It’s that the moment where you find yourself in desperate and dire straits, where you have several optiuons, none of them are good, and you have nowhere else to turn?
That’s a McClung.
In honor of Seth. He of Ned Yost’s misguided I’m gonna bean Albert Pujols rampage from 2007. He of the Brian Meadows, Lance Carter, Al Reyes, Tampa Bay Devil Rays closing school. He of the not really bringing anything statistical since his time in the South Atlantic League. He of the uncreative nickname.
I’M A GINGER KID!
Now as a Brewer, he has been worth something as a middle reliever. I’m not saying that the dude has brought the Brewers down with his suck (though bad things did start happenening in August 2007). However? This expiriment is going to be made of Epic Fail. 3 Reasons why.
1. The Scouting Report
Seth McClung is the hardest thrower on the Brewers now that Derrick Turnbow has melted down into Mark Wohlers. (Let the man go, Doug Melvin! It’s a mercy killing now!) Seth McClung also has a tight curveball. But guess what Seth McClung doesn’t have?
If you guessed an off-speed pitch, gold star for you. (Any non-pitch guesses, I’ll just say…yes. You’re right too). But you know what this means? He does not do well the third time around the line-up. Also, vs. left handed hitters.
Oh, and his command is shaky too. For what it’s worth.
2) He’s in a new league.
Even in a baseball as homogenized as its ever been? There is still a certain truth that a league change can be the best thing for the struggling pitcher. Getting pounded in the American League? There’s a home for you in the National. And if you’ve only faced 158 batters? They still don’t know you yet.
And if the team in question that you have success in your first start is your Washington Nationals? I will tell you why that means nothing.
Elijah Dukes is crazy. Dimitri Young is fat and crazy. You can fake Wily Mo Pena into swinging as if he was a Cocker Spaniel playing fetch. Wil Nieves is a career .203 hitter even with his recent run of non-suck. Also, Christian Guzman. And he got to face a pitcher.
I could have gone 3 innings versus with downy soft like that.
3. HE’S NICKNAMED BIG RED!
I’M NAMED AFTER GUM! WHO WANTS TO TOUCH ME?
For real? McClung could have an 18 month run of dominance as a closer. He has two plus pitches and marginal command. He could be a guy who could go and be a super saver.
But Ned has to have the guy with the shallowest repitoire be a starter.
Really. Move him along now if you aren’t gonna cut bait. That’s the only move you’ve got left.
DID MCCLUNG BEAT YOU UP AS A KID OR SOMETHING? WHY DO HAVE ALL THIS HATRED TOWARDS HIM? FROM WHAT I’VE SEEN, AND I’VE SEEN ALL THE BREWERS GAMES FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS, HE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A SOLID PITCHER FOR THE ORGANIZATION EVER SINCE THEY OBTAINED HIM. THE OTHER STARTERS WERE FAILING, SO NED HAD TO TRY SOMETHING. SO INSTEAD OF PULLING UP SOME GUY FROM NASHVILLE, HE PUT IN THE ONLY CONSISTENT RELIEVER HE HAD, AND IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM. I JUST THINK ALOT OF YOU BLOGGERS OUT THERE ARE JUST SITTING ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT WAITING FOR SOMEONE, ANYONE, TO FAIL SO YOU CAN MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER ABOUT WRITING NASTY STUFF ABOUT THEM. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPEN WITH THE TEAM? JEALOUSY IS AN EVIL DISEASE MY FRIEND!! MAYBE ONE DAY YOU’LL WAKE AND REALIZE HOW STUPID YOU SOUND WRITING THIS CRAP.
Comment by JAMIE TUCKER — May 26, 2008 @ 7:18 pm |
The biggest hate I threw on McClung was calling him a ginger kid, because if you look at the fact he’s thrown about 35 innings as a Brewer, he hasn’t had a full season that was awesome since he was in the South Atlantic League. You can look it up.
Also, putting in his most consistent reliever does two things. One, they now have no consistent relievers to bridge the gap to Salomon. Two, it adds pressure onto an overworked bullpen.
I appreciate the passion Jaime, but here’s the thing. Ask yourself if you’ve heard a starter who achieved long term success without some form of an offspeed pitch.
Comment by Andrew — May 27, 2008 @ 11:04 am |