This year's IRS% (Inherited Runners who Score) is a ghastly 39%. That is up from 31% last season and 24% in 2015. It's definitely a problem. We can safely assume that the IRS% of the minor league fill-in pitchers like Tolliver & Jankowski are irrelevant for the playoff run as those guys won't make the playoff roster anyway, but among pitchers who could conceivably play in the postseason we have: Hoyt - 11 of 18 IR's scored (61%) Feliz - 13 of 26 (50%) Giles - 7 of 14 (50%) Musgrove - 2 of 4 Gregerson - 3 of 8 (38%) Harris - 6 of 17 (35%) Peacock - 1 of 3 Sipp - 3 of 10 Devenski - 9 of 32 (28%) Martes - 0 of 6 In my estimation, a contending playoff team needs to maintain the IRS ratio under 30%. Hoyt, Feliz, and Giles have been the biggest culprits in elevating this season's figure. In July, I'd have really liked to see Luhnow pursue Anthony Swarzak (IRS% of 25% this year). Unfortunately, the Brewers got Swarzak - and at a very reasonable price - so he'll not be replacing a Feliz or Hoyt.
Good stuff. I suspect the Astros will lean heavily on Giles, Harris & Devo to shoulder most of their relief work in the postseason. I suppose Martes and Musgrove, given recent results and their live arms, are pushing their way into the conversation, and they'll have Gregerson for low-leverage situations. Other than that, I mean - I'd be surprised if any one else logs significant innings in October.
Interesting, but inheriting a guy on 1st is different than on 3rd. Like to see this taken into account in some manner rather than a strait percentage.
Velander or bust If nothing else for morale boost for team and fans. And I bet if they lose tonight they will. That would make the current ace ineffective for whatever the reason. Still hurt, pressing, whatever. Hoping they win to avoid 6 game losing streak. But they should still do it just to get the shot in the arm, that adrenaline hit of getting a sp that will allow the rotation to move a reliever back to the pen.
I don't know so much about advanced stats. I agree that this is an important distinction, as is the number of outs in the inning when the reliever entered and even the speed of the inherited runners. If anyone knows of a resource that gives these kinds of detailed/weighted stats, I'd really like to know more about it. I would imagine that the Astros internally keep track of these things though that information may not make it to websites like Fangraphs.
Spending $50,000,000 to boost player and especially fan morale is a sure way to run a franchise into the ground.
That's a curious choice. Besides the fact his name always sounds like "Clipart" to me, this is a guy who's been trending in the wrong direction the past couple of years. HRs and BBs are pretty high for Clipart, which make me wonder whether he (as a mainly flyball pitcher) could hack it at MMP. We don't need a pitcher who is going to imitate the worst of Mike Fiers' habits or bring us the negative side of 'Lima Time' again. Not sure what the attraction is here.
Possibly nothing. The Astros needed bullpen help. Not my first choice (and I suspect we over pay) but after blowing the trade deadline, I am not sure there is much pen help out there without taking on a contract like Melancon.
Clippard has actually been really, really good since the trade to Chicago. He was also strong in the second half last season. He's not the piece that will put us over the top, but he's certainly better than most of what we've been throwing out lately.
He's a short-burst pitcher who can still get outs in late game situations.... but I agree, he really isn't better than the guys they currently have (presuming that Devenski does at some point improve closer to where he was). Also, if they were truly concerned about somebody imitating Mike Fiers... maybe they should stop pitching the actual Mike Fiers. Lastly... HR rates at MMP haven't been as concerning as you're fearing since 2000.
I will say this, Clippard has been trending in the right direction recently, at least just eyeballing his game log. He can't be any worse than Liriano.
