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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Pirates release pitcher Bedard

When was the last time a team released its Opening Day starter before the end of the season?

After a strong start to the season, Bedard, 33, went 4-10 with a 6.35 ERA since June. He pitched well for the Pirates early this season, posting a 3.12 ERA in 10 starts over the first two months. But his season took a drastic downward turn from that point on.

Mike Emeigh Posted: August 28, 2012 at 08:40 AM | 29 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: business, general, pirates

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1. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: August 28, 2012 at 08:49 AM (#4219902)

If this was Chicago there'd be your scapegoat.

The refreshing thing about a 100 loss season is that there are no scapegoats.

2. Tom Nawrocki Posted: August 28, 2012 at 09:01 AM (#4219911)

The Rockies didn't release Jeremy Guthrie, who was their Opening Day starter this year, but they dumped him for a guy who had already been DFA'd, which is almost as good.

3. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: August 28, 2012 at 09:05 AM (#4219917)

Wow, they don't even want him as a LOOGY? Maybe he come back when the rosters expand?

4. Infinite Joost (Voxter)

Posted: August 28, 2012 at 09:17 AM (#4219928)

So, Adam Jones, huh?

5. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 28, 2012 at 09:34 AM (#4219942)

Probably safe to assume he's hurt?

Woulda thought the Royals would have released an Opening Day pitcher. The closest I can find was in 2006 when Joe Mays was their #2 starter, and they released him in May after six starts. They didn't even release 2005 Opening Day starter Jose Lima after 32 starts and a 6.99 ERA.

6. bookbook Posted: August 28, 2012 at 09:42 AM (#4219948)

Bedard hurt? Inconceivable.

7. DKDC Posted: August 28, 2012 at 09:42 AM (#4219949)

Bedard’s 2007 was really fun to watch. He finished third in the league in Ks, despite ending the season on the DL and missing all of September.

Kazmir led the league in Ks in 2007, and if this is the end of the road for both of them, they had nearly identical careers.

8. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: August 28, 2012 at 09:50 AM (#4219956)

The Twins waived Livan Hernandez in 2008.

9. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: August 28, 2012 at 10:10 AM (#4219968)

The 1999 Mariners' opening day starter was Jeff Fassero. 156 innings and 135 runs later, they traded him for a PTBNL on August 27, so I suppose he must have been waived.

I couldn't find another pitcher in a cursory search, but I did find that the 2005 Devil Rays' opening day starter was Dewon Brazelton. Also the 1980 Mariners' opening day starter was a guy named "Mike Parrott" who made 16 starts that year and had a record of 1-16.

10. escabeche Posted: August 28, 2012 at 10:23 AM (#4219975)

So, Adam Jones, huh?

Don't forget that Erik Bedard also brought Chris Tillman, and Steve Johnson (via George Sherrill), who are a combined 8-2 with an ERA around 3.50 as spare parts of the rotation this year.

11. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 28, 2012 at 10:37 AM (#4219987)

Probably safe to assume he's hurt?

Not hurt. Just too tired to be effective, since he's out of shape from always being hurt.

12. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 28, 2012 at 10:40 AM (#4219992)

This is new ground for Bedard, basically the first time he has been (relatively) healthy and yet ineffective.

His peripherals still look ok, so I'd definitely pick him up if I were just about any team in the majors. This is the last year of his contract, and his ERA is bad, so he'll come cheap.

--

Side note: How the hell do the Pirates have such a good record, even before their recent mini-swoon? Is it defense and bullpen? Because the offense and pitching are nothing special, even with McCutchen and Burnett.

13. boteman Posted: August 28, 2012 at 10:43 AM (#4219996)

The Twins waived Livan Hernandez in 2008.

¡Livan! waves back from the Brewers' bullpen. That cat has at least 9 lives.

