Tag Archives: Jeurys Familia

July 21, 2018

We A’s Familia

The Oakland Athletics decided to be buyers, acquiring Jeurys Familia from the Mets Saturday afternoon:

Will Toffey, a 23-year-old third baseman and Oakland’s 17th-ranked prospect, and Minor League pitcher Bobby Wahl are the two players the Mets are getting in return for Familia.

Combined with All-Star closer Blake Treinen and rookie phenom Lou Trivino, Familia helps form a three-headed relief monster for a club making a surprising playoff push.

Athletics starters have not been particularly good this season, meaning the A’s need a solid bullpen.

Toffey is a high OBP, low power player, more like a middle infielder than a third baseman. He’s also a 23-year-old at A+ ball. Wahl is a high strikeout, high walk pitcher. It almost looks like a salary dump, but Familia wasn’t really making that much money. I guess two warm bodies would be better than losing him through free agency.

February 9, 2018

The High Leverage Closer

3 Replies

Jeurys Familia is on board with being used when he is needed, not just at the end of the game. Mickey Callaway is going to try to pull off a huge change in strategy for bullpen usage:

“He came from Cleveland and that worked,’’ Familia said Thursday at the Mets training complex at First Data Field. “For me, I always say, ‘He’s the manager, and I am going to do my job when I get the ball and try to win the game and enjoy the game.’ ’’

When asked about getting the call in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning, Familia said, “It doesn’t matter to me. I’m just trying to win the game.

“I talked to Mickey in the offseason, he called everybody to try to be on the same page and I think not every manager does that. That’s a good start. This year I am going to try to attack the hitter more and get ahead in the count.’’

Cleveland was able to pull this off due to Andrew Miller bought into the idea. Most pitchers like a defined role. Callaway’s success in Cleveland gives him the opportunity to try this with a different group of pitchers.

I suppose that instead of defining roles by innings, he can define the roles by situations. In close games, with certain parts of the lineup due, pitchers can get the idea they will be needed. It’s a less simple definition of a role, with the pitchers required to think along with the manager. If Callaway is predictable for this bullpen staff, it might work. On paper, it’s a better strategy than using the same person to close the game whenever a save situation exists.

May 11, 2017

Clotted Closer

How to Have an Argument

2 Replies

It appears Jeurys Familia was suspended 15 games for arguing with his wife:

In ruling he found no evidence Familia physically assaulted or threatened wife Bianca Rivas, commissioner Rob Manfred indicated he still felt compelled to issue the pitcher a suspension.

“The evidence reviewed by my office does not support a determination that Mr. Familia physically assaulted his wife or threatened her or others with physical force or harm, on October 31, 2016,” Manfred said in a statement. “Nevertheless I have concluded that Mr. Familia’s overall conduct that night was inappropriate, violated the Policy, and warrants discipline.”

I have to admit I’m not comfortable with this. People who live in close quarters often have arguments. If Familia was subjecting his family to constant verbal abuse, I could see a suspension, but seemed to be just a heated argument. There is a difference:

https://youtu.be/kQFKtI6gn9Y?t=41s

Update: Fixed link.

November 1, 2016

Familia Feud

King Kong Connor

The Blown Save Loophole

3 Replies

Jeurys Familia comes in to pitch the ninth with the Mets leading the Dodgers 5-1. He allowes four runs, the last three coming in when Chase Utley hits a two-out, bases loaded double to drive in three runs and tie the game. Mets fans must really love that, given they see Utley as a villain.

Of course, this blown lead won’t show up in the stats. Since it was not a save situation when Familia entered the game, his perfect save percentage remains intact. It’s a small problem with the stat.

Update: Familia gets the win as Curtis Granderson homers in the bottom of the ninth for a 6-5 victory.

November 2, 2015

Grady Little Thinking

6 Replies

After reading what Terry Collins said about leaving Matt Harvey in the game, I think the decision was worse that I imagined:

“He just came over and said, ‘I want this game. I want it bad. You’ve got to leave me in,’ ” Collins said. “I said, ‘Matt, you’ve got us exactly where we wanted to get.’ He said, ‘I want this game in the worst way.’

“So, obviously, I let my heart get in the way of my gut. I love my players. And I trust them. And so I said, ‘Go get ’em out.’ “

Collins reversed a gut decision? Where was the plan? This was an elimination game, with a pitcher, as great as he is, still recovering from Tommy John surgery, tired after a long season. Going into the game, there should have been a plan in place as to how long Harvey would pitch, and who would relieve him and when. Waiting for your gut to tell you what to do is no way to go into battle.

A side issue, closers tend not to enter games in precarious situations any more. The strategy evolved to bring the closer in to start the inning, rather than put him in a situation where he has to pitch from the stretch. Jeurys Familia had a tough series already, and coming in with a man on second just made things tougher.