Tigers get more relief help

Fool Inc. · 02-09-2005, 02:48 PM

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp..._det&fext=.jsp

Quote:

Tigers acquire Kyle Farnsworth from Chicago Cubs

DETROIT --- The Detroit Tigers today acquired righthanded pitcher Kyle Farnsworth and a player to be named later from the Chicago Cubs for righthanded pitcher Roberto Novoa, third baseman Scott Moore and outfielder Bo Flowers.

Farnsworth, 28, appeared in 72 games for the Cubs last season and posted a 4-5 record with a 4.73 ERA (66.2IP/35ER). He fanned 78 batters, finishing seventh among National League relievers with 10.53 strikeouts per nine innings.

"Kyle Farnsworth is an established major league relief pitcher," Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. "He can pitch in many roles out of our bullpen and is a quality addition to our pitching staff."

In six seasons at the major league level with the Cubs, he went 22-37 with a 4.78 ERA (478.2IP/254ER). He departs Chicago third all-time on the Cubs list for appearances with 343.

Novoa split time between Detroit and Double A Erie in 2004. In 16 games with the Tigers, he was 1-1 with a 5.57 ERA (21.0IP/13ER). He finished 7-0 with a 2.96 ERA (79.0IP/26ER) in 41 outings at Erie.

Moore batted .223 (87x391) with 14 home runs and 56 RBI in 118 games at Single A Lakeland in 2004.

Flowers played the majority of the season at Single A Oneonta, hitting .280 (69x246) with four home runs and 26 RBI in 66 games. He joined Single A West Michigan for six games late in the season and batted .273 (6x22) with a home run.

Additionally, the Tigers have agreed to terms on minor league contracts with righthanded pitchers Jason Grilli and Mike James. Both pitchers will be invited to major league camp.

phenom · 02-09-2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

"Al Levine is an established major league relief pitcher," Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. "He can pitch in many roles out of our bullpen and is a quality addition to our pitching staff."

Fixed that for Dombrowski, based on last season's signing.

Let's hope Farnsworth has a better year than Levine did.

darkhorse · 02-09-2005, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenom

Fixed that for Dombrowski, based on last season's signing.

Let's hope Farnsworth has a better year than Levine did.

Let's hope Farnsworth has as good a career as Levine has produced.

Fool Inc. · 02-09-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenom

Fixed that for Dombrowski, based on last season's signing.

Let's hope Farnsworth has a better year than Levine did.

How old was Levine again? Farnsworth is a flamethrower and only 28 so this is totally different than the aging Levine.

phenom · 02-09-2005, 03:50 PM

Still, Levine was brought in with decent... credentials, and faltered miserably.

darkhorse · 02-09-2005, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fool Inc.

How old was Levine again? Farnsworth is a flamethrower and only 28 so this is totally different than the aging Levine.

Levine was 36 last year.

rem · 02-09-2005, 03:59 PM

Seems like a no lose move for the Tigers.

darkhorse · 02-09-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenom

Still, Levine was brought in with decent... credentials, and faltered miserably.

Not at all. Levine pitched 70 innings of solid ball. His DERA for the year was 4.24. Levine has nowhere near the physical gifts of Farnsworth but has been a far more effective pitcher.

phenom · 02-09-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Not at all. Levine pitched 70 innings of solid ball. His DERA for the year was 4.24. Levine has nowhere near the physical gifts of Farnsworth but has been a far more effective pitcher.

Levine may have had decent overall stats, but when he needed to be most effective, he wasn't. Who cares if he pitches two innings of perfect ball in a 9-2 game, when he gives up 5 in 1/3 of an inning in a 5-4 game?

Arlie Rahn · 02-09-2005, 04:10 PM

This also pretty much ends any speculation on Chicago getting Huff from TB as Farnsworth was one of the main pieces in that potential deal.

JDOldSchool · 02-09-2005, 04:27 PM

This deal makes perfect sense for the Tigers.

While Farnsworth doesn't actually help the bullpen in terms of pitching effectiveness, he makes all the other mediocre relievers look much, much better. This is a clever psychological move that'll ensure the Tigers 3rd place in the AL Central!

rem · 02-09-2005, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenom

Levine may have had decent overall stats, but when he needed to be most effective, he wasn't. Who cares if he pitches two innings of perfect ball in a 9-2 game, when he gives up 5 in 1/3 of an inning in a 5-4 game?

darkhorse · 02-09-2005, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenom

Who cares if he pitches two innings of perfect ball in a 9-2 game, when he gives up 5 in 1/3 of an inning in a 5-4 game?

ROFLMAO!!!11111

Would it surprise anyone that Levine gave up no more than 3 runs in any of his 65 appearances last season.

Fool Inc. · 02-09-2005, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDOldSchool

This deal makes perfect sense for the Tigers.

While Farnsworth doesn't actually help the bullpen in terms of pitching effectiveness, he makes all the other mediocre relievers look much, much better. This is a clever psychological move that'll ensure the Tigers 3rd place in the AL Central!

Third? The Tigers was 7 games under their Pty. Record last year and had 27 blown saves in 2004. The offense for the first time in a long was productive and for a good part of the season was one of the best in the majors.

This off season the Tigers picked up Percy and now Fransworth to join UU, Walker, and Rodney turning a once horrible pen into one that is solid and the rotation is better simply because Cornejo and Lowe will not be in them. Kinding aside the young rotation will improve simply because everyone will be one year older and one year wiser.

