Free Agent Right-Handed Relief Pitchers #1-12

Now, after doing a lot of work to determine a qualifying standard for relief pitchers to get a scouting report, here are the free agent right-handed relief pitchers for 2004, numbers 1 – 12.

After looking at every reliever’s recent statistics, and using the averages—and going a little worse than them—the qualifying standard I came up with for a reliever to get a scouting report on “Serious Baseball” was an average of at least 40.0 IP in the last three seasons, while maintaining a 4.75 ERA or better.

After filtering out some relievers with this standard I was left with 34 total relievers, 24 right-handers and 10 left-handers.

Here, I present you with scouting reports on #1-12 of the right-handed relief pitchers, based on my ranking as to whom I believe is the best available.

The next segment—which should take less time to compute—will deal with right-handed relief pitchers #13-24.

1. Armando Benitez (32): Signed with San Francisco, 3 years ($22.5 million) 2004 Statistics- 1.29 ERA, 69.7 IP, 36 Hits, 6 HR, 21 BB, 62 K, 33.1 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 1.35 ERA, 4.3 H/9—0.7 HR/9—2.5 BB/9—6.9 K/9--////Career Statistics- 2.85 ERA, 654.0 IP, 428 Hits, 73 HR, 335 BB, 826 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.53 ERA, 5.1 H/9—0.8 HR/9—4.2 BB/9—10.1 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.47/1--////In each of the last three seasons Benitez’s translated K/9 (02’-9.2, 03’-8.1, 04’-6.9), and total K’s (02’-79, 03’-75, 04’-62) have gotten worse////Excluding 1994 and 1996 (only 10.0, and 16.0 IP respectively), 2004 represented a career-best ERA (1.29), translated ERA (1.35), BB (21), Hits allowed (36), and translated BB/9 (2.5) for Benitez, while also representing a career-worst translated K/9 (6.9)////Spent last four season in Florida (severe pitcher’s park), New York Mets (severe pitcher’s park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), and Seattle (severe pitcher’s park)—and he’s moving to San Francisco (severe pitcher’s park), this guy’s luckier than Kevin Federline and Ringo Starr combined.


2. Scott Williamson (29): Signed Minor League deal with Cubs 2004 Statistics- 1.21 ERA, 28.7 IP, 11 Hits, 0 HR, 18 BB, 28 K, 14.0 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 1.31 ERA, 3.7 H/9—0.0 HR/9—5.2 BB/9—8.7 K/9--////Career Statistics- 2.98 ERA, 371.3 IP, 258 Hits, 27 HR, 208 BB, 429 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.64 ERA, 5.8 H/9—0.5 HR/9—4.3 BB/9—9.7 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.06/1--////In each of the last three seasons Williamson’s translated BB/9 (02’-3.6, 03’-4.5, 04’-5.2), and total K’s (02’-84, 03’-74, 04’-28) have gotten worse, while his total BB totals (02’-36, 03’-34, 04’-18) have gotten better ////Missed about half of 2004 due to injury////Since Williamson was injured for much of 2004, I will not use any of his total counting stats (K’s, BB’s, Hits, etc…) in consideration for career-bests and worst. I will use his translated per-nine-innings stats for consideration though////Excluding 2001(only .2 IP), 2004 represented a career-best translated H/9 (3.7), and translated HR/9 (0) for Williamson, while also represented a career-worst translated BB/9 (5.2)////Has spent last for seasons in Boston (slight hitter’s park), and Cincinnati (moderate hitter’s park)////

3. Antonio Osuna (32): Signed with Nationals, 1 yr/$800,000 2004 Statistics- 2.45 ERA, 36.7 IP, 32 Hits, 3 HR, 11 BB, 36 K, 12.2 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.36 ERA, 7.5 H/9—0.6 HR/9—2.6 BB/9—7.3 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.50 ERA, 486.3 IP, 423 Hits, 42 HR, 202 BB, 501 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.39ERA, 7.3 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.7 BB/9—7.8 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.48/1--////In each of the last three seasons Osuna’s translated ERA (02’-3.42, 03’-3.12, 04’-2.36), ERA (02’-3.86, 03’-3.73, 04’-2.45), Hits allowed (02’-64, 03’-58, 04’-32), BB (02’-28, 03’-20, 04’-11), and translated BB/9 (02’-3.9, 03’-3.7, 04’-2.6) have all gotten better {04’ totals mostly are low due to Osuna being injured for part of season—but NOT as long as Williamson}, while in the same period Osuna’s translated HR/9 (02’-.2, 03’-.5, 04’-.6), and translated K/9 (02’-7.9, 03’-7.5, 04’-7.3) have gotten worse////Like Williamson, since Osuna was injured for part of 2004, his 04’ counting stats will not be in consideration for career-bests and worst////Spent last four seasons in San Diego (severe pitcher’s park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), and Chicago White Sox (slight hitter’s park)////

