Matt Thornton waiver claim excitement

[houston-nat]

We now have 48.5 hours to work out a trade with the Yankees, take him with no strings attached, or have the Yankees take him back.

Matt Thornton is in the first of a two-year $7M deal, and is pretty good. Lefty relief.

[sportsfan882]

Only useful if Matt learns how to use someone as a lefty specialist. He ruined Blevins.

[sportsfan882]

Heyman says they got him

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24649183/nats-acquire-lefty-matt-thornton-after-waiver-claim-from-yankees

[PC]

From Heyman:

It isn't known at this time whether Washington had to send something in return for Thornton after claiming him.

Let me guess.  They want Steven Souza?

[sportsfan882]

He's only thrown 24.2 IP all season despite being healthy. The Yankees used him properly as a LH specialist getting a batter or two here and there. Can Matt do the same?

[houston-nat]

Only useful if Matt learns how to use someone as a lefty specialist. He ruined Blevins.

Matt Thornton, 2014
vs. LHB: .237/.306/.250, 11/2 K/BB
vs. RHB: .237/.326/.378, 9/4 K/BB

Matt Thornton, Career
vs. LHB: .229/.297/.344, 325/82 K/BB
vs. RHB: .239/.325/.362, 277/150 K/BB (32 intentional BB)

Looks like his primary problem versus righties is walks. In terms of strikeouts and hittability, Thornton is equally good against R and L.

[houston-nat]

He's only thrown 24.2 IP all season despite being healthy. The Yankees used him properly as a LH specialist getting a batter or two here and there. Can Matt do the same?

Wrong again. He pitched against righties for over 9 IP, in other words, 37.8% of the time.

[WhiteWhale]

so no more youngins in the pen (except september)
...waiting to see what we had to give up...

[PC]

I was just checking his L/R splits...nvm...

[sportsfan882]

Matt Thornton, 2014
vs. LHB: .237/.306/.250, 11/2 K/BB
vs. RHB: .237/.326/.378, 9/4 K/BB

Matt Thornton, Career
vs. LHB: .229/.297/.344, 325/82 K/BB
vs. RHB: .239/.325/.362, 277/150 K/BB (32 intentional BB)

Looks like his primary problem versus righties is walks. In terms of strikeouts and hittability, Thornton is equally good against R and L.

I want him only facing LHP.

0 extra base hits allowed in 56 ABs vs LH hitters.

4 extra base hits allowed in 37 ABs vs RH hitters.

[sportsfan882]

No way they traded anybody for him. The money should be enough.

Where does this leave Blevins/Detwiler? Tough call. A Detwiler trade to NY makes sense but not for Thornton.

[WhiteWhale]

No way they traded anybody for him. The money should be enough.

Where does this leave Blevins/Detwiler? Tough call. A Detwiler trade to NY makes sense but not for Thornton.

I don't see why it has to "leave" them anywhere. We just option Treinen back down, Barrett already optioned. He has a spot without displacing a veteran.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Matt Thornton used to be my and was at one time all I hoped Detwiler would become (before he had 2012).  He's far off his peak when he was a 10+ K/9 and < 3 BB/9 guy with the White Sox, but this year ahs been something of a bounceback in terms of ERA due to avoiding the HR ball (althoguh he's often had low HR rates).  He's become much more of GB pitcher than he was at his peak.  This year looks a lot like 2012 for him, when he was still very good.  Girardi has been careful to use him mostly as against lefties.  Something like 9 of his 46 appearances have been 1 IP or longer, if I counted right.

It's only money, but I think he still has useful life.  Lots of lefty hitters in the division, so another lefty specialist might allow Williams to not try to stretch Blevins out to whole innings.  you could see more mixing and matching with Stammen.  This would eat up the Barrett / Treinen slot in the pen.

[sportsfan882]

I don't see why it has to "leave" them anywhere. We just option Treinen back down, Barrett already optioned. He has a spot without displacing a veteran.

Going to carry 3 LHP? Seems really redundant. I guess it can work for now but they'll want Barrett back sooner rather than later.

I don't see what Blevins' role will be with Thornton here.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Wrong again. He pitched against righties for over 9 IP, in other words, 37.8% of the time.

Got to disagree with you, oh well beered englishman.  15.1 IP v lefties and mostly stints less than 1 IP. That looks like care in match ups. 

[WhiteWhale]

Going to carry 3 LHP? Seems really redundant. I guess it can work for now but they'll want Barrett back sooner rather than later.

I don't see what Blevins' role will be with Thornton here.

Seeing as how you want lefties to ONLY face lefties, but you think 3 is too much, I'd like you to lay out how we handle a team with 3 left handed bats or more, that are evenly dispersed in their lineup for innings 6 and after for an entire 3 game series, with two guys.

I'm not picking a fight. I really want you to show me. Because I feel like you need 3.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Going to carry 3 LHP? Seems really redundant. I guess it can work for now but they'll want Barrett back sooner rather than later.

I don't see what Blevins' role will be with Thornton here.

my guess is that this allows Williams to be more aggressive in his use of relievers #3 - #6.  Det moves back to the primary long guy, Stammen and possibly Storen get used more frequently with
<==========
matchups in tandem with Blevins and Thornton.

[PC]

If Treinen goes back to AAA then we'll be down a long reliever.

[sportsfan882]

Seeing as how you want lefties to ONLY face lefties, but you think 3 is too much, I'd like you to lay out how we handle a team with 3 left handed bats or more, that are evenly dispersed in their lineup for innings 6 and after for an entire 3 game series, with two guys.

I'm not picking a fight. I really want you to show me. Because I feel like you need 3.

I guess it did work well in 2012.

But how many teams have three scary LH bats in three diff parts of lineup? Granderson, Murphy, Duda? Freeman, Heyward, La Stella? meh I guess. But Matt Williams doesn't use pitchers like that. He never plays the matchups.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

johnson discussion moved to division and MLB team watching thread in out of town scoreboard. 

[WhiteWhale]

SF, I think the key word in your response is "scary". If that is all you are worried about, two is fine, but if you want to play matchups with the average guys as well, its not.

I can say this, I see no problem keeping three for August, the young guys can come back in September (where Matt BETTER be agressive in matchups since he will have a crowded pen) and let the rest of the season say who you carry into the playoffs.

Hell, you get to reset before each series in the playoffs, so you can determine out of the guys that are 7, 8, 9 talent wise, who pitches in that series based on the other line up.

In essence, Thornton, Barrett, Treinen, or etc. is a good problem to have

[WhiteWhale]

refreshing...you are letting me down MLBTR...lets update with the price
only = 

[sportsfan882]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal  2m 
 Thornton move saves #Yankees about $4.5M. Rest of ’14 salary, plus $3.5M in ’15. NYY working on other things, could redirect money.

[blue911]

Rizzo took out a hit on McLouth

[cmdterps44]

I love me some Matt Thornton. Dude was awesome with the White Sox.