http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/...-pitching-lineup-power-earns-team-top-billing There's a mention towards the bottom regarding Devenski... and how his changeup was nicknamed "The circle of death!" I like it. Combine that with the "dragon" nickname... and with GOT starting up in July... its going to be a summer of the dragon, with everybody being exposed to the circle of death.
I think it's time to look at Devenski in higher leverage situations. He could be our answer at closer.
While I have no doubt that Devo would be as good (or likely better) than Giles at closing, I freaking love the job he's doing in the role he's in. It's shades of Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. Devo wouldn't be THAT much better than Giles/Gregerson/Harris at closing. Those guys aren't terrible closers, they're just not shut-down level. But Devo is un-replaceable in the Andrew Miller role.
By Fangraph's "Leverage Index" stat (had to read up on it myself), they're being used in approximately equal leverage situations. According to Fangraphs, average leverage is 1 with Low: 0-0.85, Medium: 0.85-2.0, High: 2.0+. Leverage Indices In 2017: Devo: 1.65 Giles: 1.67 Essentially equal. Obviously small sample size but it goes to show that Devo is getting equally important innings in the early going. More than that it tells me that switching Devo's role to the closer role may cut down his innings (and WAR) without significantly upping his leverage. ADDENDUM* For reference, Aroldis Chapman's leverage over the last few seasons has ranged from 1.64-1.84.
Since I am lazy , can you tell what his rate was just using those 2 4 inning games? I assume his 1 inning in the 7-2 game brought his average down.
I prefer GmLI, leverage index at time entering game, from their site. It rewards a player for a manager trusting to bring in at high leverage situations. PLI tracks leverage throughtout an appearance. Pitching poorly in high leverage closing situations typically losses the game or increases leverage. Pitching well tends to turn a high LI to a lower LI.
Double post Only reason Giles has a higher pLI is due to giving up walk, hits, and HBPs with one or no outs. He should not get credit for taking a bad situation and making it worse.
The 'Stros situation with Devo is just like the Indians. Francona wants to use Miller in the most crucial part of the game. Is it the 7th, 8th or the 9th inning? It obviously varies from game to game and each situation is different. He has C. Allen to bring in after Miller. So it's on Hinch to figure this out with Devo. Personally, and this is just my opinion, I think Hinch is going to be bringing Devo out as the closer more so then Giles come Aug and Sept.
Right now he looks better than Chapman, Kimbrel, Davis, Miller, Betances, etc. Incredible what he is doing early on.
I love this a lot more than having to hold him back for the perfect save situation like teams do with closers. The focus on the save stat has screwed many things up. Aside from teams holding back their best bullet, many closers seem to pitch less effectively in non-save situations. It's like if they can't get a save it's an insult for them to be out there. I've always felt a high leverage relief ace would be the best way to go. Don't retain a bullet for a save situation that may not still be there by the 9th.
Devo is on pace for 130+ IP. If he finishes near that, he's much more valuable than the best closer and slightly less valuable than a Cy candidate. 5.0 WAR ??
Brett Myers was 10th in Cy Young his first year in Houston. I hope you mean that version of Chris Myers.
This this this. Devenski truly is the extinguisher right now and I feel so comfortable with him in the game in the highest leverage situations. And the best part is he seems to embrace the role he is in, which is important when talking about relief pitchers... who typically have fragile egos.
Devo got some media loving the other day. He was interviewed on the Ringer's MLB podcast show: Link Not the greatest interviewee I've ever heard, lots of "you know"s and Bull Durham level cliches, but overall nice to see the national guys starting to get to know the guy behind the numbers. One thing I took away was that he feels perfectly comfortable in those multi-inning relief spots in part because the tandem system in the low-minors.
