Lusting for Jeff Niemann

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Colorado interested in Hammel, per Marc Lacaster at the Tampa Tribune.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/apr/04/sp-roster-remains-up-in-air/sports-rays/

"PHILADELPHIA - The Rays are prepared to wait until the last possible moment before finalizing their Opening Day roster, according to Manager Joe Maddon.

"Nothing yet, sorry," Maddon said Friday afternoon when asked where everything stood. "We're punting. How about Sunday? It's going to come down to Sunday."

The time for evaluations among Jeff Niemann, Jason Hammel and Lance Cormier has long since passed, so the longer the Rays wait the more likely it appears they're holding out for the best possible trade offer for Niemann or Hammel, with whoever stays slotting in as the fifth starter.

If the Rays didn't plan to deal one or the other, they almost certainly would have made a decision by now - if only out of respect to Cormier, who would be out of a job if the Rays kept both Hammel and Niemann. Cormier has experience in a long-relief role and that's important to the Rays, at least early in the season when they aren't sure how much they'll get out of their starting pitchers.

Hammel to the Colorado Rockies has been the most persistent rumor in recent days and could end up coming to fruition. But there's little incentive for the Rays to pull the trigger too long before the 3 p.m. Sunday deadline to set rosters, just in case a better offer than whatever they currently have on the table comes along."

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Hammel to Rockies for a AA pitcher, Aneury Rodriguez (Cal league mid-season all star); Niemann is the 5th starter.

[PANatsFan]

Hammel to Rockies for a AA pitcher, Aneury Rodriguez (Cal league mid-season all star); Niemann is the 5th starter.

Is Aneury short for Aneurism? Weird.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Just giving this a hindsight bump. Niemann got off to a rough start this year but has settled down nicely since mid-May. Time to play "which pitcher's line do you prefer?" again:

A: 5 GS, 29.1 IP, 1.23 ERA (!), 18 Ks, 10 BBs, 1.02 WHIP
B: 4 GS, 26 IP, 1.73 ERA, 21 Ks, 3 BB, 0.85 WHIP

Pretty close, but peripherals favor B, especially when you consider his 4 starts include 3 quality starts and a rain shortened start of 3 innings.  Pithcer B's line is that of Jeff Niemann since May 18 (B). The other you might recognize as another pitcher's hot streak that has led to people clamoring for him in the Nats rotation - Colin Balester since May 17 (A). 

[Lintyfresh85]

Can you really compare AAA hitters to MLB one's though?

[blue911]

Can you really compare AAA hitters to MLB one's though?

No.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Can you really compare AAA hitters to MLB one's though?

No. that's kind of the point. If you think Collin Balester is the solution to our pitching, then you should feel we "let one get away" in Jeff Niemann, who a lot of us were "lusting after" in the spring. All we probably had to do was beat what Colorado offered for Hammel by a bit.  Maybe Lastings, maybe Stammen, who knows.