Now that the Lamigo Monkeys have signed all three of their imports: LHP Darin Downs, RHP Bruce Kern and RHP Michael Nix, let's look back on the organization’s previous three years of hired talent. CPBL English presents: The Lamigo Monkeys 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. If you need further proof that performance is not solely based on the player, Look what players like Zack Segovia and Darin Downs have done in different organizations.
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 Lamigo Monkeys
2015 (A+, A+, A)
- first-half season winner.
- Won Taiwan Series in seven games. 76.5k in attendance over four games (~US$3 million in ticket sales).
The 2015 Monkeys used eight different foreign-born pitchers and proved that making multiple changes doesn't necessarily mean a loss in production or quality.
Even while rostering a closer to begin the year, Jonathan Arias, the hired guns managed an incredible 79 games started out of a possible 120 (66%) while logging 500 innings pitched (team total was 1062.2 IP).
The team got straight-As across the board and even managed to sell LHP Chris Seddon to the KBO for an estimated US$80k. I'm sure that made GM Liu Chieh-Ting’s boss very happy.
Add in an epic Game 7 no-hitter from Pat Misch to help capture the Taiwan Series (and roughly US$ 3 million in ticket sales alone), everyone involved deserves serious credit for what was a successful year on the field and in the the front office.
2016 (A, C, C)
- Finished in last, 11 games under .500 and 25-34-1 at home.
The 2016 Monkeys struggled for consistency on the mound and were very active throughout the season trying to find the right pieces which isn't always ideal.
Orlando Roman managed a great season despite the coaching staff’s insecurities with some early struggles. Roman started four games before a move to the bullpen was made. The veteran managed to turn his season around after eight appearances of relief. It's definitely not an easy thing to do when your team is actively looking to replace you or seem to lack confidence in you. But give the management credit for allowing a longer leash to the vet as he was strong down the stretch and ate up a lot of innings.
The tandem of Ryan Searle and Mitch Talbot put up respectable numbers but moving Searle out of the rotation early in the year didn't help out the situation. Searle wasn't the same pitcher after this, and was replaced by Talbot who, statistically speaking, was a positive addition.
Greg Smith had the shortest leash and gave way to Efrain Nieves who managed 7 wins in 13 appearances (10 starts) before getting released for Zack Segovia ahead of the deadline. The group did amass nearly 150 innings, though, and finding Segovia, who would sign on for 2017, greatly helped the club heading into the off-season.
The Monkeys’ imports spent too much time in the bullpen for the team’s liking in 2016. In total, 21 relief appearances were made but the seven imports actually accounted for 42% of the team’s total innings pitched and 53% of all the Monkeys’ wins. So what looks like a subpar season on paper, in actuality, the group got the job done in terms of quantity.
2017 (A+, A, A)
- first- and second-half season winners. Only team in CPBL history to do so since 120-game schedule.
- Most wins in a single season (78) and finished 20.5 games ahead of next best team.
- Won Taiwan Series in three games. 36.6k in attendance over two games (~US$1.46 million)
Basically what the Monkeys did in 2017 was next to perfect. They didn't have to worry about their imports at all as all three were consistently quality. In fact, Segovia, Spruill, Downs and closer Chen Yu-Hsun combined to pitch more than 50% of the teams total innings for the entire season.
It really is a great example of good scouting (hiring Downs after an 0-5 year with the Uni Lions in 2016), and managing as the three pitchers were rarely bothered or had their starts pushed back. Manager Hung Yi-Chung just let them do their thing, which was win. The 41 combined victories is the most of any group of imports over the last three years
Unfortunately for the owners, the team was so good in 2017, that the Monkeys only hosted two home games in the championship series. However, being arguably the best single-season team in CPBL history will suffice.
Final Remarks
The ROI is strong with GM Liu and the Monkeys as they managed to capture two Taiwan Series that netted over US$4.5 million in ticket sales, sold one player worth roughly a year's salary for an import, and made CPBL history. All while averaging an “A” in quality and quantity. They really know what they're doing in Taoyuan.
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.
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