Farnsworth

[Connor McConnor]

The granny was most damaging? More damaging than the home run that TIED the game in the 9th with 2 outs (I believe?)

4 is more than 2.

 

brilliant....still had the lead after the grand slam though. I love measuring the true nature of someones crappines.

 

Lets bring Farnsworth, Alfonseca, and Fassero back. Then all will be well.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Except, of course, when you absolutely positively need him to slam the door in a pressure situation. Then he's a gutless choking dog.

 

I'm sure those numbers are of great comfort to Braves fans everywhere.

 

Furthermore, do you know what close and late is? It IS THE PRESSURE SITUATIONS. FARNSWORTH PERFORMS THE SAME IN THOSE SITUATIONS AS HE DOES IN ANY OTHER SITUATION.

 

But let's take 2 playoff outings and paint Farnsworth as a chokeaholic. What about the 1.2 innings he pitched in a tie game to keep us in the game during Game 1 of the NLCS? Came in with a runner on first, one out and the heart of the order due up. He K'd two guys to end the inning, then got Cabrera, Conine, and Encarnacion in the 8th to keep the score tied. Pretty clutch if you ask me.

 

Same thing in the NLDS Game 1 for '03. He came in with the bases loaded, 2 outs then K'd the guy, and mowed down the Braves the next inning for good measure. Was he a choking dog then?

 

So, if we're going to use two playoff outings to paint Farnsworth as "gutless" and "Calvin Schraldi in tight pants", then I say these two outings qualify him for best postseason pitcher of all time.

[USSoccer]

I think Kyle must have run over some people's dogs while he was a Cub. There's some serious vitriol in this thread towards #44.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think Kyle must have run over some people's dogs while he was a Cub. There's some serious vitriol in this thread towards #44.

 

He probably body slammed the dogs instead.

[Andy]

I think Kyle must have run over some people's dogs while he was a Cub. There's some serious vitriol in this thread towards #44.

I wish we would have kept Farnsy. He's really no better or worse than Roberto Novoa is so why not keep Kyle and still have the potential for a ridiculously funny body slamming incident on your team? I guess Hendry doesn't think about these things.

[oldcubsfan]

I think people, including me, think he is just wasting his huge talent by not living up to the "potential". I'll bet he's out of baseball before he is ever considered a great closer.

[badger1679666666]

Except, of course, when you absolutely positively need him to slam the door in a pressure situation. Then he's a gutless choking dog.

 

I'm sure those numbers are of great comfort to Braves fans everywhere.

 

Dude you really gotta come up with some new baseless, juvenile, insults. You're lack of creativity reflects poorly on your intelligence.

[gus_dog]

IMO, Farnsworth's pitches flatten out, and lack late movement. Yes, he throws hard, but ML hitters like pitchers who throw hard with little movement.

[imb]

they like it well enough to hit like .210 against him.

[XZero771679666304]

Because Farnsworth's stuff and peripheral numbers are good and he is on his third team in two years, there must be an X factor.

 

While some people seem to think players are robots and situations don't have an effect on players, the fact is that some players just don't do well in high pressure situations. I know the evidence is limited, but Farnsworth seems break down mentally when the pressure is at it's highest. I'm not going to use peurile insults or names, but he seems to lose focus in the crunch.

 

And not all pressure situations, but the ones that are high profile. Perhaps he picks his spots poorly or has catastrophic luck.

 

Only time will tell.

[Satch80]

He seems to be at his worst when he gets off to a bad start like walking a batter or giving up a hit. Not always, but too often he slowly unraveled.

 

He would have never been able to pull out that game that Dempster did against the Phils when he walked the bases loaded and a run in. Farns would have served up a dinger.

[gus_dog]

they like it well enough to hit like .210 against him.

 

Do you know what the slugging pct. of that .210 is?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

they like it well enough to hit like .210 against him.

 

Do you know what the slugging pct. of that .210 is?

 

I don't know where IMB! got .210 from, opponents hit .180 off Farnsworth this year. Their SLG against him was a robust .275, for a less than .100 IsoP. That's fantastic.

[CubfaninCA]

Can anyone rattle off a list of relievers who have blown 5 run leads in the playoffs after the 7th inning?

[CuseCubFan69]

Farnsworth is a very good reliever. When he is on he is very tough to hit. It's when things go bad that he falls apart. Sometimes in a pressure situation he is fine but when he starts to struggle in a game he tends to really get pounded. I just don't think he does well with a little failure and that it bothers him too much.

 

That being said I'd be happy with him on any team I had.

[LoneStarCubFan]

Except, of course, when you absolutely positively need him to slam the door in a pressure situation. Then he's a gutless choking dog.

 

I'm sure those numbers are of great comfort to Braves fans everywhere.

 

Dude you really gotta come up with some new baseless, juvenile, insults. You're lack of creativity reflects poorly on your intelligence.

 

Dude, you really gotta lighten up. The guy incapable of handling pressure situations. If you don't agree with me, that's fine by me. But I stand by my characterization of the gutless choking dog in question.

