As you think, so shall you'll be Sean Gallagher

by Spectre26 on Feb 22, 2010 4:12 PM PST

Is Sean Gallagher's heart strong enough to control his head? With a lot of work off season in Venezuela and in Peoria to get healthy, his actions are speaking loudly for itself. Gallagher's head seems to be in the game too. AP quotes him:

"My career has got to come first," Gallagher said. "This year is a big year for me."

The question on my mind is getting healthy the number one issue for Sean Gallagher to achieve his potential or does he need more time to make the transition to Big League play? With an ERA of 10.29 with runners in scoring position and 18.00 with RISP and 2 outs, one may have grounds to argue he's a choke artist. But......But, in each situation he rings up 10 Ks in 11IP (combining RSIP and RISP/2) and offers the opposition a .269 and .200 BAA respectively.

So what?

"He had a very good delivery, four quality pitches that he had command of, and a really good feel for off speed stuff," Balsley said. "That’s a talent in itself. He has a terrific arm

I'll tell you what. This situational stat tells me Sean needs more command of those four quality pitches or he needs more help from the field. Sean has a tendency to pitch flyballs and good thing for him PETCO will accomodate said flyballs handsomely. Maybe simply pitching at PETCO will be enough to boost Sean's ERA.

However, Sean is competing with Latos, LeBlanc and Stauffer for a spot in the rotation and quite frankly, Sean's endurance is a nagging factor in the equation. Latos is the probable pick anyway being younger, healthy and with similar numbers to Gallagher. Gallagher is definitely a solid reliever given his sheer talent to keep opposing BAA down and his proclivity for strikeouts.

Now for the bottom line: Pitching with 2 strikes or RISP has proven trouble for him. Consistent results as a MRP will earn him a spot on the rotation. This is a clutch year for him that demands he remains healthy, develops more control, can hang tough while in trouble and deliver that golden pitch with 2 strikes for a K or flyout. Sean Gallagher ought to take heed of the great Satchel Paige:

Anybody can be a relief pitcher, a closer so long as he [has] "a thick skin, a short memory, and at least one great pitch"

He's got 4, here's hoping he's tough as nails and suffers from CRS syndrome.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

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Comments

11 IP

11 IP is what you are basing the judgment on for ERA for RISP?

"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

by Ron Mexico on Feb 23, 2010 10:31 PM PST reply actions

ouch

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Feb 23, 2010 11:44 PM PST up reply actions

I predict ..

or i should say .. I predict on a team looking to compete …

Gallagher is in the pen as the long reliever.
Latos gets the fifth spot.
Leblanc clears waivers and is in AAA. ( i can’t believe anybody else wants his services)

What will probably happen though is Latos will get sent to AAA to push his arbitration clock back a bit, rest assured they already have it calculated down to the day, and he will get called up within a week of clearing it.

Gallagher and LeBlanc will share the 5th starters/ long reliever spot, depending upon success or injury.

just my .02

552

by wrveres on Feb 25, 2010 3:07 AM PST reply actions

I do not believe that Leblanc is out of options

Last I heard he still had one left, so there is no need to have him clear waivers (or put him on waivers for that matter).

Stauffer is out of options though. He would have to be waived to return to AAA.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Feb 25, 2010 12:19 PM PST up reply actions