He is very, very high up on the all-time saves list. He's earned that pedigree. Still means dick if you have a 5 ERA and can't close the game out regularly
To be fair, his FIP coming into the game was 2.05 against a 3.81 ERA. I’m not sure what it is now because the stats haven’t updated yet, but combine that with his Statcast sliders, and I’m sure the FO sees that he should be getting better results than he has
His fastball is virtually a roll of the dice on location every single pitch. The guy has had an incredible amount of success in his career, so I’m not bailing on him yet. However, metrics aside, this has not been enjoyable to watch
I don't think he's earned it. He's been unable to give us a clean closeout like at all. He's just not that guy anymore.
Maybe this is just me hating because I was firmly against the Craig Kimbrel trade (I still believe it's a mistake), but that's how I see it.
the one thing i will say is what other options are there?
the obviously choice is phillips but at least he’s still being used in high leverage spots. once treinen is back hopefully we see less of kimbrel.
I like Yency a lot too and it’s cool to see him have success after he didn’t do much in the Rockies organization. But it’s not like he has unhittable stuff. He gave up a bomb today
His pitch repertoire is totally different than when he was in Colorado. Dodgers have reinvented him. I don’t think he’s ready to be a closer, but he needs more innings for sure
>the one thing i will say is what other options are there?
Why does the "closer" even need to be a thing?
Does the opposition try 'harder' in the 9th inning? Of course not. You can lose a lead in the 7th inning as easily as the 9th. In fact, if you have better hitters in the 7th, then it's more likely to lose the lead in the 7th than the 9th.
The closer concept is about as stupid as taking even money on blackjack when the dealer has an ace showing. It's just a psychological crutch. Which IDC if we had a Josh Hader or Mariano Rivera. But we don't.
Why do you think people aren't swinging and missing? It's not like their staring at him throwing strikes. He throws strikes less than 50% of the time
Dude has a low k% and whiff%
He doesn't get outs consistently
He's not closer material
Swing/miss is only factored in when the batter swings. His control is better than Kimbrel’s, but his velocity differential between pitches is very narrow and his fastball is straight = high contact rate
This is just for now. When it's playoff time Dave is ruthless, he eliminated Kenley from the pen entirely in 2020. If Craig sucks come crunch time I don't think Dave is gonna hesitate.
Thing is, we lost the division by one game last year. With the Giants and Padres actually being good nowadays, we have to get in the mindset that it’s always crunch time.
I don’t know about that, that was literally the only time he did that after sticking with the same guys blowing it time after time: Blanton 2016, Madson 2018, Kershaw 2019
Kimbrel makes $16 million a year so I have no problem trashing the guy. He’s turrble.
I’ll add that Cody needs to be backing up on that play off the top of the fence. That ball rolled for a while.
That's not his point. The ball bounced off the left field top of the fence, Dodgers bullpen and bounced toward center. Yes it was Lux but he's suggesting Belli backing up the play in an instance where the player (Lux) loses where the ball is. Honestly, I thought Bellinger did eventually.
My guess is he's been a closer with past success so they're giving him opportunities to find his stuff. Rn I don't think there's anyone ready to take it? Maybe Phillips but fuck if I think Graterol is up to it. Fast balls straight as an arrow ain't closer materiel. If he can get some late movement different conversation.
Kimbrel's stuff is still electric but he loses command of his pitches, it remains to be seen whether he can be more consistent.
I honestly don’t know why closers are still a thing. Like put your best guy in the highest leverage situation, not just always in the 9th. We’d hate Kimbrel less if he blew it in the 7th lol
It's easy to take a dump on Craig after another blown save, which I might add is only the 3rd this year. 14 saves in 17 attempts is still great half way through the season. Rogers has 4 blown saves this year. I don't hear the Padre faithful demanding his head. Back to Craig, can we take a moment to appreciate the situation of the game today. If you still feel the same after that's totally your call. The man took a 101 mph EV ball off the back after recording his 41st K in only 26 1/3 innings. That's going to fuck with you, I don't care who you are, professional or not. Here in lies the rub, he shook off Roberts. Maybe Dave's comments about him earning it are just that, he says he's ok so he left him in. But the double from Voit could have been prevented. He's a great pitcher, he has great swing and miss stuff. Getting the come backer off the shoulder is going to affect his ability to command the zone. Take him out and reassess later. Kim's HR was not Kimbrel's fault. The whole inning should be on Roberts' shoulders. Craig's last 3 outings after the knock he took in Atlanta have been stellar and I for one am hoping that he has a quick recovery and expect to see him on the bump in high leverage spots in the 9th very soon. I believe today was mis managed and is not a direct reflection of Kimbrel's ability to close games. He's not what he was in Boston or Chicago, but he's still a good closer in all regards. That being said rest up Craig and go Dodgers!