4. Ugueth Urbina (31): Option picked-up by Tigers 2004 Statistics- 4.50 ERA, 54.0 IP, 38 Hits, 7 HR, 32 BB, 56 K, 9.7 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.62 ERA, 5.1 H/9—0.8 HR/9—5.0 BB/9—8.6 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.42 ERA, 617.7 IP, 483 Hits, 74 HR, 268 BB, 717 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.98 ERA, 6.1 H/9—0.9 HR/9—3.6 BB/9—9.4 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.67/1--////In each of the last three seasons Urbina’s translated BB/9 (02’-2.8, 03’-3.4, 04’-5.0), and BB totals (02’-24, 03’-31, 04’-32) have gotten worse////Has spent last four seasons in Boston (slight hitter’s park), Detroit (moderate hitter’s park), Florida (severe pitcher’s park), Montreal (severe hitter’s park), and Texas (severe hitter’s park)////

5. Troy Percival (35): Signed with Tigers, 2 years ($12 million) 2004 Statistics- 2.90 ERA, 49.7 IP, 43 Hits, 7 HR, 19 BB, 33 K, 15.7 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.87 ERA, 6.8 H/9—1.1 HR/9—3.2 BB/9—5.6 K/9--////Career Statistics- 2.99 ERA, 586.7 IP, 393 Hits, 63 HR, 253 BB, 680 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.56 ERA, 5.2 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.3 BB/9—10.1 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.69/1--////In each of the last three seasons Percival’s BB totals (02’-25, 03’-23, 04’-19) have gotten better while his translated HR/9 (02’-.8, 03’-1.0, 04’-1.1), translated K/9 (02’-10.5, 03’-8.4, 04’-5.6), and total K’s (02’-68, 03’-48, 04’-43) have all gotten worse////2004 represented a career-worst K total (33), translated K/9 (5.6), translated HR/9 (1.1), and translated H/9 (6.8) for Percival////Has spent entire career in California/Anaheim (slight hitter’s park)////

6. Jim Mecir (35): Signed with Marlins, 1 year/$1.1 million 2004 Statistics- 3.59 ERA, 47.7 IP, 45 Hits, 5 HR, 19 BB, 49 K, 12.3 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.30 ERA, 8.0 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.3 BB/9—8.5 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.83 ERA, 483.7 IP, 443 Hits, 39 HR, 208 BB, 416 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.28 ERA, 7.7 H/9—0.6 HR/9—3.4 BB/9—7.5 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.00/1--////Mecir is building on NO recent trends, and 2004 did not represent any career-bests or worst for him////Has spent last four seasons in Oakland (neutral park)////

7. Ramiro Mendoza (33): 2004 Statistics- 3.52 ERA, 30.7 IP, 25 Hits, 3 HR, 7 BB, 13 K, 9.4 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.70 ERA, 6.6 H/9—0.7 HR/9—1.7 BB/9—3.4 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.29 ERA, 796.0 IP, 889 Hits, 81 HR, 181 BB, 462 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.59 ERA, 9.2 H/9—0.8 HR/9—1.5 BB/9—4.8 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.55/1--////Since Mendoza’s IP has decreased each of the last three seasons (02’-91.7, 03’-66.7, 04’-30.7), two of his “counting” statistics have changed on the same curve: Hits allowed (02’-102, 03’-98, 04’-25) gets better, while total K’s (02’-61, 03’-36, 04’-13) gets worse////Because of his injury, resulting in less IP, I will disregard any of Mendoza’s counting stats in reference to his career-bests and worst//// Using translated per-nine-inning stats, 2004 represented a career-worst translated K/9 (3.4) for Mendoza, while also representing a career-best translated H/9 (6.6), and translated ERA (2.70)////In each of the last three seasons, Mendoza’s translated K/9 (02’-5.6, 03’-4.6, 04’-3.4) has gotten worse//// ////Spent last four seasons in Boston (slight hitter’s park), and New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park)////

8. Jeff Nelson (38): Signed minor league deal with Mariners 2004 Statistics- 5.32 ERA, 23.7 IP, 17 Hits, 3 HR, 19 BB, 22 K, 0.5 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 4.13 ERA, 4.8 H/9—0.6 HR/9—7.0 BB/9—7.9 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.38 ERA, 745.3 IP, 598 Hits, 51 HR, 401 BB, 793 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.00 ERA, 6.6 H/9—0.5 HR/9—4.3 BB/9—9.5 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.98/1--////In each of the last three seasons Nelson’s translated ERA (02’-3.54, 03’-3.59, 04’-4.13), and total BB (02’-27, 03’-24, 04’-19) have gotten better—lower total in 04’ can be attributed to less pitching (23.7 IP) because of injury////Due to injury, Nelson only pitched 23.7 innings in 2004////As with Mendoza, Osuna, and Williamson, I will disregard Nelson’s counting stats as factors in his career-bests and worst////Using Nelson’s translated per-nine-inning statistics, 2004 represented a career-worst translated BB/9 (7.0), and translated ERA (4.13)////Has spent last four seasons in Texas (severe hitter’s park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), and Seattle (severe pitcher’s park)////

