Meet your newest Diamondback: Rodrigo Lopez
Though not quite yet a Diamondback, Rodrigo Lopez is the newest addition to the team. He sports a career 4.82 ERA with four (five if you count Atlanta - which he only had three minor league starts with) different clubs. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2007 that caused him to miss nearly all of 2008.
The once nearly rookie of the year in 2002 is somewhat of a fly ball pitcher which makes us cringe just a little. He'll be another candidate for the back-end of the rotation.
Here's the bio: http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/548/Rodrigo_Lopez
about 2 years ago
Marc Fournier
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Rodrigo Lopez
has been on Brother Elephants’ radar for a while.
Brother Elephants is a professional baseball team in Taiwan.
However, the Elephants was also the main team to get involved in this year’s game-fixing scandal.
by Dbacks fan in Taiwan on Dec 17, 2009 12:12 AM EST reply actions
This
Certainly doesn’t seem like a good sign…
Although his ’07 year prior to the TJ looks pretty good, especially at Coors. Why not, eh? Give him a shot and see if his arm is right. Could be better than Buckner, and we know Billy can throw in the ’pen.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 17, 2009 12:40 AM EST up reply actions
Inclined to think
He’ll be stashed down in Reno to act as a potential sixth starter, so we don’t have go the Augenstein route again. If we don’t see him the entire year, this will probably be a good thing.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
by Jim McLennan on Dec 17, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions
Why are you so down on Augenstein?
He had all of two starts, one of which wasn’t even that bad.
He’s a 23 year old who jumped from AA. Jeez.
Do you really think Augenstein is major-league ready?
Because I am not sold. Great command, yeah, but the stuff is a host of fringiness and a sinker that could use some refinement and a little more sink. I’m inclined to believe that the FO would like to give Augenstein a full year in Reno before trying him out for a rotation spot in 2011, when I think he’ll be more up for it.
However, I’m VERY concerned that the FO is doing the stupid AAA veteran rotation presence in the minors again with Lopez like we did last year with Seth Effing Etherton, which robbed Matt Torra of a AAA rotation spot he very much deserved. Granted, Torra stalled while repeating AA, but given its very unnecessary nature, perhaps it was discouragement/motivation issues? Or maybe the FO knew his metrics would take a sudden dive…
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 18, 2009 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
He's probably not ready just yet
But let’s not bury the guy.
I’m with you on the AAA thing, you need to have one or two veterans but if there’s a guy who has nothing left to prove in AA, he needs to pitch in AAA.
That whole Torra fiasco
Bothered me so much… Heck, he deserved it more than Cesar Valdez.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 19, 2009 11:26 PM EST up reply actions
However,
The one thing that encourages me is that Lopez has more potential upside than Etherton did. I’d say Lopez has the best shot to beat out Buckner for the 5th spot, although I still think it ends up being Billy. Then Lopez as a bullpen long relief guy or a AAA “call up at first injury notice” guy.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 19, 2009 11:29 PM EST up reply actions
That sounds
like he’s a “little unit” kind of guy. Hopefully he doesn’t give up the massive HRs.
by Reynolds rapper on Dec 20, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions
Ehh a bit
And he has some fly-ball tendencies. But he survived (mid-4’s ERA) at Coors Field in his last MLB action prior to his surgeries. So it’s not nearly to the same extent.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 21, 2009 12:19 AM EST up reply actions
He also posted a 5.50 ERA in seven Triple-A starts
He should have been left in Double-A. Triple-A this season and may be ready for the majors in 2011. But I’m not particularly down on him: I’m more down on a pitching roster so bereft of depth, that it was felt a 22-year old prospect in Double-A was the best option to start for us in the majors, less than two years after being drafted at #223.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
by Jim McLennan on Dec 18, 2009 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
Granted,
I think if you started Cy Young’s reanimated corpse at Reno, he’d be hard-pressed to post much better than about a 4.5 ERA or so.
(Making Buckner’s 2nd Reno stint last year all the more impressive)
"The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, 'I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it.'"
He had an ERA below 1 at AA...
There was no reason to keep him there he had nothing to prove.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 19, 2009 12:54 AM EST up reply actions
And...
a BABIP there of .221. His FIP in Mobile was 2.62. This suggests “promote to Triple-A”, not quite “ready for prime-time.” to me.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
by Jim McLennan on Dec 19, 2009 5:12 PM EST up reply actions
Well
That’s massively inflated, to be sure, but he’s also a sinkerballer who is going to have a below-average BABIP. The options in AAA weren’t really too exciting, and I think we had Augenstein just above Cesar Valdez on the “next to bring up to the majors to try out” list. Then before we sent Augenstein back down, Valdez got hurt and we were stuck.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 19, 2009 11:27 PM EST up reply actions
But lower
Than line drives.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 21, 2009 5:57 AM EST up reply actions
naturally
If you’re keeping the ball on the ground and keeping sink on it a hitter is less likely to square it up cleanly to get line drives as well.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 21, 2009 10:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I didn't mean for this to sound condescending...
