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Welcome back for another edition of Treasure Hunting,
where we look every week for the undervalued
treasures in the game – the rising stars, the recently called up
prospects, and players moving into a new role that transforms them from nothing
in to something.
Normally of late here, the focus has been on the bullpen of
the Atlanta Braves, but a rare week of stability has us ignoring the Braves
until we hit the "Last Week Revisited" section at the bottom of this feature.
That is not to say we do not have a bullpen change needing addressing here, as
we definitely do. It is just not the Braves for once.
Meanwhile, in the American League, we have a new starter in
Boston, albeit not for too much longer. Will he be back though, and should you be
waiting with baited breath for his return? Read on to find out.
Brian Fuentes,
Closer, Colorado Rockies
Everything old is new again in Colorado, as the new closer
for the Colorado Rockies is the old closer.
How did we get to this point though? Let?s back up a little.
Brian Fuentes started on his path to the majors way back in
1996, when the Seattle Mariners drafted him in the 25th round. Back
then, he was a starter, and he would pitch exclusively as a starter until 2001,
when he finally reached Triple-A. Switching to the bullpen, Fuentes would go
from putting up respectable numbers to excellent numbers, with a 70:25
strikeout-to-walk ratio in 52 innings. This would lead to his finally appearing
in the majors, as he would make ten forgettable appearances out of the
Mariners? pen.
That would be his first and last stint with the Mariners, as
during the following offseason, the Mariners would deal Fuentes to the Rockies
for Jeff Cirillo. Even if Fuentes
had not developed into a quality reliever, this would have been a bad trade for
the Mariners simply for the numbers of at-bats wasted on Cirillo. The Rockies
would return Fuentes to Triple-A, this time Colorado Springs, and he would make
41 appearances there before returning to the majors for good.
His return to the majors would be a little bumpy at first,
as he would post 4.73 ERA in 31 appearances, but he would also post an
excellent 38:13 K/BB ratio in 26 2/3 innings. The next year, 2003, would be the
first season that Fuentes spent entirely in Triple-A. It would be a brilliant
one. In 75 appearances, Fuentes was 3-3 with a 2.75 ERA, with 82 strikeouts and
only 34 walks in 75 1/3 innings. Not bad at all – one might saw
closer-like even?
The 2004 season was a setback, however, as he would post an
ERA of 5.64 while having issues with injuries and making ?only? 47 appearances.
His strikeout-to-walk numbers, however, remained strong, as he struck out 48
and walked only 19 in 44 2/3 innings. Maybe he was not closer material after
all?
Then again, maybe he was, as he would be thrust into the
role in 2005, and he would hold down the role spectacularly. Fuentes would
finish the 2005 season 2-5 with a 2.91 ERA, with 91 strikeouts and 34 walks in 74
1/3 innings. In 34 save opportunities, Fuentes would successfully convert 31 of
them.
The 2006 season would bring much of the same, as he would
make 66 appearances and was 3-4 with a 3.44 ERA. 30 of his 36 save
opportunities would be converted, and he struck out 73 while walking 26 in 65
1/3 innings. While not one of the game?s elite closers, Fuentes clearly knew
how to get the job done.
Then, the 2007 season would come upon him. At first, things
were going along splendidly for him, and he would convert 20 saves on the
season, but a string of three blown saves would lead to his being placed on the
disabled list. In his stead, Manny
Corpas would excel, and when Fuentes would return he would do so without a
job. While most teams would be averse to taking the job from someone solely due
to a stint on the shelf due to injury, the Rockies clearly had no such qualms.
Corpas would finish the season 4-2 with a 2.08 ERA, converting 19 of his 22
save opportunities, and Corpas, not Fuentes, would enter 2008 as the closer.
That did not last long, however, as Corpas has started this
year 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA, with more walks (6) than strikeouts (5), and only
four of his eight save opportunities successfully converted. Was his success in
2007 as the closer a fluke? We will not get much more of a chance to find out,
as the Rockies have made a move, going back to the man who should have never lost
his job in the first place.
Fuentes picked up his first save opportunity as the closer
yesterday, and he did what he is supposed to do – a perfect ninth inning,
with two strikeouts, and the save. This will not be the last. Nor will Corpas
take the job back this time.
Justin Masterson,
Starting Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
With the injuries and illnesses plaguing the Red Sox?
pitching staff, the call went out to the minors for one of the top pitching
prospects in the minors, Justin Masterson. His debut, while later marred by an
imploding bullpen, was simply spectacular. Facing a very potent Los Angeles Angels
lineup, Masterson allowed only two hits, four walks, and one earned run in six
innings, and he struck out four. After that, Masterson returned to Double-A
Portland, but he will not likely stay there long.
Masterson had spent the second half of 2007 in Portland
already, and his results last year were solid, but not spectacular. In his 10
Double-A starts in 2007, Masterson was 4-3 with a 4.34 ERA, recording 59
strikeouts and walking 18 in 58 innings. This year, though, his numbers have
been significantly better. Through his first four starts for the Sea Dogs,
Masterson is 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA, with 23 strikeouts and five walks in 19
innings.
The one concern one should have in regards to Masterson?s
readiness though is his lack of innings in his four starts. While he was
brilliant in all four, his first outing was just four innings, his other three
only five innings. The Red Sox are clearly being extremely cautious here with
their budding young ace, but at the same time that lack of being stretched out
would make him a liability at this point in the majors on a regular basis.
For now, Masterson is a brilliant pick for the future, but
this was clearly a one-shot chance with no likelihood of a return until September.
Next year is a completely different matter, and it would not be a shock to see
him make the rotation out of Spring Training next year.
Last Week Revisited
Last week, we spotlighted Braves? closer du jour
Manny Acosta and Rays? starter Jason Hammel. How have they done since?
Well, Acosta has not succumb to the closer injury that seems
to happen to all that pitch the ninth inning in Atlanta these days, and he has
so far converted both of his save opportunities. One concern – eight strikeouts
and six walks in 11 innings. Those control numbers are not closer material, and
will catch up to him eventually?
Hammel meanwhile has had one start since last week, allowing
four hits, four walks, and three earned runs in six innings while picking up
the win and striking out two. This was his worst start since his blowup in his
first start, and I would expect better in his next.
That?s it for this week – see you next Friday for more
Treasure Hunting!
