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Post by sdcoug on Aug 5, 2021 12:26:00 GMT -8
I feel a better about Melancon than I'm sure the Dodgers do about Jansen or the Reds are about ANY of their possibilities, and I wouldn't put McGee above him either. Of all the NL playoff contenders, only the Brewers really has anyone better. There simply aren't many "lights out" closers these days. Reyes, Kimbrell & Hader, but that's about it. I'd put Melancon at #4, which is damn good IMO. I'd also add that the pitch to Gomes that tied the game was a pretty good pitch - low & away, and you definitely can't blame him for the infield single by Chapman that Crone ate (does Kim make that play?). His only issue was the walk to Murphy, but I can also see pitching around him to get to a slumping Chapman. All of what you say, I understand, but it doesn't take away the fact that I don't have a ton of confidence in him to close out the good teams in a playoff/WS situation. Other fans of certain other teams, I'm sure, feel the same way. Hopefully he'll arise to the occasion, though when it counts most and prove me wrong that there was nothing to be concerned about. Are you saying you expect perfection and that you'd be "concerned" no matter which closer we had in this league? Other than that, there's no reason to be "concerned" unless you are simply just always concerned. He's among the best in the business, which is all you can ask. Thus far this year he's 5 for 5 in save opportunities vs. the Dodgers, giving up a total of 1 run across those 5 games. He's 2 for 2 with 0 ER's vs. SF. He's 1 for 1 with 0 ER's vs. Milwaukee. He's 2-2 with 0 ER's against the Mets. Those are the current other 4 playoff teams, and the 1st 2 rounds will be against teams he's a combined 7 for 7 with 1 ER. The only potential playoff team he's struggled against is Cincy (2 for 4), but the odds of us ever playing them again is pretty much zilch. If you're saying nearly every fan of nearly every playoff contender should be "concerned" about their closer, then sure, I guess. But we have less reason to be concerned than nearly everyone else. Going deeper, among every contending team which bullpen are you most confident in overall? While the Brewers have Williams & Hader, I think I'd take the combination of Pagan, Hill, Pomeranz, Hudson & Melancon over the final 3 innings over any other bullpen in baseball (& that ignores Stammen, Johnson, Strahm & Adams). I also think in a short playoff situation Tingler's leash may be a little shorter, although not sure I would have pulled Melancon yesterday anyway.
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Post by aardvark on Aug 5, 2021 12:55:04 GMT -8
Yeah, Melancon is good and he has a lot of saves, but he's not a "lights out" type, power closer, or someone with multiple nasty pitches. I won't feel real comfortable in the playoffs and beyond when he's asked to come in and close out a lead, unfortunately. I feel a better about Melancon than I'm sure the Dodgers do about Jansen or the Reds are about ANY of their possibilities, and I wouldn't put McGee above him either. Of all the NL playoff contenders, only the Brewers really has anyone better. There simply aren't many "lights out" closers these days. Reyes, Kimbrell & Hader, but that's about it. I'd put Melancon at #4, which is damn good IMO. I'd also add that the pitch to Gomes that tied the game was a pretty good pitch - low & away, and you definitely can't blame him for the infield single by Chapman that Crone ate (does Kim make that play?). His only issue was the walk to Murphy, but I can also see pitching around him to get to a slumping Chapman. It's amazing to me that the Dodgers keep trotting Jansen out there.
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Post by johneaztec on Aug 5, 2021 13:11:56 GMT -8
I feel a better about Melancon than I'm sure the Dodgers do about Jansen or the Reds are about ANY of their possibilities, and I wouldn't put McGee above him either. Of all the NL playoff contenders, only the Brewers really has anyone better. There simply aren't many "lights out" closers these days. Reyes, Kimbrell & Hader, but that's about it. I'd put Melancon at #4, which is damn good IMO. I'd also add that the pitch to Gomes that tied the game was a pretty good pitch - low & away, and you definitely can't blame him for the infield single by Chapman that Crone ate (does Kim make that play?). His only issue was the walk to Murphy, but I can also see pitching around him to get to a slumping Chapman. It's amazing to me that the Dodgers keep trotting Jansen out there. I'm VERY happy we don't have Jansen to rely on.
