Craig Kimbrel signs with Astros

Can he cover first base?

 

We get that funky yoga-fire pitch.

 

With Hader out for the remainder of the regular season, signing a guy who won’t fold in the spotlight is important. Kimbrel was last elite in 2018, and since then he’s been a really solid reliever 3 out of the next 6 seasons. He’s been a below average reliever in the other 3 seasons. I’m most counting the 2020 Covid season…

It definitely does not hurt to see if you can catch lightning in a bottle with Kimbrel. The way to make an elite bullpen average, is to simply overload their arms with innings.

Here’s to hoping the Astros pitching coaches can figure out Kimbrel and get him being elite again.

 

Watching a PBS doc about the Great Chicago Fire as we speak...it's incredibly interesting

 

Interesting… or desperate, glass half full of half empty.

High strikeout rate in the minors and from what I have seen he seems to be throwing with less velocity but more movement. More walks than in his prime.

I know everyone in baseball is laughing at this signing - but even in a couple of his recent “bad” seasons, he was close to dominant for half a season. So it’s possible he comes in and does the job.

I was really hoping some of these other relievers/starters around the league would get released and the Astros could pounce.

 

too late, he’s already worn out

 

Read Devil In The White City… good casual reading and does an excellent job explaining how Chicago rebuilt right after the fire and the World Fair.

 

I have zero problem with this. Maybe he's washed, but it's worth a try!

 

Just think about who he is likely to replace?

Has to be worth a shot. Nothing to lose.

 

He will get shelled 2 or 3 times in a row and then DFA’d

 

Great book.

 

The way I see it, it gives us a low leverage reliever (Neris role) that has playoff experience in the bullpen. After Abreu (and Hader) there really isn't anyone in the pen who has been in the playoffs. This gives us someone to fill, maybe, that leadership role. I haven't looked but did the bullpen's struggles start when we DFAd Neris and lost the leadership? (did I really just wish for Neris back?)

 

Lost the leadership? From who?

 

This very well could happen, Astros have about 9 days left to find an effective retread reliever that would be eligible for the postseason, so I imagine he will have a very short window to prove himself. I wouldn't be surprised if Pressly or someone else currently unemployed is on the radar to get a shot before Aug 31 if Kimbrel sucks.

 

Isn't the rule they just have to be in the organization for them to be eligible as long as the said player is an 'injury replacement'...

 

I dont know, maybe. I'm sure there are exceptions, the general rule is must be on 40 man by Aug. 31.

 

Anyone in the organization is eligible. Maybe they have to be in the organization by August 31?

 

Im getting hungry for chicken wings all of a sudden.

 

I'm surprised if they're going with a retread that it's Kimbrel and not Press. Kimbrel is a year older.

Still, his xERA was a good run lower than his actual last season and he still gets whiffs and Ks. Walk rate is unacceptable but he doesn't give up many hits. I wouldn't want him as a leverage guy but he may be fine as a 5th or 6th best RP on a staff.