Brian Fuentes
by MaxTork on Aug 10, 2009 10:15 PM PDT
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PrintI'm glad that Fuentes was awarded the save tonight but it certainly wasn't a solid one. If not for good placement and glove work by both Erick Aybar and Kendry Morales, Texas would have likely been leading the game going into the bottom of the ninth.
His current struggle seems to have begun back on July 27th when he blew the save against Cleveland. Since then he has been shaky and has had no confidence.
All of you remember the game. The angels are up 6-4 going into the ninth with Carroll, Choo and Martinez coming up. Napoli's behind the plate. Carroll and Choo both single. Martinez comes up and loops one into the Cleveland bullpen. (you might also remember Willits' feeble attempt at a play and surprise at hitting the wall) (Rivera would have climbed the wall). Cleveland up 7-6. Next batter Peralta hits the first pitch on a no-doubter to left-center. What some of you may have seen or may not have, was Jamey Carroll relaying signs to Victor Martinez on pitch location before his three run shot. If anyone still has it on DVR, watch Carroll. After the sign, he makes an exagerated head motion left or right that correlates with the sign for pitch location. It looks like he is looking for the SS or 2B for his lead off, but his first head motion on all three pitches was in the same direction as the location. Fuentes' major motion is in and out, not so much up and down, so it was a huge advantage for Martinez to have that tip. Since that time, Fuentes' confidence seems to have been at a season low.
I know it's not a secret that teams do this, and maybe we do it too. I just think that Napoli and Mathis need to mix up the signs in crucial spots with a guy on second, or late in the game. Fuentes never recovered from that game.
I'm not saying that Fuentes might not have blown that save anyway, because he gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, but the pitch that ripped his heart out was the one Martinez hit into the bullpen and he knew it was coming. I e-mailed the only contact links I could find - one for "Angels announcers" and the other for Roger Lodge, but who knows if that went anywhere. I'm certainly not the greatest baseball mind, so someone in the Angels organization must have also seen it and discussed it already, but in the off-chance that they haven't I wonder if Revhalofan might mention it, since he seems to be an insider.
This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.
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I was at that game and man, it was a shot to the gut. But, you mention that “Fuentes was never the same…” as if his career is over. Uh, he will get over it here real soon. He’s a pro. He’s making baby steps to getting back to where he was. He had his glare today and that is a big part of his mental makeup, IMHO.
I was disturbed at the FSN cameras zooming in on Mathis while catching the other night. “Next one’s a fastball in/this one’s a fastball away.” Heck, if Guby knows the signs that easily, then for sure, it is known to the other team. This is a good point you bring up, but I am sure that Scioscia and Butcher are going to deal with it.
I love this team.
signs
when there’s nobody on second base, the signs are the same ones you learned in Little League, and not difficult to figure out. 1 for fastball, 2 for curve, 3 for slider, and either 4 or a fist for changeup/forkball/splitter, depending on the pitcher. As for location, it’s where the catcher points/places his hand. Easy stuff. Sometimes you’ll even see a catcher tap his mitt on the ground, meaning for the pitcher to bounce it, bury it in the dirt (usually done with two strikes).
Fuentes is doing fine..........
infact…….he’s doing as well as Frankie………..they’ve both had some minor hiccups this year.
No worries from me.
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on Aug 8, 2009 9:16 PM PDT reply actions
tonights save...
might have been shaky but it’s still a save. it will help with his confidence and i have no doubt he will start a new streak of saves. smart move by soth to let jepsen (who was my vote for panther) to pitch the first out of the ninth. fuentesaurus then came into a situation where he was likely to be successful: nobody on. just need to get two more outs. i’m more concerned with who will be our third starter in the playoffs…palmer??
Chili Davis - the closest thing the MLB got to a real life Pedro Cerrano.
O'Sullivan or Loux
I also think Santana needs to be put on DL if he struggles next time out.
lol although after yesterdays performance, I completely gave up on Saundo for this year. I’m still not ready to stick a fork in Santana. His next outing will be VERY important for me.
So I’m thinking Santana still, but if O’sulli gets a few 7ip and 2 er games under his belt he could very well be that third.
hahha it was kinda funny to see Fuentes get booed today.
If i were the manager i would have left Jepsen in the game. He was pitching nails. I agree, for once, with Eric Karros, when he said that Sosch needs to find out whether Fuentes can handle the pressure, but at the same time Texas was not the team to test him against. If not for aybar we would have seen our lead decrease by one whole game. Fuentes was definately had some luck on his side today, and his struggles dont look over yet. I would let jepsen take over for a little for close games. And then when our offense gets back to hammering people, let Fuentes iron out his issues in those games when we’re up by 10.
PS: Who else was annoyed that Eric Karros did nothing but talk sh*t on the older players. "Vladimir isn’t as good anymore, he’s going down hill. So and so’s pitching (Hoffman?) isnt as good anymore. He sounded like a bitter old hasbeen.
agree on Karros
he jocksniffs the hot players but was kicking the guys in their 30s and even Vlad’s blast did not shut him up … dude is terrible.
My step-dad phoned me, all apoplectic asking "are you listening to this asshole?"
Karros isn’t fit to hold Hud’s jock.*
*100 bucks says he wears one in the booth.
With all the pitching woes the Angels have had this season, and the premium put on acquiring pitching at the deadline, ng pitching at the deadline
I think we are quite lucky to have Brian Fuentes for better or worse as the case may be.
Hey la, hey, Halo...
Man these post are so boring...
Since the blown save he has pitched in THREE games. Two of which we won and the other wasn’t even a save opportunity. No closer is perfect. Even that jig-dancing side-show freak over in Beantown has blown three saves this year and given up 4 home runs. Compare that Fuentes…5 homeruns and 4 blown saves. Not that much of a difference huh?
K-Rod? Even worse…guy has given up 5 homeruns and blown five saves himself.
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Aug 9, 2009 10:34 AM PDT reply actions
Do you think it would be more exciting
to talk about how often you hang up on your girlfriend prior to Angel wins.
after tonight's loss...
YES.
It would still be under 80 words though.
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Aug 9, 2009 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions
You guys missed my point
My post wasn’t a cut on Brian Fuentes. It was an observation that his confidence seems to have been shaken by the 3 run home run on the pitch tip off. My post was more directed at the importance of better catcher diligence behind the plate and how it affects the pitchers. Fuentes was cruising for a few months, pitching strong and I think he will again.
Uhhh...have you read many of these posts?
Your point is, for the most part, irrelevant. Just the starting point for a free-form Finnigan’s Wake stream of consciousness rambling.
Having said that, I agree with you. He was clearly shaken by the three run HR and his following outing showed that (thank God for Bulger). But he’s a pro and an experienced closer. He’ll ignore the boo’s, use that lack of long term memory and be very effective. He’s no Mariano, but no one else is either.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
Lol is there a stat for Blowsaves that werent blown due to good defensive plays…..cuz today would have been one more to add to the list. thats twice in 3 games lol.
He really does not help settle anyones nerves, it was funny to see Gubi point out everyones anxiousness tonite.
Agreed...
I was at that Indians game when Fuentes gave up the lead in EPIC fashion. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t have power stuff or maybe it’s because of the clutch HR’s he gave up during the WS a couple years ago that has me on edge but when he’s out there even a 3 run lead doesn’t feel safe to me….
I still don't trust you Fuentes ;-)
by blast21dave on Aug 19, 2009 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions
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