Pirates sign Kolb

[Post Count Padder]

Minor league deal:

 

Dan Kolb-R-Brewers Feb. 3 - 5:22 pm et

 

 

The Pirates and Dan Kolb have reportedly come to terms on a minor league contract.

 

Kolb must have gotten some pretty strong assurances to take the minor league deal, which Pittsburgh preferred since the team already had a full 40-man roster. Kolb would get a one-year, $1.25 million contract and a chance to make an additional $1.3 million if added to the 40-man roster. Also, he can make himself a free agent if he's not on the team at the end of the spring.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[PrimeTime]

I can actually sleep at night now knowing this

[Lefty]

Did we ever figure out what "Moment Man Hendry" was willing to give up for this guy two years ago?

[Banedon]

Did we ever figure out what "Moment Man Hendry" was willing to give up for this guy two years ago?

 

He wasn't the only one biting. The mighty Braves ended up with him after all.

[moorecg]

Yet another guy I'm glad STL didn't pick up...Lord knows he'd turn into Catfish Hunter if he showed up here for the year.

[rchap24]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

[dew1679666265]

Did we ever figure out what "Moment Man Hendry" was willing to give up for this guy two years ago?

 

He wasn't the only one biting. The mighty Braves ended up with him after all.

 

And they gave up Jose Capellan for him. Crazy bad deal.

[Soul]

Always crazy to think of players like this. How does it work that a guy is that good for a year, then just tanks?

 

Assuming it's not drugs, then what? Voodoo?

[Post Count Padder]

Always crazy to think of players like this. How does it work that a guy is that good for a year, then just tanks?

 

Assuming it's not drugs, then what? Voodoo?

One year pact with the devil.

[rchap24]

Always crazy to think of players like this. How does it work that a guy is that good for a year, then just tanks?

 

Assuming it's not drugs, then what? Voodoo?

One year pact with the devil.

 

Seriously that's what I was trying to say! It's insane that someone can do something like that

[Lefty]

The game is about adjustment. He had a great change up in 2004 while striking out like 3 guys per nine innings. Batters adjusted and he didn't have the fastball to fall back on.

[NoDak]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

 

I think there are two kinds of closers: Good ones and guys who have good seasons. Good ones are guys like Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz (also an outstanding starter), Wagner...

Guys who have good "seasons" are guys like Dempster, Kolb, Tim Worrell (Giants). The trick is realizing when you have a good pitcher and when you have caught lightning in a bottle.

[CuseCubFan69]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

 

I think there are two kinds of closers: Good ones and guys who have good seasons. Good ones are guys like Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz (also an outstanding starter), Wagner...

Guys who have good "seasons" are guys like Dempster, Kolb, Tim Worrell (Giants). The trick is realizing when you have a good pitcher and when you have caught lightning in a bottle.

 

I still think Dempster will be a good closer. Not great, but good.

[cheapseats]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

 

I think there are two kinds of closers: Good ones and guys who have good seasons. Good ones are guys like Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz (also an outstanding starter), Wagner...

Guys who have good "seasons" are guys like Dempster, Kolb, Tim Worrell (Giants). The trick is realizing when you have a good pitcher and when you have caught lightning in a bottle.

 

I still think Dempster will be a good closer. Not great, but good.

 

Only if he manages to never face a left-handed batter for the rest of his career.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3845

 

Left-handed batters average about 200 points better in OPS against Dempster than right-handed batters.

 

Dempster should be used when the opposing team has 3 RH batters coming up. He'd be perfect against the Cubs, for example.

[CuseCubFan69]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

 

I think there are two kinds of closers: Good ones and guys who have good seasons. Good ones are guys like Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz (also an outstanding starter), Wagner...

Guys who have good "seasons" are guys like Dempster, Kolb, Tim Worrell (Giants). The trick is realizing when you have a good pitcher and when you have caught lightning in a bottle.

 

I still think Dempster will be a good closer. Not great, but good.

 

Only if he manages to never face a left-handed batter for the rest of his career.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3845

 

Left-handed batters average about 200 points better in OPS against Dempster than right-handed batters.

 

Dempster should be used when the opposing team has 3 RH batters coming up. He'd be perfect against the Cubs, for example.

 

Sometimes that's a mental thing for a pitcher. It may not be in this case but it goes with being too careful and then falling behind in the count. I'm curious on his strike/ball ratio righty/lefty wise.

[baseball7897]

The game is about adjustment. He had a great change up in 2004 while striking out like 3 guys per nine innings. Batters adjusted and he didn't have the fastball to fall back on.

 

Kolb can throw in the upper 90's. I think the problem was thats what he was trying to do everytime he pitched. He should have stayed with his 90-93mph fastball with movement.

