for sure, but I think he also has some opposite field power hidden away somewhere.
It would be a waste of Cooper’s time to stay in the minors, especially if he’s another Kevin Millar in the making.
Cooper has no trade value because he’s a 1B with limited power. He’s 25 in AAA and still shows no HR power in the power happy PCL.
and adam lind has no trade value, a team could have claimed him then worked out a deal with the jays involving cash, but they didn’t because statistically he’s been one of the worst full time players in the league the last 2 seasons.
They aren’t bringing anything back.
Thats seriously ridiculous. There’s no way your getting Joe Panik AND Gary Brown for EE.
What if it was for just one prospects?
I’d have to assume if any trades are going to be made its going to bring back pitchers not position players.
While EE/Lind/Cooper wont bring back a great arm, if combined with a prospect it might.
There is uncertainty at 2B next season, you can just move escobar over and Hech can play SS and bat 9th.
Run prevention seems far more important than offense at this point.
Jim Thome would be a good fit for the Orioles. Hitting friendly park.
also his salary won’t be a burden for the O’s who by getting Thome could show their fans that they’re making moves to be in contention already this year, thus keep bringing the attendance att Camden Yards up.Orioles aren’t likely to give up any type of prospects for him though, perhaps some type of Triple-A platoon player.
They know that Phillies need to clear room for salary, and can take advantage of that.
Thome’s barely getting paid anything?
Vernon Wells and 60 million for Darren Oliver.
Out of curiosity, why didn’t the Angels re-sign Oliver after the 2009 season? Surely it wasn’t a money issue, was it?
As I recall, the Angels wanted to sign Oliver this offseason and he wanted to return. The only obstacle was the money because the Halos did not have it in their budget. They tried to move Takahashi to create the salary space for Oliver but couldn’t find any takers.
Other than Friday’s game, when was the last time Darren Oliver had to face 3 righties in a row in a high leverage situation?
he’s faced 53 rhb to date, and always has been used in late innings. how is your question in any way relevant
The Angels are reportedly looking for lefty relief.