Jake Westbrook, Ryan Ludwick trade
Jake Westbrook, Ryan Ludwick trade:Once done with fill-ins at the back of their rotation during the greater part of two months, St. Louis Cardinals finally landed the much-needed starting Saturday, acquiring right-hander Jake Westbrook. At the same time, the San Diego Padres took the field to help Ryan Ludwick in the three-team deal between the Cardinals, Padres and Cleveland Indians, according to ESPN magazine Buster Olney.
Having obtained without Brad Penny on May 22, and Kyle Loza June 5 Cardinals, who boast the dominant three in their rotation, currently run four deep, dropping Jeff Suppan in the fifth starter role – at least until the return of Lohse in the next couple of weeks – Blake Hawksworth and send back to the bullpen. Westbrook, should be kept handy as a number 4 starter, it will be Suppan who suffer once Lohse, healthy, and Penny might have to get back into the mix in the end, even if he heals before the season ends.
Although the National League only to owners have been itching to migrate to a significant name of the American League, Westbrook will have to be content (so far), but that’s not all fantasy appeal to him than you think. He joined with noted pitching guru Dave Duncan, and I do not think that this is mere coincidence that Westbrook, a pitcher who relies on command, the strength of its cargo and its ability to induce high levels of ground balls landed where he did. It is a kind of Duncan from a pitcher, and if you play over / under play, Westbrook chances at finishing facilities better than his ERA and 4,65 1,39 WHIP to date more than they were before.
Do not invite Westbrook is not a project:
PitchFx shows that by using his slider, he is putting hits on 33.9 percent of batted balls, which represents a number. Inside Edge backs that up: Opponents’ offensive numbers (AVG / OBP / SLG) with respect to the limit, when expressed in the game are .324/.415/.488. It will need some improvement, and not fully success of . Nevertheless, having the quality of defenders in the two friends (Brendan Ryan), and first base (Albert Pujols) to help them, especially with the former team of Westbrook in the Indians, ranked dead last in baseball in terms of Ultimate Zone Rating (minus 37,3).
Another reason not to pour a lot of dollars FAAB in Westbrook: While the 2009 experience and Duncan reclamation project Joel Pineiro presented the best case for pitchers entering this situation is an important difference between them lies in the fact that Pineiro, at the time were all 2009 – including spring training – to work with his pitching coach, not to mention all of 2008 and half of 2007. Pineiro did recover from the disappointment in the otherwise begin in 2007 after 6 wins, 3.96 ERA and 1.27 whip in 11 starts at the end of the season combined with Duncan, this number as something that should identify the best scenario for the new cardinal.
In other words, look at Westbrook if you hurt an alternative to FAAB, but do not bust your budget if you have more pressing needs.
As Ludwick, it is unlikely that the reaction of his fantasy value significantly decreased with the transition to Petco Park, but do not be so hasty. In St. Louis, he was not guaranteed every day at the bit, that John Jay with a hot start his big league career, but in San Diego, he must assume the role of everyday Fielder right. More chance for major playing time means greater likelihood that Ludwick can go back to the 20 – to a level 30-Homer, which he demonstrated in the past two years.
Speaking to the approximate factors, it is worth noting that Bush Stadium was not much more favorable to the government than Petco, my approximate mid-season analysis took place on 28 th (Bush) and 29 (Petco) in terms of home runs and not lose sight of sight of the fact, Petko (0.861 24) was actually higher factor to go home for right-handed hitters than Bush (.785, 28). Why is this significant? It’s very simple: From Ludwick 70 home runs with the 2008 season, 61 (87.1 percent) were to the left of dead center field, and 35 (exactly half) have been pulled to left field in Hittrackeronline.com. His power, so that one part of Petco, where it will not completely lost.
In other words, do not expect that a change in fantasy value for Ludwick, but in fact it may be useful as it has been since the beginning of last season – that is more valuable than he would have it remain in place at St. Louis.
Two prospects participating in the deal, minor league left-hander Nick Greenwood, who comes from the Padres in the Cardinals, and minor league right-hander Corey Kluber, who comes from the Padres for the Indians, have no relevance fantasy. No, in fact, can mean much more than a back-of-rotation starter in future years, the most notable point or that Kluber boasts a high strikeout (9.47 for 9 innings for his career, 9.98 in Double-ball this season). He is “old” in 24 Double-ball, so do not put much stock in it. The Indians could look at it this or next season, but a strong showing in Triple-ball preferably before it is considered fantasy relevance.
