Platooning Closers

The A's now have two relievers on their roster that have saved at least 20 games in each of the last two years. We all heard Beane & Co. saying that Bailey's the man in the 9th (even Fuentes admitted it). But how would you feel about us platooning these guys?
2010 WHIP vs. R/L
Bailey - 0.86/1.10
Fuentes - 1.20/0.71

Click on the Title for the original article on Fangraphs which sparked the idea.

over 1 year ago A'sFanDFW 17 comments 1 recs |

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No

You cant really “platoon” pitchers like that. If we have bailey up, and pull him because a lefty comes up, then when fuentes comes out on the mound, the opposing team can just pinch hit a righty. At that point, Bailey cannot come back into the game.

C'mon Beane! Close off the bottom deck and reopen the top!

by proevn on Feb 11, 2011 2:24 PM PST reply actions

I was thinking more like platooning

these guys for full innings. If there’s a team that has a couple of good righties coming up in the ninth (Texas comes to mind), then we would warm up Bailey. If we’re playing the Red Sox with Ellsbury, Crawford, A-Gon, Papi and Drew all batting from the left side, shouldn’t we consider going with Fuentes?

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on Feb 11, 2011 2:41 PM PST reply actions

I wouldn't be surprised or upset if this actually happened.

PT pointed out that Geren used Ziegler against RH hitters something like 70% of the time, which ranked among the most in the majors of that particular stat. If that situation you mentioned above happened––facing Ortiz, Gonzalez, and Drew in any late inning situation––that’s the perfect situation for Fuentes.

by NateHST on Feb 12, 2011 8:03 PM PST up reply actions

Fuentes

If Geren puts Fuentes in the game during a save situation in the 9th inning vs the Red Sox, and Andrew Bailey is perfectly healthy, Fire Geren Posts will begin immediately.

C'mon Beane! Close off the bottom deck and reopen the top!

by proevn on Feb 11, 2011 3:14 PM PST reply actions

And hopefully those posts will be shot down by other knowledgeable posters

My worry is that Geren will not be willing to do this. He seemed to work it out with the middle/set-up guys, so I’d love to see it in the 9th. As long as Fuentes keeps putting up those kinds of splits, it would be crazy not to use him against a lefty heavy lineup in the 9th.

by boilerdan on Feb 13, 2011 5:56 PM PST up reply actions

I think the perception of Baiely as a better closer

actually clouds our judgment on this issue. We probably all agree that we’re generally more comfortable with Bailey in the 9th, but the reality when you look at the stats tells a different story. After considering the splits, would you rather have Bailey or Fuentes pitching to Mauer/Morneau/Thome?

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on Feb 13, 2011 7:01 PM PST up reply actions

If Gardenhire stacks those guys

it would be criminal to not have Fuentes face them in either the 8th or 9th inning.

by boilerdan on Feb 14, 2011 3:37 AM PST up reply actions

agreed!

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by dwishinsky on Feb 14, 2011 6:54 AM PST up reply actions

Job security

As a manager, regardless the career, isn’t there some truth behind building confidence in your staff in the role they hold. If you work for a company, and a new hire comes in, and the manager immediately hands the new hire some of your responsibilities, doesnt the employee usually feel less secure in his/her tasks? And what happens when the new employee can actually perform better?

There is such thing as looking at stats and righty/lefty splits, but there is also such thing as keeping the confidence of your closer in tact while branding the 9th inning vs. Oakland as Bailey Time. Nobody goes into New York and expects to face Sergio Mitre in the 9th.

I wonder what will happen this year to Paplebon’s performance with Bobby Jenks coming to Boston. Will he excel because he has competition for his job, or will he fall because he is less confidence in his abilities?

C'mon Beane! Close off the bottom deck and reopen the top!

by proevn on Feb 14, 2011 8:31 AM PST up reply actions

I don't have a problem with the "bullpen my committee" approach

But I think basing it on Lefty/Righty won’t really work. I think you just go with the hot hand.

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by dwishinsky on Feb 11, 2011 4:45 PM PST reply actions

8 relievers

Bailey, Fuentes, Balfour, Breslow, Weurtz, Ziegler, Devine, and Blevins have saved at least one game in the last 3 seasons. So has Tyson Ross.

by chrisatsac on Feb 13, 2011 11:29 PM PST reply actions

Trying to work on my posting skills

Harden’s back
Hopefully using two closers wouldn’t mess with their psyches too much

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on Feb 24, 2011 12:21 PM PST reply actions

According to espn

Rich says he is
bq. pain-free and ready to resume his spring training regimen
If he says he’s fine, I guess he’s the top option for the ~~fifth starter spot~~ next guy to get injured list.

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on Feb 24, 2011 1:25 PM PST reply actions

Let's try that block quote again

Pain-free and ready to resume his spring training regimen

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on Feb 24, 2011 1:26 PM PST reply actions

Hoping I can get it all figured out

Harden still thinks of himself as a starter
I was thinking the A’s wanted him to be a reliever, but when I looked back at the press releases, they talked about him starting bq. The 29-year-old righty, who received a contract worth $1.5 million plus incentives, will begin his second tour of duty with Oakland vying for the fifth spot in the rotation.
Who knows?

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on Feb 24, 2011 1:49 PM PST reply actions

block quote

I’m trying!

The 29-year-old righty, who received a contract worth $1.5 million plus incentives, will begin his second tour of duty with Oakland vying for the fifth spot in the rotation.

We’ll see.

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on Feb 24, 2011 1:52 PM PST reply actions

Sorry!

Rich Harden is great. In a recent story, he was cited as a fifth starter option bq. The 29-year-old righty, who received a contract worth $1.5 million plus incentives, will begin his second tour of duty with Oakland vying for the fifth spot in the rotation.bq.
I hope the best for him, but I don’t know if I believe it.
Harden is was one of my favorites, as is