Rafael Soriano to the Nationals

[Vampirate]

Honestly, just simply relief pitching is the last need a team has to spend big money on a free agent.

While it worked year 1 with BJ Ryan, the years after were not kind.

We all know how well Heath Bell worked out for Miami.

You don't spend big on closers unless it's for someone like Mariano or someone that is HOF good like that.

That money that went to Heath and BJ Ryan could have been used to upgrade a position in the team that would likely impact 90 and more games.

[theslick1]

I believe that has more to do with anything.....a lack of sample size.

Overall, pitchers perform the same no matter what inning they are being used in. There are outliers of that, but overall it's remained the consistently the same. Guys don't perform differently based on what inning they are pitching during.

I don't know, Jeffy. I found this article from mid-season 2012:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

Some stats cited (ERA in save situations / ERA in non-save situations):

Valverde (2011) 0.55 / 5.79
Valverde (2010) 1.44 / 4.55
C. Perez (2011) 2.75 / 4.18
Motte (2012) 1.84 / 6.00
Papelbon (2012) 0.00 / 6.48
Capps (2011) 2.75 / 6.07
Santos (2011) 1.95 / 4.79

[giants73756]

1) LOL at people who doubted Boras
2) That's a huge contract

I would have switched 1 and 2.

[giants73756]

I don't know, Jeffy. I found this article from mid-season 2012:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

Some stats cited (ERA in save situations / ERA in non-save situations):

Valverde (2011) 0.55 / 5.79
Valverde (2010) 1.44 / 4.55
C. Perez (2011) 2.75 / 4.18
Motte (2012) 1.84 / 6.00
Papelbon (2012) 0.00 / 6.48
Capps (2011) 2.75 / 6.07
Santos (2011) 1.95 / 4.79

So about 2 closers per year struggle in non-save situations? Sounds about right. When there are dozens of closers I would expect a couple of them to have bad innings sometimes. There will be just as many who pitch better in non-save situations as there are who pitch poorly.

[keymax]

So Scott Boras does in fact run the Nationals franchise...

[ciaban]

I wonder if the Dodgers made the signing how much more venom/backlash there would be...

Boras is a living legend. Soriano and to an extent, the Nats, are probably very happy right now. Reliever prices are exploding as teams start to realize starters don't give innings like they used to and that 7-9 area needs to be covered well.

Giants fans would be up in here trolling hard core if that happened just like it will next year when they sign cano.

[theslick1]

So about 2 closers per year struggle in non-save situations? Sounds about right. When there are dozens of closers I would expect a couple of them to have bad innings sometimes. There will be just as many who pitch better in non-save situations as there are who pitch poorly.

The article didn't survey all of the closers It merely gives a few examples. I'm too lazy to compile stats on all of the closers but I'm willing to bet there are other closers who struggle in non-save situations. Rafael Soriano, for example, isn't named in the article but compare his 2010 (closing - 1.73 ERA), 2011 (set-up - 4.12), and 2012 (closing - 2.12) stats.

[Fly]

I don't know, Jeffy. I found this article from mid-season 2012:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

Some stats cited (ERA in save situations / ERA in non-save situations):

Valverde (2011) 0.55 / 5.79
Valverde (2010) 1.44 / 4.55
C. Perez (2011) 2.75 / 4.18
Motte (2012) 1.84 / 6.00
Papelbon (2012) 0.00 / 6.48
Capps (2011) 2.75 / 6.07
Santos (2011) 1.95 / 4.79

How much opportunity did those guys get to pitch in the non-save situations, though?

[theslick1]

How much opportunity did those guys get to pitch in the non-save situations, though?

The article gives those stats in terms of innings pitched. They obviously don't pitch often in those situations, but even the closers themselves acknowledge that there's a difference between pitching when the game is on the line and when it's not.

[giants73756]

Giants fans would be up in here trolling hard core if that happened just like it will next year when they sign cano.

Oh look, Dodgers fans playing the victim card even though this thread has nothing to do with them.

[TyrionLannister]

Boras strikes again...

It's an overpay for the Nats but it does improve their bullpen. He was the best reliever on the market and they needed to replace Sean Burnett. Plus he'll take a load off their other arms.

[MetsFanatic19]

Way too much money. He will help the Nats out for sure, though.

[metswon69]

The Nats are going for it WS or bust.

It might not be the smartest acquisition but at least they are trying to win.

[PatelJ1010]

So Storen isn't the closer? Trade Bait for SP?

The Nats are building for depth.

[rkelly7]

Nats are all in! This is going to be an exciting year. It does make me wonder if they will trade Morse and Storen for a catcher upgrade and some prospects though to make up for losing the pick and the Gio/Span trades.