Add new comment

Chad Cordero has pitched only 13 or so innings since 2007 and was ALWAYS just trickin' em up there anyways (FB velocity when HEALTHY = 89 mph, yuck).
Chris Ray on the other hand was a legitimate MLB pitcher as recently as '09, granted his ERA was terrible, but he was still striking guys out, but had a terrible BABIP and lost some control (probably because he was sinking down the drain and started over throwing).  However he throws a legit 94 MPH and it isn't like we are asking him to come in and be our closer.  Someone is going to have to come in and pitch when Pauley or French or whatever meatball we stick in the 5 spot can't get out of the 5th inning, might as well be a guy with a 94 mph FB, and a chance to strike someone out :)
Seriously the pool of young, fairly healthy, FREE and willing to sign a minor league deal mlb relief options really is not as deep as you portray, plus we want to save the real talent (Lueke, Cortes, etc.) for the important innings (7, 8, 9 with the lead).  It is always good to have a bunch of mud to throw at those mop up innings to see what sticks!  This move really has ZERO downside.  
Who knows the year before he became dominant all Putz had was a 95 mph FB, bad control and gopheritis ;)  They should hire easy eddy to come in and teach all NRI relief pitchers we acquire his super splitter :)