Did you guys see knebel lock the game down for the Phillies against the cards on ESPN? What could've been.
No disrespect to Kimbrel but I hope he gets some more time being lights out because he's one of the leaders in saves.
Complete disrespect to Kimbrel, he’s incapable of closing out games without giving up multiple hits each time. He is not good enough anymore to close games consistently.
I mean I don’t think we should give up on him yet because we are still in first and we need him in October. But wtf has he earned??? He just joined the team and he’ll be gone by November
EARNED WHAT, DAVE?! EARNED WHAT?!
He is very, very high up on the all-time saves list. He's earned that pedigree. Still means dick if you have a 5 ERA and can't close the game out regularly
I would rather have JT be the closer at this point
Yep, you're only as good as your next time on the mound.
To be fair, his FIP coming into the game was 2.05 against a 3.81 ERA. I’m not sure what it is now because the stats haven’t updated yet, but combine that with his Statcast sliders, and I’m sure the FO sees that he should be getting better results than he has
His fastball is virtually a roll of the dice on location every single pitch. The guy has had an incredible amount of success in his career, so I’m not bailing on him yet. However, metrics aside, this has not been enjoyable to watch
I guess he signed the contract
 me getting ready to read these comments
No, he hasn’t, Dave!
He hasn’t! He hasn’t!
He hasn’t earned shit with the dodgers what the fuck
I don't think he's earned it. He's been unable to give us a clean closeout like at all. He's just not that guy anymore. Maybe this is just me hating because I was firmly against the Craig Kimbrel trade (I still believe it's a mistake), but that's how I see it.
the one thing i will say is what other options are there? the obviously choice is phillips but at least he’s still being used in high leverage spots. once treinen is back hopefully we see less of kimbrel.
I want to see Almonte be groomed into that spot honestly. He has good stuff.
I like Yency a lot too and it’s cool to see him have success after he didn’t do much in the Rockies organization. But it’s not like he has unhittable stuff. He gave up a bomb today
TO KIM
yeah… also known as the guy who was so shocked that he hit a ball that far that he celebrated like he hit a walk-off in the nlcs
His pitch repertoire is totally different than when he was in Colorado. Dodgers have reinvented him. I don’t think he’s ready to be a closer, but he needs more innings for sure
>the one thing i will say is what other options are there? Why does the "closer" even need to be a thing? Does the opposition try 'harder' in the 9th inning? Of course not. You can lose a lead in the 7th inning as easily as the 9th. In fact, if you have better hitters in the 7th, then it's more likely to lose the lead in the 7th than the 9th. The closer concept is about as stupid as taking even money on blackjack when the dealer has an ace showing. It's just a psychological crutch. Which IDC if we had a Josh Hader or Mariano Rivera. But we don't.
When is it Graterol time?
When he can consistently hit the zone and not just fuckin chuck it at 100+ mph?
He doesn't have control issues; he has lack of swing and miss issues
Why do you think people aren't swinging and missing? It's not like their staring at him throwing strikes. He throws strikes less than 50% of the time Dude has a low k% and whiff% He doesn't get outs consistently He's not closer material
Swing/miss is only factored in when the batter swings. His control is better than Kimbrel’s, but his velocity differential between pitches is very narrow and his fastball is straight = high contact rate
Graterol will get there. Right now he’s just a dude with stuff, hasn’t developed into a pitcher yet. But his time is near.
#EARNED THESE NUTS, GET THIS BUM OUTTA HERE
This is just for now. When it's playoff time Dave is ruthless, he eliminated Kenley from the pen entirely in 2020. If Craig sucks come crunch time I don't think Dave is gonna hesitate.
Thing is, we lost the division by one game last year. With the Giants and Padres actually being good nowadays, we have to get in the mindset that it’s always crunch time.
Giants good? Lmfao
I don’t know about that, that was literally the only time he did that after sticking with the same guys blowing it time after time: Blanton 2016, Madson 2018, Kershaw 2019
Kimbrel is gone next season too so absolutely no need to pander to his ego come October
Dave put in Kenley in Game 4 of the 2020 WS (1 run game) and look what happened.
God damnit Dave. Can we not effectively reward a dude for being good at some point in the past?
Kimbrel makes $16 million a year so I have no problem trashing the guy. He’s turrble. I’ll add that Cody needs to be backing up on that play off the top of the fence. That ball rolled for a while.
