*"Jerome Williams has two arms and can throw a ball 60 feet, 6 inches, which makes him a perfect fit for the Phillies rotation."
*The Astros left runners on 2nd and 3rd in two innings yesterday, though the Astros could have cut a 4-2 deficit to 4-3 were it not for a ground-rule double. And Bo Porter is not a fan of the ground-rule double.
*George Springer opened up to ABC13's Greg Bailey in a nice little interview. Speaking of Springer, there is no timetable for his return to the lineup.
*OKC's Preston Tucker knows his bat is the key to making it to Houston.
*The Astros made a congratulatory video for a fan who turned 100 years old.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Jerome Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerome Williams. Show all posts
Monday, August 11, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Transactionz! (Two of them)
Two largely unsurprising transactions tonight.
Jerome Williams was DFA'd. A number of people around the team have commented that he treated people very well, and was generally a pleasure to be around. Evan Dellich on Twitter:
However, 5.91 ERA through 45-and-two-thirds wasn't getting it done, so he is gone, possibly to Oklahoma, but they have plenty of pitching there.
And Jerome Williams:
Jonathan Villar has been optioned back to OKC as well. I was really impressed with Villar early in the season, but he seems to have lost concentration on defence over the last few months, and his woes at the plate are well documented (batting averages by month, March -> June: .241, .156, .200; extra-base hits by month: 11, 4, 3).
No word on the corresponding move yet. Anthony Bass will take one of the slots. My pick is that the Astros will showcase Marwin Gonzalez for a trade, and Enrique Hernandez will get his feet wet as a utility guy. However, I have been wrong before, and it will probably happen again.
Stay tuned.
Jerome Williams was DFA'd. A number of people around the team have commented that he treated people very well, and was generally a pleasure to be around. Evan Dellich on Twitter:
"Jerome Williams was a treat to be around. Performance is performance, but he treats people extraordinarily well."
However, 5.91 ERA through 45-and-two-thirds wasn't getting it done, so he is gone, possibly to Oklahoma, but they have plenty of pitching there.
And Jerome Williams:
"Just wanna say good luck to all of the guys on the @astros was a pleasure playing with you guys. Front office and coaching staff, good luck."
Jonathan Villar has been optioned back to OKC as well. I was really impressed with Villar early in the season, but he seems to have lost concentration on defence over the last few months, and his woes at the plate are well documented (batting averages by month, March -> June: .241, .156, .200; extra-base hits by month: 11, 4, 3).
No word on the corresponding move yet. Anthony Bass will take one of the slots. My pick is that the Astros will showcase Marwin Gonzalez for a trade, and Enrique Hernandez will get his feet wet as a utility guy. However, I have been wrong before, and it will probably happen again.
Stay tuned.
Monday, June 2, 2014
In Praise of the Astros Bullpen
We have spent a lot of space on this site lamenting the state of the Astros bullpen in recent years. We even adopted the Goatpen moniker to describe their collective performance. Well, it might be time to retire that name.
In April, it was more of the same. Despite Luhnow making the bullpen a priority in the offseason, the Astros ended April with a league worst 5.85 bullpen era, a -.9 WAR and 6 Blown Saves. Jerome Williams led the way with 16 IP and 6.75 ERA, with Bass and Clemens taking the second and third most IP, and put up a 4.61 and and 4.73 collectively. Fields imploded at the end of the month and ended up with a 9.58 ERA, and the designated lefties in the pen, Chapman and Valdes, only pitched 7 innings, but still managed to walk 10 batters.
But May has been a new day. Jerome Williams still leads the way in IP, but has performed better with a 3.86 ERA. And with the rest of the bullpen pitching like they have, he hasn't been asked to preserve many leads in high leverage situations. Tony Sipp has been a revelation, pitching 9.2 innings, and allowing only two singles and an intentional walk, with 13 K's and 0 runs. Qualls has cemented himself in the closer spot, and has also not allowed a run in May. And between Darin Downs (2.16 ERA) and Sipp, they have two lefties who can actually be trusted to pitch to the occasional right handed batter, and who won't walk the lefties they are asked to face. Fields has been down to the farm, and since his return has been phenomenal, with 13 K's, 2 walks and 2 hits in 8.2 innings. His ERA is still struggling from the implosion, which carried over into May, but his FIP is a microscopic .69 for the month. As a group, for the month, the ERA is 3.33, with a 3.03 FIP. Over the last 14 days, its an incredible 1.53, best in the majors.
