It's not even December yet, but Mike Rizzo is already making housecalls -- reportedly making a visit to Mark Buehrle's home on Monday.
Dunno. If you ask us, we'd rather take a shorter term but expensive 2-year (?) flyer on Roy Oswalt than overpay for 3-4 years of Buehrle. Then again, if Rizzo is looking for a veteran to mentor the youngsters and eat up 200 innings, there's always Livo on the cheap. *shrug* Just sayin'. It's not our money...
Not a chance on Livo. Putting his legal troubles aside, he averaged only 6 full innings last year and really hasn't been an innings eater in actuality since 2005. What you have with Livo is that when he is "on" he can go deep in a game. The problem is he was very inconsistent last year. One good, one bad, one good, one bad. Then he had some downright ugly starts in 2011.
The only problem I see with Oswalt is his back problems. The Nats have Strasburg on an innings count and probably don't want to take the chance that Oswalt's back limits him in 2012 like 2011.
Posted by: Michael L.G. | November 21, 2011 at 09:29 PM
By the way, Jordan Zimmermann led the Nats in innings per start in 2011. I wouldn't call him an "innings eater" just a top starter.
Posted by: Michael L.G. | November 21, 2011 at 09:32 PM
@Michael: Livo pitched 175 and 211 innings in 2011 and 2010 respectively. He treats innings like he does cupcakes.
Posted by: The Nats Enquirer | November 21, 2011 at 09:39 PM
@NatsEnquirer - That is durable over the season, not an innings eater to save your bullpen.
His stats: 175 innings divided by 29 starts and you have exactly 6 innings per game. I didn't make up that figure. It is what it is.
By the way, in 2010 he did his 211 innings in 33 starts which is 6 1/3 innings per start. Still don't consider that an innings eater.
Posted by: Michael L.G. | November 21, 2011 at 09:55 PM
I like Buerhle, plus let's not forget his defense, where he actually makes a difference at the position. I think he could especially contribute in the NL where you see way more bunts.
But that paragraph was filler just so I could say OH MY GOD "BUERHLE W" IS PERFECT. I WANT THE NATS TO SIGN HIM FOR THAT REASON ONLY. Can you imagine Charlie Slowes saying that after a complete game victory?
/fanboyrant
Posted by: TheYellowSlant | November 22, 2011 at 10:06 AM