Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle examines Athletics closer Blake Treinen’s improved results since coming to Oakland last summer. The big righty has always shown phenomenal pure stuff in the majors, but had not quite figured out how to maximize it on the hill. While he’s handing out less walks than before, he’s also working in the zone less than in prior years. And he has generated less grounders (a still-impressive 53.3%) in exchange for a jump in swinging-strikes (all the way up to 18.8%). Treinen credits experience gained through “the maturation process.” Whatever the precise cause, the results — a 1.19 ERA with 10.7 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 over 22 2/3 innings in 2018 — certainly suggest that he has settled in nicely.
Here are a few more relief-related notes from out west:
- The Giants, meanwhile, could soon face some interesting calls on their late-inning mix. As Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area writes, the club could welcome Mark Melancon back within two weeks or so, as the veteran reliever is set to begin a rehab assignment after opening the year on the shelf due to ongoing pronator issues. Skipper Bruce Bochy says the team will “let him get settled” rather than thrusting Melancon back into the closer’s role. Melancon, 33, is certainly being paid to handle the ninth. But Hunter Strickland has performed quite well in his absence, working to a 2.18 ERA with 9.6 K/9 against 2.2 BB/9. Just how that situation will be navigated over the course of the season remains to be seen.
- It also is not yet clear what kind of contribution the Rangers will get from righty Tim Lincecum. As Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes, the veteran hurler is only touching 90 mph with his fastball despite reportedly showing more in a pre-signing showcase. He has produced better results of late in his rehab work, but in sum he has managed a less-than-promising 8:6 K/BB ratio in 8 1/3 innings over six outings. Of course, that’s too small a sample to read much into things. It isn’t known yet when Lincecum will get a crack at the majors, but barring a setback it seems it’ll come between May 28th (when he’s first eligible to return from the 60-day DL) and June 6th (when his thirty-day rehab period will expire).
Lol!
Treinen also has pitched more than one inning on multiple occasions. He’s certainly been impressive so far.
It’s just amazing how much money Lincecum has siphoned from teams, considering his arm has been toast since 2014.
Giants gave him a 2 year / $35 million contract as a thanks. He never wanted to sign a long term contract when he was younger which was stupid of him , would have bent over the giants.
The team signs the contracts. Nobody is forcing them to do it.
Teams offer contracts….. Players sign them****
It is a contract, agreement signed by both sides.
Melancon isn’t ever getting that closer role back because Strckland is better. Plus he was only throwing 87 last night
yeah – the FO really needs to use their instincts to put a team together, when it comes down to it evans has built a couple of teams in response to criticism and it doesn’t work out – better to get the better players to fill needs and leave it at that instead of going – “the fans said I don’t have a decent closer so I am going to spend big bucks on a closer” Melancon was a total waste, that is money that could have bolstered the pen in other ways or got some mid range talent to support the OF or 2nd base.
It had nothing to do with “fans said”. Since Brian Wilsons departure, the closer role has been a black hole. They tried internal options for years with zero success. The giants were a team built on pitching and defense and not having a legitimate closer cost them an insane amount of very close games. Of course this years giants team isn’t like those of years past.
Melancon is the Aaron Rowand of the Giants Bullpen. Never mind, Aaron did more actually.
“the veteran hurler is only touching 90 mph with his fastball despite reportedly showing more in a pre-signing showcase.”…..
“The right-handed pitcher threw 20 pitches in a six-minute first session and 21 pitches in an eight-minute second session. His fastball hovered in the 90-91 mph range in his first set of pitches and 89-90 in his second set. His fastball velocity did reach 92 during his second set.” May 6, 2016 He ended up averaging 88.4 with the Angels
“The source said Lincecum’s fastball clocked in between 90-92 mph, though others at the showcase had him as high as 93. His fastball averaged 88.4 mph in 2016, a far cry from the mid-90s heater he featured when he was among the best pitchers in the game.”
Feb. 15, 2018
Not sure if there should be any surprise.
“Fewer.”
—Stannis