2010 Player Profile: Russ Ortiz
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2010 7:00 AM PDT
in Community Projections
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PrintRuss Ortiz hasn't been the best R. Ortiz in camp, but he has pitched well this spring, vying for the fifth starter job on the Dodgers:
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | ERA |
| 15 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 2.40 |
Still, we are talking about 15 spring innings, versus a growing body of work that suggests Ortiz is simply not an effective pitcher, or at least has not been since 2004. When he was signed in January, I Iooked back at his last five years:
Russ Ortiz, who turns 36 in June, has not had an ERA under 5.51 since 2004. From the beginning of the 2005 season, there have been 373 different pitchers to throw at least 200 innings. Ortiz has the worst ERA (6.56), worst adjusted ERA (67), and worst OPS against (.916) of the bunch. Over that span, Ortiz has walked 5.0 batters per nine innings while striking out just 5.2 batters per nine. Only Steve Trachsel has a worse strikeout-to-walk ratio than than Ortiz during that time. Ortiz has been so bad that his 4.61 FIP and 4.64 x-FIP last season counts as a massive improvement, as they were his best marks in five seasons.
Ortiz has not had a good season since 2004 with the Braves. He signed a four-year, $33 million contract with Arizona that offseason, but spend the next three seasons battling injuries and ineffectiveness. He was released by the Diamondbacks in June 2006 after just a season and a half, with almost $22 million remaining on the contract. Ortiz also missed all of 2008 after Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers were the only team to offer Ortiz a contract this winter, per Vincent Bonsignore of the LA Daily News. It would be a nice comeback story if Ortiz was able to comeback and be an effective pitcher, but if Ortiz does in fact make the club, history suggests he will not pitch well.
Trivia
Ortiz was a member of the 1994 College World Series champion Oklahoma Sooners.
Contract Status
Ortiz signed a minor league deal that will pay him $650,000 if he makes the team, with up to $1.05 million in incentives based on starts, or $150,000 based on relief appearances.
2010 Outlook
| Year | Age | IP | BB/9 | K/9 | ERA | FIP |
| 2005 |
31 | 115.0 | 5.09 | 3.60 | 6.89 | 6.05 |
| 2006 |
32 | 63.0 | 5.71 | 6.29 | 8.14 | 7.51 |
| 2007 |
33 | 49.0 | 3.67 | 4.96 | 5.51 | 4.79 |
| 2008 |
34 | Out for season - Tommy John Surgery | ||||
| 2009 |
35 | 85.2 | 5.04 | 6.83 | 5.57 | 4.61 |
| 2010 Projections - Age 36 Season | ||||||
| Bill James | 43.0 | 4.60 | 5.65 | 5.23 | 5.03 | |
| CHONE | 95.0 | 4.74 | 6.35 | 4.83 | 4.79 | |
| Marcel | 88.0 | 4.30 | 6.65 | 5.01 | 4.62 | |
| Baseball HQ | 29.0 | 4.66 | 5.59 | 5.59 | 4.86 | |
| ZiPS | 101.0 | 4.37 | 5.88 | 5.26 | 4.89 | |
| Thanks to FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference.com | ||||||
With the news that the club will likely start the season with an 11-man pitching staff, and that fellow non-roster pitcher Jeff Weaver may have already made the team, I think Ortiz will get squeezed out by the roster crunch. I am predicting zero innings this year for Ortiz.
What is your guess for Russ Ortiz in 2010? Give us a prediction of ERA, WHIP, and innings.
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The Dodgers’ 30 Clubs in 30 Days will be on MLB Network today at 11am, which is especially useful for those of us who were out of town on March 19 and forgot to set the DVR.
Also, Chris Rose is joining MLB Network (he will still work with Fox as well) on Friday.
It’s actually pretty good, but it’ll frustrate many. Face time w/Bison, Ethier, KKKKKKKershaw, and Bills; plus some extended air by Torre (looking dapper in shades). And, of course, a brief interview w/Tommy.
You’ll be surprised to hear that a) they don’t think the Dodgers have enough starting pitching, and they have no ace; and b) they won’t win the division.
