UPDATE: It was originally noted that GM Yang Pei-Hong did not sign Bryan Woodall when in fact Yang signed all three pitchers (Woodall, Kern and Additon) prior to his departure and following the 2016 season.
The Chinatrust Brothers are heading into the 2018 CPBL season rostering imported pitchers Zack Segovia, Mitch Lively and Nick Additon. It's a solid core of pitchers that possess an abundance of local experience and upside. So with that in mind, let's look back on the organization’s previous three years of hired talent. CPBL English presents: The Chinatrust Brothers Import Report Card
The Chinatrust Brothers are heading into the 2018 CPBL season rostering imported pitchers Zack Segovia, Mitch Lively and Nick Additon. It's a solid core of pitchers that possess an abundance of local experience and upside. So with that in mind, let's look back on the organization’s previous three years of hired talent. CPBL English presents: The Chinatrust Brothers Import Report Card
With the ever growing importance of foreign-born starting pitching in the CPBL, (63 of the last 70 import players have been starting pitchers and 85 percent of playoff games since 2015 have been started by import pitchers), I’d thought I would try to quantify/grade the performances of each of the three allotted roster spots for foreign-born players for each organization.
The players’ performances are very much affected by how they are handled by the organization. Players seldom have a long leash when it comes to adjusting to many factors; for example RHP Scott McGregor last season. So in saying that, let's look at these score/grades as a representation of everyone involved (the players, ownership, the GM, the scouting and the coaching) as opposed to just the players’ performance. Look what players like Zack Segovia and Darin Downs have done in different organizations if you need further proof that performance is not solely based on the player.
Maximum of 5 points per criteria
Criteria explained in depth at the end
Games started or relieved (quantity)
- 23-25 starts = 0 pts
- Over 25 starts, each start worth 0.66 pts
- Between 13-24 starts = -0.33 pts
- Below 13 starts = 0 pts
- 1 relief appearance = 0.132 pts
Innings pitched (quantity)
- 130-140 IP = 0 pts
- Over 140 IP = 0.111 pts
- Under 130 IP = -0.055 pts
Wins and saves
- 1 win = 0.2 pts
- 1 save = 0.1 pts
- 10.00 points above 100 = 1 pt
- 10.00 points Under 100 = -1 pt
- 10% better than league average = 1 pt
- 10% below league average = -1 pt
Grading Key
A+ = over 12
A = 9 - 12
B = 6 - 9
C = 3 - 6
D = 0 - 3
E = less than 0
The Chinatrust Brothers
2015 (A+, A+, A+)
- First half: 27- 33 (3rd place)
- Second half: 36-23-1 (1st place)
- Second-half season winner
- Lost in Taiwan series in seven games. 45k in home attendance over three games (~US$1.8 million in ticket sales).
- Imports accounted for 46% games started, 34% of innings pitched and 43% of wins.
The 2015 Brother Elephants were the last team to use their import slot(s) on position players. They traded in those bats (Jim Negrych and Jaime Pedroza) halfway through the season for some arms (pitchers Bryan Woodall and Mike McClendon) and managed to win the second-half season.
Second baseman Jim Negrych slashed .333/.391/.434 with 2 HR, 34 RBI and 6 errors in 58 contests (the club had played 76 games) before giving way to Bryan Woodall. This was a very important pick up for the team--called the Elephants at this time--as Woodall would lead the club in innings pitched for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. So a tip of the cap to the scouts for that find. Woodall was a stud down the stretch for the squad as his 11 starts over the last 43 remaining games puts him on the mound every fourth game. Woodall’s IP/GS was over 6 ⅔ while his 148.16 ERA+ earned him near-perfect marks. Negrych’s last game was July 31, while Woodall’s first start came on August 2, making this a flawless transition with a pitcher adjusting exceptionally. A+
Jaime Pedroza (.301/.352/.514, 7 HR, 21 RBI, 9 SB and 15 errors in 37 games) was hitting .400 through his first full month in the CPBL, but Pedroza’s bat cooled and the club was losing, so a change was made. Pitcher Shawn Garceau made two brief starts after replacing Pedroza before former MLB pitcher Jose Contreras took over.
