Lock Richards Up Long-Term?

[Brandon]

Lock up long term a guy that you have control over for 4.5 years that has only pitched good for half a season?

I couldn't imagine teams like the DBacks giving Ian Kennedy a long term deal with his top 3 Cy Young finish years ago.

[Inside Pitch]

Lock up long term a guy that you have control over for 4.5 years that has only pitched good for half a season?

I couldn't imagine teams like the DBacks giving Ian Kennedy a long term deal with his top 3 Cy Young finish years ago.

 

Technically it's been a full season now.   Richards posted a 3.59 ERA over 80 innings the second half of last year.  I'm not saying lock him up now, but he's been a lot better than people realize for a bit longer than just this season.

[nando714]

I'd wait another year, personally.

I agree.

You just never know

[nate]

We have him locked up for another 4.5 years... that seems pretty good, doesn't it?

[IIIII]

Too risky for only a half of season, plus arm injuries are way too common at this point. IMO you treat him like Trout, once he can do this for two full years you give him the big contract

[Lou]

anybody else remember when Weaver's delivery was going to lead to arm problems?

[Blarg]

Well we lucked out because he wasn't going to sign a long term contract and go free agent if we didn't trade him.

[rageous]

Even if you sign him long term you can try to limit loss on an injury by adding in a Lackey clause in the contract

[Lou]

Even if you sign him long term you can try to limit loss on an injury by adding in a Lackey clause in the contract

you can try, but he'd never agree to it

Edited July 12, 2014 by Lou

[xboom28x]

From what I have heard, it's the splitter and slider that causes a majority of UCL issues not the delivery motion. I'm not sure how true that is, but it makes sense considering the rash of TJ injuries over the past 8-10 years. The splitter was supposed to be an off-speed pitch. Some 6-10 mph slower than a pitcher's fastball. However, over time, it appears that guys are throwing 90+mph splitters and sliders because their fastball is in the upper 90s. An elbow can't sustain that over a career.

 

I don't know Richards' repertoire. But if he uses the slider and/or splitter frequently enough, then I would think he would have a greater chance of sustaining the injury.

[Jay]

I would definitely wait and see how he does next year.

[Angelsjunky]

Count me among those who think the Angels should wait. Right now they basically have him on a year-to-year, club-controlled basis for four years after this one. When those our years are done he'll be heading into his age 31 season. So basically locking him up is a means by which the Angels could get a couple more years from him in his 30s. Not worth the risk.

 

Let's revisit the question in a year or two.

[ELEVEN]

Now begins to Ritchie Rich?

[Scott34]

That inverted W stuff is being discredited left and right first by Paul Nyman and most recently Dr James Andrews.  Here's a pretty decent link that had links to a bunch of different TJ story articles http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?tag=james-andrews

 

Richards has a couple things I hope really help him out -- mostly his usage at an early age.  GR was a RP for his first two years he barely pitched a combined 50 innings his first two years and didn't top even 100 innings until age 21, he didn't get over 150 innings until he was age 23.  If Andrews is right and guys getting abused at an early age is the biggest factor towards injuries the Angels may be in a good spot.  

 

I think when it's all said and done every pitcher is one pitch away from a potential career ending injury but, the Angels development of Richards is probably about as solid as anyone could have done.

 

I'd wait but it has to do less than injury than it does his service time.  I do wish they'd limit his pitch counts a bit.

 

 

Thanks for the link.  Interesting read.

[Hollyw00d]

6 years is a long time for a pitcher

[beatlesrule]

What's with the jumping the gun today?  No need to buy out his arb years.  This is his first reason season that he has pitched really well.  It would be wise to go year to year and see if he progresses and is really the pitcher he is right now.

[Lou]

What's with the jumping the gun today?  No need to buy out his arb years.  This is his first reason season that he has pitched really well.  It would be wise to go year to year and see if he progresses and is really the pitcher he is right now.

I'd definitely wait until he has a couple more reason seasons under his belt.

jk I agree with what you said

[beatlesrule]

LOL I meant real.  No reason to lock him up was on my brain. Reason season could be an awesome saying though.

[Stradling]

If you can get him to sign one of those awesome 6 years $20 million then you have to do it, if you have to give him $60 million then I say wait about 18 months.

[Mark68]

this is my thinking, as well. i hate to cast the evil eye his direction, but he's a ripe candidate for the surgery that shall not be named.

Toe Jam?

[Mark68]

Dude has one good (ok, very good) half-season and everyone wants to lock him up before we know that it's sustainable and without knowing if he'll be making a visit to the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic.

 

We can wait.