Arms, At Last
The Nats have signed right-handed pitcher Jerome Williams to a one-year deal. Lefty Brandon Claussen has agreed to a minor-league contract.
Williams is an intriguing signing. While his last season stunk, it stunk for most every Cubs pitcher not named Zambrano or Howry. And he has youth on his side. He's turning just 25 this year.
Despite that, there are some warning signs. Since his wonderful 3.30 ERA as a rookie, he's declined across the board every year. He hit the pitcher's trifecta o' death: More walks, fewer Ks, more homers. Everything, even his lowly 4.2 K/9 performance in the minors, points to him having lost his stuff.
Williams has had conditioning issues in the past. He's had a tendency to put on weight, and without really having seen him, I can't tell if that's still an issue. At the very least, it could point towards his work ethic. If he's to rebound, the Nats are going to have to hope he gets the fire, and not just donuts, back in the belly.
Although his later performance in the minors didn't warrant it, I'm kind of surprised that the Cubs bailed on him so early last year. He had a rough spring training (6.65 ERA) and started in the pen. Of his three outings, he gave up only 2 earned in just one of those appearances. They gave him a start against Pittsburgh, and he shut them down for six innings. Then he got the crap beaten out of him by the Cardinals in his next start and that was it. On a team that bounced around starters even more than we're projected to, it was surprising that they bailed on him so early. By the end of the year, he had worn out his welcome, was waived and picked up by the A's, who never put him into a game.
Given the steady three-year decline, I'm not overly optimistic that he's going to rebound. But as far as he's fallen (take a look at how good those minor league stats were), he's facing a personal challenge. If he works hard, he's got the opportunity to reposition himself and have the career most people thought he'd have after those first two excellent seasons. If he works, there's no reason he can't be a solid #3 starter, giving the team 180 innings of near-league average ball.
Basically, there's no downside to his signing. If he shows up fat and lazy, they can cut him. If he works out, the Nats get his performance, plus, because he doesn't have 6 years of service time, the Nats would control him for the next year or two. And he's young enough that, if he does rebound, he could stick around for a few years.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. This is a pitcher who's seemingly lost it. It's up to Randy St. Claire to find it. And, for all his wonderful individual successes, this is the same pitching coach that presided over the disastrous staff of last year.
I'm much less excited about Claussen. If he threw with a different appendage, he'd be dumped in the Simontacchi dustbin. That being said, he's a flyball lefty who pitched in a tough park with a lousy outfield defense. He strikes out enough batters, but walks a few too many. If he has his health, which is a huge if with him, he could be a surprise. If the Nats got his 2005 performance out of him, they should be ecstatic.
Eh... hit publish too soon. Claussen had arm surgery late last year to repair a torn rotator cuff. That's usually the kiss of death for pitchers, so he'd be unlikely to show up on the radar before mid-season anyway. He's not one to count on for innings, even after he does come back, as it usually takes some time to get the touch back after that surgery -- assuming he's able to, at all.
Williams is an intriguing signing. While his last season stunk, it stunk for most every Cubs pitcher not named Zambrano or Howry. And he has youth on his side. He's turning just 25 this year.
Despite that, there are some warning signs. Since his wonderful 3.30 ERA as a rookie, he's declined across the board every year. He hit the pitcher's trifecta o' death: More walks, fewer Ks, more homers. Everything, even his lowly 4.2 K/9 performance in the minors, points to him having lost his stuff.
Williams has had conditioning issues in the past. He's had a tendency to put on weight, and without really having seen him, I can't tell if that's still an issue. At the very least, it could point towards his work ethic. If he's to rebound, the Nats are going to have to hope he gets the fire, and not just donuts, back in the belly.
Although his later performance in the minors didn't warrant it, I'm kind of surprised that the Cubs bailed on him so early last year. He had a rough spring training (6.65 ERA) and started in the pen. Of his three outings, he gave up only 2 earned in just one of those appearances. They gave him a start against Pittsburgh, and he shut them down for six innings. Then he got the crap beaten out of him by the Cardinals in his next start and that was it. On a team that bounced around starters even more than we're projected to, it was surprising that they bailed on him so early. By the end of the year, he had worn out his welcome, was waived and picked up by the A's, who never put him into a game.
