Red Sox Sign Dan Wheeler
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 18, 2010 10:51 AM EST
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PrintAccording to Gordon Edes, the Red Sox have signed Rhode Island native Dan Wheeler to a 1-year deal with a team option for 2012.
Wheeler, 33, is kind of the opposite of Bobby Jenks. While Jenks pitched well last year but had poor results thanks to bad luck and bad defense, Wheeler has spent the last few years enjoying tiny BABIPs--likely due in part to his high fly ball rate--and the deceptively low ERAs that come from them.
Still, Wheeler is a solid fourth option out of the pen, given he should only really be pitching in sixth and occasionally the seventh inning, and hopefully against righties, against who he's consistently recorded low xFIPs. Wheeler is prone to the home run when facing lefties, however, which is pretty much the last thing you want out of a reliever.
Though this would seem to complete the Red Sox' bullpen, they might not be content with having Felix Doubront acting as a lefty specialist instead of a Triple-A starter, and so could be looking to add one more southpaw before the year is over. Combining a LOOGY with Wheeler as the ROOGY would essentially give the Sox 4 reliable innings of production with Atchison and Wakefield still available for long relief duties.
Wheeler will receive $3 million in 2011, with a $3 million team option in 2012 that vests with 65 appearances, per Alex Speier.
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I'm probably forgetting someone in between
But who cares?
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 18, 2010 10:56 AM EST up reply actions
This may sound stupid
but what does LOOGY mean?
by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 18, 2010 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
Lefty One Out GuY
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 18, 2010 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
Oh, that makes sense
I just see it everywhere and have never known what it meant.
by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 18, 2010 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
There's also
LAIMer: League Average Innings Muncher
ROOGY: (obvious)
CC: Cheddar Combo
Brandon Arroho: Bronson Arroyo, per Tim McCarver
The amazing thing about Brandon Arroho
Was the context. It was from the 2004 ALCS:
“Tomorrow it’s Pedro Martinez against Brandon Arroho in Game 2.”
So the name was wrong, and two red sox pitchers were facing each other. Great job, Timmy.
He was referring to the fight club that happens in the dank bowels of Yankee Stadium
Which was, in its own way, a McCarverian slip of the tongue, since, you know, the first rule of fight club is…
I'm sorry...
I make it a point to try not post in other team’s blogs unless the thread involves both teams (so as not to annoy/abuse it), But I had to break my rule and give you a kudos. I was laughing for well over a minute at this, and every time I reread it I start chuckling again.
My buddy in college was a Red Sox fan and would only EVER refer to Arroyo as Arroho from that point on and “Arroho” is all I can think of every time The Phils are on Fox and Timmy starts singing the praises of Carlos “Roo-Ehzz” and “Rawwl” Ibanez.
+1 for you, Sir.
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Dec 18, 2010 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
Ha ha...apology accepted!
Disdain for Tim McCarver is universal!!
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
Tim McCarver
is also known as “Ol’ Second Inning” due to the fact that he would, apparently, always take a dump in between top and bottom of the second inning during his playing days.
Without fail. Now that…is regularity.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
"I hah lawhs diereeyuh."
Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.
by Frederick0220 on Dec 18, 2010 5:23 PM EST up reply actions
Thank you.
I knew what it was, but forgot how to piece together the acronym.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
if he was left handed
but he’s not – he sucks.
underachiever
but you never know.
he does have some excellent years behind him
I'd be fine with him joining
Hill, DiNardo, Doubront, and whoever else, battling to see who makes the roster if he’d sign a non-guaranteed deal.
+1
leave that 7th spot open for competition – good stuff
the 2011 sox are done spending. there are a couple of unknowns – to be determined – that’s a good thing.
yepper, we are in a good position going into spring training.
theo, enjoy the holiday vacation
Seriously, the only thing is catcher,
Which could fall apart 3 weeks into April. We’ll see, I’m banking on Salty’s youth and righty splits, like everyone. Mmmm, salty corn chips, with sea salt…..
Another excellent signing by Theo.
An A+ for the front office this offseason. Now lets get a left hander and we’ll be set.
Jenks and Wheeler make this a very good pen
but the lack of Lefties does worry me. Maybe the combination of Doubront, Miller and Hill will be good enough to take care of that, but it still concerns me. Otherwise though, I think Paps, Bard, Jenks, Wheeler and Atchison make for a deep and flexible group. Really, this has been a killer off-season job by Theo and Co.
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I actually like this signing
The Sox have some serious gas in the pen now with Bard, Paps and Jenks. Adding a crafty pitcher might be a great idea with a contrasting approach to pitching other than burning a fastball past the hitter.
I mean I wish Dan Wheeler was more like Trevor Hoffman in SD, but good enough.
Wheeler stuck out 8.57 guys per 9 IP in 2010.
