Jays, Janssen Settle

by hugo on Jan 17, 2011 7:19 PM EST

Casey Janssen and the Blue Jays have apparently reached a deal for 2011. The deal, which settles Janssen's arbitration case, is for $1,095,000 for 2011.

Janssen wasn't one of Cito Gaston's favourites in 2010 for high leverage innings, but he actually had a very solid season. Casey posted excellent strikeout (8.26 K/9) and walk (2.75 BB/9) rates and also pitched to his usual excellent ground ball rates (46.6%, 1.59 GB/FB). He was somewhat unlucky on balls in play (.336 BABIP against) but still managed a solid 3.67 ERA (3.63 xFIP, 3.85 FIP).

Although Janssen's stuff is more characterized by 5 solid pitches rather than the 2 plus pitches that typically characterize a late inning bullpen arm, he's been an asset in the Blue Jays bullpen and is probably as good or better than new acquisitions and fellow righties Carlos Villanueva, Octavio Dotel, and Jon Rauch.

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I'd rather have Casey pitching in the 9th than those three.

by Tom Dakers on Jan 17, 2011 7:24 PM EST reply actions

Casey

Believe you exhibited exactly the same positive attitude about the last closer we brought in and look how that turned out.
A closer without a plus pitch is not a closer – Jansen is a fine middle reliever (as is Frasor).
How can you plead confidence in a crew that finished 10th in saves/wins last year?
This year we’ll need ’em all – Drabek and the 5th starter (who ever that turns out to be) – are likely going to last maybe 6 or 7 innings max per start.

by Paul Chicago on Jan 17, 2011 10:11 PM EST up reply actions

Late innings

Casey may be as effective a pitcher as these guys but from what Ive seen from him so far he doesnt have the demeanor to be a closer. Hes more of a 7th inning/long relief guy. It takes a certain attitude and fear factor to close in the big leagues which Rauch has with his mound presence and Dotel had with his high 90’s fastball although it has dropped in velocity of late and Villanueva is a question mark for me as I have only seen limited video of him. I would probably have the bullpen as follows:
CL: Rauch
8th: Dotel /Purcey
7th: Camp/Frasor/Villanueva
Middle innings/ long relief: Janssen
Would like to see another lefty in there but these are the best 7 guys and thats what you have to with

by jayssensraps on Jan 17, 2011 11:45 PM EST up reply actions

casey needs a "fear factor"

about as much as scott downs needed a snake tattoo

"Look at me! I'm Tomokazu Ohka of the Montreal Expos!"

by jessef on Jan 18, 2011 12:01 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Yep...let's get them all tattoos....

by Tom Dakers on Jan 18, 2011 12:48 AM EST up reply actions

Fear factor ...?

… when he comes into the ninth with a two or three run lead and nobody on base? Really? What about a middle reliever coming into the seventh with the bases loaded in a tie game? Which situation requires a more intimidating presence?

by Defense Counts! on Jan 18, 2011 7:08 AM EST up reply actions

You think Rivera had “the fear factor” for his entire career?

Or do you think he earned the fear factor by being a good pitcher with a lights out HOF cutter?

Good pitchers are good pitchers. Thats it.

I think you'll find I'm universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult.
Twitter is the thing with all the tweets...

by JohnnyG on Jan 18, 2011 8:46 AM EST up reply actions

+1

it doesn’t take “a certain attitude and fear factor” to close…it takes being good (although with a 3 run lead in the ninth inning you don’t even have to be good to hold that 90%+ of the time)

that said, 2010 is the only year that janssen’s peripherals have indicated he’s anything more than a 6th/7th inning guy. but if he can keep it up, he’s probably our second best reliever (after frasor).

by Jono411 on Jan 18, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Wait I thought lucky on balls in play would be lower than average?

Like if he was lucky balls would be hit straight at defenders and his BABIP against would be .280

by T_Mizz on Jan 17, 2011 7:31 PM EST reply actions

d'oh I meant unlucky!

thanks, fixed

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 17, 2011 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

I do like this though

Seems cheap for him, just over $1 Mil? That’s a bargain in my eyes.
I always found that weird how many pitches he can throw, I could swear gameday sometimes had him throwing 6. Just amazing!

by T_Mizz on Jan 17, 2011 7:40 PM EST reply actions

Cheap contract for a decent pitcher. Don’t consider him closer material though. More like a long relief guy or situational righty.

by bleh on Jan 17, 2011 7:42 PM EST reply actions

Yay

one of my favorite jays RP

To Infinity. And BEYOND!!!

by YunelTheLazyLatino on Jan 17, 2011 8:01 PM EST reply actions

Even though his 2010 numbers were good, they weren’t very much in line with previous performances, and it’s still a relatively small sample. I wouldn’t state that he is likely better than guys like Rauch, Dotel and Villanueva just yet. He does have a decent chance of being our best reliever though, I have to admit.

by Woodman663 on Jan 17, 2011 8:46 PM EST reply actions

Actually 2010 was right in line with 2007

If you look at Janssen’s number from 2007 and remember he was a great set-up man for Accardo – almost always lights out against the big teams in the East that year if I remember right. He got better in 2010 the more work he got – which he was used very sparingly early in the year. I expect a better year out of Janssen this year

by Mess76 on Jan 17, 2011 8:52 PM EST up reply actions

Back then he relied on a low BABIP, a high strand rate and a low HR/FB rate. In short, lots of regression was to be expected. He had a 4.83 K/9 back then, which is really unimpressive.

In 2010 however he had a nice 8.26 K/9, something he hadn’t come near to in previous seasons.

by Woodman663 on Jan 17, 2011 11:24 PM EST up reply actions

Anyone remember the time Casey tripped mid
Pitch and practically threw the ball into the dugout.

by KWJAYS on Jan 17, 2011 9:32 PM EST via mobile reply actions

+1

Jose Bautista has a higher midi-chlorian count than you do.

by Jays11 on Jan 18, 2011 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

Looks like Litsch has avoided it too

Toronto Maple Leafs: Colby Armstrong bringeth the TRUCULENCE!

by LeafFan1989 on Jan 17, 2011 9:48 PM EST reply actions

Casey has been one of my favs since he was called up. I don’t think he’s a good closer option, but I think he has the ability to be a top-notch setup man. Great signing :)

by Sivvi on Jan 18, 2011 1:01 AM EST reply actions