Scott Olsen: Nay Or Nay?
by Charlie Wilmoth on Nov 26, 2010 11:48 PM EST
Email
PrintI'm just catching up with the news that the Pirates are interested in Nationals pitcher Scott Olsen:
"The Pirates are one of several teams that have expressed interest in Scott," agent Matt Sosnick said. "It's certainly a compelling opportunity."
That might be agent-speak for "we'll take anything," and with the way things have gone for Olsen the past couple of years, that might not be a terrible idea. Olsen's ERAs the past two years are 6.03 and 5.56, and he missed significant time in both seasons with shoulder problems.
Is there more to Olsen than that? Well, maybe. His xFIPs were significantly lower than his ERAs, at 4.91 and 4.39, respectively, and he's still only 26. But he isn't anywhere near the pitcher he was at the start of his career, when he threw his fastball a bit harder and more frequently, and racked up a lot more strikeouts. He also isn't a particularly nice person.
As someone pointed out in a comment thread recently, Olsen actually has quite a bit in common with Zach Duke (lefty in mid- to late-20s struggling to replicate early-career success while posting better peripheral numbers than ERAs), except Olsen also has a well-documented attitude problem. So if the report of the Pirates' interest is accurate, it probably comes down to a matter of cost - they hope to get Olsen for less than they would have paid Duke. Of course, there's still the problem of the Pirates' defense being unable to catch the numerous balls in play Olsen will allow, and the question of why the Bucs would rather not just have the young lefty who doesn't have shoulder problems or get in fights with his teammates or require the use of a taser. If Olsen's price is low enough, then I guess I can't complain much, but man, it would still be a pretty depressing signing.
25 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Olsen
There’s a (slim) possibility that Olsen actually figured something out last season. He learned a sinker in 2009 and started throwing it a lot last year. He was throwing it as hard as he threw his four-seamer back in his heyday, and it led to his highest GB% and lowest hr/9 of his career last year (and consequently his lowest FIP and xFIP since 2006).
I don’t know if this means anything. I’m not too optimistic about him, but I do think it’s interesting that his seemingly improved performance last season corresponds with a new pitch and a change in approach.
Nay
Looking at his 2009 starts using my HQS/SQ/Avg/Poor/Blowup stats, 59% of his start were HQS/QS.Avg with 75% being league average. He was better than Duke’s 52% but not by much.
Unless the Bucs know how to “fix” him, I say Nay.
compelling opportunity . . .
. . . I think that means it’s a place he might make the team.
Might as well bring a few guys like this to camp. We might get lucky with one. I’d rather have Olsen or Bonderman (guys who were once regarded as talented) than someone who never had any upside at all (like Burres or Karstens or is older like Millwood). I don’t think we’ll get a guy like Webb or Bedard to come here anyway.
I don’t remember if Olsen was coming off surgery in the last year or two. Sometimes guys bounce back a little later from surgery than expected. It’s wishful thinking. But, there will be a guy or two out there who does bounce back unexpectedly.
Same deal as Duke
Good enough to take a flyer on, but not with the sort of salary he’d get in arbitration.
Viva Clemente!
A depressing signing? Really? I figure he gets about 1M if not lower Can’t find much fault if that’s the price range. Doubt we’d guarantee him a rotation spot, either.
by Adam Reynolds on Nov 27, 2010 11:36 AM EST via mobile reply actions
…Olsen also has a well-documented attitude problem.
Well, I’d say Barry Bonds “has a well-documented attitude problem”, Cher “has a well-documented attitude problem” and T.O “has a well-documented attitude problem”.
Scott Olsen, on the other hand, is fucking nuts.
I’d pass.
s.zielinski
by steve_z on Nov 28, 2010 10:13 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Olsen and Duke are no comparison!
Honestly I don’t see why everyone is so down on the idea of us signing Olsen…His stuff is WAY better than Duke’s I don’t know why everyone feels like Olsen isn’t much of an upgrade! He throws significantly harder than Duke even NOW (Duke barely threw 88 all year last year), and remember what everyone said about Milledge’s attitude before he came over…It’s amazing how much a person’s “attitude problems” can go away when they really have their backs against the wall (Think TO in buffalo last year, Milledge w/ the Bucs…now Olsen?). If nothing else, Olsen will behave and pitch well for us because he wants a better job elsewhere, and by the time that happens Owens will be ready to be Duke 2.0!
Benny Benack III
What's the difference.....