Given the steady three-year decline, I'm not overly optimistic that he's going to rebound. But as far as he's fallen (take a look at how good those minor league stats were), he's facing a personal challenge. If he works hard, he's got the opportunity to reposition himself and have the career most people thought he'd have after those first two excellent seasons. If he works, there's no reason he can't be a solid #3 starter, giving the team 180 innings of near-league average ball.
Basically, there's no downside to his signing. If he shows up fat and lazy, they can cut him. If he works out, the Nats get his performance, plus, because he doesn't have 6 years of service time, the Nats would control him for the next year or two. And he's young enough that, if he does rebound, he could stick around for a few years.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. This is a pitcher who's seemingly lost it. It's up to Randy St. Claire to find it. And, for all his wonderful individual successes, this is the same pitching coach that presided over the disastrous staff of last year.
Eh... hit publish too soon. Claussen had arm surgery late last year to repair a torn rotator cuff. That's usually the kiss of death for pitchers, so he'd be unlikely to show up on the radar before mid-season anyway. He's not one to count on for innings, even after he does come back, as it usually takes some time to get the touch back after that surgery -- assuming he's able to, at all.
6 Comments:
I, for one, am extremely excited by these two signings. Not necessarly because Williams and Claussen WILL be an improvement, but among the dustbin the Mats are rooting around in, they were the best combination of youth and talent available.
Maybe John Thomson would be a marginally better pitcher now, but there is no chance he suddenly becomes league average or better. Williams and Claussen have that capability. Yes, of course, its a long shot, but it's happened before.
By
traderkirk, at 1/12/2007 1:39 PM
To nitpick, other than last year, John Thomson has been an average or better than average for all but 1 year of his career. He just hasn't been able to stay upright for too long. (Sounds like our staff ace!)
By
Chris Needham, at 1/12/2007 1:43 PM
When do we find out how much they paid for Williams? Be curious just to see what they're willing to spend. Did Ohka get picked up yet?
By
Anonymous, at 1/12/2007 2:32 PM
There are ed hardy shirts
,pretty ed hardy shirt for men, ed hardy womens in the ed hardy online store designed by ed hardy ,many cheap ed hardy shirt ,glasses,caps,trouers ed hardy shirts on sale ,
You can go to edhardyshirts.com to have a look ,you may find one of ed hardy clothing fit for you
http://straighthairgirl.blog126.fc2.com
http://www.seriousblogging.com/crazygirlsshirts
http://www.free-blog-site.com/iammyself
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/hotfishing
puma mens shoes
nike air max ltd
NIKE air shoes
nike max ltd
orange converse
adidas shoes
nike shoes
puma shoes
addidas shoes
cheap converse shoes
cheap nike shoes
cheap puma shoes
By
Anonymous, at 5/18/2009 5:42 AM
I would like to be the supporter of yours. Thank you for sharing such a nice article.
chaussures puma
puma speed cat
Nike Tn Chaussures
requin tn
nike shox
puma shoes
puma CAT
puma basket
puma speed
baskets puma
puma sport
puma femmes
puma shox r4 torch
nike air max requin
nike shox r3
shox rival r3
tn plus
chaussures shox
nike shox r4 torch
air max tn requin
nike tn femme
pas cher nike
tn chaussures
nike rift
nike shox nz
chaussures shox
nike shox rival
shox rival
chaussures requin
jeans online
cheap armani jeans
cheap G-star jeans
By
Anonymous, at 9/21/2009 4:22 AM
we have lots of
spyder jacket
spyder jackets
spyder jackets
spyder jacket
spyder jackets for cheap
mens spyder jackets
mens spyder jackets
spyder jackets for cheap
womens spyder jackets
spyder jackets cheap
spyder jackets cheap
womens spyder jackets
spyder jackets for men
spyder jackets for men
cheap spyder jackets
cheap spyder jackets
cheap spyder jackets
cheap spyder jackets
discount spyder jacket
discount spyder jacket
discount spyder jacket
north face jackets
north face jackets
cheap polo shirts
north face jacket
cheap north face jackets
cheap polo shirts
Columbia Jacket
Columbia Jacket
ralph lauren jacket
ralph lauren jacket
wholesale polo shirts
wholesale polo shirts
welcom to our store.
By
Anonymous, at 10/22/2009 10:26 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home