Meyer Sell

I often try to pinpoint who I think the most popular adds of the day will be and after Alex Meyer went 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs,...

I often try to pinpoint who I think the most popular adds of the day will be and after Alex Meyer went 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks against the Tigers yesterday, I'd imagine many of you wonder if he's worth your time. I've been labeling Meyer as a strikeout first, ask later kind of arm, where you can't depend on his WHIP/ERA being in the realm of decent. Now he's allowed just five ER across his last four starts - good enough for a 2.01 ERA in that span - and that's obviously impressive. Pair that with a 10.88 K/9 and there's clear value, even if it came with a 5.5 IPS. Problem here is that his walk rate is never going to be good, hosting 4.00+ marks everywhere you look. His current 6.11 BB/9 is all kinds of atrocious and should fall to some degree, but it won't come down far enough to make me think he can do deep enough into games, keep any sort of low WHIP, and escape plenty of jams to save his ERA. Yes those Ks are nice, but there's too much risk here to chase. And that's not even mentioning his sub 15% soft contact allowed!

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

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Nick Pollack

Founder of Pitcher List. Creator of CSW, The List, and SP Roundup. Worked with MSG, FanGraphs, CBS Sports, and Washington Post. Former college pitcher, travel coach, pitching coach, and Brandeis alum. Wants every pitcher to be dope.

31 responses to “Meyer Sell”

  1. Jeff says:

    Would you let go of Lackey for Straily?

  2. Mike says:

    How low are we on JC Ramirez? Both for today and for the long-term

    • Nick Pollack says:

      I think he’s more a streaming candidate than someone I’d want to consistently own these days.

      I’d hold back on starting him today against the Tigers.

  3. chrish011 says:

    I have DeGrom in another league and really don’t know what to make of him, and wanna know if I should trade for him in a different league. Or should I target Arrieta? Just feel DG would be cheaper because of Arrieta’s recent play, but who will be better at years end? Give it to me straight because I’m almost willing to trade him in the league I have him in.

    • Nick Pollack says:

      deGrom’s upside is larger than Arrieta’s given Jacob’s incredibly whiff rates and increased velocity.

      I believe more in deGrom for your playoffs.

  4. ragnospam says:

    Just put Salazar on DL, dropped Lackey and picked up Peacock and Biagini based on the buzz in your top 100. Hoping one or both of them can pan out.

  5. Ryan says:

    Regarding the nickname for new arms, how about “New kids on the block”.

  6. Chucky says:

    Has Manea settled in as a set and forget kind of guy? Not wild and crazy about his next start at home v the NYY. Have Hoffman v SF, Guerra @ StL and Godley @ Philly looking pretty sweet. Thoughts?

    • Nick Pollack says:

      For the most part, yeah I think so.

      He did well against the Yankees last week and I think the odds are in our favor he’ll do well again.

      I like Godley as well, though Hoffman against the Cubs is a little more of a reluctant of a green light. Guerra is my least favorite of the bunch but if you need the arm, I imagine him vs STL might be better than others on the wire.

  7. Steven Dowdy says:

    I kind of like fresh produce! or how about NEW E.R.A.?

    • Nick Pollack says:

      I like the idea here, I’d prefer not to use an actual brand though.

      I think we haven’t come up with the perfect name yet. Lightning will strike soon, I’m sure of it.

  8. David Johnston says:

    The lowest rank of Jedi is a “Youngling”….they are taught to control the force….

    • Nick Pollack says:

      Ha! Well, we already have Young Guns and I think we’ll keep that one as the only term with “young” in it.

      • David Johnston says:

        Fair enough….

        I’ll try again “Wannabes”

        Wannabe definition, one who aspires, often vainly, to emulate another’s success or attain eminence in some area.

        • Nick Pollack says:

          I think there’s something here.

          Maybe a “Spice Girl”?

          I.e. Someone who could fade from the public eye fast (sporty spice) or stick around for a while (posh spice).

          Good stuff.

  9. Matt Nielsen says:

    What are the odds Hoffman stays up for good sometime this year? And where would you put him on the list of that were to happen?

    • Nick Pollack says:

      If Hoffman had a rotation spot locked right now, I’d have him in the 50s/60s. Coors is a dangerous place.

      I think he will eventually, either with a bad stretch from Freeland/Senz-a/Marquez or another injury popping up that forces their hand. Maybe late July?

  10. Max says:

    Greinke was super unlucky yesterday. Peralta blew a line drive and it turned into a triple (should really have been an error). That cascaded and ended up costing him an earned run and about 30 pitches. Without that he would have been through 3 with 1ER and 30 pitches. Instead it was 2ER and almost 60 pitches. Tough. Definitely not excusing him entirely but I think he could easily have had a 7 IP 2ER 10K line.

    • Nick Pollack says:

      I’m with you here. I wasn’t planning on docking Greinke for yesterday’s outing.

      • Max says:

        You are a wise man. BTW on a scale of 1-10 how much you liking Hoffman in Wrigley? Very random question but just wanted to get a sense of whether you think its a risk worth taking given the right circumstances, or if you actually think he is likely to have a plus outing.

  11. Morgan Cross says:

    As far as rookies that produce, I saw we give a nod to Jose Fernandez and call them “JoFers” because he was definitely a rookie that produced.

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