So How About Ryan Rowland-Smith?

by Kyle Lobner on Mar 30, 2011 9:17 PM CDT in Conversation Starters

When I was gathering links for tomorrow's Mug I stumbled across something I thought might be of interest: The Astros have designated Australian lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith for assignment.

Rowland-Smith is coming off a disastrous season in Seattle, where he posted a 6.75 ERA in 109.1 innings. Entering the 2010 season he had allowed 26 home runs in three years as a major leaguer. In 2010, he allowed 25.

Prior to last season, though, Rowland-Smith was a pretty effective pitcher. From 2007-09 he posted a 3.62 ERA over 88 outings (27 starts), with decent walk (3.2 per nine innings) and strikeout (6.1/9) rates. His FIPs from those seasons would suggest he overachieved a bit, but not dramatically so: his FIP had never been higher than 2008's 4.53. As I mentioned above, Rowland-Smith was the victim of 25 home runs in 109.1 innings in 2010, and a fair portion of that can likely be attributed to the fact that he allowed home runs on 14% of his fly balls. He had never allowed more than 8.3% of flies to leave the yard as a big leaguer.

Rowland-Smith had relatively short outings with the Astros this spring, never pitching more than three innings and posting a 6.23 ERA over six appearances. With that said, the Brewers could probably have him pitch a simulated game in Arizona this week and have him ready to go 5-6 innings on April 6 if they claimed him.

Being left-handed probably makes Rowland-Smith a relatively poor fit in the Brewer rotation, as he'd probably pitch behind Randy Wolf and Chris Narveson on some occasions. With that said, beggars can't be choosers.

Poll

Should the Brewers claim Ryan Rowland-Smith off waivers and make him a candidate for the fifth starter role?

Yes

104 votes

No

168 votes

I am undecided, confused and/or lonely.

82 votes

354 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 32 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I don't know, his career numbers as a starter are 5.40 FIP, 5.23 xFIP, 4.37 K/9, 3.17 BB/9

That’s pretty terrible.

Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).

by SRB on Mar 30, 2011 9:23 PM CDT reply actions

IIRC, I personally witnessed carlos gomez and jonathan lucroy both hit dingers off of RR-S,

so, bad impression

"Special teams means special times, bros"

by schmita91 on Mar 30, 2011 9:29 PM CDT reply actions

I was there too.

Lucroy’s first RBI, IIRC.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Mar 30, 2011 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions

back to back, if im not mistaken

"Special teams means special times, bros"

by schmita91 on Mar 30, 2011 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions

ITYAR

"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."

~Doug Melvin

by Charlie Marlow on Mar 30, 2011 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions

He's like another Manny Parra.

Not great at starting, but good at relieving. The main difference is that Smith was actually good at starting for a little while, then lost it. I don’t think he’s enough of an improvement over our existing stock of pitchers to be worth any more than a minor league contract.

Applying Simpsons and Star Wars quotes to Brewers discussions since 2009.

by Yar Nivek on Mar 30, 2011 9:29 PM CDT reply actions

No

Thank you.

glass slippers???? I always drank out of a gold and ruby laced chalice that was served by Theodore, my butler.

by Brew Town Boozer on Mar 30, 2011 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

Can i vote no, and still be lonely?

"Special teams means special times, bros"

by schmita91 on Mar 30, 2011 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

If you vote no

i’m afraid you have no other option.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Mar 30, 2011 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions

There shoudln't be new candidates when they can't audition any more before a decision needs to be made

http://www.mlbsoup.com

by tcyoung on Mar 30, 2011 10:10 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I wouldn't mind having him at AAA

Probably not an upgrade over Mitre or Estrada, though.

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

by Jordan M on Mar 30, 2011 10:11 PM CDT reply actions

that's what I was thinking....

signing him to a minor league contract = good
signing him to a major league contract or even one that has a call up by x date or release = bad

I assumed the major league contract, based on the april 6th thing. Estrada had a better spring than R-S and has as good of a recent track record, so just let Estrada have enough rope to hang himself.

by PagsBrewCrew on Mar 30, 2011 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Would he be an upgrade over Chase Wright?

by mladwig0 on Mar 31, 2011 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions

RRS or Estrada?

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Mar 31, 2011 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

I doubt the Astros are going to release him.

If he clears waivers, he most likely goes to AAA. So a minor league deal isn’t an option: The Brewers either need to claim and roster him or pass.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Mar 31, 2011 6:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Apparently

The only people posting comments are those who voted “No” because the vote is pretty split right now.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Mar 30, 2011 10:18 PM CDT reply actions

voted yes

but just for minor league depth

Every man must believe in something, I believe I'll have another drink.

by pjpaulus on Mar 30, 2011 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions

But that's not really what the question is.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Mar 30, 2011 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Also

He’s was designated for assignment by the Astros, which means that the Brewers would have to add him to the 40-man roster to get him. I’m not sure if a spot on the 40-man roster is worth spending on minor league depth… particularly since it means someone else would have to be taken off.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Mar 30, 2011 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

good point

by PagsBrewCrew on Mar 30, 2011 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions

the people who voted yes don't want to have to explain themselves

"Special teams means special times, bros"

by schmita91 on Mar 30, 2011 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions

RRS is a really interesting guy

I have seen him in Seattle several times. Before last year, he was fairly effective, especially in Safeco. I saw him out-duel Roy Halladay two years ago. Last year, I’m still not entirely sure what happened, but his command got worse, and his LOB% and HR/FB were both worse than career norms. From a scouting perspective, I saw him struggle to throw first-pitch strikes, which is always a problem. In response to the question, though, I think he would make excellent depth, which the Brewers could use, but I don’t think he would merit the 5th starter spot.

The statistics you don't compile never lie.
-Stephen Colbert

by kentcheesehead on Mar 30, 2011 10:21 PM CDT reply actions

I don't think we need another lefty.

Especially one who gives up too many HR. Especially playing in Miller Park.

by Brew Angel on Mar 30, 2011 11:34 PM CDT reply actions

I thought there was something out there where we determined Miller Park isn't a hitters park?

by Flanyboy on Mar 31, 2011 3:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Overall power is average

The HR rate was slightly above average, I think. So it’s not a true hitter’s park in terms of a bias towards substantially more runs scored, but one would expect to see a very slightly elevated HR/FB rate for pitchers and hitters in Miller Park.

A difference can be statistically significant due to the sheer volume of data, but not practically significant. No one would ever rationally discount a player’s HR totals in Miller Park.

by ecocd on Mar 31, 2011 6:04 AM CDT up reply actions

by sjlee on Mar 31, 2011 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

==
Writer for Baseball Prospectus. Also, check out Wezen-Ball.com

by lar on Mar 31, 2011 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

Well he surprised you

thats gotta count for something

BCB: Pointless Exercises in Devils Advocacy
BCB Fantasy Football League 2 Champ

by Jeo on Mar 31, 2011 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

NL Central Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
Cincinnati Red Reporter	26	20	.565	0	Won 1
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	25	22	.531	1.5	Lost 3
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	22	24	.478	4	Lost 1
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	22	24	.478	4	Won 2
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	19	27	.413	7	Lost 1
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	15	31	.326	11	Lost 11