Darren Oliver: Should He Stay or Should He Go?

by Rev Halofan on Oct 31, 2009 5:32 PM PDT in Angels News

I think it is unanimous among Angels fans that the senior citizen of recent Halo squad, reliever Darren Oliver deserves a generous one-year contract from the team for 2010. But, in considering that he might retire, there are some free agent relief options out there. It is hard to imagine him signing with another team after some great times in Anaheim. We don't even need a poll for this one, do we?

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I personally can't stand Darren Oliver

and seeing him come into games almost guarantees that 50% of the runners on base will score.

Personally, I say I hope he retires; if not, then good riddance.

by shiftyeyedgoat on Oct 31, 2009 6:06 PM PDT reply actions

so you're okay when he comes in to start an inning?

"Maybe Fitzy just has a horsehoe up his ass winning the two games he has, but you don’t bench someone who has a horseshoe up his ass." - Applsoss

by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 31, 2009 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

in a mop-up situation, sure

But he has one of the worst inherited runners percentages for his placement in the order of pitching depth.

by shiftyeyedgoat on Oct 31, 2009 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions

what are you talking about?

Oliver has been our best reliever by far. I respect his decision if he retires but he would be a welcome return to our roster

by ryanfea on Oct 31, 2009 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah I'm not really sure where the hate is coming from....

Oliver is hardly elite, but compared to the rest of our bullpen he’s quality, and it’s not like good relievers are all over the waiver wire.

So let’s say we let him walk? Who replaces him? Some random replacement player from the minors? How is that an upgrade to our already shaky bullpen?

by Nashdiesel on Oct 31, 2009 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions

It's actually closer to 19%

3 times as many K’s as walks. An ERA under 3 and OBA of .229 and a whip of 114.

In fact 2009 was the finest season of his career.

by Nashdiesel on Oct 31, 2009 6:11 PM PDT reply actions

It's actually closer to 30%

13 runners scored of 44 he inherited. That’s pretty bad.

As far as his finest season, well, there’s no reason to assume he’ll continue his OBA/ERA career marks given his extremely advanced age. I mean, the guy is 39, and will be 40 during the 2010 season. 40 year old middle-relief just doesn’t exist.

by shiftyeyedgoat on Oct 31, 2009 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions

well 30% is no where near 50%

so you over-exaggerated while he under exaggerated…..

"Maybe Fitzy just has a horsehoe up his ass winning the two games he has, but you don’t bench someone who has a horseshoe up his ass." - Applsoss

by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 31, 2009 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Ok, so what?

Is there some point to this post?

by shiftyeyedgoat on Oct 31, 2009 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions

The point of this discussion is to talk about Darren Oliver

and his career inherited runners percentage is 37%. This year was perhaps his best percentage ever, and it was STILL just a touch under 30%. He’s never had a season with less than 41% of the runners scoring who were on base when he takes the mound.

His ERA is grossly irrelevant as it should only demonstrate when he has a meltdown as a mop-up effort or something similar. His Opp BA was excellent, and that’s saying a lot, but there is NO REASON AT ALL to assume he will continue to stifle batters with the same rate and consistency as he reaches an age plateau that almost no middle-relief men ever get to see.

by shiftyeyedgoat on Oct 31, 2009 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions

now this argument I can buy..........

"Maybe Fitzy just has a horsehoe up his ass winning the two games he has, but you don’t bench someone who has a horseshoe up his ass." - Applsoss

by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 31, 2009 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I think you have to compare that to others....

Who is available that could do a better/equal job for around the same or less money?

That is the question. These aren’t absolute but rather relative values.

Check out these games:

Multiplayer Baseball: http://www.mmobaseball.com/createaccount.aspx?ref=9687

Multiplayer Football: http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=16986650

by matthiasstephan on Nov 1, 2009 4:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Can't know until you try.

Shields is coming back (hopefully), but you’re right; not having a proven veteran for middle relief is a stupid plan.

