Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Alvarez Makes Relievers All Right

7月31日的比賽裡,後援的Alvarez在11局上半被Cardinals的Edmonds敲下致勝的兩分全壘打,這位在2005年兩度上到Disabled List的老投手,終於在第2次被activate的第12天萌生退意。而Dodgers這一次踏上road trip的首站「DC」時,Alvarez並沒有同行,預料F. Osoria將再度被Called Up。

Alvarez是在2004年季末成為自由球員,之後Dodgers又以2-year 4M的價錢將他簽了回來。事實上以Alvarez一個資深左投手外加2003到2004年的成績,拿這個價錢並不會很過份。不過Alvarez表示這一回復建之後,他可能選擇退休。至於合約裡尚未執行的2M,他一毛都不會拿(forfeit)。

目前DePodesta和Tracy都還沒有明確說明如何處置Alvarez的案子,部份Dodgers球迷則也開始稱許Alvarez的人格,不過我倒覺得這樣 的做法對Dreifort而言是「指著和尚罵?驢」!幸好Dreifort在2005年的薪資(13M)有80%可以得到disability insurance的backup....

但「薪」事永遠不會是Tracy的「心」事,眼下Dodgers的問題在於整個投手群。Tracy是特別中意使用LOOGY的教頭,在損失了Wunsch之後,Alvarez不得不時時刻刻準備打卡上班,但現在整個後援投手裡,沒有任何一個「左派份子」!

對此Tracy則表示,當他需要所謂的situationall pitcher時,他會選擇Sanchez或是Schmoll。來看一下這兩位後援投手的split:

(AVG/OBP/SLG, last updated:Aug 2.)

D. Sanchez
(59.1 IPs)
Overall quality of opposing batter : .261/.327/.411
vs L : .328/.392/.500(28.1 IPs)
vs R : .198/.299/.333(31.0 IPs)

S. Schmoll (25.2 IPs)
Overall quality of opposing batter : .259/.328/.405
vs L : .314/.364/.431(12.2 IPs)
vs R : .220/.333/.341(13 IPs)

從Sanchez和Schmoll的成績來看,這兩個人不是situational pitcher的好人選,Schmoll那種side-arm式的投法對左打者不利早就不是新聞;Sanchez或許是Tracy最信任的setup man,但是他對上左打者所交出的成績單就像是每個打者都變成了Bobby Abreu。如果替Tracy評分,這個決定應該退回重寫!

至於其它的後援投手:

G. Carrara(47.2 IPs)
Overall quality of opposing batter : .266/.333/.417
vs L : .247/.385/.411(20.1 IPs)
vs R : .283/.362/.455(27.1 IPs)

Carrara對上左打者時,與先天不足的Schmoll相比,交出來的成績單差不了太多,而且他今年最大的問題在於K與BB的ratio掉了不少(2005年K/BB為43/29,對左打者則是16/16),看來他只適合做mopup。

F. Osoria(12.0 IPs)
Overall quality of opposing batter : .269/.338/.413
vs L : .310/.355/.552(7.0 IPs)
vs R : .278/.316/.278(5.0 IPs)

Osoria的數字不論對左或對右都讓我有一種「Wow~」的感覺!面對右打者時,Osoria居然還沒有讓任何一個右打者擊出過extra-base hit;對上左打者時所交出的成績單倒是和Sanchez一樣爛!當然小樣本或許不太可信,但是Osoria最好還是少去招惹對方的左打者。

Y. Brazoban(45.1 IPs)
Overall quality of opposing batter : .268/.337/.429
vs L : .239/.330/.477(24.0 IPs)
vs R : .277/.333/.518(21.1 IPs)

看Brazoban的數字或許沒有什麼意思,因為Tracy已經把他定位在closer了!不過他的表演還算一致,感覺不出左打或右打對他有絕對的優勢。而Brazoban被SLG的部份這麼高也是合理的,因為他只能用fastball和人硬碰硬。

