John Shea:
You know, I was always suspicious of Mota after going over his numbers from last year more closely …
ERA IP H ER HR BB SO ERA+ 1.20 82.1 37 11 2 20 137 337
Oh, sorry. That’s 2003 Eric Gagne. My bad. Here’s Mota …
ERA IP H ER HR BB SO ERA+ 3.81 80.1 71 34 10 30 77 93
It’s almost like taking a PED doesn’t automatically transform you into an über-being capable of throwing 106 miles per hour. It does, however, turn you into an über-being capable of posting a 93 ERA+. On the Giants, Mota assumed the role of “guy that can throw a bunch of innings while not (hopefully) totally sucking.” He’s the vanilla pudding of the bullpen — kind of tasty, but not really all that essential to try.
Mota’s suspension could mean the Giants might try and see if Travis Blackley was on to something this year in AAA Fresno (probably not), or it could also mean we’ll see an accelerated time table for closer-in-the wings, Heath Hembree. Or it could mean that Dan Otero might get called back into action. Who knows, I don’t.
All I do know is that right now the Giants lost a key clubhouse player of dominoes today. Never forget showing up late to your job and being really good at dominoes.
