IggyPride00;1600473 wrote:
To his credit (after being booed off the field for the 2nd time this season) Johnson did concede that the team would likely be 3-0 if it weren't for him and his Chris Perez routine.

Obviously not an A's fan, but I'd find it harder to hate a guy who takes accountability.

The A's might have their own version of Chris Perez this year. Not everyone is a closer... and you earn that position...you count on him being able to do his job, but nowhere is it more obvious than when a closer or setup guy blows it. Look at last year's Indians team....how many games did Pestano and Perez trash?....and yet the team still won 92 games.

HitsRus;1600484 wrote:The A's might have their own version of Chris Perez this year. Not everyone is a closer... and you earn that position...you count on him being able to do his job, but nowhere is it more obvious than when a closer or setup guy blows it. Look at last year's Indians team....how many games did Pestano and Perez trash?....and yet the team still won 92 games.

And it's a matter made more noticeable by how "easy come, easy go" the ability (whether it be physical, mental or a combination) to be successful at that role is. You have a guy looking elite one year and the next, he's fighting to hold any sort of roster job. And then, you have a guy who's been a forgettable journeyman for a long time suddenly wind up elite, if only for a few months or so.

One thing is clear to me only being 3 games in, and it is that John Axford is going to have an awful lot of save opportunities this season.

I see the Tribe playing a ton of close games as the offense is going to be the type that manufactures runs more than bludgeons teams. It lends itself to close games, and Axford is going to be getting the ball alot.

Heretic;1600487 wrote:And it's a matter made more noticeable by how "easy come, easy go" the ability (whether it be physical, mental or a combination) to be successful at that role is. You have a guy looking elite one year and the next, he's fighting to hold any sort of roster job. And then, you have a guy who's been a forgettable journeyman for a long time suddenly wind up elite, if only for a few months or so.

Which is why a lot of knowledgeable baseball (I'm talking Jonah Keri, Buster Olney, etc.) people know relievers (for the most part) are expendable, and why you let someone like Joe Smith go, and why a lot of relievers have been on 6-10 different teams.

I'll have the Twins thread up by tomorrow.

Laley23;1600521 wrote:I'll have the Twins thread up by tomorrow.

I was going to say, you are in charge of the series threads until we lose one.

Laley23;1600521 wrote:I'll have the Twins thread up by tomorrow.

IggyPride00;1600522 wrote:I was going to say, you are in charge of the series threads until we lose one.

I second this... get 'er done, Laley!!!