Breaking out from the Rumors thread (hat tip to jimbobim):
Rosenthal adds:
Well, there's a much larger sample to look at from last year: His entire season.
The Good: Averaged just over 5 innings in 20 starts with a 3.52 FIP per Baseball Prospectus (3.66 per Fangraphs). Adding his 4.2 relief innings, his overall K/BB against non-pitchers was 70/24 (2.92). His 1.39 GB/FB ratio was well above his career average (1.05), and the highest since his rookie year in 2001 (1.55). In 118 PA, lefties hit just .248/.274/.292/.566 against him with only 5 XBH (all doubles) and a 20/4 K/BB. For whatever reason, had much better results away from Dodger Stadium (.254/.290/.370/.660 over 196 PA on a .293 BABIP); Three of those 11 starts came at Petco (29 PA, 6 H, 9 K, 1 BB). His 78 mph changeup, which he threw 30% of the time, continued to be his most effective pitch (2.3 RAA last year; 17.1 for his career).
The Bad: Three DL stints for a strained calf in April-May (19 G), a strained left lat in May-June (17 G) and a groin pull in September (20 G). In all, he was shelved for 59 days and 56 Dodger games.
The Ugly: RHH tattooed him to the tune of .312/.350/.508/.858 over 339 PA, including 11 HR. Had 7 starts where he gave up 5 ER, and only pitched beyond the 5th inning in one of them. His August line in 6 starts was .343/.373/.493/.866 -- and that was after tossing 6.1 shutout innings in his first start that month. His 89-mph sinker (47% of pitches), 79-mph slider (13%) and 75-mph curve (5%) were all sub-par offerings on the year (-4.7, -0.5, -4.1 respectively).
As a two-time Tommy John patient, long relief and occasional LOOGY duty would seem to suit him well at this stage, especially pitching in the AL East. But I'd be really cautious about giving him any starts of importance. His first two times through the batting order last year were palatable (1st: .287/.331/.354/.685 in 178 PA, 2nd: .289/.319/.434/.753 in 165 PA). Again, those are primarily NL lineups with no DH. But his third time through was a horror show (.333/.355/.700/1.055 in 92 PA). That's also where he allowed 8 of his HR. I suppose if the plan was to keep the shortest and strictest of hooks, it could work. But if Farrell has a fatigued bullpen and needs 6 or 7 strong, I fear this isn't the guy to be leaning on. I'm also thinking that GB/FB is likely an outlier, bad news for a lefty pitching at Fenway.
Hard to tell where he'd be on the depth chart for LOOGY work with Miller, Breslow and Britton already in-house. However it's worth keeping in mind Miller's $1.9M deal is non-guaranteed, while Breslow's salary jumps to $3.9 M this season (from $2.35M last year). I'm not saying they'll cut bait with either or both if Capuano were to impress, but there'd be some redundancy. For the record, Capuano made $6M last year, but that was a deal signed in early December 2012 when the Dodgers were throwing cash at anything that breathed. With spring training already underway, he's probably looking at a heavily incentive-laden split deal with a 6-figure base and a $2M-$3M ceiling.
If they sign him and he makes the club, as a WEST Springfield native he'd be the first Sox player hailing from the 413 since Rico Brogna of Turners Falls in 2000.
jimbobim said:https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal Sox talking to Capuano as swingman 6th starter type.
Sounds like the cheaper better left handed version of Dempster for nowhere near 13 million.
Rosenthal adds:
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Small sample, but Capuano did well as RP for #Dodgers, including three scoreless innings in Game 3 of DS.
Well, there's a much larger sample to look at from last year: His entire season.
The Good: Averaged just over 5 innings in 20 starts with a 3.52 FIP per Baseball Prospectus (3.66 per Fangraphs). Adding his 4.2 relief innings, his overall K/BB against non-pitchers was 70/24 (2.92). His 1.39 GB/FB ratio was well above his career average (1.05), and the highest since his rookie year in 2001 (1.55). In 118 PA, lefties hit just .248/.274/.292/.566 against him with only 5 XBH (all doubles) and a 20/4 K/BB. For whatever reason, had much better results away from Dodger Stadium (.254/.290/.370/.660 over 196 PA on a .293 BABIP); Three of those 11 starts came at Petco (29 PA, 6 H, 9 K, 1 BB). His 78 mph changeup, which he threw 30% of the time, continued to be his most effective pitch (2.3 RAA last year; 17.1 for his career).
The Bad: Three DL stints for a strained calf in April-May (19 G), a strained left lat in May-June (17 G) and a groin pull in September (20 G). In all, he was shelved for 59 days and 56 Dodger games.
The Ugly: RHH tattooed him to the tune of .312/.350/.508/.858 over 339 PA, including 11 HR. Had 7 starts where he gave up 5 ER, and only pitched beyond the 5th inning in one of them. His August line in 6 starts was .343/.373/.493/.866 -- and that was after tossing 6.1 shutout innings in his first start that month. His 89-mph sinker (47% of pitches), 79-mph slider (13%) and 75-mph curve (5%) were all sub-par offerings on the year (-4.7, -0.5, -4.1 respectively).
As a two-time Tommy John patient, long relief and occasional LOOGY duty would seem to suit him well at this stage, especially pitching in the AL East. But I'd be really cautious about giving him any starts of importance. His first two times through the batting order last year were palatable (1st: .287/.331/.354/.685 in 178 PA, 2nd: .289/.319/.434/.753 in 165 PA). Again, those are primarily NL lineups with no DH. But his third time through was a horror show (.333/.355/.700/1.055 in 92 PA). That's also where he allowed 8 of his HR. I suppose if the plan was to keep the shortest and strictest of hooks, it could work. But if Farrell has a fatigued bullpen and needs 6 or 7 strong, I fear this isn't the guy to be leaning on. I'm also thinking that GB/FB is likely an outlier, bad news for a lefty pitching at Fenway.
Hard to tell where he'd be on the depth chart for LOOGY work with Miller, Breslow and Britton already in-house. However it's worth keeping in mind Miller's $1.9M deal is non-guaranteed, while Breslow's salary jumps to $3.9 M this season (from $2.35M last year). I'm not saying they'll cut bait with either or both if Capuano were to impress, but there'd be some redundancy. For the record, Capuano made $6M last year, but that was a deal signed in early December 2012 when the Dodgers were throwing cash at anything that breathed. With spring training already underway, he's probably looking at a heavily incentive-laden split deal with a 6-figure base and a $2M-$3M ceiling.
If they sign him and he makes the club, as a WEST Springfield native he'd be the first Sox player hailing from the 413 since Rico Brogna of Turners Falls in 2000.