It wouldn’t be the worst idea to resign Oliver, so long as he doesn’t see a dime over $3.5-4 mil. However, we should explore the market, perhaps look to trade some low-level prospects for relief.

by shiftyeyedgoat on Nov 1, 2009 4:11 PM PST up reply actions

yeah considering you used a gross exaggeration to justify getting rid of him it kinda makes your argument look more like a bias opinion rather than logical reasoning

"Maybe Fitzy just has a horsehoe up his ass winning the two games he has, but you don’t bench someone who has a horseshoe up his ass." - Applsoss

by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 31, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Read the post above yours.

by shiftyeyedgoat on Oct 31, 2009 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah I got it thanks :-)

"Maybe Fitzy just has a horsehoe up his ass winning the two games he has, but you don’t bench someone who has a horseshoe up his ass." - Applsoss

by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 31, 2009 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Um...re-sign, duh

Ohnoes, he’s only mediocre at cleaning up messes he doesn’t make!

First of all, more than 60% of his appearances this year were to start innings, this increased with Shields absence.

Second of all, he pitched for us for three years. During that time:

Oliver 2007-2009: 15-3, 3.10ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 2.69 SO/BB, 2.6BB/9, 146 ERA+
Shields 2006-2008: 17-16, 3.16ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 2.62 SO/BB, 3.4BB/9, 143 ERA+

Not only is it a virtual dead-heat, but Oliver is actually ahead by a slim margin in nearly every category.

Now don’t get me wrong, they’re both great pitchers, and I love Shieldsy. I think we really missed him. But we got 3 years of middle relief/set-up man/spot-starting out of Oliver, who ate 209/1 invaluable innings during that stretch, with a 3.10ERA. You call that meaningless…I say that’s damn near impossible to find in today’s game.

Is he old? Yeah, he’s gonna be 40. But the human body doesn’t operate within the confines of our arbitrary time-measurement systems. It doesn’t recognize ‘40’ as break-down time. It’s unlikely he’ll continue at his semi-dominant pace for much longer, but it’s also unreasonable to assume that his body will hit some sudden wall in which he will be immediately rendered useless. Given the wear on his body, and his role thus far, I don’t think it’s totally unreasonable to assume he has another year in him…and given the limits of the market, a 1-year deal to give it all one more shot isn’t exactly going to cripple a team who can give us what he has.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Oct 31, 2009 11:01 PM PDT reply actions

^^ THIS ^^

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Oct 31, 2009 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah _ what he said....

Free Brandon Wood!

by gorams77 on Nov 1, 2009 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions

We need Daren Oliver

And he needs us ……… ’cause that Madoff clone Allen Stanford took all of his $$$$.

by PieceOfAase on Oct 31, 2009 11:11 PM PDT reply actions

I call him Fine Wine.

Let him keep aging. It`s been working for him.

No matter what happens from here on, it has been a great season.

by Rally Manatee on Nov 1, 2009 1:07 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

I'd prefer Takashi Saito

Saito probably wouldn’t require more than a two year contract, if that, and we can slot him in as closer. Not as dominating as he was with the Dodgers, but looks like the experimental treatment on his elbow last winter worked (thank God for stem cells…right?). With Saito as our closer, we can have Fuentes try to fill DO’s role. And we wouldn’t have to worry about Fuentes finishing 55 (I think it was) games and having his $9 million option for 2011 vest. We can use that money towards signing a frontline starter like Halladay or Lee. I also wouldn’t mind signing Billy Wagner, but I’m assuming he would cost more than Saito.

by Bly-lovin on Nov 1, 2009 12:30 PM PST reply actions

Angels

Lackey-Weaver-Saunders-Santana-Kazmir
(Papelbon)-Fuentes-Sheilds-Oliver-Arredondo-Jepson-Palmer
Napoli-Mathis-Morales-Aybar-Kendrick-Wood-Hunter-Abreu-Rivera-Vlad——-Isturis-Willits-(Thome)

by spc7@verizon.net on Nov 3, 2009 8:12 AM PST reply actions