Just watched Kevin Gregg give up four earned runs to the Rays. I also remember Kevin Gregg blowing a save against Seattle in early May under similar circumstances, the inability to find the strike zone. Although it did appear as though the umpire might have hosed him on a couple of calls. These two blown saves, if I have remembered the Seattle game correctly, have occurred on the second night of a back to back appearance for Kevin Gregg. I was wondering if you had the numbers for Gregg's second appearance after working the night before and do you think it might be a good idea to give the closing duties to someone else to avoid the back to back appearances for Gregg in save situations?
Thanks, Matt
A: The last time that Gregg managed to record a save on back-to-back days was July 25-26, 2009 for the Cubs. Since then including the torching on June 1, Gregg has pitched two days in a row a total of 11 times. His record on the second night of those 11 back-to-backs: 1-3; 3 Saves; 4 BlSv; 10.00 ERA; 9IP: 11H; 10R; 10ER; 10BB; 11SO. Note that the three saves just means that on the first night of the back-to-backs it was not a save situation. This season for the Jays in the second game of his six-back-to-back appearances he has a 13.50 ERA with seven hits and 10 walks in 5.1 innings. I believe Cito Gaston should give Gregg the weekend off against the Yankees, going with Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, Shawn Camp and maybe Casey Janssen with the game on the line.
http://thestar.blogs.com/baseball/
Maybe this is something we should be looking at before throwing Gregg out there for every save situation.
