Jamey Wright
Dave said I could write a free agent preview, so here goes!
Your attention please: this, and the other post, are jokes. The joke being that unlike Dave, who’s been writing quite serious and in-depth profiles, given the keyboard I would write bizarre, error-filled, badly-reasoned profiles of the wrong people.
One of the most coveted free agents this year is Jamey Wright. Briefly with the Mariners in spring training a couple of years ago, Jamey Wright is a high-upside young pitcher. For years limited in effectiveness by his team and injuries, Wright became a star this year under the tutelage of noted pitching coach Bob Apodaca in Colorado.
Jamey obviously knew exactly what he had to do to succeed: rely on the quality of his stuff and challange batters, and with the right coach he was able to do it. Wright went 15-8 this year, racking up 159 K against only 70 walks! And only 11 home runs all season! Ryan Franklin gave up 11 home runs in the time it took you to read this far in the post! Strangely, though, Jamey did not finish in the NL Cy Young voting at all.
Jamey’s overlooked kudos especially highlight the out-of-sight career he’s had. Along with robins, one of the first sights of spring is seeing the annual “Jamey Wright looks great in spring training” story, followed inevitably by another lost season.
This year’s almost miraculous comeback came at an especially fortiutous time for Jamey, as during his many short stints with different teams he had been at one point one of the worst pitchers in baseball, as measured by metrics like VORP, and ARP, and TOMA. Still under 30, his best years may lie ahead of him but one question remains: can Jamey Wright remain as good as he was this year, if he’s parted from the pitching coach that turned his career around? Or was this year a fluke, one that couldn’t be replicated even if he did stay with the Rockies?
And would that make him a bargain?
Jamey’s off-kilter eccentric nature may put off some teams more concerned with the right clubhouse fit, though, and those who are looking for a true #1 ace will likely look for a starter with a longer and more proven track record.
Is he cheap enough yet?
I don’t think he’s worth the risk. Even though he may live up to his potential and be a Cy Young candidate for years to come, the price he’ll command on the free agent market is so high that he would have to meet or beat this year’s performance every year in order to succeed.
Comments
24 Responses to “Jamey Wright”
Gold.
Um. You got Jaret and Jamey all mixed up and stuff.
Jamey went 2-3, with an ERA in the 4’s, and 40 something walks and 40 something K’s.
So, Good Job.
If your goal was to confuse the hell out of me, and make me send you 3 emails wehre I am debating myself, good job.
Great! Thanks.
David J. Corcoran,
He’s being sarcastic (or whatever word applies for the mixed confusion here)…
Good stuff DMZ.
As Gorilla Monsoon once said, I love it!
Can we get a John Mabry preview? Better yet, how about a Henry Blanco preview? Why not?
Pinky, are you pondering what I’m pondering?
Oooooooo. Or even better, write a Willie Bloomquist trade hype article!
Huh??
While were at it we might as well get Denny Stark, Brian Fuentes, and Allan Simpson back from Colorado as well 😉
David J, that is a good one. I sure would love a Willie one. lol
The irony here is too rich: “The U.S.S. Mariner was an undistinguished tug that was pressed into naval service during the first World War” – undistinguished and short-lived…just like DMZ. I’m not sure which is worse, the Mo Vaughn post or the Wright post, but both were great comedy. Here’s hoping you wind up in my fantasy league next year.
Jeez Derek, people can be so cruel.
Someone likes Alanis Morissette… who is it… it’s not me… it’s not Dave… it’s Michael! Yay!
Also, undistinguished and short-lived… I’m still alive, soooo I guess your insults have all the sophistication and cutting wit as your sense of irony.
Wow. People who don’t get the joke can get pretty dang cranky.
But that’s all the better for the non-cranky. We get to laugh even harder at their posts. The crankier the response the sweeter the irony.
/I enjoyed both of them. I wish I’d read this one first, because the Mo Vaughn one actually had me for a second.
Well done. They were a nice change of pace.
Woo-hoo!
Karate Explosion!
And yet he’s still wearing a Mariners cap on his ESPN.com player page
What about Ashlee Simpson? I hear she’s now available, too.
Jimmie
#7 I think so Brain, but this time you wear the tutu.
Oh….never mind.
What about signing Ron Wright at 1B? He holds a major league record.
I also hear Jose Paniagua is available. I can’t believe we didn’t swoop in and get Saloman Torres when he was available either!
According to this article:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/daily/article/strike-zone-dominance-in-context-dazzy-and-pedro/
Jamey Wright (1996-2004) holds the record for all-time worst Ks against the league average + BBs against the league average. Beating out such all-time greats as Hugh Mulcahy (1935-1947) and Jersey Bakely (1883-1891).
Jamey Wright is demonstrably the very worst pitcher of all time.