J. Broxton(2.1 IPs)
Overall quality of opposing batter : .300/.381/.498
vs L : .667/.750/.667(0.2 IPs)
vs R : .167/.167/.167(1.2 IPs)

8月2日在DC的比賽,"The Bull"終於在首度對上左打者時(Actually, a switch hitter C. Baerga)開胡。目前他投的局數雖然少,Tracy給他下的藥....從對手的quality來看....挺猛的。

E. Dessen(34.0 IPs)
Overall quality of opposing batter : .251/.328/.402
vs L : .250/.320/.456(16.2 IPs)
vs R : .197/.254/.246(17.1 IPs)

以Dodgers而言,Dessen在面對左打者時的表現算是「不滿意但可以接受」的了!不過他是牛棚裡的長中繼投手,也許日後輪到Houlton先發時,他都得待命!也就是說Dessen如果維持目前的角色,Tracy應該不會用他做situational pitcher。

到此為止,Alvarez究竟要不要退休都還沒講清楚,但可以理解的是Dodgers的後援投手群已經確定「All-Right」了!在731大限已過的8月,Dodgers只可能從自家農場裡挖救兵,或者...有球隊把左投的reliever放在waiver上讓Dodgers撿回來。

How about Kuo(郭泓志)?他是一個兩度遭遇TJ surgery的投手,使用上必須很謹慎很小心才行。我相信Tracy會多給Kuo一些時間,不會急在這一時把他給弄上來,也期待Kuo能平安的渡過2005年,然後在2006年promote。

至於剩下來的球季,在碰上左打部隊時,Dodgers也許一半靠自己,另一半得靠老天爺了。

6 comments:

madboy said...

據我所知球員升降是DePo在管的,如最近把Broxton、Navarro叫上來之前他就把Tracy抓去密談一番。照現在的情況可推測當時DePo要他儘管操Broxton,然後叫他用Navarro當主要先發捕手。

不過我們看到的臨場調度應是Tracy在負責的。這方面DePo管不多,像選秀那方面也是托給Logan White打理,看起來DePo目前沒有像他老師那樣一把抓啥都要管......

所以Kuo要不要上來應該去問DePo...,Tracy只管什麼狀況時叫他上投手丘。

Morikawa said...

說真的,看到Phillips那個樣子,只要Navarro上來了的話,我想不用DePo講,Tracy都不會讓Phillips再蹲了。

其實比較不能忍受的是讓Phillips繼續先發吧?他佔去一個spot不說,還是個「死位」,動都動不了也不敢換下去,真的不曉得為什麼會這樣....

madboy said...

有那麼難理解嗎?
前一個Phillips名叫Jason Grabowski。白話講就是國王的人馬。

Morikawa said...

Well, politic issue is always the last factor I consider.

madboy said...

Tracy said "Phillips has a higher RISP BA than Choi."
So, he did that with his logic.

And We find that Phillips has a higher RISP BA than A-Rod.
Therefore, maybe as Yankee manerger, he would start Phillips rather than A-Rod.
lol

However, I still don't understand why he loves Grabowski that much.

Morikawa said...

Eh.. I've read something about Tracy's point. But leaving Choi and A. Perez in dugout and starting Phillips at first is the last thing I'd like to see, despite I do believe higher RISP BA is really something.

In Phililps' case, he is the guy with lousy OPS, jammed paths speed and poor arm. His nice situational performance is far from enough to convince fans that starting him is the right decision.

Furthermore, Phillips now is the only backup catcher.(Although I've heard apparently that Edwards has caught for a few games in minor, I don't think Tracy is dare to use him as a backup catcher.) Starting Phililps makes his spot a no doubt dead-end.

Talking about Grabowski, Eh...let me guess. If you ask Tracy why he loves him that much, he may answer:

"Do we need Grabowski? Yes! He is one of our significant pieces, an important left-hand pinch hitter. He just missed to show his greatest."

WTH...