Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Tracking an Ex-Jay ... Lopez to Start?

Former Blue Jay closer Aquilino Lopez (14 saves as a 2003 rookie) has been optioned to AAA Toledo to transition into a starting pitcher for the struggling Tigers

Lopez has no starts in his 134 career big league appearances and has averaged barely 1.1 IP for those appearances. His most-similar player, historically, is another former Blue Jay closer, Darren Hall, who had 17 saves as a '94 rookie, and who made zero starts in 130 career appearances -- averaging less than one inning per appearance.

Actually, Lopez and Hall are each other's most-similar players, and both left Toronto after two years to sign as free agents with the Dodgers -- but there the similarities fade. Aquilino failed to make the LAD squad and has bounced around from Colorado to Philly and Detroit (now Toledo, anyway), while Hall spent three years with LAD, going 3-7 with two saves, then disappeared from big league ball after 1998.

Interesting tidbit: did you know that Darren Hall actually played one game in the outfield for the 1993 Syracuse Chiefs? Anyone know that story?

Posted by Mick Doherty on Monday, June 16 2008 @ 12:48 PM EDT.

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SheldonL - Monday, June 16 2008 @ 10:41 PM EDT (#187296) #

We've always liked Lopez for his velocity and saw him as a closer for a bit a few years ago. But this year on a Tigers team that is starved for starting pitching, they've seen him pitch some pretty close to perfect innings in long relief (i.e 3 innings, no hits, no walks) and figure "What the hell! Let's see if this works out."

It worked out with Armando Gallaraga who was supposed to just have a one start audition (a la David Purcey earlier in the year) when Willis was scratched from a start. But look at him, he's pulling a Jesse Litsch and just can't get pulled from the rotation because he's pitching very quality innings.

Good luck, Aquilino!

John Northey - Tuesday, June 17 2008 @ 08:11 AM EDT (#187301) #

This is a bit odd as Lopez has been fairly effective for them out of the pen this year. His ERA+ is the best on the staff, his 7 walks are the fewest of anyone with more than 13 IP (he has thrown 33 2/3), a 7-24 BB-SO ratio is fairly nice too (1-3). Only one guy has thrown more innings in their pen, by 1 2/3 IP, and he has 20 walks vs 20 strikeouts. 2 HR given up in 33 2/3 isn't bad at all.

If I was the Tigers, hoping to still sneak into the playoffs somehow, I'd be using Lopez for longer and longer outings at the ML level then shifting him to the rotation. Perhaps by pairing him up with someone who would only have to go 5 IP then bring in Lopez for the final 4 (first 2 then 3 then 4) and then shift Lopez to the starter role. Not hard to do with this rotation (6 1/2 IP per start is as good as it gets here).

Ah well, who am I to question a team with 2 winning season records since 1994? OK, those were their past two seasons but I still don't fully believe in them.

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