Contreras was great in his seven starts, going 4-1 with a 3.45 ERA (1.66 points better than the 5.11 league-average ERA) and getting deep into each start (14.5 pitches per inning). But then something peculiar happened. GM Yang Pei Hong replaced Contreras for the CPBL-experienced, LHP Victor Garate right before the deadline.
Garate pitched well in five of his six starts before the Taiwan Series (4-2, 4.64 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 18.). The southpaw started Games 1 and 4 of the championship series and went 1-1 and allowed 13 runs across 10 ⅓ innings of work. If the team brought in Garate just because they needed a left-handed pitcher, then it was a classic case of over-managing. A mistake that may have cost them, especially since a 22-year-old left-handed hitting Wang Po-Jung went 4-for-4 versus Garate over the championship series and collected 11 total bases: 2 HR, 2B, 1B.
Another rumour for the Garate signing was that Contreras’ numbers versus the Uni Lions, who were only two games behind the Elephants at the time, were unspectacular (0-1, 3 GS, 5.12 ERA). But still, the move seems shortsighted as Contreras was keeping the bullpen off the field (6 ⅔ IP/GS) with his mix of efficiency and quality.
Nothing against Garate who had four wins-- two over the Uni Lions--which surely helped the club capture the second-half. He also had really great stuff that helped him strike out more than a batter an inning, it’s just that Contreras’ numbers were no reason to necessitate a move from management. It should also be noted that Contreras stayed on with the team as a pitching coach after Garate replaced him in the rotation. An A+ grade is given here, but that is due to full-season projections and Contreras’ excellent quantity numbers (6 ⅔ IP/GS). More or less, this roster spot should get a lesser grade (B) for the four different players needed and the release of Contreras, even if it did save the club some money in salary.
The club went through pitchers Bobby Blevins and Chris Cody in just two months before Mike McClendon would stick. McClendon finished the season fourth in ERA+(130.60) and sixth in FIP (3.64). The number that really stands out for the righty is his league-leading 1.03 BB/9 which helped produce the league's second-best WHIP (1.33) behind only Mike Loree. It’s surprising that McClendon never got another shot with the club even with GM Yang Pei Hung returning in 2016; perhaps his 10.80 ERA over two starts in the Taiwan Series had something to do with it, though. Ultimately, a solid “A+” is given here, especially for the 191 innings pitched, the most out of any group in the study.
This roster was one win away from capturing the CPBL title (they led 3-1 in the series before losing three straight). It had all the right pieces and it should be considered a successful season despite falling short of their ultimate goal. With A+ ratings in all three import roster spots (projected keep in mind), a GM who made mostly positive moves after their initial investments didn't pan out, a scouting group that found the team’s ace pitcher for the next two years and all while making a very good amount of money in ticket sales, 2015 was a year the organization should be happy with.
2016 (A, A, D)
- First half: 35-23-2 (1st place)
- Second half: 30-27 (2nd place)
- first-half season winner.
- Lost in Taiwan series in six games. 60k in home attendance over three games (~US$2.4 million in ticket sales).
- Imports accounted for 63% of games started, 41% innings pitched and 49% of games won.
Things didn't start off great for the newly owned Chinatrust Brothers in 2016. First, the club couldn't sign 2016 standout Bryan Woodall to begin the year and had to settle with three pitchers with zero CPBL experience. Luckily the team's offense carried the load enough in the first-half season to earn another trip back to the Taiwan Series which would give the club some leeway in finding the right pitchers for a title run.
Robert Morey found success pitching out of the bullpen in a long-relief role after his first six starts (2-2, 4.70 ERA) landed him there. He would finish fifth on the team in total innings pitched. The move to the bullpen seems hasty in hindsight as he allowed just 30 hits and one home run over his first 30 ⅔ innings but perhaps the coaches didn't like his control (5.3 BB/9). The team did give Morey a chance to gain his starting role back in early August but the righty didn't nail it down after allowing 13 earned runs in seven-plus innings (two starts). His role as a middle-reliever just wasn’t sustainable with the import signing deadline approaching (August 31), despite his decent numbers and productive role. Hard-throwing Bruce Kern was the next man up.
