Making Plans for Romo
by Grant on Apr 9, 2009 10:22 AM PDT
64 comments
There's no secret that Sergio Romo is a fan favorite around here. Dude can pitch. In fact, it's safe to say that he's the Official Mustachioed Low Arm Slot Reliever of McCovey Chronicles. That might seem like a superficial title, but once he puts on the orange velvet jacket that comes with it, he'll know the true meaning of it all.
Unfortunately, Romo is hurt. I'm no doctor, but it might have had to do with the 723 innings he's pitched between the minors, majors, and winter ball over the past year. I'll have an intern look into it. Romo will be back at the end of April or early May, and he should have a spot in the bullpen. But that means someone gets demoted, designated or released. Or it means that they don't get a chance to be Bret Michael's love slave for a year. I can't remember. It's all so confusing.
The candidates to make room for Romo:
Brandon Medders
His minor league stats aren't very impressive -- his major league ERA over 151 innings is almost a full run lower. He looks like a viable back-end-of-the-bullpen guy, though. Both of his 2009 innings suggest that he's here to stay! A sinkerballer with some long relief experience is a pretty good fit for this bullpen.
I thought that I read he was unwilling to accept an assignment to Fresno, but I can't find verification on that. That would be a bold ultimatum to make when you had to settle for a minor league contract in the first place. If there's a reason for taking him off the roster, it's that he's never been very impressive at any level. That's kind of a big reason.
Merkin Valdez
When he was healthy from 11:03 a.m. to 12:31 p.m. on April 10th last year, he looked like a fantastic relief arm. Bochy seems to think he's healthy enough to handle multiple innings, and there's no questioning his stuff. We'll wring value out of the Russ Ortiz deal yet! The only reason to send him to Fresno is if he needed to take his time coming back from injury.
Joe Martinez
The guy leads the team in wins. How could they send someone like that down? A plus-control guy with a sinker and a hint of prospect sheen is a great choice for mop-up/spot starter. There is a case to be made for letting him get innings in AAA, though. Medders would probably come close to Martinez's performance, and neither would get enough innings in the last-man role to make a huge difference either way.
Alex Hinshaw
Hoppin' fastball. Dynamic, sharp-breaking curve. All from the left side. Awesome, awesome potential. No idea where it's going. The only reason I don't think Hinshaw is the guaranteed victim of a Romo return is that he's the second lefty in the pen. Giants roster statute 143.5.12 C states that "All rosters must have two lefties in the bullpen, regardless of quality." This is the Alvin Morman Rule, and isn't very ambiguous. It might even be more applicable with Jeremy Affeldt more of a full-inning guy than a LOOGY.
There they are, in all their glory. Last couple of sentences aside, I still think Hinshaw is the one to go. Bochy's used him twice now, and both appearances have almost seemed like a test. Here, kid -- here's a non-crucial situation, so see what you can do. He looked great last night, but "looking great" for Hinshaw still involves copious amounts of wonky control.
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Hopefully Hinshaw!
You probably know it as MYANMAR, but it will always be BURMA to me!
by NuschlerFace on Apr 9, 2009 10:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
We’re only making plans for Romo.
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 9, 2009 10:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The spatula-hat seals it for Hinshaw. He is a goner.
by Lars The Wanderer on Apr 9, 2009 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Romo’s whole future is as good as sealed?
by Merope on Apr 9, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
we only want what’s best for him
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
by delorean on Apr 9, 2009 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This scares me
When he was healthy from 11:03 a.m. to 12:31 p.m. on April 10th last year, he looked like a fantastic relief arm.
Is it weird that I remember exactly what I was doing at that time? I vote Merkin, for this reason alone
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
by Useful_Idiot on Apr 9, 2009 10:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I really doubt it’ll be Hinshaw. As I’ve pointed out many times before, teams have a hard-on for carrying two lefty relievers at once.
I really doubt it’ll be Valdez. He’s out of options and if healthy he’s looked pretty damn good.
That leaves Medders or Martinez. I’d rather it be Medders, but I’m guessing it’ll be Martinez.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 9, 2009 10:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Also, re: Hinshaw
Does anyone really think the Giants look at walk rates when evaluating pitchers? REALLY? If so, how do you explain the pitching staffs of the last several years?
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 9, 2009 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they tried to ignore it as long as they could. Just like they did with the ever increasing age of the team.