[CuseCubFan69]

The game is about adjustment. He had a great change up in 2004 while striking out like 3 guys per nine innings. Batters adjusted and he didn't have the fastball to fall back on.

 

Kolb can throw in the upper 90's. I think the problem was thats what he was trying to do everytime he pitched. He should have stayed with his 90-93mph fastball with movement.

 

I thought Kolb was a sinker ball type pitcher?

[baseball7897]

The game is about adjustment. He had a great change up in 2004 while striking out like 3 guys per nine innings. Batters adjusted and he didn't have the fastball to fall back on.

 

Kolb can throw in the upper 90's. I think the problem was thats what he was trying to do everytime he pitched. He should have stayed with his 90-93mph fastball with movement.

 

I thought Kolb was a sinker ball type pitcher?

 

Kolb always had the ability to throw in the upper 90's, but thats when he ran into trouble. He had his most success when he did throw that sinker ball pitch in the low 90's.

[cheapseats]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

 

I think there are two kinds of closers: Good ones and guys who have good seasons. Good ones are guys like Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz (also an outstanding starter), Wagner...

Guys who have good "seasons" are guys like Dempster, Kolb, Tim Worrell (Giants). The trick is realizing when you have a good pitcher and when you have caught lightning in a bottle.

 

I still think Dempster will be a good closer. Not great, but good.

 

Only if he manages to never face a left-handed batter for the rest of his career.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3845

 

Left-handed batters average about 200 points better in OPS against Dempster than right-handed batters.

 

Dempster should be used when the opposing team has 3 RH batters coming up. He'd be perfect against the Cubs, for example.

 

Sometimes that's a mental thing for a pitcher. It may not be in this case but it goes with being too careful and then falling behind in the count. I'm curious on his strike/ball ratio righty/lefty wise.

 

I guess it's possible that not getting out lefties is a mental thing, but it's been a constant problem for half a decade.

 

My guess is that he needs to add a pitch that's effective against lefties, so the cause of his problems is stuff.

 

Either way, though, the Cubs shouldn't be sending him out against left-handed batters. I'd like to think that having Ohman, Eyre, and Cotts means that the powers that be recognize that Dempster should be used as a ROOGY and pulled against lefties, but I doubt it.

[CuseCubFan69]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

 

I think there are two kinds of closers: Good ones and guys who have good seasons. Good ones are guys like Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz (also an outstanding starter), Wagner...

Guys who have good "seasons" are guys like Dempster, Kolb, Tim Worrell (Giants). The trick is realizing when you have a good pitcher and when you have caught lightning in a bottle.

 

I still think Dempster will be a good closer. Not great, but good.

 

Only if he manages to never face a left-handed batter for the rest of his career.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3845

 

Left-handed batters average about 200 points better in OPS against Dempster than right-handed batters.

 

Dempster should be used when the opposing team has 3 RH batters coming up. He'd be perfect against the Cubs, for example.

 

Sometimes that's a mental thing for a pitcher. It may not be in this case but it goes with being too careful and then falling behind in the count. I'm curious on his strike/ball ratio righty/lefty wise.

 

I guess it's possible that not getting out lefties is a mental thing, but it's been a constant problem for half a decade.

 

My guess is that he needs to add a pitch that's effective against lefties, so the cause of his problems is stuff.

 

Either way, though, the Cubs shouldn't be sending him out against left-handed batters. I'd like to think that having Ohman, Eyre, and Cotts means that the powers that be recognize that Dempster should be used as a ROOGY and pulled against lefties, but I doubt it.

 

Possible. I have a lot more faith in Lou when it comes to using the pen correctly than I ever did Dusty.

[Rob]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

 

I think there are two kinds of closers: Good ones and guys who have good seasons. Good ones are guys like Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz (also an outstanding starter), Wagner...

Guys who have good "seasons" are guys like Dempster, Kolb, Tim Worrell (Giants). The trick is realizing when you have a good pitcher and when you have caught lightning in a bottle.

 

I still think Dempster will be a good closer. Not great, but good.

 

Only if he manages to never face a left-handed batter for the rest of his career.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3845

 

Left-handed batters average about 200 points better in OPS against Dempster than right-handed batters.

 

Dempster should be used when the opposing team has 3 RH batters coming up. He'd be perfect against the Cubs, for example.

 

Sometimes that's a mental thing for a pitcher. It may not be in this case but it goes with being too careful and then falling behind in the count. I'm curious on his strike/ball ratio righty/lefty wise.

 

I guess it's possible that not getting out lefties is a mental thing, but it's been a constant problem for half a decade.

 

My guess is that he needs to add a pitch that's effective against lefties, so the cause of his problems is stuff.