On the other side of the game the Tigers got Maggs to kick Higgy out of the outfield starting spot, making this the best Tiger time in 10 years

More importantly are the other two signings the Tigers got this year. Vance Wilson and Ramon Martinez both supply what the Tigers were in great need of last year. Defense and depth.

So a team that was very unlucky improved tenfold, more than any other team in the central, but you say they will still finish third. I say second or first.

cknox0723 · 02-09-2005, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

ROFLMAO!!!11111

Would it surprise anyone that Levine gave up no more than 3 runs in any of his 65 appearances last season.

One of the neat things some of BB Prospectus' stats show you is a better picture of reliever effectiveness. Levine's really been a fine pitcher for quite a while, much like Steve Reed. It's too bad no one worth their weight ever noticed.

IF U. Urbina throws a decent number of innings, I think the Tigers have a decent chance of winning the division. It extends way beyond that, particularly hinging on continued improvement from Bonderman and Brandon Inge and Omar Infante, but I think they are (no pun intended) a dark horse.

EDIT: Damn you, Fool Inc, stealing my out of left field prediction!

phenom · 02-09-2005, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

ROFLMAO!!!11111

Would it surprise anyone that Levine gave up no more than 3 runs in any of his 65 appearances last season.

That's fine. And Levine pitched decently the first half of the season. However, it seemed, in the second half, he had trouble getting guys out when they really could've used the out.

Maybe I'm wrong, but Levine seemed to get a lot of press about how effective he was, then seemed to not help the team when he could've.

JDOldSchool · 02-09-2005, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fool Inc.

So a team that was very unlucky improved tenfold, more than any other team in the central, but you say they will still finish third. I say second or first.

Maybe. That was mostly just a little shot at the White Sox, who I think will finish fourth.

Anyway, the Tigers' season is entirely dependant on their starting pitching. If those young guys step up, they could challenge the Twins. If not, I think third is a solid prediction for them. I think the Indians are better and the Twins are better (Koskie is a loss, but just getting Guzman off the team makes the Twins better).

phenom · 02-09-2005, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fool Inc.

Third? The Tigers was 7 games under their Pty. Record last year and had 27 blown saves in 2004. The offense for the first time in a long was productive and for a good part of the season was one of the best in the majors.

This off season the Tigers picked up Percy and now Fransworth to join UU, Walker, and Rodney turning a once horrible pen into one that is solid and the rotation is better simply because Cornejo and Lowe will not be in them. Kinding aside the young rotation will improve simply because everyone will be one year older and one year wiser.

On the other side of the game the Tigers got Maggs to kick Higgy out of the outfield starting spot, making this the best Tiger time in 10 years

More importantly are the other two signings the Tigers got this year. Vance Wilson and Ramon Martinez both supply what the Tigers were in great need of last year. Defense and depth.

So a team that was very unlucky improved tenfold, more than any other team in the central, but you say they will still finish third. I say second or first.

I get critical of the Tigers, but that's only because I'm sick of seeing them suck. I like the Ordonez deal, if for no other reason than it gets Higgy out of the lineup. IIRC, the Tigers had a tough Aug/Sept last season, and otherwise could've flirted with .500.

With the additions this offseason, I tend to agree with your analysis. If they had Urbina the last month of the year last year, they would've finished much better, IMO. I think 2nd isn't out of the question, but 1st might be a reach. Again, I hope I'm wrong about that.

darkhorse · 02-09-2005, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenom

However, it seemed, in the second half, he had trouble getting guys out when they really could've used the out.

In the second half of the 2004 season, July-August-September, Levine pitched 33 times, covering 35 and two-thirds innings, and surrendered 12 runs for a 3.03 ERA.

Spielman · 02-09-2005, 08:25 PM

This is a brilliant move by the Tigers.

All they have to do is get Farnsworth to throw inside a lot, inducing guys to charge the mound...

After he rips the heads off of half the AL Central rosters, the Tigers should cruise into the playoffs.

-Spielman

02-09-2005, 03:50 PM	#5
phenom Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Near the Great Wall. On the GOOD side. Posts: 3,774	Still, Levine was brought in with decent... credentials, and faltered miserably. __________________ reported

02-09-2005, 03:59 PM	#7
rem Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: College Park, Md. Posts: 5,024	Seems like a no lose move for the Tigers. __________________ OTBA: Washington Filibusters CLBR: Minnesota Twins 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0

02-09-2005, 04:10 PM	#10
Arlie Rahn All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 564	This also pretty much ends any speculation on Chicago getting Huff from TB as Farnsworth was one of the main pieces in that potential deal. __________________ Developer of Bowl Bound College Football http://www.greydogsoftware.com

02-09-2005, 04:27 PM	#11
JDOldSchool Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,023	This deal makes perfect sense for the Tigers. While Farnsworth doesn't actually help the bullpen in terms of pitching effectiveness, he makes all the other mediocre relievers look much, much better. This is a clever psychological move that'll ensure the Tigers 3rd place in the AL Central!

02-09-2005, 08:25 PM	#20
Spielman All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,668	This is a brilliant move by the Tigers. All they have to do is get Farnsworth to throw inside a lot, inducing guys to charge the mound... After he rips the heads off of half the AL Central rosters, the Tigers should cruise into the playoffs. -Spielman