SigBaby

if the other team's 3-4-5 is coming up in the 7th, put in the best reliever whether it's Smith, Street, or matching up with Thatcher

He's blown saves, but not in the ninth

The point of trading good prospects should be to get an impact player in return. The fact is that Street makes the bullpen better but will only pitch about 30 innings. His potential impact on the team really isnt that great.

Bullpen's ERA since acquiring Grilli: 1.65 If you take away the outings from Hill and Rucinski it's 1.22 Maybe we could've used another arm to replace Rasmus/Salas, but did we really need a "shutdown closer"

Now that I think about it Papelbon actually would've been a pretty good target. He doesn't throw as hard as he used to, but Street doesn't light it up either. He's having just as good a season and if the Phillies ate some money he probably could've been had for a deal similar to Jim Johnson for Jemile Weeks. I would take Papelbon+cash for Lindsey anyday over Street for Alvarez+Lindsey+Rondon

If we're looking at their first half performances, which obviously we are to justify the trade, Papelbon has pitched 4 more innings and given up 1 more run. Is that what constitutes a reliever being way better than another?

Top 5 starting rotation? In what the AL West Bullpen very well might be the best in the majors as well as the offense, but our rotation is pretty average

You make it sound like you don't think this is true. I'd like to hear your reasoning

Anyone else see the two as very similar players. Both good contact, left handed hitting first basemen who play good defense. It's a shame there's no opening for him on the roster, he could be getting more of a shot on a different team. If Cron's struggles continue maybe Navarro should stay up and Cron should be sent back down when Cowgill returns/ if a pitcher needs to be called up for tomorrow's game.

The trade helps the team, but 10 runs is pretty much the maximum potential improvement the trade nets. That could potentially be netted within a few starts had we traded our top prospects for a more impact player. It's not like the bullpen was completely dysfunctional without a true closer, Smith has been doing fine and the other guys have stepped up.

The team is built to win now. If we win the world series the trade is a win. The trade improves the team, I just think it could've been better improved by targeting a starter

But did we need to get a reliever at his peak value for that to happen? I don't know who else was available, but I feel that this team could've saved pieces by going after a 7th inning type and getting another starter to give Skaggs and Richards extra rest down the stretch to keep them freshish for the playoffs. Frankly I don't trust Shoemaker in meaningful games, he's looked very hittable lately.

The bullpen is outstanding now, but I thought it was good enough before the trade. My issue with the trade is that the rotation needs help/depth and we no longer have pieces to make that happen. We can't expect to go deep into the playoffs the rotation isn't up to the task

Not really sure what you're trying to get at. Why wouldn't we want both or trade our prospects to better a position where there is greater potential for improvement in run differential such as starting pitching. The way I see it Street will only net us about 10 less runs than the guy he's replacing the rest of the way this year

Which is why in generally I think a bullpen should consist of homegrown guys and solid FA relievers who don't cost "closer money" such as Joe Smith. I'm not in favor of trading a bunch of prospects for a reliever when the difference is probably around 10 runs of the guy he's replacing in the pen.

Because he could've given the same solid production for more years and less money

FIP isn't favorable to the guy but at least it looks like he's gotten over his homerun issues.

Anyone remember the crazy year Rodney had with the Rays or Grilli last year with the Pirates? Street is no different he's a reliever and a few runs allowed makes a HUGE difference in numbers. Street will be good just as Rodney has been good since then and Grilli has been solid since joining the Angels, but we paid for past performance. Outside of a few elite relievers, it's very rare to see sustained dominance from a bullpen guy

No doubt he's having a great year, but it's the best season of his career and relievers can't be trusted from season to season outside of a select few. He's a 3-run homer away from his ERA going up a full run

Joe Smith better get it together coming in with runners on base because I assume he will be coming in whenever there is a tight situation late

No not really. We are relying on 2 guys in their first seasons as full time starters and a revolving door in the five spot. Resources would've been better spent on a decent starter or at least some starting depth. We are going up against JV/Scherzer/Anibal Kershaw/Greinke/Ryu Shark/Gray/Kazmir Felix/Iwakuma/Young Gio/Stras/Zimmerman Wainwright/Wacha/Lynn Cain/Bum/Hudson It would be nice to have insurance should one of Richards/Wilson/Weaver falter down the stretch

He really isn't but that's not the point. Our rotation is filled with question marks: Richards/ Skaggs: how will they hold up as the innings rack up Shoemaker: is he even good Santiago/Wilson: can they consistently throw strikes Weaver: can he be an ace Weaver and Richards are good and I love how they've been pitching and I hope CJ returns to form but I don't trust the other guys and there is 0 depth in the rotation if the innings do begin to rack up or if Shoemaker and Santiago continue to struggle

The resources could have been much better used IMO if we went after a starter. I would have rather gone after a guy like Jake Peavy who 1. we aren't buying on at the peak of his value 2. has the ability to be dominant 3. would have cost less than or equal to Street. This rotation doesn't stand a chance of carrying us through the playoffs. Once/if we get there we will be relying on the offense

I agree on Street's ERA from here on out being around 3.00 because that's what he is: a low to mid 3 ERA reliever. It's not bad and it helps the pen but we paid the price of a sub 2 ERA and we won't get that value back. It's a bad idea to buy high on players. It's a terrible idea to buy high on relievers who fluctuate so much within a season and from year to year

Street's value could not have been higher. It won't be higher with us either and that's the issue I have with the trade. We gave up prospects for a performance we won't be receiving