What about THIS guy? The Chris Narveson edition

by KLSnow on Sep 14, 2009 1:00 PM CDT in Transactions Comment 41 comments

More photos » by AARON J. LATHAM - AP

Chris Narveson has pitched much better lately. Is that enough to justify keeping him around for 2010?

It's been an interesting 2009 for Chris Narveson. After starting the season in Nashville, his tenth minor league team in his tenth minor league season, Narveson earned a call up to the big leagues for just the second time on June 13. He had a rough outing against the Indians two days later, allowing three earned runs on three hits and three walks in 1.2 innings, and followed it up by allowing three more runs in 2.2 innings to the Tigers four days later. All told, Narveson racked up an 8.44 ERA in his first nine outings as a Brewer, and was designated for assignment on July 8. He went unclaimed and would later be outrighted to Nashville.

Since then, though, things have gone pretty well for him. He pitched out of the bullpen upon his return to Nashville, and on August 22 the Brewers put him back on the 40 man roster and, amid much groaning around here, recalled him to the big leagues. Needless to say, our expectations were low, but he's pitched pretty well since returning, posting a 2.20 ERA in 16.1 innings, and yesterday he made his first major league start since 2006, pitching 3+ innings on three days' rest and holding the D-Backs scoreless for three innings before allowing hits to three consecutive batters in the fourth and getting pulled.

Narveson has been primarily a starter throughout his minor league career, and had appeared in relief just eight times in the five seasons prior to 2009. He'll turn 28 in December, and as a player with less than a full season of service time, would be available to the Brewers for the league minimum in 2010 and 2011, should they decide to keep him on the roster. Should they? Let me know your thoughts in the poll below.

Poll

What should the Brewers do with Chris Narveson?

Bring him back in 2010 to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.

42 votes

Bring him back in 2010 to compete for a spot in the bullpen.

137 votes

Let him go, and use the 40 man roster spot on someone else.

45 votes

Another option, which I'm about to go mention in the comments.

4 votes

228 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Narveson

Unless the Brewers are planning on dumping McClung or Villanueva, they won’t have a spot for Narveson in the bullpen next season. Granted, if they don’t re-sign Hoffman and covert Coffey into the closer, that would be one opening. Another would be if Riske isn’t able to pitch in the last year of his contract.

In addition, there are four rotation spots already spoken for, and I don’t Narveson as being the missing piece to the rotation.

by sjlee on Sep 14, 2009 2:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not handing CV or MC a bullpen spot. Let them earn it in ST. No harm by having CN as competition for them.

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair point

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or, they could just release Riske

Although I doubt it. The Mustache is still probably grinding his teeth over the $7MM+ they’re paying Bill Hall in 2010.

I think it would be fair to let him compete for the job. Look what happened with Casey McGehee in 2009.

Along the same lines, does anyone think the Brewers don’t pick up David Weathers’ option? If they do, you’re looking at:

Hoffman
Villanueva
Coffey
Weathers
Riske
McClung
Stetter
DiFelice

That will put the roster at 13 pitchers, so it looks like something would have to give.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Riske's a better pitcher than anyone else on that list, with the exception of Hoffman.

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, and its just that he's been unlucky with injuries in Milwaukee, right?

He pitched hurt in 2008 and turned in a 5.31/5.47 ERA/FIP, is that it?

Rich Harden is a better pitcher than probably all but 8 or 9 SPs in MLB. A lot of good that does your team when he’s sitting on the DL.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um, yes, that's exactly it.

And you’re right about Harden, I’d love to have him on my team.

Can’t really blame a guy for getting hurt, can you?

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No you can't blame a guy for getting hurt

You can blame him for his 4.45 FIP in 2007, though. The defense behind him was responsible for the 2.45 ERA that year.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The brewers have a defense too.

FIP is a silly stat, in my opinion.

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ERA is a silly stat in my opinion

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So you'd prefer to evaluate Riske based on things that are out of his control?

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Sep 14, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eh, It's a team game. If you've got a good defense, and pitch to contact knowing that, should your personal stats suffer because of it?

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think pitching to contact is really his game

8.06 K/9 and 3.87 BB/9

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who is that?

