Radbird wrote:I don't think it's replacing Izzy so much as it is recognizing when he doesn't have it and not staying with him until it is too late.
Tonight he obviously had control problems - perhaps even worse than usual. When it got to 2 men on, one out, and 2 powerful lefties coming up, why wasn't consideration given to bringing in the lefty (TJohnson) to face them? Because he's too young? Because he's not the closer? I know Tony would've faced massive criticism had he brought him in and Griffey or Dunn took him deep. And as I said before, I only "saw" the game on Gameday, so I didn't see what most of you saw (and they're going to be talking about the Yanks-Sox for at least 20 more minutes on BBTN, so I may never see it....)
I see your point. It seems to me like you would be walking a very fine line if you started doing this. For one thing, your closer wouldn't really be your closer any more if he got taken out every few games (which is what would happen to Izzy if TLR hooked him when he got into trouble).
We were all declaring Izzy dead in the beginning of the season and then he went on a pretty good run. I suspect he will do the same again soon.
I'm just kinda venting here because the facts are Izzy whether we like it or not is probably our best option to close as it stands right now. Also, we have more pressing needs trade wise than a better closer. Still, as Bronx Bird I believe said, Would you honestly be comfortable with Izzy with the ball in game 7 and a one run lead? Allowing almost two runners to reach base every time out is simply not getting it done. He's been very fortunate so far or his save conversion would be considerably worse...several double plays, the Yadi pickoff, runners reaching third with less than two outs, etc. If he cuts down on his walks he will be fine because that is what's putting him in the situation where he feels the need to groove a fastball. I would rather see him give up five hits in a row than walk two guys and get burned on one swing of the bat.
I just looked on MLB.com at all closers with at least 10 saves (18 pitchers). Of those 18, only 2 have a lower success rate than Izzy's 82%. That said, I think we stay with him.
Name........Saves........SaveOpps ........Save %
J Papelbon........ 20........ 20........ 100%
C Ray........ 14........ 14........ 100%
T Hoffman........ 12........ 12........ 100%
T Gordon........ 17........ 18........ 94%
B Jenks........ 15........ 16........ 94%
F Rodriguez........13........ 14........ 93%
B Ryan........ 13........ 14........ 93%
B Fuentes........ 11........ 12........ 92%
M Rivera........ 11........ 12........ 92%
A Otsuka........ 10........ 11........ 91%
T Walker........ 10........ 11........ 91%
T Jones........ 16........ 18........ 89%
C Cordero........ 10........ 12........ 83%
B Lidge........ 14........ 17........ 82%
J Valverde........ 14........ 17........ 82% J Isringhausen........18........ 22........ 82%
D Turnbow........ 16........ 20........ 80%
B Wagner........ 11........ 14........ 79%
tscharnerd wrote:I just looked on MLB.com at all closers with at least 10 saves (18 pitchers). Of those 18, only 2 have a lower success rate than Izzy's 82%. That said, I think we stay with him.
Name........Saves........SaveOpps ........Save %
J Papelbon........ 20........ 20........ 100%
C Ray........ 14........ 14........ 100%
T Hoffman........ 12........ 12........ 100%
T Gordon........ 17........ 18........ 94%
B Jenks........ 15........ 16........ 94%
F Rodriguez........13........ 14........ 93%
B Ryan........ 13........ 14........ 93%
B Fuentes........ 11........ 12........ 92%
M Rivera........ 11........ 12........ 92%
A Otsuka........ 10........ 11........ 91%
T Walker........ 10........ 11........ 91%
T Jones........ 16........ 18........ 89%
C Cordero........ 10........ 12........ 83%
B Lidge........ 14........ 17........ 82%
J Valverde........ 14........ 17........ 82% J Isringhausen........18........ 22........ 82%
D Turnbow........ 16........ 20........ 80%
B Wagner........ 11........ 14........ 79%
OT- I thought Papelbon blew one a while back? Or was that a tie game?