Brett Pill - Lord of the double.
by malarky on Apr 9, 2009 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m thinking you are on the money jcb. Most Managers and GM’s seem to think it’s a requirement to have two lefties in the ‘pen. I don’t disagree, but it would be nice if Hinshaw finds some control. If not, Affeldt is going to be one worn out MF.
I’m thinking Martinez will be the one moved down.
"Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move."-Leroy "Satchel" Paige
My adopted son Matt Downs . Utility Infielder with a Bat !
by nvsfg on Apr 9, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sabean couldn’t live without a couple of lefties in the pen. Although with the crazy backup catcher situation maybe he lost his rulebook for roster setup. Merkin is out of options so he would have to get through waivers to be sent down. I doubt that happens. I think it will be Joey. He has options and Medders or Merkin can act as the long man.
Brett Pill - Lord of the double.
by malarky on Apr 9, 2009 10:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I say Joey since he’s the rookie of the bunch.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
by Natto on Apr 9, 2009 10:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Natto hates freedom.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
by rotorueter on Apr 9, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is true.
I was actually trying to think the way the GIANTS BRASS would think.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
by Natto on Apr 9, 2009 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
WORST PITCHER IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 9, 2009 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
3rd worst at best
(hides)
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Apr 9, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I HATE YOU
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
by jponry on Apr 9, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate it, too, jpons, but I bet Sabean wants HEY JOEY to get more innings and that means AAA.
Joe Martinez!: Eagles fly together!!!!!
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
by cornball on Apr 9, 2009 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Probably Medders. Of course, Merk might get himself injured again by then and it’ll be a moot point (MUTE POINT)
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
by jponry on Apr 9, 2009 10:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, for all intensive purposes, it would be a mute point then.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 9, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
intensive purposes
whoa- I like that!
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Apr 9, 2009 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sadly, a lot of people do.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 9, 2009 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, most people COULD care less…
/trying to suppress my inner grammar-nerd
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Apr 9, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I could of corrected you before you made that mistake, I would of.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 9, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
When people say “I could care less” instead of “couldn’t” it drives me crazy. Now my girlfriend says “I could care less” just to irk me.
I wish I could say I couldn’t care less when she gets under my skin in such fashion, but that would be a lie.
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Apr 9, 2009 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1!
soo glad I’m not alone there
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
by bondslegend on Apr 9, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate it too. Hating that kind of error is apart of my life.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 9, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
In fact, when people do that everyday, it makes me loose respect for them.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 9, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You (plural) might say you could care less.
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
by bgunn on Apr 9, 2009 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
On another note...
I really hope Matt Cain wins the Brewers tonight.
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Apr 9, 2009 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
your to wright about that
the people who do that need to have they’re head examined
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
by bondslegend on Apr 9, 2009 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Before anyone goes crazy, check this out: http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/comments/2008/1/28/144642/975/44#1257632
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
by Natto on Apr 9, 2009 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was cool. But I don’t know why everyone gets so worked up about it—I just
take it with a grain of rice.
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
by bgunn on Apr 9, 2009 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow,
This is way too intense for my purposes.
by On Deck #44 on Apr 9, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m voting Medders, but we all know it’s going to work out perfectly that as soon as Romo is ready to come OFF the DL, Valdez will be ready to go ON the DL. It should work out perfectly.
I'm thinking but nothing's happening.
by JRPhillips on Apr 9, 2009 11:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sounds like it should work out perfectly.
Adoptive parent of Noah Lowry. Because he was awesome once, and, goddammit, he shall be awesome once again!
I hope.
by Cookyman on Apr 9, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
scoreless last nite...walked one
you guys are way too critical
by bacci40 on Apr 9, 2009 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He has 31 walks in 40 1/3 major league innings. I like Hinshaw, but that’s not so good.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Adopted Giant: Fred "Ruthless Aggression" Lewis
by jcb9 on Apr 9, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea, alex has to work on his bb rate
thing is, that wont happen in the minors, where his control was pretty good
would hate to see hinshaw sent down…i love watching him pitch
kid is nuts
by bacci40 on Apr 9, 2009 11:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe he needs to go down to AAA to find his mojo.
co-dad of IshikaBOOM w/AfDC.
Ishikawa, let the boy hit against lefties.
by kennv on Apr 9, 2009 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Would rather it be Mehders
but it’ll almost certainly be Martinez, maybe AleKs. I like Hinshaw quite a bit, though. Hard-throwing lefties are always awesome, I just wish he wasn’t so wild
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
by bondslegend on Apr 9, 2009 11:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It doesn't really matter
My son is better than all those guys, anyway. But I voted Hinshaw because he’s easily the least effective of the pitchers listed. I don’t especially care about which hand he uses to pitch; I care more about what the ball does when it approaches the plate. Or doesn’t, in Sir Alex’s case.