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Sep 14, 2009 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Riske's career lines

although career contact% is 80.4 with z-contact at 85.2.

By way of comparison, Jonathan Papelbon contact is 74.2, z-contact is 81.3 and Joel Pineiro contact is 82.9 with z-contact at 89.7

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow I didn't even realize that

I just looked at his fangraphs page and I only looked back at 04 or 05. Since then he’s been around 6:3 or 6:4 or so

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Sep 14, 2009 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Possibly...

but thanks to injuries, he hasn’t shown that.

There’s no guarantee that he’ll be 100% next spring. Since they have to pay him no matter what they do with him, they might as well give him a shot in spring training… same as Narveson.

by sjlee on Sep 14, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, Riske shouldn't be handed a spot either. Neither should anyone else on the team.

and I’m gonna disagree with the “he hasn’t shown that” part. He showed plenty from 01-07

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I meant to add "with the Brewers" onto the end of that sentence.

by sjlee on Sep 15, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really don't know about that

He had a few years of decent peripherals but they were declining. And when your only pitch is a 87 mph 2-seamer there can be problems.

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Sep 14, 2009 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would you really put any of the brewers current relievers ahead of him though? I know he's going downhill, but the 'pen's outperformed expectations, and I'm leery of expecting the same guys to perform at the same high level.

I could be wrong, though, it’s happened a couple times.

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose

You put Todd Coffey in the Casey McGehee realm, then?

I’d honestly take a guy who can throw 95 with sink than a guy who throws 88 with tail.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coffey, Hoffman, Villy, DiFelice, and Stetter probably

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Sep 14, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stetter for sure

Forgot about him.

Villanueva’s sort of in that Rickie Weeks zone right now. You know: ‘upside’ and ‘he just needs to put it together’. I’m still not sure if DiFelice is having a fluke year or not.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think there's a good chance they'll decline Weathers' option.

He’s valuable and worth having around, but at $3.7 million? Pass.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by KLSnow on Sep 14, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. I see Riske taking Weathers spot, assuming he's healthy.

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's a big assumption.

If he’s not healthy, do you try to resign Weathers for less or do you think another team would be willing to pay him that much?

by sjlee on Sep 15, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I was thinking too

Particularly since The Mustache says he’s going to ‘go hard’ after pitching in the off-season.

Hopefully, its not 2 #3 or #4 starters and a couple of 4.85 relievers to shore up the ’pen.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Considering we've got 5 #3-4 starters in our rotation this year, I agree.

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You don't consider Gallardo a #2?

by sjlee on Sep 15, 2009 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd still like to see Riske DFA'd

Just so I don’t have to look at his stupid soul patch and high socks.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I feel the same way about Bush and his "facial hair 'o the week"

by Mykenk on Sep 14, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can abide the handlebars on Bush's face

mostly because his name is Bush.

That stupid half inch wide, 2 inch long hamster on Riske’s chin is inexcusable. Much like the beaver on Ryan Franklin’s chin.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Better than Scott Spiezio

You know me Al.

by TheJay on Sep 14, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True, at least it isn't hot pink. Or red.

I wonder if Chad Gaudin and Ryan Franklin were actually separated at birth.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey!

I’ll hear nothing against high socks! But I’m with you on the soul patch, that’s just stupid looking.

"my goodness"

by BrewHaHeather on Sep 14, 2009 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't Riske supposed to be out for most or all of next year anyway?

Regardless of how good he was before 2008, he’s had a long time at less than 100% – it’s hard to see him getting back to where he was as soon as next year.

You know me Al.

by TheJay on Sep 14, 2009 7:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus Axford is on the 40-man, I doubt they jettison him (although he could be optioned)

They might not offer McClung arbitration though they would probably try to sign him to a cheap deal.

You know me Al.

by TheJay on Sep 14, 2009 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was it Tommy John?

I can’t recall what they found during the exploratory surgery. Obviously if it was TJ, he’s done. If not, he might be able to come back.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Sep 14, 2009 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, TJ surgery in early June

You know me Al.

by TheJay on Sep 14, 2009 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

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