All of this has been done without two of the three major offseason acquisitions, as neither Albers or Crain have pitched an inning this month. If this pitching continues, there will be some tough choices to make about who gets the boot when they come back, something I never dreamed of saying in April of this year.
In April, a horrid BABIP and an even worse bullpen were masking the real improvements made to this team. In May, both have been fixed, and it lead to the Astros best month since 2010.
In April, it was more of the same. Despite Luhnow making the bullpen a priority in the offseason, the Astros ended April with a league worst 5.85 bullpen era, a -.9 WAR and 6 Blown Saves. Jerome Williams led the way with 16 IP and 6.75 ERA, with Bass and Clemens taking the second and third most IP, and put up a 4.61 and and 4.73 collectively. Fields imploded at the end of the month and ended up with a 9.58 ERA, and the designated lefties in the pen, Chapman and Valdes, only pitched 7 innings, but still managed to walk 10 batters.
But May has been a new day. Jerome Williams still leads the way in IP, but has performed better with a 3.86 ERA. And with the rest of the bullpen pitching like they have, he hasn't been asked to preserve many leads in high leverage situations. Tony Sipp has been a revelation, pitching 9.2 innings, and allowing only two singles and an intentional walk, with 13 K's and 0 runs. Qualls has cemented himself in the closer spot, and has also not allowed a run in May. And between Darin Downs (2.16 ERA) and Sipp, they have two lefties who can actually be trusted to pitch to the occasional right handed batter, and who won't walk the lefties they are asked to face. Fields has been down to the farm, and since his return has been phenomenal, with 13 K's, 2 walks and 2 hits in 8.2 innings. His ERA is still struggling from the implosion, which carried over into May, but his FIP is a microscopic .69 for the month. As a group, for the month, the ERA is 3.33, with a 3.03 FIP. Over the last 14 days, its an incredible 1.53, best in the majors.
All of this has been done without two of the three major offseason acquisitions, as neither Albers or Crain have pitched an inning this month. If this pitching continues, there will be some tough choices to make about who gets the boot when they come back, something I never dreamed of saying in April of this year.
In April, a horrid BABIP and an even worse bullpen were masking the real improvements made to this team. In May, both have been fixed, and it lead to the Astros best month since 2010.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
The GoatPen in one image
Want to know why the bullpen is the worst in baseball? Here are the four relievers with the most innings pitched so far this year:
Friday, April 25, 2014
Friday Morning Hot Links
Want to sound knowledgeable about the Astros in your office Water Closet?
*Czech out the new Astros Boxes podcast, deftly titled, "You're My Boy, McHugh!"
*Springer's grandparents were at the game last night. Before the game Springer said of them, "They'll probably be in their glory tonight," a phrase of which I have never before heard.
*Within that link we also find that Matt Albers hasn't pitched because his right shoulder is stiff, and may end up on the DL, and Scott Feldman played catch yesterday for the first time since landing on the DL.
*Mike Foltynewicz is working on the command of his curve and changeup. On his slow start to the season: I have no idea why, but my entire professional career the first two or three outings aren't very pretty. I'll pitch well in the spring, but those first few have always been a little bit of a struggle.
*Check out this video from MLB.com of Jerome Williams playing catch with a young Mariners fan.
*District Judge Keith Elkins is encouraging Galveston PD and Brandon Backe to come to a settlement as risk of a hung jury increases.
*The Sugar Land Skeeters will be able to stream home games through ESPN3. How's that for a slap in the face?
*Reid Ryan's niece is playing softball for Rutgers.
*Czech out the new Astros Boxes podcast, deftly titled, "You're My Boy, McHugh!"
*Springer's grandparents were at the game last night. Before the game Springer said of them, "They'll probably be in their glory tonight," a phrase of which I have never before heard.
*Within that link we also find that Matt Albers hasn't pitched because his right shoulder is stiff, and may end up on the DL, and Scott Feldman played catch yesterday for the first time since landing on the DL.
*Mike Foltynewicz is working on the command of his curve and changeup. On his slow start to the season: I have no idea why, but my entire professional career the first two or three outings aren't very pretty. I'll pitch well in the spring, but those first few have always been a little bit of a struggle.
*Check out this video from MLB.com of Jerome Williams playing catch with a young Mariners fan.
*District Judge Keith Elkins is encouraging Galveston PD and Brandon Backe to come to a settlement as risk of a hung jury increases.
*The Sugar Land Skeeters will be able to stream home games through ESPN3. How's that for a slap in the face?