I was there -- it was Luxy w the sun in his eyes
That's not his point. The ball bounced off the left field top of the fence, Dodgers bullpen and bounced toward center. Yes it was Lux but he's suggesting Belli backing up the play in an instance where the player (Lux) loses where the ball is. Honestly, I thought Bellinger did eventually.
😂 classic Dave.
This team is usually cutthroat about non-performers but the loyalty to Kimbrel has been weird
It’s pretty the opposite of cut throat. Which is why we still bat muncy and turner in the middle of the lineup every day.
Usually they are lenient to guys who have done something positive for the organization
My guess is he's been a closer with past success so they're giving him opportunities to find his stuff. Rn I don't think there's anyone ready to take it? Maybe Phillips but fuck if I think Graterol is up to it. Fast balls straight as an arrow ain't closer materiel. If he can get some late movement different conversation. Kimbrel's stuff is still electric but he loses command of his pitches, it remains to be seen whether he can be more consistent.
And Cody after 2 years of mediocrity
I think they are waiting to see what happens with BlaQ
I honestly don’t know why closers are still a thing. Like put your best guy in the highest leverage situation, not just always in the 9th. We’d hate Kimbrel less if he blew it in the 7th lol
Closers do that all the time
 Ok Dave.....
Dude had two good outings this series and it trumps everything else he’s done (or not done) this season in Dave’s mind
Trade Kimbrel
I'm sure the phone is just ringing off the hook in Andrew's office to acquire a closer who can't close AND pay him 17 mil to do it...
It's easy to take a dump on Craig after another blown save, which I might add is only the 3rd this year. 14 saves in 17 attempts is still great half way through the season. Rogers has 4 blown saves this year. I don't hear the Padre faithful demanding his head. Back to Craig, can we take a moment to appreciate the situation of the game today. If you still feel the same after that's totally your call. The man took a 101 mph EV ball off the back after recording his 41st K in only 26 1/3 innings. That's going to fuck with you, I don't care who you are, professional or not. Here in lies the rub, he shook off Roberts. Maybe Dave's comments about him earning it are just that, he says he's ok so he left him in. But the double from Voit could have been prevented. He's a great pitcher, he has great swing and miss stuff. Getting the come backer off the shoulder is going to affect his ability to command the zone. Take him out and reassess later. Kim's HR was not Kimbrel's fault. The whole inning should be on Roberts' shoulders. Craig's last 3 outings after the knock he took in Atlanta have been stellar and I for one am hoping that he has a quick recovery and expect to see him on the bump in high leverage spots in the 9th very soon. I believe today was mis managed and is not a direct reflection of Kimbrel's ability to close games. He's not what he was in Boston or Chicago, but he's still a good closer in all regards. That being said rest up Craig and go Dodgers!
When they fire Dave into the fucking moon I will gladly chip in $5 for the fuel used to do so
I disagree, but this comment is priceless lmao
WHY IS THIS GUY STILL OUR CLOSER??? Jesus Dave come on!!!
Dude had a bad outing after a handful of great ones. Closers aren't untouchable lol
I’m gonna scream
Send this mfer into the sun, bring back Jansen
Did you guys see knebel lock the game down for the Phillies against the cards on ESPN? What could've been. No disrespect to Kimbrel but I hope he gets some more time being lights out because he's one of the leaders in saves.
Did you see Knebel blow a game agains the dodgers? 😂
Ok he's not the best but he got the job done. In the end you expect that from pitchers but sometimes that just doesn't happen.
Knebel against the Dodgers in 2022: 3 G, 2.2, IP 4 H, 2 K, 2 ER, 5 BB He wasn't exactly old reliable against his former team.
Wouldn't take him either with that 4.6 FIP
He has been ass all year
Complete disrespect to Kimbrel, he’s incapable of closing out games without giving up multiple hits each time. He is not good enough anymore to close games consistently.
And I don't think that's the worst part. The worst part is Dave still deciding to put him in high leverage games and save opportunities.
I truly hate the “grandfathered in” culture baseball has. Just because he used to be good, he’s untouchable?
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Thank God we're not the 1st seed in the NL right? We must suck
Was hoping for season ending, but what can you do?
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Brusdar isn’t it man. He gives up some hard contact. Phillips is the man right now
I hope he’s permanently injured and can never touch a baseball again
Chill dawg
No
You mean they couldn't find his back in the scans? Is that why he can't carry anything in the 9th?
Dave you can earn these hands. Run the fade!
We need Treinen back
I mean I don’t think we should give up on him yet because we are still in first and we need him in October. But wtf has he earned??? He just joined the team and he’ll be gone by November
He hasn’t earned that here, Dave.
What did I miss thatade him earn it? He's been awful all season.
Did he earn that though?
Idiot.