Arizona Diamondbacks
@Dbacks
#Dbacks acquire RHP Brad Boxberger from the Rays for RHP Curtis Taylor.

@Brad_Boxberger was an All-Star in 2015, leading the American League with 41 saves.

_________________
Winning may not be everything, but losing has little to recommend it.

He also had 10 losses that year. Have I mentioned the save is a stupid stat ?

Actually Boxberger isn't a bad pitcher, and he closed out the season strong last year, which I'm sure had something to do with the D Backs going to get him.

He'e heading into his age 30 season, and has two years of control left. Slated to make about 2M in arb in 2018. He missed a lot of time the last two years with various injuries

So.......
What's he throw ?

Well, up until 2015, he was strictly a 2 pitch guy: 4 Seam FB/ Changeup
Starting in 2016 he started mixing in his slider about 9-12% of the time.

How does he throw it ?

On average, just shy of 93 MPH, and about 1 MPH less than he did in 2014-15. Likewise he Maxes out at about 96, which is also 1 MPH shy of is 14-15 Max. Considering the measurement system might have given the league in general a 1 MPH overall bump, the actual loss might have been a little more than 1 MPH.

His Vertical and Horizontal movement have dipped slightly, but nothing major. Overall pretty good swing and miss percentages.

He strikes out a lot of guys, and usually doesn't walk too many, BUT he gives up a lot of homers

In fact, since 2014, among relievers with at least 170 IP, he ranks 7th worst in HR/FB % (14.7) and was 24th highest out of 113 in Fly ball % overall (41.3), and so of course his 1.24 HR/9 is 12th worst among MLB relievers since 2014

One other thing to note about Boxberger: He has pretty strong reverse splits. While I often say ignore reverse splits, that goes for hitters, not pitchers so much.




Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/30/2017.

Summary: Boxberger gets plenty of swing and miss, plenty of K's, and when healthy his command seems ok. He has lost a tick of velocity and is a homer prone FB pitcher. So not walking guys is going to be key for him, as it is for all pitchers. But especially him. Of the 31 career homers allowed, 16 have come with men on base. The guy we gave up, Curtis Taylor was a 4th round pick 2 years ago, and was looking like a guy that will need to move to bullpen according to mlbtrade rumors

Thats not a high price to pay for established major league reliever with a track record of moderate success pitching in the AL East.

Just keep in mind Fernando Rodney only gave up 3 HR last year.

So Boxberger is cheaper than Rodney would be. Thus, Boxberger will be the 8th inning guy and Bradley will pitch the 9th, and they let Rodney walk?

_________________
I was there for Randy Johnson's HOF induction in 2015. What a thrill it was!

Ok pick up for the cost, but he's already homer prone and he's going from a tough HR environment in Tampa to one of baseball's top HR havens.

Most likely. I can't see how they have room for Rodney's 4-5M Salary. We're poor ya know. (see sig)

He missed a lot of time over the last 2 years with lat/oblique/ab issues. If he has figured out how to throw without straining those areas and can stay healthy then this should be a very good trade for AZ. If it's something he injures over and over then of course we won't like the trade. Hopefully, AZ did their diligence to determine that he can stay healthy.

_________________
"Tomorrow is not promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett

He also suffered a Flexor strain in his elbow in April.

THAT is the one to be concerned about of course.

I missed that one when I looked back through his old news. Definitely a concern, but hopefully it's fine if he pitched the 2nd half last year.

_________________
"Tomorrow is not promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett

Same injury that kept Delgado out for the 2nd half of the season. It will be important for the Dbacks not to run him into the ground too early.

_________________
I respect your right to an opinion, except when it's wrong.

Easier to control his usage if he's not the closer. I think I'd rather see Archie closing and Boxberger setting him up, but they will need "co set up" to protect Boxberger's usage perhaps

Boxberger dealing with soreness

Highlights in Red above

Boxy blew his 5th save today
How many did Rodney blow last year?

I think 7. Box is trending to better Rodney to the bad. On the bright side, they've both blown 5 this year. Congrats to the FO on attracting two guys most likely to give a few extra games per year away. Go find another trustworthy guy for the 7th or use Box in the 7th and let Hirano or AB close.

Rodney had 39 saves, 6 blown. 87%

Boxberger has 24 saves, 5 blown, 83%

Saves are a stupid stat.

Rodney's WPA last year was +1.38, and his Shutdown/Meltdown ratio was 37 to 8.

Boxbergers WPA is -.24, and his Shutdown/Meltdown ratio is 20 to 7

Rodney's WPA this year is +.21 and his Shutdown/Meltdown ratio is 19/6

So Year to date Boxberger is worse than Rodney was for the full year last year. But a lot of games left. Who know where Box will end up.

He can give up runs for a long time
Runs score for a long time
Runs score for a long time
Sooner or later Box’'ll let you down
Sooner or later Box'll let you down

Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that dugout rider
Tell the rambler
The gambler
The De-cider
Tell 'em that Box's gonna let 'em down
Tell 'em that Box's gonna let 'em down

I'm guessing this post hasn't progressed well, were it to be updated. Sigh...

_________________
I was there for Randy Johnson's HOF induction in 2015. What a thrill it was!

For whatever it matters, Rodney had an ERA of 4.23 last year (3.03 FIP shockingly)

Boxberger with his complete implosion lately is at.... 4.41 and 4.48

Boxberger gives up way more HRs

_________________
When giant corndogs and ice cream are more important than winning baseball

Not to mention, even when Box succeeds, it's normally not clean. When Rodney was on, he completely shut the door on people. They really aren't comparable as closers. Rodney is a pretty far superior closer.