*Reid Ryan's niece is playing softball for Rutgers.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Opening Day Link Dump
So what if a bunch of other teams played some exhibition games that kinda-sorta counted yesterday? Opening Day starts this evening. Here are some links:
*Florence Nightingale Syndrome is when a nurse falls in love with her patient. Bob Nightengale Syndrome is when a writer falls in love with a player. Here is Bob Nightengale with some back story on How Teh Astors Should Of Drafted Jeets.
*Jerome Williams is showing Brad Peacock the ropes of coming out of the bullpen.
*L.J. Hoes will wear #28 in honor of his uncle.
*A story on the Astros' pursuit of Tanaka which really doesn't illuminate anything at all.
*Phil Garner testified on Brandon Backe's behalf in the police brutality suit against Galveston PD.
*We did a series preview with Yanks Beat Blog.
*Florence Nightingale Syndrome is when a nurse falls in love with her patient. Bob Nightengale Syndrome is when a writer falls in love with a player. Here is Bob Nightengale with some back story on How Teh Astors Should Of Drafted Jeets.
*Jerome Williams is showing Brad Peacock the ropes of coming out of the bullpen.
*L.J. Hoes will wear #28 in honor of his uncle.
*A story on the Astros' pursuit of Tanaka which really doesn't illuminate anything at all.
*Phil Garner testified on Brandon Backe's behalf in the police brutality suit against Galveston PD.
*We did a series preview with Yanks Beat Blog.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Who getting cut
Here's what we know about Jerome Williams' contract situation (courtesy of Evan Drellich):
*Williams will make a guaranteed $2.1m.
*There is the possibility of an additional $1m in incentives - $100,000 for 12, 15, 20, 25, and 30 games started, as well as $100,000 for reaching 120IP, and apparently $100,000 for every additional 10IP up to 210IP.
*That last part mathematically makes no sense.
What is also means is that somebody is going to have to get optioned off the 40-Man roster. We can presume that it will be a pitcher. The pitchers currently on the 40-Man roster are:
Matt Albers, Anthony Bass, Kevin Chapman, Jose Cisnero, Paul Clemens, Jarred Cosart, Jesse Crain, Luis Cruz, Darin Downs, Scott Feldman, Josh Fields, Lucas Harrell, Dallas Keuchel, Chia-Jen Lo, David Martinez, Collin McHugh, Brett Oberholtzer, Rudy Owens, Brad Peacock, Chad Qualls, Raul Valdes, Alex White, Jerome Williams, Asher Wojciechowski, Josh Zeid.
Who is not getting optioned off the roster?
Matt Albers, Anthony Bass, Kevin Chapman, Jarred Cosart, Jesse Crain, Darin Downs, Scott Feldman, Josh Fields, Dallas Keuchel, Chia-Jen Lo, David Martinez, Brett Oberholtzer, Rudy Owens, Brad Peacock, Chad Qualls, Alex White, Jerome Williams, Asher Wojciechowski, and Josh Zeid. Jerome Williams is not getting optioned off the roster, because the point of this exercise is to see who Jerome Williams will replace.
So which players are left?
Jose Cisnero, Paul Clemens, Luis Cruz, Lucas Harrell, Collin McHugh, Raul Valdes.
Let's look!
Jose Cisnero will be 25 in April. He allowed an .826 OPS in 28 games (43.2IP) with 8.5 K/9. He also suffered from a .341 BABIP. Away from Minute Maid Park, Cisnero held opponents to a .678 OPS (.907 at home). He also really only had one bad month in nine July appearances (.300/.447/.567) and two bad outings in August. I think Cisnero stays on the roster because of his youth, and the flashes of decency.
Paul Clemens is what we like to call White Boy Crazy. He'll be 26 next week, and had a very up-and-down year, finishing the season with a 5.40 ERA/1.47 WHIP shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen. Given the moves that have been made, and the sheer number of rotation candidates coming in to camp, I think Clemens - if he survives the Jerome Williams Experience and Spring Training - is headed to the bullpen. He also has options left, so he could get outrighted off the 40-Man and wouldn't have to pass through waivers.
Luis Cruz won't be 24 until September, and also has only reached Double-A for 17IP at the end of 2013. In those 17IP he allowed five hits, four walks, and struck out 21. Cruz isn't getting taken off the roster.
Lucas Harrell will be 29 by the All-Star Break and his struggles are well-documented. After being in the mix for the Imaginary Title of Opening Day Starter, he led the league in walks and losses, and was the target of much angst, consternation, and outright hatred. Harrell is also out of options, so if he was taken off the 40-Man roster, he would first have to pass through waivers.
