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Thursday, December 24, 2009

WaPo: Capps picks Nats over Cubs

The Nats beat the Senate by several hours in improving Washington’s health…at least on South Capitol Street.

At roughly 1 a.m., the Nationals got their man.

Making their clearest step yet to improve a bullpen and end their pained search for a closer, the Washington Nationals on Wednesday reached a deal with free agent reliever Matt Capps, according to agent Paul Kinzer.

Terms were not immediately disclosed, but the right-hander, who has saved 66 games in the last three seasons, will receive a one-year deal. In turn, he will likely inherit responsibility for the ninth-inning role—a trouble spot in 2009.

Capps, non-tendered by the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this month, had attracted some dozen suitors, and this week narrowed his list to two, the Nationals and the Chicago Cubs. But Capps, Pittsburgh’s closer since 2007, wanted a chance to close—and Washington offered a clearer path toward that opportunity.

Relief for Christmas! (And we’re not talking Alka-Seltzer.)

TerpNats Posted: December 24, 2009 at 02:44 PM | 22 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: cubs, nationals

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1. Frisco Cali Posted: December 24, 2009 at 03:53 PM (#3421558)

Who will be in the exalted role of closer for the Pirates? Hanrahan? Doug Jones?

2. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: December 24, 2009 at 03:56 PM (#3421561)

Hanrahan? That pederast.

3. Esoteric Posted: December 24, 2009 at 03:58 PM (#3421562)

Capps is no great shakes, and the deal is likely an overpay, but every Nats fan who had to suffer through the Joel Hanrahan/Mike MacDougal experience last year is probably still pleased to see even marginal improvement. I'm pretty sure that the presence of Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett (both good friends of Capps who were selling him on the Nats) probably didn't hurt in helping Capps make his decision.

4. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: December 24, 2009 at 04:00 PM (#3421567)

Who will be in the exalted role of closer for the Pirates? Hanrahan? Doug Jones?

They're supposedly talking to both Octavio Dotel and Kevin Gregg.

I'd actually be fine with Hanrahan getting the job - he was pretty much lights-out after the trade last year.

5. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: December 24, 2009 at 04:12 PM (#3421577)

Also worth noting: Hanrahan's FIP with the Nats last year was 3.62.

6. Esoteric Posted: December 24, 2009 at 05:47 PM (#3421695)

Also worth noting: Hanrahan's FIP with the Nats last year was 3.62.

Wait 'til you see what happens when he pitches in a closing situation! You're gonna love it!

Seriously, Nats fans frequently remarked upon how Hanrahan's real-world results were significantly worse than his peripherals would suggest last season. At some point you have to concede that there may actually be a significant psychological component to the closer role: witness LaTroy Hawkins or, more recently, Brandon Morrow. It's something that can be overcome, perhaps, but I'm warning you now...

7. RJ in TO Posted: December 24, 2009 at 05:50 PM (#3421697)

At some point you have to concede that there may actually be a significant psychological component to the closer role: witness LaTroy Hawkins or, more recently, Brandon Morrow.

Or Mike Timlin.

8. Natty Fan Posted: December 24, 2009 at 05:55 PM (#3421700)

Vlad, I only mention this because the Pirate fans in my family seem to think that Hanrahan's poor performance was completely a product of the Nats' terrible defense -- and some of it was. However, as someone who saw quite a few of Hanrahan's appearances last year, I can say a good portion of his high BAbip was Hanrahan's pitches simply getting drilled. Early in the year we saw too many gopher balls, and then when he seemed to get that under control, it was only to allow opponents to drill line drives into the gaps for stand-up doubles. If he got better after the trade, I have to believe he truly fixed something. (The Nats fired their pitching close just before they traded him, I believe.)

9. retro-shiite Posted: December 24, 2009 at 06:04 PM (#3421708)

Who will be in the exalted role of closer for the Pirates? Hanrahan? Doug Jones?

Bill Landrum.

10. John DiFool2 Posted: December 24, 2009 at 07:43 PM (#3421806)

Nice to see a player's last name synch up with that of his team for a change. Never could figure out why Billy Brewer never played for Milwaukee...

11. Mike Emeigh

Posted: December 24, 2009 at 08:00 PM (#3421819)

Report is that Capps's deal is for 3.5 million.

-- MWE

12. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: December 24, 2009 at 08:08 PM (#3421824)

First good piece of news this offseason.

13. Shock Posted: December 24, 2009 at 08:10 PM (#3421826)

Nice to see a player's last name synch up with that of his team for a change. Never could figure out why Billy Brewer never played for Milwaukee...

Is he going to play on a line with Ovechkin?

14. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: December 24, 2009 at 08:41 PM (#3421839)

However, as someone who saw quite a few of Hanrahan's appearances last year, I can say a good portion of his high BAbip was Hanrahan's pitches simply getting drilled. Early in the year we saw too many gopher balls, and then when he seemed to get that under control, it was only to allow opponents to drill line drives into the gaps for stand-up doubles.

FWIW, his line drive rate after the trade was actually higher than it had been before the deal. As such, I have to be at least a little bit skeptical about your analysis.

15. Tricky Dick Posted: December 24, 2009 at 08:58 PM (#3421851)

Whither go the Cubs now for a late inning reliever?

16. Natty Fan Posted: December 24, 2009 at 09:34 PM (#3421873)

"I have to be at least a little bit skeptical about your analysis."

As with all of my analysis, this is a very good idea.

17. TerpNats Posted: December 24, 2009 at 09:37 PM (#3421874)

Some years ago, there was a hockey players named Mike Eagles who, alas, never played for the Flyers, IIRC.And I'm certain he didn't attend Boston College.

18. retro-shiite Posted: December 24, 2009 at 10:36 PM (#3421912)

Whither go the Cubs now for a late inning reliever?

Time for Hendry to outbid himself and go three years for Dotel.

19. Frisco Cali Posted: December 24, 2009 at 10:51 PM (#3421920)

Whither go the Cubs now for a late inning reliever?

Why are you hijacking this Pirates thread?

20. Mike Emeigh

Posted: December 24, 2009 at 11:34 PM (#3421934)

FWIW, his line drive rate after the trade was actually higher than it had been before the deal.

No, it wasn't, per BBRef: 28/112 (25%) before, 17/75 (22.7%) after. The big differences were in GB rate (45.5% before, 26.7% after) and in hits allowed on GB (19/51 for .373 before, 2/20 for .100 after). He also didn't allow a home run with the Bucs.

It should also be noted that (a) just 7 of Hanrahan's 33 appearances with the Pirates were in high-leverage situations and (b) his ERA with Pittsburgh is a bit deceiving because he allowed six unearned runs, as well.

I'd like to see the Pirates give Veal a shot at closing, but I think they still want him to be a starter.

-- MWE

21. The Keith Law Blog Blah Blah (battlekow) Posted: December 24, 2009 at 11:34 PM (#3421935)

Never could figure out why Billy Brewer never played for Milwaukee...

This guy does, or rather, never will.

22. Esoteric Posted: December 24, 2009 at 11:53 PM (#3421940)

At 1 year/$3.5 million, I am very, very pleased with this acquisition. Dave Pinto's analysis says it best, really: with even marginally better late-inning relief (that is to say, relief that is still only average or moderately below average) the Nats are actually a better team than the Mets last season. By acquiring Bruney, Guardado and Capps, we've gone a long way towards that, which is desperately necessary in order to save the team's young arms from shredding.

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

WaPo: Capps picks Nats over Cubs

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