9. Antonio Alfonseca (33): Signed with Florida, 2 years ($4.75 million) 2004 Statistics- 2.57 ERA, 73.7 IP, 71 Hits, 5 HR, 28 BB, 45 K, 22.7 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.56 ERA, 8.5 H/9—0.5 HR/9—3.2 BB/9—4.7 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.89 ERA, 520.0 IP, 560 Hits, 47 HR, 202 BB, 355 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.37 ERA, 9.0 H/9—0.7 HR/9—3.1 BB/9—5.2 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.76/1--////In each of the last three seasons, Alfonseca’s total K’s (02’-61, 03’-51, 04’-45), and translated K/9 (02’-6.4, 03’-6.0, 04’-4.7) have gotten worse, while his translated BB/9 (02’-4.0, 03’-3.3, 04’-3.2) has gotten better////2004 represented a career-best translated ERA (2.56) and ERA (2.57) for Alfonseca, while also representing a career-worst K total (45) for him////Spent last four seasons in Florida (severe pithcer’s park), Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher’s park), and Atlanta (slight pitcher’s park)////

10. Steve Reed (39): Signed with Orioles, 1 year/$1.05 million 2004 Statistics- 3.68 ERA, 66.0 IP, 72 Hits, 7 HR, 17 BB, 38 K, 12.8 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.85 ERA, 8.3 H/9—0.7 HR/9—2.0 BB/9—4.4 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.51 ERA, 838.0 IP, 770 Hits, 102 HR, 274 BB, 615 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.98 ERA, 7.0 H/9—1.0 HR/9—2.7 BB/9—5.8 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.24/1--////In each of the last three seasons Reed’s ERA (02’-2.02, 03’-3.27, 04’-3.68), translated ERA (02’-1.65, 03’-2.56, 04’-2.85), total K’s (02’-50, 03’-39, 04’-38), and translated K/9 (02’-5.9, 03’-4.8, 04’-4.4) have all gotten worse////2004 represented a career-worst translated K/9 (4.4) for Reed////Spent last four seasons in Colorado (severe hitter’s park), New York Mets (severe pitcher’s park), and San Diego (severe pitcher’s park)////

11. Dan Miceli (34): Signed contract to play in Japan 2004 Statistics- 3.59 ERA, 77.7 IP, 74 Hits, 10 HR, 27 BB, 83 K, 15.2 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.03 ERA, 7.5 H/9—0.9 HR/9—2.6 BB/9—8.8 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.47 ERA, 650.3 IP, 640 Hits, 88 HR, 277 BB, 595 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.01 ERA, 7.8 H/9—1.0 HR/9—3.4 BB/9—7.6 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.15/1--////With Miceli only pitching 8.1 innings in 2002 due to injury, there are no recent trends of his to identify////2004 represented a career-best K total (83), and translated K/9 (8.8) for Miceli////Has spent last four seasons in Houston (moderate hitter’s park), Cleveland (neutral park), Colorado (severe hitter’s park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), Texas (severe hitter’s park), and Florida (severe pitcher’s park)////


12. Mike DeJean (4): Signed with Mets, 1 year ($1.15 million) 2004 Statistics- 4.57 ERA, 61.0 IP, 70 Hits, 2 HR, 33 BB, 60 K, 7.2 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.75 ERA, 9.4 H/9—0.3 HR/9—4.8 BB/9—8.0 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.30 ERA, 559.3 IP, 589 Hits, 56 HR, 260 BB, 394 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.45 ERA, 8.3 H/9—0.6 HR/9—3.5 BB/9—6.0 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.51/1--////In each of the last three seasons DeJean’s translated H/9 (02’-7.3, 03’-8.0, 04’-9.4) has gotten worse////DeJean missed part of 2004 due to injury////Since DeJean was injured for part of 2004, I will disregard his 2004 counting stats for consideration in his career-bests and worst, but like the other injured pitchers, I will use his translated per-nine-inning statistics////2004 represented a career-worst translated H/9 (9.4), and translated BB/9 (4.8) for DeJean, while also representing a career-best translated K/9 (8.0), and a tie for his career-best HR/9 (0.3-1998)////Spent last four seasons in New York Mets (severe pitcher’s park), Baltimore (severe hitter’s park when he pitched there), St. Louis (moderate pitcher’s park), and Milwaukee (neutral park)////

Next up, right-handed relief pitchers #13-24.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.