2k11 Jeff Niemann

[Hammer]

Niemann's nightmare season continued tonight, giving up 5 ER in 4.2 to the White Sox. His ERA stands 7+. How much longer til the Rays send him down?

[Moonlight J]

They can't send him down - he's out of options thanks to the major league deal the old regime signed him to.

He's 5-9 with a 7.53 ERA since the all-star break last season with a 1.7 HR/9, a 1.68 WHIP, and 29 of the last 33 basestealers against him have been successful. He can't locate his fastball and is behind to nearly every batter. I'm hoping they find some kind of excuse to DL him after this start tonight because he's pure **it out there on the mound right now. The only team he has done somewhat decently against was the Twins, but they're an AAA lineup these days.

[chancellor]

Free Jake McGee!!!!!!!!!

[Moonlight J]

Free Jake McGee!!!!!!!!!

He sucks too right now

[Teenwolf]

Is it something to do with his height throwing off his mechanics? I've always thought it was easier for any real tall pitchers to lose their command.

With young pitchers, I like taking guys coming off poor 2nd halves, as I figure they're just building up arm strength. The way Niemann and Hughes have pitched so far, I may have to abandon that strategy.

[Bodhizefa]

Alex Cobb sure seems like a guy who could step into Niemann's spot and do alright. He's no dynamo, but his profile suggests he could be somewhat successful.

[bryanbutler]

he's killing me in 2 leagues. bah. should have known better...

[chancellor]

He sucks too right now

That's due to lack of work, and poor planning on the Rays part. Send him to AAA, get him stretched out as a starter, and he'll outperform Niemann going away. Not that the bar is set very high. Using McGee practically as a LOOGY is a waste of his talent.

[Bodhizefa]

That's due to lack of work, and poor planning on the Rays part. Send him to AAA, get him stretched out as a starter, and he'll outperform Niemann going away. Not that the bar is set very high. Using McGee practically as a LOOGY is a waste of his talent.

But they've already got serviceable replacements in both Alex Cobb and Alexander Torres waiting at Durham. McGee's control is still way behind guys like that, and at this point in his development plan, it makes a lot more sense to leave him in the bullpen. If this were another team that was starved for starting pitching, I'd totally agree with you -- it'd be worth the investment of time at that point. But given the depth in the Rays' system, I believe McGee's best role is in the pen.

[chancellor]

But they've already got serviceable replacements in both Alex Cobb and Alexander Torres waiting at Durham. McGee's control is still way behind guys like that, and at this point in his development plan, it makes a lot more sense to leave him in the bullpen. If this were another team that was starved for starting pitching, I'd totally agree with you -- it'd be worth the investment of time at that point. But given the depth in the Rays' system, I believe McGee's best role is in the pen.

Hey, quit ruining my fantasy baseball dreams with facts!

Free Jake McGee!

[Moonlight J]

That's due to lack of work, and poor planning on the Rays part. Send him to AAA, get him stretched out as a starter, and he'll outperform Niemann going away. Not that the bar is set very high. Using McGee practically as a LOOGY is a waste of his talent.

Nope -- he's not a starter because through all these years, his change-up is still quite a crappy pitch. He can't throw it as anything more than a show-me pitch more than 3-4 times a game and never for strikes. Now, he has lost command of his slider and can't locate his fastball. His ass is going back to AAA as soon as JP Howell is ready (mid-May) so he can work on getting his relieving skills in order. He's simply not starting pitching material with with guys like Cobb, Torres, Moore, and Archer in the mix, there is no need to make McGee into a starter. He has the stuff to be a shut down closer, but he has to put it all together. Ramos is the LOOGY on this team but McGee has been so bad in most of his situations, even throughout the spring, that Maddon has had to choose his spots carefully when using McGee.

[onejayhawk]

Niemann just hit the WW in my 20 team league. At 28, you have to think this is his prime. He may learn to keep the ball in the park, but the K/BB will never be this good again.

J

[Hammer]

nice bounce back last night after I cut him last week.


grrrr

[Moonlight J]

both games have come against depleted Twins lineups.....don't get your hopes up. He still made a lot of mistakes last night but the Twins lacked the talent in the lineup to make him pay for it.

[Hornsby]

I could have gone 6 strong innings against the Twins yesterday...simply pathetic.