14. gef the talking mongoose Posted: August 28, 2012 at 10:43 AM (#4219997)

The pitching was pretty darned solid till the All Star break, but then MacDonald became human again, & Burnett has done the same. (I don't particularly follow the team, but I had both those guys on my fantasy team. I've since cut the former; Burnett might well be following him, depending on his next start.) The Wandy Rodriguez acquistion was a big pile of meh (also on my fantasy team, also released). *sigh*

15. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: August 28, 2012 at 10:46 AM (#4220002)

This isn't about their opening day starter but the Phillies in 1999 were a fun bunch. Chad Ogea and Paul Spoljaric were in the starting rotation at the beginning of the season along with Curt Schilling, Paul Byrd, and Carlton Loewer. Paul would get 3 dreadful starts and then get traded for Robert Person who actually was pretty decent. Somehow Ogea got 28 starts which is about 25 more than I remember him getting and would never play major league baseball again. Curt got hurt, Loewer got shipped down then out at the end of the season, and the lone bright spot was Paul Byrd having one of his miracle seasons. The next year he'd be the Phillies home opener starter and he got absolutely rocked against the Mets.

16. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: August 28, 2012 at 10:48 AM (#4220005)

Also the 1980 Mariners' opening day starter was a guy named "Mike Parrott" who made 16 starts that year and had a record of 1-16.

The win was on opening day. Then he started losing and didn't stop until the Mariners' 163rd game.

17. Rennie's Tenet Posted: August 28, 2012 at 10:58 AM (#4220020)

Assuming there's no trade in the works, it's not a necessary step by any means, since his next start won't be until September 1.

18. spycake Posted: August 28, 2012 at 11:05 AM (#4220027)

I just learned that Mike Parrott and Jeff Parrett are two different people.

19. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 28, 2012 at 11:46 AM (#4220101)

Dave Stewart was the A's 1995 Opening Day Starter and retired in July after 16 starts and a 6.89 ERA.

20. esseff Posted: August 28, 2012 at 02:20 PM (#4220262)

Bob Gibson was the Cardinals 1975 Opening Day starter and quit with a 3-10, 5.04 after giving up a grand slam to Pete LaCock on Sept. 3.

21. esseff Posted: August 28, 2012 at 02:24 PM (#4220270)

I just learned that Mike Parrott and Jeff Parrett are two different people.

Neither of whom was the best of that particular order of the species.

22. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 28, 2012 at 03:01 PM (#4220314)

Albert Williams was the Twins '84 Opening Day starter, and was released, but not til just after the season ended.

Dave LaPoint was the Yanks '90 Opening Day Starter, and was released the winter afterwards.

Ryan Drese was the Rangers '05 Opening Day Starter, and was claimed by the Nats off waivers mid-season.

Kip Wells was the Rockies '08 Opening Day Starter, released in August.

Jose DeLeon was the Cards '92 Opening Day stater, released in August.

23. God Posted: August 28, 2012 at 06:18 PM (#4220586)

[21] - Having once played a full season of 1920 Strat-O-Matic, Pol Perritt is a legend to me. The all-time killer Strat card.

24. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: August 28, 2012 at 06:48 PM (#4220622)

I don't think a team can release someone who is hurt. That's asking for a grievance.

25. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire Posted: August 29, 2012 at 03:02 AM (#4220886)

This seems like an odd decision to me, rather than sending him to the bullpen, but maybe he refused to go.

26. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: August 29, 2012 at 08:33 AM (#4220936)

Have the Cardinals signed him and turned him into a Cy Young candidate yet?

27. Karl from NY Posted: August 29, 2012 at 05:39 PM (#4221695)

I don't think a team can release someone who is hurt. That's asking for a grievance.

They have no reason to, since a player on the DL doesn't take up a roster spot. So there's nothing to gain from such a release.

(The 15-day DL takes a player off the 25-man roster but keeps him on the 40-man. The 60-day DL takes him off both.)

28. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: August 29, 2012 at 05:45 PM (#4221701)

If they put him on the DL and he says he isn't hurt, that's a grievance, too, no?

29. Karl from NY Posted: August 29, 2012 at 06:02 PM (#4221722)

Yes, but medical experts can arbitrate as to whether he's really hurt. If so, he goes on the DL. If not, he'll probably just get released, and you can't grievance against a team just not wanting you any more.

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Pirates release pitcher Bedard

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