Kern struggled with a blister problem over two starts and with it being so close to the deadline, the club quickly promoted lefty Nick Additon and sent Kern home. Note:Kern would be signed in the upcoming offseason as well as Additon, which would help alleviate the pressure of the scouting department heading into 2017.
This group gets a D-grade as they amassed just 112.1 innings pitched (the least amount in the study for non-closers), and started just 17 games, with league-average quality (104.24 ERA+). But finding Kern and Additon was definitely a positive. So we can bump it up to a C+ or B- thanks to the scouting of Kern and Additon.
Rudy Owens made ten starts going 4-3 with a 6.59 ERA. Owens was striking out nearly a batter an inning (8.2 K/9), but also allowed seven runs in a single start three times. Right-hander Nate Long was signed on April 21 so Owens made five starts knowing his job was on the line. Eventually, Owens was released and Long was promoted nearly a month after being signed.
Long did everything the team needed from him: started 23% of the teams final 80 games, went 5 ⅔ IP/GS and had good quality stats (128.77 ERA+ and a 4.24 FIP compared to the league average of 4.83). The righty also started and won Game 2 of the Taiwan Series (7 IP, 1 ER, 7 H), but took the loss in Game 5 (5 IP, 5 ER, 7 H). Long’s midseason addition was a positive one for the club and it is very surprising that neither the Brothers nor any other team have called upon the now 32-year-old pitcher.
Donovan Hand was the victim of a short leash as the right-hander made just four starts before being replaced by CPBL veteran Andy Sisco. Sisco was unable to replicate his numbers from 2013-15 when he was a member of the EDA Rhinos and was released on June 28 in favor of Bryan Woodall.
Woodall had been busy in America, pitching for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League and compiling a 3-0 record with an unheard of 0.47 ERA before finally getting another shot with the Brothers. Woodall would be the team's best pitcher down the stretch (151.47 ERA+ and 6⅓ IP/GS). Perhaps the Brothers could have used Woodall’s services to begin the year, but better late than never as this situation worked itself out. The right-hander ended up turning a below-average group into another A-grade score.
Unfortunately for the Brothers, they would fall in the Taiwan Series for a second-straight year, losing four-straight games after leading the series 2-0. Despite the negative outcome of the finals, three of the team’s pitchers would return in 2017 (Woodall, Additon and Kern), one of whom would lead the team in every pitching category and another who would get sold to the KBO for a good chunk of change; all great things for the organization. If a couple bounces had went the Brothers’ way in the 2015 and 2016 Taiwan Series, this franchise would be on the CPBL pedestal heading into 2017 as back-to-back champs, but things didn't work out that way and big changes were coming.
2017 (A+, C, D)
- First half: 30-27-3 (2nd place)
- Second half: 23-37 (4th place)
- Won Playoff Series in four games. 13.8k in attendance over two games (~US$300k in ticket sales)
- Lost Taiwan Series in three games. 9.4k in attendance over one game (~US$370k in ticket sales)
- Imports accounted for 60% of games started, 42% of innings pitched and 47% of games won.
The Chinatrust Ownership didn't enjoy losing back-to-back championships so things changed drastically in 2017. The Brothers changed GMs and also revamped their coaching staff, bringing in Cory Snyder to help lead the new direction of the organization.
Before leaving his position, outgoing GM Yang was able to bring back Bryan Woodall to begin the year, and wouldn't you know it, he was the only player to last the full year over the past three seasons. The CPBL veteran was the most valuable player on the Brothers in 2017 thanks to his impressive contributions: first in innings pitched (173.2), tied league lead in games started (26), third in FIP, fourth in ERA+, second in K/BB (4.22), second in GO/FO (2.23), and third in pitches per inning. But perhaps his most valuable trait was his ability to keep the Brothers’ inconsistent bullpen in the bullpen thanks to his average start of more than 6 ⅔ per turn. A+
Bruce Kern was the hardest-throwing pitcher on the roster in 2017, reaching 95-96 mph with his fastball. He got roughed up in his first CPBL outing but settled in after that carrying a low-4.00 ERA from May to July. An injury slowed down the ground-ball-inducing machine (2.98 GO/FO nearly three times better than the league average) and in the CPBL you aren't allotted much time to get better.
