Rich Cousin: Oliver Signs for $3.6 Mil

Darren Oliver and the Angels avoided arbitration, signing a one-year deal for $3.6 Million Friday. Looks like we got a $23 Million Bullpen this season:

2009 Bullpen:
Fuentes: $8.5
Shields: $5.0
Speier: $4.7
Oliver: $3.6
Arredondo: $0.4
Jepsen/Moseley/Bulger/???: $0.4

about 3 years ago Rev Halofan 19 comments 0 recs |

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how is this in comparison to the rest of the league

Watching the Halos from Princeton University. The random Halo fan in a sea of Bosux and Skankee fans.

by princeton11loveshalos on Jan 16, 2009 4:02 PM PST reply actions

more than almost any team

without looking it up… way more…

by Rev Halofan on Jan 16, 2009 4:58 PM PST up reply actions

Speier

Needs to stop f’ing around and earn his coin.

by Sethy on Jan 16, 2009 4:16 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

agreed

Relief pitching is volatile. Lets hope he swings back the other way!

This is the worst offseason in years. But hey we got Colorado's closer!

by hauldog on Jan 16, 2009 4:27 PM PST up reply actions

rec'd...well put.

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jan 16, 2009 5:23 PM PST up reply actions

A quick Speier overview

K/9
2006: 9.64
2007: 8.46
2008: 7.41

BB/9
2006: 3.68
2007: 2.16
2008: 3.57

HR/FB
2006: 6.9%
2007: 9.1%
2008: 14.2%

Fastball velocity
2006: 91.1
2007: 89.1
2008: 89.6

Slider velocity
2006: 85.7
2007: 83.6
2008: 84.5

Was it the Canadian beer? Speier lost 2 mph on his fastball upon joining the Angels.

Speier stats

"Playoffs?? Don’t talk about — playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!"

by Fan Since 1981 on Jan 17, 2009 7:55 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

ouch

not good

Go Angels!

by Four Ts on Jan 17, 2009 11:39 AM PST up reply actions

Guess you gotta factor in the exchange rate from Canadian to American.

12/19/08 - Thank you KLJ for coming into my life.

by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 17, 2009 12:35 PM PST up reply actions

dude... that HR/FB ratio makes me quesy

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jan 17, 2009 3:04 PM PST up reply actions

Data studies show that such a high HR/FB ratio (14.2%) is unusually high

As such, that number should drop in 2009. But given his age (35), declining K rates, and lower velocity, I’m concerned that it might be more indicative that Speier’s pitches are losing their bite (so to speak). I think The Soth will give Speier a chance at the start of the season to pitch in meaningful situations (i.e. 7th inning, Angels leading), but if he falters again Jepsen might be a candidate to fill that role. He only pitched 8.1 innings with the Angels in 2008 so there is not much to go on, but for what it’s worth:

Fastball: 94.3 mph
Curve: 81.4 mph

AAA K/9: 8.22
Angels K/9: 7.56

AAA BB/9: 4.70
Angels BB/9: 4.32

While Jepsen has a good power arm, the high walk rate might relegate him to middle-inning mop up duties.

"Playoffs?? Don’t talk about — playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!"

by Fan Since 1981 on Jan 18, 2009 9:10 AM PST up reply actions