Final bullpen spot

by APV on Feb 17, 2012 8:59 AM EST

Nick Hagadone was the winner in yesterday's sixth bullpen slot poll, coming in first with a clear plurality and near majority of the vote. The LGT consensus would like to see Hagadone join C. Perez, Sipp, Pestano, Smith and R. Perez, leaving just one open spot in the pen. The same considerations regarding roster spots outlined yesterday still apply. Who would you like to see round out the rotation?

Poll

Who would you like to earn the final bullpen spot in spring training?

Frank Herrmann

87 votes

Corey Kluber

12 votes

Dan Wheeler (NRI)

190 votes

Robinson Tejada (NRI)

6 votes

Jeremy Accardo (NRI)

6 votes

Chris Ray (NRI)

4 votes

Chen Lee (NRI)

24 votes

Hector Ambriz (NRI)

10 votes

Other (please indicate in comments)

6 votes

345 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Voted for Wheeler, avoiding my sentimental pick for Herrmann (since Lin-sanity has shown that Harvard educated athletes are the new market inefficiency)

by Harry Doyle on Feb 17, 2012 9:41 AM EST reply actions

I went with Hagadone and Wheeler for the 6th and 7th spots in the pen. I was tempted to go with Lee, and would likely go that route if Wheeler isn’t 100% by the end of ST.

by callmrplow on Feb 17, 2012 12:36 PM EST reply actions

this

by westbrook on Feb 17, 2012 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

Wheeler

I like ex-Phillies prospects.

by Gradyforpresident on Feb 17, 2012 12:42 PM EST reply actions

My vote is for the runner up in the competition for the 5th rotation spot to be the long man out of the pen.

by woodsmeister on Feb 17, 2012 1:29 PM EST reply actions

I decided to vote responsibly and brush up on the numbers first. It reminded me there’s as good a chance that the bullpen is a disaster as it is a strength this year.

As much as I’ve hated Raffy Perez and his consistently declining Swinging Strike rate at times, I can see why they paid him the 2 mil, especially if the trade market wasn’t very good for him.

It seems just as possible to me that come playoff time, we will have a back end of Pestano, Smith, Hagadone, Lee as opposed to Perez, Perez, Pestano, Sipp.

I voted for Wheeler. Even though Herrmann is a personal favorite, it makes too much sense to start the guy with options in AAA.

by TKilbane on Feb 17, 2012 1:50 PM EST reply actions

I’m curious to hear from all the Herrmann fans…why?

by APV on Feb 17, 2012 3:09 PM EST reply actions

I think the hard working 25th guy on the roster is always easy to like. Seems like a nice guy. Easy to identify with. It doesn’t seem like as much of a stretch to imagine myself in his shoes had a few more balls bounced my way.

by TKilbane on Feb 17, 2012 7:44 PM EST up reply actions

Plus, maybe he can fix the economy.

by Jay on Feb 18, 2012 1:48 AM EST up reply actions

I think Wheeler is better, but I wanted someone who can go multiple innings.
On an emotional level, bullpen mafia.

What if...

by Danieldelamaiz on Feb 18, 2012 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

Well, it is a good story, more so because that he made it to the show as an undrafted invitee than the Harvard degree. I like him for that, and the fact that he has the fastest heater of all our pen guys.

by mcrose on Feb 18, 2012 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

Oh god, he really is the white Jeremy Lin.

by ameliorate on Feb 19, 2012 2:42 AM EST up reply actions

… i.e., the Jeremy Lin who can’t jump?

by Jay on Feb 19, 2012 10:51 AM EST up reply actions

Ok, I fianlly googled who this guy is, but I never got as deep as why his name is all over Twitter, Facebook, and Indians blogs suddenly. I’m going to keep trying to piece that together based only on the jokes I read.

by Brick. on Feb 20, 2012 10:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Also as an FYI, Jordan Bastian covered some of the minor league contracts and opt-out dates for guys here. As far as I can tell, neither Wheeler nor Tejada have opt-out clauses aside from offers from non-MLB clubs.

by APV on Feb 17, 2012 4:24 PM EST reply actions

Hector Ambriz, forgot all about that guy.

Wheeler, probably.

by Brick. on Feb 17, 2012 8:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I think you need at least one guy who can give you length. Hagadone used to be a starter, but given his injury history and the way teams play matchup, I don’t think he nor any other pitcher will ever be used as a mutli-nning reliever a few times a week. If Hagadone gets a spot, which I think he should, I’m going for Frank the Tank, Klubber, or Tejada. I don’t think Wheeler can pull those multi-inning, 55-60 pitch stints. If Wheeler has a leg up on a spot, then I think you’re still best to pick from Herrmann, Klubber, or Tejada.

by xrickx on Feb 17, 2012 9:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions

if Slowey doesn’t get the rotation spot, it would be him in that role.

by westbrook on Feb 17, 2012 9:26 PM EST up reply actions

Slowey will make the team one way or the other. Agreed.

by bookelly73 on Feb 18, 2012 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

I want to see both Hagadone and CC Lee as pen stalwarts by midseason. I think Hags has a good shot to make it out of the gate.

by mcrose on Feb 18, 2012 9:59 PM EST reply actions

Calling this one for Wheeler. That makes the LGT consensus pitching staff:

Masterson
Jimenez
Tomlin
Lowe
Garland (who isn’t yet under contract…Slowey is probably LGT’s second choice)
Perez
Pestano
Sipp
Smith
Perez
Hagadone
Wheeler

by APV on Feb 19, 2012 1:24 PM EST reply actions

The above pitching staff would require two spots on the 40-man be opened up, one of which could come in the form of placing Carrasco on the 60-day DL, but another which would have to be created.

by APV on Feb 19, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions