Diamondbacks Bullpen

[shoewizard]

I was never on board with the Livan trade. I didn't see the point last year, as we were clearly not going to make the playoffs. I ragged on Livan all off season, pointing out the decline in his periphs and that his FIP numbers indicated he was lucky with his ERA after the trade.

I pointed to his high walk totals and WHIP this year as evidence that his collapse was imminent. I downplayed his ability to change speeds, and didn't acknowledge just how effective that makes him. I thought he was too fat, and that his balky knee would give him problems.

I am sure there are a few other things I was wrong about when it comes to Livan.....but right now I can't remember them all. Too many.

Since Joining the D Backs, and including todays game, here is what Livan has done here.

21 Starts, 142.3 IP (6.78 IP /start) 62 Runs, 58 Earned, 3.67 ERA 9-7 WL

Like I said

Josh Byrnes > shoewizard

[misterx]

i also didnt like the trade at first at but it looks great now
_________________
“I have killed two people since midnight
I havent slept over twenty four hours
So maybe now you should be a little more afraid of me than you already are”
-Jack Bauer

[1golfer1]

and the RJ trade looks like a winner, too! we gotta do what we gotta do to keep him forever. JB for owner!

[moviegeekjn]

Livan has lived up to the advertised "innings eater" effectively--much more so than one that shall remain unnamed from a previous regime who had the added caveat of "proven winner."
_________________
Old School Reviews: Life is too short for bad movies.

[tmar]

I was thinking similar things today as I've been advocating trading him since last offseason (mostly because he won't be here after this year). He's done nothing but produce, though.

[levski]

The shoewizard who cried wolf...

[foulpole]

[tmar]

I know we've discussed this before, but is the reason that we haven't tried to extend LH that he want's too much or that he wants to be elsewhere?

[tmar]

[foulpole]

[moviegeekjn]

[tmar]

FP I enjoy your posts, twisted humor and gameday graphics. I just don't want to see this go any deeper.

[foulpole]

[misterx]

cage fight
_________________
“I have killed two people since midnight
I havent slept over twenty four hours
So maybe now you should be a little more afraid of me than you already are”
-Jack Bauer

[kris]

I disliked giving up 2 pitching prospects for Livan.

Not counting the recent outing, i used to see a lot of walks.
Thats because he never throws over the plate.
He plays with the corners. Sometimes he gets calls.
Some times, he walks people.

But he is free agent at the end of season.
D-backs may not afford him. (considering $55 M for Gil Meche)
I dont like to sign him for a expensive contract.
He is not getting any younger, he might ask for 5 year deal.

I would like to trade our either Jackson/Tracy/Carter for pitching in the off-season. A case could be made for any of them to be traded.

[baldmaga]

I actually liked the trade at the deadline...I saw it more as a move to bridge between our mostly youthful lineup this year, and our more established lineup next year.

[Robert S.]

I disliked the trade at the time, but thought it made a lot more sense once the Davis and Johnson deals were done. I figured the team would wait until '08 before they switched into "win now" mode, and that '07 would've been used to choose between all of the close starters. We'll know in October if that was the right decision.

I think the "saving the bullpen" rationale is still kinda ridiculous because Melvin is so far from optimizing his bullpen usage. One-inning outings are still too common, garbage innings for the better relievers are still common, and they still don't use a long-man. Livan certainly does help the bullpen, though he's more of a band-aid than a cure for the real problem.

Livan's been better than I expected. He's much smarter than I gave him credit for. I'm very curious to see what his numbers look like when the season's finished. While his peripherals scare the crap out of me on paper, he doesn't worry me nearly as much when on the mound.

Better trade than I thought at the time; still have reservations about its long-term value to the team. At a minimum, it doesn't look like it's going to hurt the organization. My biggest concern is that the team doesn't make the playoffs and a year of potential development for Nippert (or whomever) will be lost.

[matt]

From what I recall, I was excited about Livan. One thing to consider with the walks is that if he doesn't like the way an AB is going, he'd rather walk him than take a chance. He'll have his blowouts but overall he'll give us a lot of good games.

[matt]

[Driaz]

[Stuart]

Come on guys, I dont post here often but i always read. With all the increased trash talking, name calling and flame wars this place is in danger of descending into something like the "official" mlb dbacks board. People allegedly trolling, people biting and snapping back, just let sleeping dogs lie and get on with the baseball talk.

The posters here are better than that.
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We dont hit the ball and we make braindead plays...nobody, no-time.

[moviegeekjn]

[tmar]

[moviegeekjn]

[tmar]

Sorry for the misread. I just read your statements as saying the real problem with the BP is the misuse, which I agree with.

I guess Bomels tenure is the mixed blessing of the team producing.