Collin McHugh will be 27 in June and was claimed off waivers by the Astros in December. So, to be perfectly superficial about this, I can't see the Astros designating McHugh less than two months after they
Raul Valdes is 36 years old, and was claimed off waivers by the Astros in early October. In 35IP for the Phillies in 2013, Valdes gave up 42 hits (but only walked eight) with a 7.46 ERA/1.43 WHIP. He also allowed seven home runs.
Given their youth, I'm guessing Cisnero and Cruz stay. I also think McHugh stays on the 40-Man. Despite my innate distaste for Lucas Harrell, his 2013 season was so incongruous from 2012 that I would be surprised if the Astros cut him loose. And I suppose the same goes for Clemens - valuable in that he can come in for four or five innings after Erik Bedard or Lucas Harrell has already lost the game by the end of the 1st inning.
So I guess I took the long way to end up at the same conclusion as others: Raul Valdes is out.
*Williams will make a guaranteed $2.1m.
*There is the possibility of an additional $1m in incentives - $100,000 for 12, 15, 20, 25, and 30 games started, as well as $100,000 for reaching 120IP, and apparently $100,000 for every additional 10IP up to 210IP.
*That last part mathematically makes no sense.
What is also means is that somebody is going to have to get optioned off the 40-Man roster. We can presume that it will be a pitcher. The pitchers currently on the 40-Man roster are:
Matt Albers, Anthony Bass, Kevin Chapman, Jose Cisnero, Paul Clemens, Jarred Cosart, Jesse Crain, Luis Cruz, Darin Downs, Scott Feldman, Josh Fields, Lucas Harrell, Dallas Keuchel, Chia-Jen Lo, David Martinez, Collin McHugh, Brett Oberholtzer, Rudy Owens, Brad Peacock, Chad Qualls, Raul Valdes, Alex White, Jerome Williams, Asher Wojciechowski, Josh Zeid.
Who is not getting optioned off the roster?
Matt Albers, Anthony Bass, Kevin Chapman, Jarred Cosart, Jesse Crain, Darin Downs, Scott Feldman, Josh Fields, Dallas Keuchel, Chia-Jen Lo, David Martinez, Brett Oberholtzer, Rudy Owens, Brad Peacock, Chad Qualls, Alex White, Jerome Williams, Asher Wojciechowski, and Josh Zeid. Jerome Williams is not getting optioned off the roster, because the point of this exercise is to see who Jerome Williams will replace.
So which players are left?
Jose Cisnero, Paul Clemens, Luis Cruz, Lucas Harrell, Collin McHugh, Raul Valdes.
Let's look!
Jose Cisnero will be 25 in April. He allowed an .826 OPS in 28 games (43.2IP) with 8.5 K/9. He also suffered from a .341 BABIP. Away from Minute Maid Park, Cisnero held opponents to a .678 OPS (.907 at home). He also really only had one bad month in nine July appearances (.300/.447/.567) and two bad outings in August. I think Cisnero stays on the roster because of his youth, and the flashes of decency.
Paul Clemens is what we like to call White Boy Crazy. He'll be 26 next week, and had a very up-and-down year, finishing the season with a 5.40 ERA/1.47 WHIP shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen. Given the moves that have been made, and the sheer number of rotation candidates coming in to camp, I think Clemens - if he survives the Jerome Williams Experience and Spring Training - is headed to the bullpen. He also has options left, so he could get outrighted off the 40-Man and wouldn't have to pass through waivers.
Luis Cruz won't be 24 until September, and also has only reached Double-A for 17IP at the end of 2013. In those 17IP he allowed five hits, four walks, and struck out 21. Cruz isn't getting taken off the roster.
Lucas Harrell will be 29 by the All-Star Break and his struggles are well-documented. After being in the mix for the Imaginary Title of Opening Day Starter, he led the league in walks and losses, and was the target of much angst, consternation, and outright hatred. Harrell is also out of options, so if he was taken off the 40-Man roster, he would first have to pass through waivers.
Collin McHugh will be 27 in June and was claimed off waivers by the Astros in December. So, to be perfectly superficial about this, I can't see the Astros designating McHugh less than two months after they
Raul Valdes is 36 years old, and was claimed off waivers by the Astros in early October. In 35IP for the Phillies in 2013, Valdes gave up 42 hits (but only walked eight) with a 7.46 ERA/1.43 WHIP. He also allowed seven home runs.
