Roster Moves (7/19): The Return of Armando Galarraga

Looking for an example of epic failure? Well, you don’t need to look any further than my decision to restart of Roster Moves last Monday knowing full well that I would be crunched for time during the week. Not only did I have to travel with the family to Omaha for a wedding last Thursday, I also had to cram several days of work for my “day job” into last Tuesday and Wednesday before we left town. Oh and I haven’t even mentioned that I was working on our 6-part “Deal or no Deal” collaborative post along the way. I failed to look ahead and accurately assess the time constraints I would be dealing with. That failure definitely falls under that classification of epic.

Never-the-less it’s time to keep on keepin’ on and for me that means it’s time to start catching up!

(moves after the jump)

There was a bit of mini-outrage when the Detroit Tigers sent RHP Armando Galarraga (28) down to Triple-A Toledo on July 7th.  It was outrage that just didn’t resonate with me.  Based on his performance this season, after he threw his 1-hitter that has already been cemented in the annals of baseball history as a landmark and memorable game, the demotion was certainly not out of the blue or unmerited.

At the conclusion of his masterpiece on June 2nd, his ERA on the year stood at 2.57 after 3 starts and 1 relief appearance.  Between June 2nd and July 7th when he was sent down, he made 6 starts and logged 33.2 innings.  During those starts he allowed 42 hits, 21 earned runs, 13 walks and 4 home runs while striking out just 11.  That’s good for a 5.61 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 0.84 SO/BB which comes on the heels of a 2009 season that saw Armando post a 5.64 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 1.42 SO/BB in 25 starts and 4 relief appearances.

Sure, there are a number of pitchers who keep their spots in their respective rotations, but those back of the rotation guys are always a start, or a few starts, away from being replaced or sent down. Such was the fate of Armando Galarraga who is exactly that, a back of the rotation guy.  He’s essentially a three pitch guy with a fastball, slider and changeup.  Of his 3 pitches only his fastball rates slightly (2.0 runs) above average this season.  Interestingly enough it is the first year his fastball has had a positive mark after being a well below average pitch between 2007 and 2009.  He’s a guy who is nice to have around and can keep you in the game most nights, but he’s nothing to write home about and certainly not someone to cause an outbreak of outrage when he gets sent down.

Well the wrong that some felt the Tigers committed on July 7th was corrected on July 19th when he got the call to return to the Tigers major league rotation.  To make room for their noteworthy right hander, the team optioned LHP Andy Oliver (22) back to Triple-A.  Now all is right in the world.

The “Other” Moves:

• Baltimore Orioles: Optioned RHP Frank Mata (26) to Norfolk, activated OF/1B Luke Scott (32) from the 15-day DL
• Cleveland Indians: Optioned RHP Jeanmar Gomez (22) to Columbus, called up RHP Jess Todd (24)
• Los Angeles Dodgers: Optioned RHP Jon Link (26), called up RHP James McDonald (25)
• New York Mets: Optioned 2B Ruben Tejada (20) to Buffalo, activated 2B Luis Castillo (34) from the 15-day DL
• Oakland Athletics: Placed OF Ryan Sweeney (25) on the 15 day DL retroactive to July 12th, called up RHP Henry Rodriguez (23)
• San Francisco Giants: Optioned RHP Joe Martinez (27) to Fresno, called up OF Eugenio Velez (28)
• St Louis Cardinals: Optioned LHP Evan MacLane (27) to Memphis, called up RHP Fernando Salas (25)
• Washington Nationals: Optioned OF Justin Maxwell (26) to Syracuse, called up RHP Luis Atilano (25)

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