Although upon second review it (more than) kind of does. I am mostly speculating here, but I assume that the more a pitcher can keep the ball down, the less likely a batter is to rope a line drive on it. I’d think it would be harder to square up a ball cleanly on the center and get just a little lift on it if it’s sinking as it travels.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 22, 2009 4:44 AM EST up reply actions
Well,
your logic seems sound, certainly.
"The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, 'I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it.'"
by DbacksSkins on Dec 22, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
Good move, and cheap, too.
"The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, 'I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it.'"
+1
For cost-efficiency and tagline.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 17, 2009 3:10 AM EST up reply actions
This is a move
I have little problem with. The Jackson trade is what I had a problem with. If Jackson were a free agent or a non roster invitee, I wouldn’t have had a problem with that. It’s the giving up other pieces for a fly ball pitcher that seems ill advised.
by Reynolds rapper on Dec 17, 2009 11:27 AM EST reply actions
There's no WAY
we would have been able to afford Jackson as a free agent or non roster invitee.
"The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, 'I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it.'"
by DbacksSkins on Dec 17, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
if Penny can command 7.5m for a year
after that less than stellar season, what kind of money you think Jackson was going to command after posting an all star season? We traded good potential (hey Schlereth could get healthy and he could start finding the strike zone and it’s possible that Max could start pitching to contact more effectively and continue to stay healthy) for another guy with potential (hello Mr. Kennedy) as a starter and a guy who has progressed nicely as a SP over the last three years and they do it for a net cost of 5m I’d say that good business if you feel that you are fielding a potential winner on the field.
I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused....
Never was a fan of that deal for any of the 3 teams
because all I can see is downside. The Tigers are getting a Starter who might be a reliever (would have good value if a closer though) and not even the DBacks best left handed relief prospect. The Yankees are getting a guy whose OPS+ has declined the last 3 seasons from in the 130’sto the 100s. The DBacks get an oft injured Right hander and a flyball pitcher in Chase Field coming off of his best by a longshot season.
All of these individuals have more value and less risk to their original clubs than to their new clubs.
by Reynolds rapper on Dec 18, 2009 1:29 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, maybe,
but it makes them look busy.
"The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, 'I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it.'"
heh.
" George’s ‘mini-me’ is coming look busy."
by Reynolds rapper on Dec 18, 2009 4:45 AM EST up reply actions
Schlereth
Was definitely the D-Backs’ best left-handed relief prospect. Like, definitely. If you’re going to say Septimo, check out his 18 walks in 18.1 AA innings (paqs, if you do it again, I swear to God I will Facebook de-friend you… :-P – Kidding, of course).
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 18, 2009 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
As far as I know,
you can’t facebook de-friend me. So neener, neener, neener. :)
I’m counting Zavada as a prospect, you may not. So we may not disagree. Even though that Slaten guy is pretty good too (joking).
That Maine guy was awful in AFL. Good riddance. He threw like 3 wild pitches in an inning, had zero location and threw like his arm was already broken.
by Reynolds rapper on Dec 18, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
Yes
You actually can. So…. ha?
Zavada is no longer prospect-eligible. And Slaten wasn’t either…. and he had a good year or two at the major-league level.
Maine had a good year in Reno though, and there are more innings at that stint than at the AFL stint. He could be a LOOGY, but he wasn’t close to Schlereth either.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 19, 2009 12:56 AM EST up reply actions
Right
so then we actually agree Schlereth was the #1 prospect. But that actually wasn’t that important since we have 7-8-9 taken care of and a lefty specialist.
And the poison is actually in this glass.
by Reynolds rapper on Dec 19, 2009 1:08 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah
He was a top-5 guy because he was major-league ready and had closer potential, but just didn’t have a huge probability of reaching that potential with injuries and control issues.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 19, 2009 1:18 AM EST up reply actions
Woo
New dudes.
I’m posting from my iPod touch. Ain’t life grand?
Can somebody please throw away this telephone?
by soco on Dec 17, 2009 12:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I'm not sure
how to respond to this….
"The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, 'I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it.'"
Hey!
I saw you using this last night!!
"The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, 'I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it.'"
by DbacksSkins on Dec 19, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
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