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Post by johneaztec on Aug 5, 2021 13:13:49 GMT -8
All of what you say, I understand, but it doesn't take away the fact that I don't have a ton of confidence in him to close out the good teams in a playoff/WS situation. Other fans of certain other teams, I'm sure, feel the same way. Hopefully he'll arise to the occasion, though when it counts most and prove me wrong that there was nothing to be concerned about. Are you saying you expect perfection and that you'd be "concerned" no matter which closer we had in this league? Other than that, there's no reason to be "concerned" unless you are simply just always concerned. He's among the best in the business, which is all you can ask. Thus far this year he's 5 for 5 in save opportunities vs. the Dodgers, giving up a total of 1 run across those 5 games. He's 2 for 2 with 0 ER's vs. SF. He's 1 for 1 with 0 ER's vs. Milwaukee. He's 2-2 with 0 ER's against the Mets. Those are the current other 4 playoff teams, and the 1st 2 rounds will be against teams he's a combined 7 for 7 with 1 ER. The only potential playoff team he's struggled against is Cincy (2 for 4), but the odds of us ever playing them again is pretty much zilch. If you're saying nearly every fan of nearly every playoff contender should be "concerned" about their closer, then sure, I guess. But we have less reason to be concerned than nearly everyone else. Going deeper, among every contending team which bullpen are you most confident in overall? While the Brewers have Williams & Hader, I think I'd take the combination of Pagan, Hill, Pomeranz, Hudson & Melancon over the final 3 innings over any other bullpen in baseball (& that ignores Stammen, Johnson, Strahm & Adams). I also think in a short playoff situation Tingler's leash may be a little shorter, although not sure I would have pulled Melancon yesterday anyway. Yes, you got it. Every fan, of every other playoff team should have concern for their closer. Luckily, that's the situation. Never said I expect perfection. I'm simply concerned about it, and I'm only talking about the CLOSER position, not any other relievers. I like our situation there. Also, I'm happy with how he's fared against the Dodgers in the regular season so far, but the Playoffs/WS are a different beast.
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Post by sdcoug on Aug 5, 2021 13:56:46 GMT -8
Are you saying you expect perfection and that you'd be "concerned" no matter which closer we had in this league? Other than that, there's no reason to be "concerned" unless you are simply just always concerned. He's among the best in the business, which is all you can ask. Thus far this year he's 5 for 5 in save opportunities vs. the Dodgers, giving up a total of 1 run across those 5 games. He's 2 for 2 with 0 ER's vs. SF. He's 1 for 1 with 0 ER's vs. Milwaukee. He's 2-2 with 0 ER's against the Mets. Those are the current other 4 playoff teams, and the 1st 2 rounds will be against teams he's a combined 7 for 7 with 1 ER. The only potential playoff team he's struggled against is Cincy (2 for 4), but the odds of us ever playing them again is pretty much zilch. If you're saying nearly every fan of nearly every playoff contender should be "concerned" about their closer, then sure, I guess. But we have less reason to be concerned than nearly everyone else. Going deeper, among every contending team which bullpen are you most confident in overall? While the Brewers have Williams & Hader, I think I'd take the combination of Pagan, Hill, Pomeranz, Hudson & Melancon over the final 3 innings over any other bullpen in baseball (& that ignores Stammen, Johnson, Strahm & Adams). I also think in a short playoff situation Tingler's leash may be a little shorter, although not sure I would have pulled Melancon yesterday anyway. Yes, you got it. Every fan, of every other playoff team should have concern for their closer. Luckily, that's the situation. Never said I expect perfection. I'm simply concerned about it, and I'm only talking about the CLOSER position, not any other relievers. I like our situation there. Also, I'm happy with how he's fared against the Dodgers in the regular season so far, but the Playoffs/WS are a different beast. For everyone, including any & all of our potential opponents. I'd rather put my money on guys who've been successful during this season over those who haven't though, and ours have been very successful relative to everyone else. Luckily Melancon has closed games in the playoffs before, including being 2 for 2 in saves last year for Atlanta, including 1 for 1 vs. LA. It hasn't & won't be new to him.
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Post by johneaztec on Aug 5, 2021 14:06:41 GMT -8
Yes, you got it. Every fan, of every other playoff team should have concern for their closer. Luckily, that's the situation. Never said I expect perfection. I'm simply concerned about it, and I'm only talking about the CLOSER position, not any other relievers. I like our situation there. Also, I'm happy with how he's fared against the Dodgers in the regular season so far, but the Playoffs/WS are a different beast. For everyone, including any & all of our potential opponents. I'd rather put my money on guys who've been successful during this season over those who haven't though, and ours have been very successful relative to everyone else. Luckily Melancon has closed games in the playoffs before, including being 2 for 2 in saves last year for Atlanta, including 1 for 1 vs. LA. It hasn't & won't be new to him. I'm definitely hoping for the best.
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Post by sdcoug on Aug 6, 2021 16:45:38 GMT -8
For those questioning Melancon, check out Kimbrel today. It happens.
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