Hot Seat quick hits:
Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Most disturbing stats? — 41% decrease in K/9 from 2014; 69% increase in BB/9 from 2014; 2015 FIP and ERA each higher than his 2013 and 2014 versions combined.
Harbinger of doom? — Melancon has made 16 appearances in 32 games, including the first two back-to-back-to-back save chances of his career.
How’s his velocity? — Down 3.3 MPH on average.
Handcuff? — Tony Watson (0.74 WHIP, 1.89 ERA, 22.1 K-BB%).
Addison Reed, Arizona Diamondbacks
Most disturbing stats? — 7.20 ERA; eye-popping .412 BABIP even with below average (17%) line-drive rate; dead last in ERA+ among closers with 20 or more saves since April 2014.
Signatures on the petition to send him to Reno? — 226 and climbing.
Handcuff? — Brad Ziegler (69% GB, 0.91 WHIP, but 3.77 K/9).
Others getting press? — Daniel Hudson; Enrique Burgos; David Hernandez; Jake Barrett of the Reno Aces.
Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians
Most disturbing stats? — 8.25 ERA; 6.75 BB/9; WHIP higher than last year’s ERA.
Handcuff? — Bryan Shaw (2.31 ERA, but 4.22 BB/9).
Possible sleeper? — Zach McAllister (10.89 K/9, 2.22 FIP).
Jason Grilli, Atlanta Braves
Surprisingly positive stats? — .391 BABIP means his FIP is less than half of his ERA; exceptional 14.81 K/9 ratio.
Why is he here? — Back spasms and bad luck are a bad combination for a 38-year-old with a “proven closer” behind him.
Who’s that now? — Jim Johnson (3.31 ERA; but is Jim Johnson).
Other notes: although Jake McGee won’t supplant the excellent Brad Boxberger immediately, the leash will get much shorter in Tampa; don’t worry about Craig Kimbrel, whose high ERA seems more a function of bad luck (and pickoff throws to ghosts) than disappearing command; Tyler Clippard will be back in the eighth soon, although Sean Doolittle gave up back-to-back homers at Single-A Stockton on Thursday; Fernando Rodney seems safe for now, if only because Danny Farquhar has been so bad; Brett Cecil and his 6.05 FIP and 41.4% hard contact rate are slowly improving, but still pretty lousy; Kenley Jansen won’t replace Yimi Garcia immediately, but it shouldn’t take long; we think A.J. Ramos will hold onto the job in Miami, but he’s not out of the woods (swamp?) yet.