Given their youth, I'm guessing Cisnero and Cruz stay. I also think McHugh stays on the 40-Man. Despite my innate distaste for Lucas Harrell, his 2013 season was so incongruous from 2012 that I would be surprised if the Astros cut him loose. And I suppose the same goes for Clemens - valuable in that he can come in for four or five innings after Erik Bedard or Lucas Harrell has already lost the game by the end of the 1st inning.
So I guess I took the long way to end up at the same conclusion as others: Raul Valdes is out.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Report: Astros agree with Jerome Williams
From Rumor Wunderkind Chris Cotillo:
That "deal" is apparently a one-year, guaranteed contract with performance bonuses.
Williams is a 32-year old RHP (he was the 39th overall pick by the Giants in the 1999 draft). For the last three years, Williams has pitched for the Angels with 44IP in 2011, 137.2IP in 2012, and 169.1IP in 2013. In his time shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen with Anaheim, Williams was 19-18 with a 4.46 ERA/1.34 WHIP and a 2.22 K:BB ratio (6.0 K/9, 2.7 BB/9), totaling 1.4 WAR. His FIP over the last three years has been moderately consistent at 4.62, 4.15, and 4.60, with xFIPs outperforming his FIP. His BABIP has been a very consistent .291, .293, .293 in his time with Anaheim, as well.
According to FanGraphs, Williams throws a mix of fastball, cutter, sinker, with a changeup (8.4%), slider (6.6%) and a curve (6.3%) every now and then. His fastball and cutter were above average in 2013 (using FanGraphs' Pitch f/x values), while his sinker was definitely not, and his cutter was "moderately not" (quotations mine).
How does this affect the Astros? Here's where it gets interesting. In the games Williams started in 2013, opponents hit .285/.345/.472 (.306 BABIP). In the 12 games Williams entered in relief, they hit .211/.254/.298 (.237 BABIP) in an obviously more-limited sample size.
So it depends on the role the Astros are asking of Williams. I doubt Williams is in the mix at closer, so I'm not sure what the performance bonuses of a middle-relief guy would look like.
And sure enough! Here's Evan Drellich discounting the previous two paragraphs:
So let's keep in mind the rotation candidates for 2014:
Scott Feldman, Jarred Cosart, Brett Oberholtzer, Lucas Harrell, Dallas Keuchel, Brad Peacock, Alex White, Asher Wojciechowski. Add Jerome Williams to that list on a guaranteed contract and someone's getting knocked out.
At least we'll have a good season of Survivor: Kissimmee to look forward to!
Source: #Astros agree to deal with Jerome Williams, pending physical.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 3, 2014
That "deal" is apparently a one-year, guaranteed contract with performance bonuses.
Williams is a 32-year old RHP (he was the 39th overall pick by the Giants in the 1999 draft). For the last three years, Williams has pitched for the Angels with 44IP in 2011, 137.2IP in 2012, and 169.1IP in 2013. In his time shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen with Anaheim, Williams was 19-18 with a 4.46 ERA/1.34 WHIP and a 2.22 K:BB ratio (6.0 K/9, 2.7 BB/9), totaling 1.4 WAR. His FIP over the last three years has been moderately consistent at 4.62, 4.15, and 4.60, with xFIPs outperforming his FIP. His BABIP has been a very consistent .291, .293, .293 in his time with Anaheim, as well.
According to FanGraphs, Williams throws a mix of fastball, cutter, sinker, with a changeup (8.4%), slider (6.6%) and a curve (6.3%) every now and then. His fastball and cutter were above average in 2013 (using FanGraphs' Pitch f/x values), while his sinker was definitely not, and his cutter was "moderately not" (quotations mine).
How does this affect the Astros? Here's where it gets interesting. In the games Williams started in 2013, opponents hit .285/.345/.472 (.306 BABIP). In the 12 games Williams entered in relief, they hit .211/.254/.298 (.237 BABIP) in an obviously more-limited sample size.
So it depends on the role the Astros are asking of Williams. I doubt Williams is in the mix at closer, so I'm not sure what the performance bonuses of a middle-relief guy would look like.
And sure enough! Here's Evan Drellich discounting the previous two paragraphs:
Astros signed Jerome Williams to major league deal to be a starting pitcher, not a reliever. Of course, he can do both.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 3, 2014
So let's keep in mind the rotation candidates for 2014:
Scott Feldman, Jarred Cosart, Brett Oberholtzer, Lucas Harrell, Dallas Keuchel, Brad Peacock, Alex White, Asher Wojciechowski. Add Jerome Williams to that list on a guaranteed contract and someone's getting knocked out.
At least we'll have a good season of Survivor: Kissimmee to look forward to!
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