The Anaheim Angels haven't had a brilliant off-season. They've lost Chone Figgins, John Lackey and Vladimir Guerrero. The rival Seattle Mariners, meanwhile, have been making smart moves all winter.
So what do the Angels and GM Tony Reagins do? They signed Joel Pineiro for 2-years and $16 million.
Future's so bright you gotta wear shades, eh Angel fans?
Heh. Let's start off by saying this. Joel Pineiro isn't going to replace John Lackey in any shape or form. He's not as durable or productive as the Angels former ace, but he's also far cheaper.
Pineiro re-invented himself last season in St. Louis as a groundball machine (60% rate, which is pretty). It appears real, too, because Pineiro's BABIP wasn't out of whack (.298), which makes me think it wasn't just Dave Duncan's magic wand that did this.
That said, can Pineiro's new found shtick work in the big boy league? Maybe.
Pineiro's walks per 9 took a nose dive last season (which made him look even better) and that's probably a bit fluky, and that's where he'll find trouble in the AL. The groundball rate might be real, but I don't know if the newfound command is.
Why do I think so? Because Pineiro's transformation did occur under Duncan, so it would appear leaving Duncan's web of influence would be detrimental. If Pineiro can maintain his 1.14 walks per 9 ratio in Los Angeles, great. I'm not betting on it.
But that's okay. Pineiro's not pricey. He's getting roughly two-thirds of Joe Blanton's contract, but will he even be worth that? And, being two-thirds of Joe Blanton (an NL #3 starter) might mean Pineiro is at-best a fifth starter in the AL. Is that what Reagins got? A fifth-starter?
Probably. It's hard to pitch to contact in a league full of mashers. If Pineiro's walk rate goes up, that means more base runners; if Pineiro's sinkers stop sinking as well (or they just get hit harder more often) that means more hits; more base runners plus more hits leads to snide comments on BTF after your starts.
This is a risky move, Angel fans. I don't expect Pineiro to throw 200 innings this year or next (he did that twice between 2000 and 2009). I don't expect Pineiro to produce an ERA under 4.00. I don't expect a walk rate under 1.5, and I don't expect an astounding 60% groundball rate.
I do, however, expect Angel fans to be dreading Pineiro's starts by August barring some fluke.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com.
So what do the Angels and GM Tony Reagins do? They signed Joel Pineiro for 2-years and $16 million.
Future's so bright you gotta wear shades, eh Angel fans?
Heh. Let's start off by saying this. Joel Pineiro isn't going to replace John Lackey in any shape or form. He's not as durable or productive as the Angels former ace, but he's also far cheaper.
Pineiro re-invented himself last season in St. Louis as a groundball machine (60% rate, which is pretty). It appears real, too, because Pineiro's BABIP wasn't out of whack (.298), which makes me think it wasn't just Dave Duncan's magic wand that did this.
That said, can Pineiro's new found shtick work in the big boy league? Maybe.
Pineiro's walks per 9 took a nose dive last season (which made him look even better) and that's probably a bit fluky, and that's where he'll find trouble in the AL. The groundball rate might be real, but I don't know if the newfound command is.
Why do I think so? Because Pineiro's transformation did occur under Duncan, so it would appear leaving Duncan's web of influence would be detrimental. If Pineiro can maintain his 1.14 walks per 9 ratio in Los Angeles, great. I'm not betting on it.
But that's okay. Pineiro's not pricey. He's getting roughly two-thirds of Joe Blanton's contract, but will he even be worth that? And, being two-thirds of Joe Blanton (an NL #3 starter) might mean Pineiro is at-best a fifth starter in the AL. Is that what Reagins got? A fifth-starter?
Probably. It's hard to pitch to contact in a league full of mashers. If Pineiro's walk rate goes up, that means more base runners; if Pineiro's sinkers stop sinking as well (or they just get hit harder more often) that means more hits; more base runners plus more hits leads to snide comments on BTF after your starts.
This is a risky move, Angel fans. I don't expect Pineiro to throw 200 innings this year or next (he did that twice between 2000 and 2009). I don't expect Pineiro to produce an ERA under 4.00. I don't expect a walk rate under 1.5, and I don't expect an astounding 60% groundball rate.
I do, however, expect Angel fans to be dreading Pineiro's starts by August barring some fluke.
Adam can be reached at adamdadkins@gmail.com.
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