[CubfaninCA]

Farnsworth is a very good reliever. When he is on he is very tough to hit. It's when things go bad that he falls apart. Sometimes in a pressure situation he is fine but when he starts to struggle in a game he tends to really get pounded. I just don't think he does well with a little failure and that it bothers him too much.

 

That being said I'd be happy with him on any team I had.

 

If the Cubs make the playoffs next year, would you feel comfortable w/ him as the closer?? Hypothetically speaking of course, cause he'll probably never be back.

[CuseCubFan69]

Farnsworth is a very good reliever. When he is on he is very tough to hit. It's when things go bad that he falls apart. Sometimes in a pressure situation he is fine but when he starts to struggle in a game he tends to really get pounded. I just don't think he does well with a little failure and that it bothers him too much.

 

That being said I'd be happy with him on any team I had.

 

If the Cubs make the playoffs next year, would you feel comfortable w/ him as the closer?? Hypothetically speaking of course, cause he'll probably never be back.

 

I wouldn't want him as a closer but I would want him on my staff. I also think it's the job of the pitching coach to notice his patterns of failure and when he does start to blow up to take him out before Pandora's Box opens.

[gus_dog]

they like it well enough to hit like .210 against him.

 

Do you know what the slugging pct. of that .210 is?

 

I don't know where IMB! got .210 from, opponents hit .180 off Farnsworth this year. Their SLG against him was a robust .275, for a less than .100 IsoP. That's fantastic.

 

That's kind of surprising. It seems like whenever he gets hit, he gets nailed. That, and the walks.

 

He that that one fantastic year (2001, IIRC), and a very good 2003, with the cubs, but it seemed he battled inconsistency during the rest of his time with the cubs.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

You can run out all the stats you want. I've watched baseball for 30 years, I know a gutless choking dog when I see one. And Farnsworth is a gutless choking dog. He's Calvin Schraldi in tight pants.

 

You sure like name calling. You've done it all year. Do you even know what the word gutless means?

 

Yes. It means Kyle Farnsworth.

 

Somehow, I have the feeling if you said that to Farnsworth's face you would discover he's anything but "gutless."

[gus_dog]

Ya, Farnsworth would probably give him the 'Paul Wilson treatment'. :lol:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The granny was most damaging? More damaging than the home run that TIED the game in the 9th with 2 outs (I believe?)

4 is more than 2.

 

brilliant....still had the lead after the grand slam though. I love measuring the true nature of someones crappines.

 

Lets bring Farnsworth, Alfonseca, and Fassero back. Then all will be well.

 

I'd rather have Farnsworth than Novoa in the pen next season. I'd rather see Farnsworth out there than Wuertz, or JVB, or Leicester, or Wellemeyer. I'm not sure all would be well, but Farnsworth would've been the best righty in our pen last season, and barring a major FA acquisition, likely will be better than any righty in our pen next season.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Except, of course, when you absolutely positively need him to slam the door in a pressure situation. Then he's a gutless choking dog.

 

I'm sure those numbers are of great comfort to Braves fans everywhere.

 

Dude you really gotta come up with some new baseless, juvenile, insults. You're lack of creativity reflects poorly on your intelligence.

 

Dude, you really gotta lighten up. The guy incapable of handling pressure situations. If you don't agree with me, that's fine by me. But I stand by my characterization of the gutless choking dog in question.

 

I'll stand by the characterization of Badger that this repeated statement lacks creativity and says more about the person making it than the person its directed to.

[Exile on Waveland]

The granny was most damaging? More damaging than the home run that TIED the game in the 9th with 2 outs (I believe?)

4 is more than 2.

 

brilliant....still had the lead after the grand slam though. I love measuring the true nature of someones crappines.

 

Lets bring Farnsworth, Alfonseca, and Fassero back. Then all will be well.

 

I'd rather have Farnsworth than Novoa in the pen next season. I'd rather see Farnsworth out there than Wuertz, or JVB, or Leicester, or Wellemeyer. I'm not sure all would be well, but Farnsworth would've been the best righty in our pen last season, and barring a major FA acquisition, likely will be better than any righty in our pen next season.

 

Oh, I agree. The Cubs never should have traded Farnsworth. They should have never overworked him, which led to his trade. He's no star, but he's a very good reliever. Wish the Cubs still had him.

 

However, I would like to add that some do seem to be ignoring some of his downfalls. Players aren't robots, and I don't think Farnsworth always reacts well in a given situation. I'm not sure if clutch exists in baseball, but I do know it's human nature to react differently in different situations. There had to be some reason that Hawkins was an excellent set-up man but a terrible closer. I don't believe he just started to physically stink.

[goonys evil twin]

However, I would like to add that some do seem to be ignoring some of his downfalls.

 

I, for one, am not. I've said multiple times that he isn't great. He's put together some fantastic seasons, and he's capable of putting together a great career. But he's got drawbacks. He's not a rubber arm. He's not a great 2 inning reliever. He's a great option to have in the pen, but you have to use him carefully and smartly. You really have to monitor him and stick to the gameplan.