 

Either way, though, the Cubs shouldn't be sending him out against left-handed batters. I'd like to think that having Ohman, Eyre, and Cotts means that the powers that be recognize that Dempster should be used as a ROOGY and pulled against lefties, but I doubt it.

 

Possible. I have a lot more faith in Lou when it comes to using the pen correctly than I ever did Dusty.

 

How much of that is based on your actual observations of Lou, and how much of it is based on the fact that Lou isn't Dusty?

[CuseCubFan69]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

 

I think there are two kinds of closers: Good ones and guys who have good seasons. Good ones are guys like Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz (also an outstanding starter), Wagner...

Guys who have good "seasons" are guys like Dempster, Kolb, Tim Worrell (Giants). The trick is realizing when you have a good pitcher and when you have caught lightning in a bottle.

 

I still think Dempster will be a good closer. Not great, but good.

 

Only if he manages to never face a left-handed batter for the rest of his career.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3845

 

Left-handed batters average about 200 points better in OPS against Dempster than right-handed batters.

 

Dempster should be used when the opposing team has 3 RH batters coming up. He'd be perfect against the Cubs, for example.

 

Sometimes that's a mental thing for a pitcher. It may not be in this case but it goes with being too careful and then falling behind in the count. I'm curious on his strike/ball ratio righty/lefty wise.

 

I guess it's possible that not getting out lefties is a mental thing, but it's been a constant problem for half a decade.

 

My guess is that he needs to add a pitch that's effective against lefties, so the cause of his problems is stuff.

 

Either way, though, the Cubs shouldn't be sending him out against left-handed batters. I'd like to think that having Ohman, Eyre, and Cotts means that the powers that be recognize that Dempster should be used as a ROOGY and pulled against lefties, but I doubt it.

 

Possible. I have a lot more faith in Lou when it comes to using the pen correctly than I ever did Dusty.

 

How much of that is based on your actual observations of Lou, and how much of it is based on the fact that Lou isn't Dusty?

 

Both. I thought Dusty was horrible when it came to the pen and from what I've seen from Lou I like.

[cheapseats]

The game is about adjustment. He had a great change up in 2004 while striking out like 3 guys per nine innings. Batters adjusted and he didn't have the fastball to fall back on.

 

As others have suggested, it does appear that Kolb changed his pitching philosophy in 2005 (his K/9 almost doubled), so that's probably partly to blame for his struggles in Atlanta.

 

And his BABIP was just .250 in 2004. Milwaukee was one of the better defensive teams in baseball in 2004, and the Braves were a poor defensive team in 2005.

 

I'd say Kolb was effective in 2004 because he didn't walk guys, he had a good defense playing behind him, and he was lucky.

[cheapseats]

What happened to him in the year when he did like amazing? Ever since he has either sucked in the majors or been like dropped into the minors. Was he on like roids or something? anybody know?

 

I think there are two kinds of closers: Good ones and guys who have good seasons. Good ones are guys like Rivera, Gagne, Smoltz (also an outstanding starter), Wagner...

Guys who have good "seasons" are guys like Dempster, Kolb, Tim Worrell (Giants). The trick is realizing when you have a good pitcher and when you have caught lightning in a bottle.

 

I still think Dempster will be a good closer. Not great, but good.

 

Only if he manages to never face a left-handed batter for the rest of his career.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3845

 

Left-handed batters average about 200 points better in OPS against Dempster than right-handed batters.

 

Dempster should be used when the opposing team has 3 RH batters coming up. He'd be perfect against the Cubs, for example.

 

Sometimes that's a mental thing for a pitcher. It may not be in this case but it goes with being too careful and then falling behind in the count. I'm curious on his strike/ball ratio righty/lefty wise.

 

I guess it's possible that not getting out lefties is a mental thing, but it's been a constant problem for half a decade.

 

My guess is that he needs to add a pitch that's effective against lefties, so the cause of his problems is stuff.

 

Either way, though, the Cubs shouldn't be sending him out against left-handed batters. I'd like to think that having Ohman, Eyre, and Cotts means that the powers that be recognize that Dempster should be used as a ROOGY and pulled against lefties, but I doubt it.

 

Possible. I have a lot more faith in Lou when it comes to using the pen correctly than I ever did Dusty.

 

My hope is that Lou is open to new ideas. He even threatened to start games with his relievers in Tampa Bay. He didn't follow through with it, but at least he seems willing to approach problems from unusual angles.

[NoDak]

Dempster should be used when the opposing team has 3 RH batters coming up. He'd be perfect against the Cubs, for example.

 

LOL. I have read that some GMs do try to put together pitching staffs (staves?) that would do well against their batters and vice-versa. Maybe Hendry will try to raise Dempster's "value" by showing him off to opposing scouts in intra-squad games this Spring Training! :wink: