Comments on: Wellemeyer takes 2009 Vicente Palacios Award

By: DizzyDean17

DizzyDean17 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:05:59 +0000

I was surprised to see Curt Simmons on the list of ten worst OPS seasons for pitchers. I remembered him as a good-hitting pitcher and baseball-reference.com agrees.

In 1961 he batted .303 with an OBP of .378 and an OPS+ of 88 over 77 plate appearances. His career OPS was .408, not too far south of Colby Rasmus vs. southpaws this year. I guess he had a bad year-long slump in 1965.

By: CariocaCardinal

CariocaCardinal — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:06:36 +0000

If wellie is injured from pitching during the season, I have no doubt that the union contract provides for his last team to pay for the surgery. Besides, I believe he is technically under contract. He may not want to get the surgery due to his efforts to get a new contract but that is a different issue.

By: blingboy

blingboy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:40:02 +0000

Why are only righthanders used to pitch batting practice.

By: WestCoastbirdWatcher

WestCoastbirdWatcher — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:58:17 +0000

Thanks Jumbo………..its no trouble.

By: JumboShrimp

JumboShrimp — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:36:39 +0000

Wellemeyer made $4MM in 2009. If he needs to see a doctor, he can find one.

If Wellemeyer needs a physical operation, then his “crisis” is not between the ears, just in his arm or shoulder.

The reality is pitching causes wear/tear on every pitcher. Wellemeyer is strong man who threw a little harder in 2008. Now that he is age 30 and been playing for years, its no surprise he loses a couple of mph. It happens even to the great pitchers, not just Welly.

How nice it is to have a resident hitting expert on the many idiocies of TLR and Mr. McRae.

By: WestCoastbirdWatcher

WestCoastbirdWatcher — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:16:27 +0000

Welly is caught in that nebulous world between needing the surgery and having no contract to provide it. He tried to pitched around it this year and could never make it happen. In the end he fell victim to bad personal habits that made him insensitive to the depth of the crisis he was suffering. Wainwright struggled mightily in April behind Carp and Lohse. Welly never found a secure place in the rotation and his early attempts at self preservation in all likelihood ended his career. Nice kid.

I will say that all of the pitchers suffered from that idiotic “show bunt – pull back – turn to bunt” idea of Tony’s……… It got Lohse hurt and took everyones average down because of failed bunt attempts. A Hal/Tony gem ……………. Another beef I have has to do with Shu sporting a 300 average. If he hits against all lefties, especially the good ones, with the residual emotional downer of failing, he hits about 260. He is the sole reason I’m a little skeptical about what MM is bringing in.

By: JumboShrimp

JumboShrimp — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:11:06 +0000

One can see why Carpenter’s homerun this past September came as a fun surprise.

Carpenter began in the American League, never batting. This explains Chuck Finley’s award in 2002 as well.