The Detroit Tigers traded a high-quality starting pitcher for a mediocre package of players and prospects from the Washington Nationals.
Tre Boston Panthers Jersey . Numbers Game looks at the Nationals acquisition of Doug Fister. The Nationals Get: RHP Doug Fister. Fister, 29, has been a highly-effective, if underrated, pitcher for the last three seasons. While his record in that span is merely 35-32, Fister has a 3.30 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Early in his career, Fister wasnt much of a strikeout pitcher, relying on his sinker to generate groundball outs, striking out 5.0 per nine innings over his first two seasons. However, Fister got much better as a strikeout pitcher upon arriving in Detroit, throwing significantly more breaking balls. For example, in his second major league season, with Seattle, Fister threw either a slider or curve on 18.7% of his pitches. Over the last three years, that has increased from 32.6% to 33.6% to 34.6% last season. So, even with lacklustre velocity, including a fastball that averages 88.6 MPH, Fister has seen his strikeout numbers climb. In 70 games with the Tigers, Fister has whiffed 7.2 batters per nine innings, which isnt dominant, but is dramatically better than his first couple of seasons with the Mariners. All told, Fister has a fWAR of 13.3 over the last three seasons, which ranks ninth among starting pitchers in that span. Seriously, ninth! What were indicating here is that, while he may not have the name recognition, Doug Fister is a very good starting pitcher. Fister hasnt faced a lot of National League competition, making five career Inter-League starts, but has a 2.23 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings, an indication (in a very small sample) that the move to the NL shouldnt pose a problem. Fister, who made $4-million in 2013, is arbitration-eligible for the next couple seasons, but is ultimately very affordable for a starting pitcher is of his calibre. Joining a Washington Nationals rotation that already includes Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Gio Gonzalez makes it easy for Fister to come in and perform, without any pressure to be the staff ace. Theres a whole lot to like about this deal for the Nationals. Its the kind of trade that could put them over the top as contenders next season. The Tigers Get: INF Steve Lombardozzi, LHP Robbie Ray and LHP Ian Krol. Lombardozzi is a 25-year-old utility player who has played at least 20 games at second base, third base and left field in the course of his two-plus major league seasons. He doesnt hit for power (.342 career slugging percentage) and doesnt get on base (.297 career on-base percentage) so, without notable offensive improvement, hes no more than a fill-in at the major league level. Ray, a 22-year-old southpaw, was a 12th-round pick of the Nationals in 2010. Splitting the 2013 season between High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, Ray was 11-5 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, striking out 160 in 142 innings. He could develop into a major league starting pitcher, but hes not there yet and that means there is risk in his projection. Krol, 22, is a lefthanded reliever who pitched 32 games for the Nationals last season, posting a 3.95 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 27 1/3 innings, striking out 22 and walking eight. Those are respectable enough numbers and, given his age, its fair to expect improvement, but lefthanded relievers have a limited impact on the game as a whole. Krols presence should allow Drew Smyly to move into the Tigers rotation, taking Fisters place. Smyly was excellent in relief last season, posting a 2.39 ERA and 1.03 WHIP, with 81 strikeouts in 76 innings. Even if Smyly is a wonderful addition to the Tigers starting rotation, that wont justify the relative pittance that Detroit received in return for Fister. Scott Cullen can be reached at
[email protected] and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook.
Brenton Bersin Panthers Jersey . Chris Higgins is out for the Canucks so newly-recalled Benn Ferriero will be in the lineup. The Canucks enter Sundays showdown on a three-game slide and Vancouvers last two setbacks have come in regulation, including Saturdays 3-1 loss in Los Angeles.
Paul Soliai Panthers Jersey . -- A second straight complete game was not needed from C.DUMFRIES -- Canada downed Sweden 7-2 in six ends to win the mens title Wednesday at the World Senior Curling Championships. Skip Wayne Tallon and his team of fourth Mike Kennedy, second Mike Flannery and lead Wade Blanchard opened with two points in the first end, and scored another two points in the third for a 4-1 lead. A pair of steals, for one in the fourth end and two in the fifth, gave Canada a daunting 7-1 lead. The Swedes could only score one point in the sixth end, and they conceded the game and the title. "Im just lost for words. Really ecstatic about it," Tallon said. "Im really happy at how the boys played, they played really hard, so it feels good. "It makes it even that much more special having been involved in this championship last year (as chair at the 2013 tournament in Fredericton). Last year my responsibility was to ensure everybody had a good time. This year it was to make sure that everyone played well." The Canadian women couldnt make it a sweep, falling 6-5 to Scotland in the womens finall.
Charles Johnson Panthers Jersey. Canada had a 5-4 lead, and last stone advantage, going into the eighth and final end. But Scotland stole two to win when Canadian skip Colleen Pinkney wrecked her last stone on a takeout attempt. "We are very disappointed right now but will be happy in a couple of hours," Pinkney said. "Basically the key was that Scotland had two great last ends and we missed a couple of shots that we couldnt afford." Dumfries also played host to the World Mixed Doubles championship, with Switzerlands Michelle Gribi and Reto Gribi - coached by Canadas Al Moore - claiming gold with an 8-6 win over Swedens Camilla Johansson and Per Noreen, while Spain won its first world-championship medal at any level with Irantzu Garcia and Sergio Vez beating reigning world champs Dorottya Palancsa and Zsolt Kiss of Hungary in the bronze-medal game. Canadas entry of Wayne Tuck and Kim Tuck of Strathroy, Ont., went 7-1 in round-robin play but lost to Austria in the first round of the playoffs to finish ninth overall.
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