Hmmm…must have dusted off the script from last year. Sorry for spoiling the viewing.
by KellyStephen on Mar 30, 2010 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t want to derail this topic with Dodger Divorce discussion, so please go here:
http://www.truebluela.com/2010/3/29/1395619/let-them-eat-cake
and the comments there if you want to read and/or see/hear, or comment on, the “Dodgers as a cash cow” statement for one of the lawyers.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
The divorce or Russ Ortiz: which would we rather talk about?
It’s a fair question :)
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2010 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions
that's a pretty strong statement
as far as I know, he’s a really nice guy. If you want to be frustrated, be angry at Dodger management for signing him in the first place.
I do not know Russ ortiz the man
But I do know Russ Ortiz the ballplayer and I stand by that comment.
otherwise known as...
don’t hate the player, hate the game
Sounds like somebody is a goner
From Dylan H:
Stults scratched. “We have something going with him,” Colletti said, declining to specify.
Who in his place then?
I’d love to see Monsaterios get thrown in on a sudden spot start in order to see how he does.
Straight up for Pujols is what I heard.
by KellyStephen on Mar 30, 2010 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Wow
You mean we might actually get something for Stults? That’s good to hear.
by Michael White on Mar 30, 2010 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions
My guess is cash. Or more specifically, Yen.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2010 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
That's what I'm thinking too
I hear Stults is….
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Heh
That was actually my other guess. If the Dodgers do get something back (as in a baseball player from another MLB team) it would seem the game plan going into camp WRT Stutls was clear. Torre hates Stults and Stults was never going to win the 5th starter job. However, the Dodgers kept trotting him out there as a 5th starter candidate. If he does well (which he did) they try to get some value back in a trade. If he gets shelled, then you wait until the last moment and DFA him and try to outright him to the minors and keep him as depth.
by Michael White on Mar 30, 2010 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Better not be the Pads
I don’t want him coming back to haunt us a couple of times this year. Make it the AL. Or Japan.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Your afraid that Stults would haunt us?
There is a reason he’s not getting the gig.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Not scared but that is how it often works
even if someone isn’t all that good. Against former teams… But yeah PetCo would be a good place for him. Anyway, all moot now ;-) Hiroshima, here he comes.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
The Padres have zero use for Stults
They don’t have top line guys but they have a plethora of starting pitchers better then Stults.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
or, in general, a transaction involving him
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2010 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions
going, meaning “in progress”.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Mar 30, 2010 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions
If we keep Nick Green
and trade Hu I’ll be irritated unless Hu brings back something useful. Did you guys read the Oriole link I pasted a few days ago where they asked if Hu would be worthwhile as a starting SS for them and they basically decided the answer was yes.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
This tells me
that Ned is getting comfortable with his depth. Russ Ortiz has probably agreed to go to AAA with the agreement he’d be the first one called up if they need a starter.
I have to say given how Torre acted with Haeger last year I did not think he’d get much of a look this spring. If only they had showed him this much confidence back when Tony Abreu was still on the team.
Russ Ortiz
3 Games
13 Innings
5.99 ERA
9 Walks
6 K’s
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I was never really in the Abreau camp. He had more nagging injuries than Mike Marshall (the outfielder).
by KellyStephen on Mar 30, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions
This sounds ominous
but probably just means Japan…
Eric Stults said he was instructed by his agent not to talk about where he’s headed
per Dylan Hernandez
and the shoe drops
Stults has been sold to the Hiroshima Carp, according to clubhouse sources
again, per Dylan
I think it was just an elongated PTBNL to complete the trade for Kuroda :)
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2010 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Finally they free up money
so they can now continue the daily hair styles.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Mar 30, 2010 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Stults gave us some pretty good starts over the past 2 years. I never thought he totally got a fair shake.
He went 6 innings only 4 times in the last 2 years in 17 starts. He had his chance, and that is that.
It just sticks out because 2 of those 4 times were complete games, one last year against SF (on a regional/national game on Fox) and one the year before against CHW I believe.
by Michael White on Mar 30, 2010 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions
I wish I had four hands do I can give him four thumbs down.
by Skunkburner on Mar 30, 2010 1:29 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
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