The Brothers signed Rick Teasley just after Kern missed a couple starts and it was really between Kern and fellow teammate Orlando Roman on who would be released. Pitching for your job every start is something most people in their professions probably can't comprehend but it is a tough fact in Taiwan. Ultimately, Kern had a rough start that sealed his fate with Teasley waiting on the second team. Teasley would get promoted and finish the year off 0-3 with a 6.13 ERA over seven starts. This group combined to get average marks in quantity with below league-average in ERA+ and slightly above average FIP.
Returning pitcher Nick Additon made one start for the Brothers before the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization came knocking in need of a left-hander. Additon was sold for a rumored US$80k which would would cover a substantial amount of one import player’s contract for eight months of service (US$15k a month over six months is US$90k)
Now because of the timing of the sale, the Brothers didn’t have a backup plan and it wasn't until April 11, a full two weeks after Additon’s last start, that a replacement would take the mound. That is poor planning from management as the two weeks amounts to roughly 17% of the first-half season.
CPBL veteran and former Brother Elephant (2010-11) Orlando Roman was signed to replace Additon and would last the remainder of the year. Not an easy task as a possible release was looming with Teasley on the second team. The 39-year old finished 4-8 with a 4.47 ERA. He finished second on the team in innings pitched while averaging more than six innings per start. Roman added good value in quantity with above-average grades in quality. A C-grade is given but should be more of a B-grade with the sale of Additon.
In what was a year of major transition with a new GM, new coaches and the eventual release of some very high-profile local players, the Brothers managed to get to the Taiwan Series for a third-straight year. So in saying that, it can be easily looked at as a successful year, however the team did finish well under .500.
Final Remarks
Three straight trips to the Taiwan Series is something to be proud of, especially for the fans. The team took in a lot of extra money (~US$4.5 million alone in ticket sales) because of it, but they have no title to show. For most ownerships this would suffice, however the Chinatrust ownership is heading in a different direction for the future, even though their past yielded positive results.
This team proved that making more moves midseason isn't necessarily a bad thing but they did struggle to bring back key pieces from the previous year like Woodall (2016 and 2018), Long, McClendon and Garate. The team gets an A-average on the output of their imports over the last three seasons and 2018 should be an interesting year as things keep changing for this organization.
Criteria Explained
Games started or relieved (quantity)
- 23-25 starts = 0 pts
- Over 25 starts, each start worth 0.66 pts
- Between 13-24 starts = -0.33 pts
- Below 13 starts = 0 pts
- 1 relief appearance = 0.132 pts
Imports should be pitching at least once every five games as the schedule and weather will allow a team’s best starting pitcher(s) to do so, or even more frequently. Therefore, the 23-25 starts (~20% of 120 game schedule) is a baseline for teams to reach. Anything under 13 starts indicates relief pitching and is set to zero to help offset the lack of innings pitched for relievers.
Innings pitched (quantity)
- 130-140 IP = 0 pts
- Over 140 IP = 0.111 pts
- Under 130 IP = -0.055 pts
The 130-140 IP correlates with the 23-25 games started baseline. Wanting your starter to go a minimum of 5.2 innings per start gets us to 130-140 IP. Anything above that is rewarded, and below that is deducted.
Wins and saves
- 1 win = 0.2 pts
- 1 save = 0.1 pts
Yes, wins and saves are subjective but should be valued since winning is the ultimate goal of the franchise. This criteria is weighted a little lighter than the others as a pitcher would need to reach 25 wins or 50 saves to reach the maximum value of 5.
- 10.00 points above 100 = 1 pt
- 10.00 points Under 100 = -1 pt
This one is fairly simple: one point for having an ERA+ 10% better than the league average and minus a point for having an ERA+ below the league average.
- 10% better than league average = 1 pt
- 10% below league average = -1 pt
FIP is a greater indicator of individual performance that measures only the things that the pitcher can control: HR allowed, HBP, BB and K.
Comments
Post a Comment