You may say that Olsen has better “stuff”, but it certainly hasn’t produced any better results. Olsen is just another guy who’s dominance in A ball, keeps people saying “maybe he’ll figure it out.” But his stats were only okay in AA, then worse in a short time in AAA and he’s never shown anything in 6 seasons of major league baseball. Even Duke dominated for a short period of time in the beginning of his major league career, and had stellar numbers throughout his minor league career. Olsen has yet to show he can get major league hitters out. Olsen has not had a sub-3 ERA for a full season of any pro ball since he was a 20-year-old in high A ball back in 2004. Amazing that Olsen’s better stuff didn’t translate into better major league, or even minor league numbers.
when Milledge was traded for, the yinzer world came down on him hard
yet Lastings proved that you can make a second or third impression by busting your ass off on a nightly basis. if the buccos sign Olsen, i’ll root for him because hes a Pirate. if he pitches as poorly as duke, then i’ll be the first to say so.
Agreed....
however, I think it’s unfair to even discuss Milledge and Olsen in ANY kind of comparison.
The big difference, is that Milledge had great numbers in the minor leagues AND was putting up solid numbers in the big leagues. It’s just that he wasn’t turning into the 5-tool superstar that many had touted him as. He still was showing the ability.
Scott Olsen is showing immaturity AND has not shown anything in either the majors or even minor leagues, in terms of numbers, to get excited about. It would be one thing if he tore up the minor leagues, came to the majors and had problems. But Olsen hasn’t dominated ANYWHERE.
He still was showing the ability.
Sorry, I didn’t finish that sentence. I was saying that “He still was showing the ability to be a good player.”
What’s funny about all of this, is that Lastings is STILL putting up pretty much the same kinds of numbers that he was while in New York & Washington, yet while he was seen as a failure there, because of the dreaded “potential”, and he’s seen as a decent 4th outfielder/possible platoon with the Pirates.
Olsen
That was a great link on his troubles with the Marlins.
Obviously, he was a jerk who needed to grow up.
I suspect he showed signs of maturity with Washington or this wouldn’t even be a consideration.
Also, I can’t imagine him getting a contract over $1 million with the injury and law enforcement record.
In fact, he may be a nonroster guy.
2 DAYS later,
I re-read the headline of this post and lol’d.
Good one, Charlie.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
The whole issue with Duke
was the salary/productivity ratio, and the reason to keep him was the premise that we couldn’t get more production for $5-6M (and might well do worse). But if we can get comparable production for 20% of that amount, then it’s a no-brainer.
I have no opinion on Olsen as such, but I think that the Duke comparison pushes strongly in his favor – would anyone here (or even at PBC Blog) have objected to keeping him for 2.5X ML minimum? The problem with Duke was that we would have been paying him 3/4 money while getting 5 results (even if you blame the D, it’s still results that matter). If we get 5 results from a guy earning 5 money without having to run a Burres out there every 5 days, then I say huzzah.
Of course, I may not be saying huzzah if Olsen lands in court again….
ZD on the mound,
E. Dukes in the dugout, clubhouse and hotel bar.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Nov 29, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
Nay
The guy makes Elijah look like an outstanding citizen…plus someone will give this guy 3 mill min…
Dan
This is one I could care less on. But I doubt he’ll get that much with a shoulder injury and his personal conduct.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it were $1 million.
bernie
you may be right but teams tend to overpay for those lefties for some reason…I think he’ll get a bit over that 1 mill number.
I’m hoping the thought process isn’t “we’ll replace Duke’s production and save a couple mill”…we surely shouldn’t want Duke’s numbers at any price.
I was sorta surprised when I read they were interested in him…was out of town for 5 days and missed the news…hey, his teammates hated him at flor and wash…a tiger doesn’t change stripes too often…
I haven’t really watched him pitch though…numbers seem to be heading the wrong direction along w/ his poor personality…maybe he’ll be like that lucky lotto ticket NH seems to like playing.
Not only that....but he destroys bridges too!!!!!
Oh, sorry that’s JIMMY Olsen. I figured that destroying bridges would be a bad trait to have in Pittsburgh.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bucs Dugout
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Baltimore’s tradition of fans shouting ‘O!’ during national anthem sparks interleague feud
- Chris Perez follows rant against Cleveland fans with even better rant against Cleveland fans
- Pitcher Clayton Richard gets key pinch single in 13th after coming in 0 for 16
- Livan Hernandez welcomes ball boy to the bigs with shower of sunflower seeds (VIDEO)
- Man beaten by four others in Dodger Stadium parking lot
