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I was literally in shock when I saw Rauch's less than stellar physique being trotted out again for the save opportunity tonight. After the debacle in Tampa where this turd blew two saves in two consecutive innings, I thought: 'Well, at least that's the end of Rauch!!'.

So what gives exactly? This guy is probably the worst pitcher in the Major Leagues who gets consistent work. Does he even have a good pitch? He is below average in every measurable and conceivable way. How the hell does he keep getting the ball in the 9th inning? The closer's role is supposed to be a coveted role for any team, especially a decent team like the Blue Jays, and this turd keeps getting the ball!!!

Are there really no better options? No one in AAA or AA???? Why didn't we keep Frasor somehow and use him to close?

It's seriously starting to piss me off how the Blue Jays continually reward failure...no wonder we haven't made the playoffs in 20 years.

Kid Vicious wrote:I was literally in shock when I saw Rauch's less than stellar physique being trotted out again for the save opportunity tonight. After the debacle in Tampa where this turd blew two saves in two consecutive innings, I thought: 'Well, at least that's the end of Rauch!!'.

So what gives exactly? This guy is probably the worst pitcher in the Major Leagues who gets consistent work. Does he even have a good pitch? He is below average in every measurable and conceivable way. How the hell does he keep getting the ball in the 9th inning? The closer's role is supposed to be a coveted role for any team, especially a decent team like the Blue Jays, and this turd keeps getting the ball!!!

Are there really no better options? No one in AAA or AA???? Why didn't we keep Frasor somehow and use him to close?

It's seriously starting to piss me off how the Blue Jays continually reward failure...no wonder we haven't made the playoffs in 20 years.

I may be of.base here but I think it has to do with treating vets with certain respect. They gave Rivera his burn through his troubles. Same with Patterson, JoJo, EE. Basically every vet has been backed by management. It might be about creating a good stable club house so in the future guys want to play for the Jays. They have also giver rooks their fair share of PT, Cooper and Snider withstanding. In Snider's case there may be things we are not privy to so I want to back AA on that move, but we shall see.

Is he on the waiver wire. I hope some team claims him.

Napoli for Francisco trade is looking terrible and terrible everyday

I guess this is what you get when you reach for the bottom of the barrel. I want both Rauch and Francisco gone by next year. This season blue jays are going to miss playoffs like usual might well give young kids a chance

Scorpion King wrote:Is he on the waiver wire. I hope some team claims him.

Napoli for Francisco trade is looking terrible and terrible everyday

I guess this is what you get when you reach for the bottom of the barrel. I want both Rauch and Francisco gone by next year. This season blue jays are going to miss playoffs like usual might well give young kids a chance

I don't see whats wrong with Francisco. Hes been unlucky with the long ball, and the only real problem for him has been walks. Other than that his numbers are pretty on pace for last year. A bad inning for a reliever will constantly make his stats look bad, but thats just because a 3 run homerun takes 20 innings of shutout baseball to look decent.

I hope we make him the closer for this year.

Francisco has been good lately. Give him the closer's job. Rauch should only come out when we have a 5 run lead.

Relentless88 wrote:Francisco has been good lately. Give him the closer's job. Rauch should only come out when we have a 5 run lead.

I think Franky makes an excellent setup man, less pressure.

Are you kidding me? Francisco for closer? I guess that's how bad this bullpen has been this year that we're even contemplating that again.

FF has been good of late as the 8th inning guy, keep him there.

Make Janssen the closer.

maybe he could close out game for the raptors?

In all seriousness, Rauch is a solid reliever with a solid track record. He shouldn't be judged on his inflated era from some terrible outings, but I'd agree that he hasn't exactly earned the closer role either.

I just think we need a good sinker ball pitcher to close out games. Rogers' isn't friendly to flyball pitchers and since most closers lately like to throw it hard and high looking for SOs, its not a good mix. Who were our best closers? Henke and Ward. Why? Cause they loved split finger stuff and they got the ground outs.

my theory is that BJ's closer role is cursed.

See Francisco has a sub 1.00 ERA in his last 10 games with 10 K too.

I'd like to hear from Schad on this.

It might have something to do with maintaining Jon Rauch's Type B status. Or John Farrell could just be a moron.

Wouldn't be surprised either way.

I know he would cost alot of money to take on what about Sorino from the Yankees who just put him on waivers

Soriano is not on real waivers, hes also making way to much money to even think he could be worth it. Rauch has slugged because he is a FB pitcher with a habit of giving up home runs, which doesn't mix in the home run happy AL east. He could be very good pitching in a different division like the AL central or the NL west, but in the AL east hes best suited to medium leverage situations. Hes not the worst option we have right now so I'm fine with him closing out games who cares how many we win this year anyway its not like we are ready to compete yet.

Homer Jay wrote:I just think we need a good sinker ball pitcher to close out games. Rogers' isn't friendly to flyball pitchers and since most closers lately like to throw it hard and high looking for SOs, its not a good mix. Who were our best closers? Henke and Ward. Why? Cause they loved split finger stuff and they got the ground outs.

Alvarez?

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?p ... 2011&ind=0

Rauch is tied for 2nd last among relievers in MLB with -0.5 WAR. But he's got the almighty closer tag.

WpgPage wrote:Soriano is not on real waivers, hes also making way to much money to even think he could be worth it. Rauch has slugged because he is a FB pitcher with a habit of giving up home runs, which doesn't mix in the home run happy AL east. He could be very good pitching in a different division like the AL central or the NL west, but in the AL east hes best suited to medium leverage situations. Hes not the worst option we have right now so I'm fine with him closing out games who cares how many we win this year anyway its not like we are ready to compete yet.

also struggled because he has knee problems.

Rauch has never been a strike out pitcher and his career HR/9 is 1.0. A homer happy reliever who puts the ball in play is not a true late inning option. Other than the team being afraid to tell him that he can't close, I don't know why he is still in that role.

I seriously rest my case.

This Jays can have all the blue chip prospects it wants...as long they have guys like Rauch in the game when it matters most, this team will never go anywhere.