Wilton Lopez set up to stabilize Phillies bullpen?
If you look at the peripherals, there aren't many relief pitchers more ideal for the Phillies than Astros righthander Wilton Lopez. He strikes batters out (7.3 per nine innings last season), does not walk any (1.1 BB/9) and has one of the better ground ball rates int he league (1.22 per flyball last year, nearly a half a ground ball better than the league average).
Wilton Lopez set up to stabilize Phillies bullpen?
David Murphy
If you look at the peripherals, there aren't many relief pitchers more ideal for the Phillies than Astros righthander Wilton Lopez. He strikes batters out (7.3 per nine innings last season), does not walk any (1.1 BB/9) and has one of the better ground ball rates int he league (1.22 per flyball last year, nearly a half a ground ball better than the league average).
Lopez is also 29 years old and under club control for the next three seasons, so you can understand why, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Phillies have finalized a deal to acquire the right-hander.
The Phillies lost 12 games in which they carried a lead into the eighth inning. They finished seven games behind St. Louis for the second Wild Card spot in the NL. In 2011, they lost 5 games in which they carried a lead into the eighth inning. You do the math.
Lopez recorded 10 saves and nine holds with three blown saves last season. He allowed 32 percent of his inherited runners to score, which is slightly above league average, although a drastic improvement over the 24-of-44 mark that the triumvirate of Michael Schwimer, Josh Lindblom and Chad Qualls combined to surrender.
Details on the move are still slim. A Sebastian Valle for Lopez deal would make sense for both sides, but that is just speculation. We will update as we get them. But if Lopez is indeed in the fold, it will give the Phillies a tremendous boost in the eighth inning, where they struggled mightily last season.
why would trading valle make sense, because of tommy joseph? one of those 2 guys is probably your starting catcher in 2014, unless now you can chooch back for a couple years at a similar rate with this suspension ruining the chances he gets big money.— jim715
If the numbers are right, this is a great signing.— Professor1982- Trade a catcher prospect? Uh, given the Chooch headlines of the past two days, I would suggest they keep close hold on any promising catcher prospects.— mmds
- Good move and a Nice addition to the back end of the bullpen which is becoming very expensive on the FA market. I kind of disagree with the notion that the bullpen was the downfall of the team in 2012, it was a teamwide meltdown every facet played a part- Starting pitching, relief , offernse, defense, bench.
The Phillies actually won more games after trailing after 7 innings then they lost when leading after 7 innings.— argonne - I agree that it wasn't just the bullpen but during that really bad stretch in June/July the bullpen lost an amazing number of games. Get half or three-quarters of those back and we might have made the post-season. — s
- this is residual acquisition to Pence deal assuming they move Valle...Joseph becomes catching prospect of future...Valle expendable...huge bull pen upgrade
— TheLon - They signed a depth catcher, Humberto Quintero, last night. Chooch will be ready to go at the end of April, and I'm sure they're figuring that they can start Kratz (like last year when Chooch was on the DL) and get backup help from Quintero, Lerud or Joseph. I'm guessing that if they let Valle go, it's at least partially because they see Joseph as the better prospect, right?
The Lopez signing could be one of those things that has a positive ripple effect throughout the season. Lord, I can't wait for baseball season. It's torture around here right now.— 1980 - Does he do drugs? He will once he gets to the Phillies. Better Playing Through Chemistry— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Lerud is also at AAA as backup catching depth. And Rupp is lower in the farm system. You figure one of Joseph or Valle is going to go soon if not now. Personally, I still like Valle more than Joseph right now but they seem to think Joseph has more upside. This would be a great bullpen upgrade, assuming the trade isn't extremely one-sided.— s
- Rupp can play...He's the wildcard to the fact that the Phillies may feel comfortable trading Valle...Rupp will be a strong big league backup someday. — bearsfriend
- See no reason why 2 outa 3 between Chooch, Kratz, and Joseph can't be part of the team for at least next 5yrs. Great move.— UnaBlogger
- Also Rupp as I noted above. Rupp had a pretty good season last year in single A Clearwater. If Valle is traded figure Joseph moves to AAA and Rupp moves to AA. — s
- So who did the Phils trade to get this guy?...come on reporters do some work and find out who the Phils had to trade.— jim35
- For crying out loud, can we get some power??? Some hitters??? Why does he continue to ignore that.— phillynupe4
