The Blue Jays have signed left-handed reliever Phil Coke to a minor league deal, tweets Chris Cotillo of SB Nation. The southpaw was released by the Cubs last week after allowing a 6.30 ERA in 10 innings (16 appearances). Coke featured solid peripherals including 8.10 K/9, 2.70 BB/9, and 63.6% GB%.
It’s easy to see that a .406 BABIP led to the poor ERA. While that figure hints at a spell of bad luck, Coke has often battled BABIP demons. He has a career .320 BABIP with much higher figures in recent seasons. He also has very large platoon splits which limits him to a purely situational role.
Despite obvious issues in the bullpen, Toronto relievers have actually pitched decently. Their 3.88 ERA ranks in the middle of the pack. The club has two left-handed relievers on the roster – closer Brett Cecil and Aaron Loup. Since the Cecil is reserved for the ninth inning, adding a situational lefty like Coke would make sense.
Random move but that’s AA for you.
I’m normally ok with depth moves but I don’t understand this move. We already have Cecil and Loup, but then you add in Rasmussen, Hynes, Francis, Doubrant and eventually Santana who are all in the minors and are all arguably better than Coke.
Both Cecil and Loup have struggled hard against lefties this year and in Loup’s case, just struggling period. Cecil being the closer means we don’t get to see him besides the occasional 8th inning botched setup. We really don’t have a good pen and anyone effective at all vs LHB’s.
I’m not saying this is a good move by any means. This is however the best reliever AA’s signed in over a year. So there’s that for you.
Cecil hasn’t really been bad, he has respectable numbers for whip and average, plus a 55% ground ball rate. Even Loups been pretty good, his numbers are just inflated because when he melts down, he really melts down
Loup’s pitched horribly when ahead this year and Cecil hasn’t pitched well against lefties in years. He’s had major reverse splits the last two seasons specifically.
I never said Cecil was bad. He’s just struggled against lefties which is a fact.
Not “arguably” better. Better!
Phil Coke is a Blue Jay? Huh.
Maybe AA felt they needed someone to replace Adam Lind’s beard in the lineup.
Season Saved
he will fit perfect with the jays, they know what choke is
Coke can hit 93-94mph easy… Who says a couple of tweaks and a fresh start can’t bring him back into consistency, especially against lefty hitters? Good signing, I hope he figures things out and we can see him pitch for the Jays!
Back to consistency? Was he ever really there in the first place?
Sure he was… he’s been consistently mediocre for years.
The Tigers would have settled for mediocre. He was just plain bad.
Yes, he was, I was trying to be nice. I have never gotten what anyone sees in him, all of pitches are straight and his results usually aren’t good.
He gets hit hard. It’s like they are T-balling off him. It’s not just an unlucky “high babip”, the dude gets rocked, plain and simple
Serving up straight as an arrow meatballs will make your BABIP pretty high.
Shhhhh…. Don’t tell Rob Ford that Coke is in town!
Didn’t you know? Coke improves the attitude in the clubhouse! 🙂
Aaron Loup’s FIP and WHIP have been climbing steadily since his debut in 2012, so he’s been losing his effectiveness. It may not be too long before we see Phil in a BJ uni if he shows he can get lefties out.
I was scared to death the Tigers would sign Coke. That was a close one.