I also heart Medders.
Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005. And winner of the 2012 NL Fireman of the Year Award!
by Lyle on Apr 9, 2009 12:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think if Hinshaw’s walks lead to him giving up a bunch of runs, it’ll be him. Otherwise, it’s Martinez. I really doubt Medders will get sent down unless he has a bunch of bad outings because sending him to the minors might mean we lose him from the organization.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.
by groug on Apr 9, 2009 12:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Where’s secret option “Zito”?
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Apr 9, 2009 12:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s the move I use when trying to lay down a Playboy model.
I have yet to see results… just like the real Zito!
Adopted groomer for Mark Gardner's Mullet / Adopted brother of the AnVil
by SoFa King Mike on Apr 9, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Regarding Zito
He’s on Twitter… He’s kinda funny too.
by On Deck #44 on Apr 9, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
huh.
…just threw another curve…
… ball one…
… ball two…
Wow , didn’t think that would get hit that hard…
… ball one…
… ball two…
repeat.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
by zenbitz on Apr 9, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can it be Juan Uribe plz?
Jesse Foppert: I Still Believe
"I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen." ~Bob Lemon,
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Apr 9, 2009 1:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
THIS
If we had an “anti adoption thread” where you picked the giant you hated the most, Uribe would totally be my choice.
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
by bondslegend on Apr 9, 2009 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
by bgunn on Apr 9, 2009 1:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
In other bullpen news, the Phillies just signed Tyler Walker to a minor league contract, so now they have Walker, Scott Eyre, and Jack Taschner and are well on their way on recreating the Giants’ 2005 bullpen.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
by Natto on Apr 9, 2009 1:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Philoldelphia
also pedro feliz
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
by bondslegend on Apr 9, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Joey
Hopefully Joey will get sent to Fresno and he can get innings as a starter. That way when one of our starters goes down in the middle of June, Joey will be ready to step in.
by Angry Dwarf on Apr 9, 2009 1:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I voted for Martinez for the same reason, but I’d say the next three weeks (or more) will give us the answer more than what any of these guys have done in the past. I loved watching Hinshaw last season (although admittedly I’m a lot more patient with walks from youngsters with plus stuff when the team’s already out of playoff contention) and he was so much better last night than he was on Tuesday, so he who’s to say he won’t settle down in the coming weeks? Or conversely, who’s to say Hinshaw won’t unravel as time goes on like that other forgotten gem from the Russ Ortiz trade, Damian Moss?
Medders and Martinez are both totally unproven, and Valdez might be injured again by Tax Day. It’s conceivable that all of them could succeed or fail in April. If the whole bullpen’s on fire on May 1 and Romo’s healthy, I bet Romo gets some time in Fresno, possibly to get a little closer practice.
Also, Romo has an elbow sprain, which means the Giants are currently hoping rest will stave off any Dr. James Andrews moments. Counting on his return within the next month is like counting on Amy G. to interrupt Kruk and Kuip with something I didn’t already know.
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Apr 9, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I voted Martinez, but on second thought until Hinshaw can actually throw strikes, he should go. My mind automatically processed the Alvin Morman rule and I made my vote. Watching the Giants front office function for all these years, I have become brainwashed. On the other hand, I wasn’t at all phased last night when we lost because we gave up a three run homer to the opposing team’s pitcher. It is a blessing and a curse.
by CrispinGloversBalls on Apr 9, 2009 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Martinez
he’s the new guy
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
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by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 9, 2009 3:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I voted for Hinshaw. I want a guy that is dependable to get the ball over the plate. I’d rather have Hinny get more experience throwing strikes in AAA, not when the game is on the line for the Giants. I like Alex’s curve but the fact that he cannot consistently throw strikes makes me want to see less of him.
Giant Dirtbags: Brian Anderson, Todd Jennings, Steve Hammond, John Bowker
Wronghanded Affeldt doing it right
by Giant among Angels on Apr 9, 2009 6:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
JESUS CHRIST
this thread almost killed Joe Martinez!
God Bless the Long-Reliever!
tips glass
says prayer
Charlie Hayes ate my homework
by glenallen hill's waterpipe on Apr 9, 2009 9:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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