He’s not like… some crafty junkballer getting by on guile.
Fucking 89 MPH fastballs, how do they work?
by Tarrsk on Dec 18, 2010 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Fucking magnets dude.. fucking magnets.
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
stat guys, im not saying he cant get people out
I am saying he doesnt throw 98…how is that not obvious?
I'm aware he doesn't throw that hard.
All I said (for the benefit of all who commented) was that:
He’s not like… some crafty junkballer getting by on guile.
He’s got pretty good stuff for a middle reliever.
STUFF ≠ VELOCITY
He succeeds despite throwing 88 out of the bullpen.
If that’s not an indication of being crafty, then what is?
Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.
by Frederick0220 on Dec 19, 2010 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
Assuming a guy throws hard based on his strikeout rate is a hasty presumption.
SoxAcumen said, “Adding a crafty pitcher might be a great idea with a contrasting approach to pitching other than burning a fastball past the hitter.”
Wheeler’s average fastball velocity last year was 88.6 MPH.
Therefore his point stands.
Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.
by Frederick0220 on Dec 18, 2010 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
Wheeler
only throws his fastball around 50% of the time, He uses a cutter (15%) & slider (30%). His cutter has some good bite on it and runs around 75 mph
Good to know.
You sure his cutter is that slow?
Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.
by Frederick0220 on Dec 18, 2010 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
Well, then that's definitely wrong, as cutters are always harder than sliders.
Fangraphs is saying 83.7 on the cutter and 77.3 on the slider which makes sense.
Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.
by Frederick0220 on Dec 19, 2010 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
Sounds more like his slider.
Though the two are easily confounded. I haven’t actually looked at any pitchfx data, but it’s entirely possible that he throws a range of cutter-slider pitches.
is he a ground ball out pitcher?
or a fly ball out pitcher?
i think he’s a fly ball guy and he gives up inconvenient bombs.
this may have something to do with him not being tendered.
flyball tendencies.
Strong flyball tendencies. 34.6% GBs in 2010 & 36.1% career.
He strikes out a decent amount of guys and has good control. Overall the package is that of an above average pitcher best suited for the role of a middle reliever. As a middle reliever he’s one of the better mid relief guys in the game.
I agree,
I just don’t see it because of the fact that he’s a former closer, and we’d want him on a short deal as a strictly lefty killer. It doesn’t make a lot of sense for him to sign with us, although if he did I’d love it.
I think this is all about what Fuentes wants to be a closer/setup guy.
the rumor is he is asking for a multiple year deal upwards of $8 Million a year.
Ohman's...eh
We should’ve made an offer for Choate.
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 18, 2010 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
That would have been a good idea.
by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 18, 2010 6:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I loved him on the rockies
i def wouldn’t complain if he pitched for the sox, but I don’t think he would go for a reduced role and a pay cut.
But if I was a great reliever/closer and wanted the chance for a ring, I don’t think the options get much better than here in Boston.
by superdaveyboy on Dec 18, 2010 11:14 PM EST up reply actions
We have recently signed a lot of guys for cheaper than was presumed possible.
When good energy flows around a club like this players want to be a part of that and have a chance at a ring. Think the Celtics of the last few years. Indeed, Dan Wheeler clearly left a lot of money on the table when you look at what Matt Guerrier got. Rather have Wheeler.
agree - we have gotten good deals
let’s hope we got more than we paid for!!
theo et al, have definitely applied smarts in this bull pen ordeal.
If we can find a Shaq
I’ll take a Shaq.
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 19, 2010 3:30 AM EST up reply actions
Lefties needed
I like Fuentes too, or maybe Rhodes. Better yet both for about 5M so you can use one as a LOOGY and one to clear out opponents’ lefties in the 6th or 7th inning after opponents have constructed their lineup to face one of our 4 starting right-handers.
I also think Theo might have a left-handed starter up his sleeve as an acquisition to battle Yankees and better complement our right-handed bullpen. Move Dice-K but leave Doubront to season for most of the year.
I could even live with Doubront as a 5th starter this year and flip DiceK for Beltran to add a bit more punch to the right-handed batting squad.
I read that the sox are looking at Dennys Reyes.
I suppose the big sweat could be good.
embrace the martian
Twitter: @BoldandBrash
by BoldandBrash on Dec 18, 2010 6:46 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Arthur Rhodes
Has he signed with anyone yet? If not what would he old man cost?
He hasn't
reports I saw were that he wanted to re-sign with cincinnati and they wanted him to re-sign, but he wanted two years and they just wanted to give him one. I’m having trouble imagining anyone actually giving a 40-year old two years, so I’m guessing he remains there.
Now, if Tek can just convince Papelbon...
…that falling in love with his fastball is not helping…then how can you not like the Red Sox chances of winning the AL pennant?
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