Foulke pulls a Koch

[jnr98]

Last year, wasn't the "Billy Koch Rule" that stated that the A's closer who blows a save on a good starting effort by the starter would then have to go on and get the cheesey vulture win?

Foulke dusted it off today, giving up a 2 run HR in the bottom of the 9th (to Giambi) then steals the win after a HR in the top of the 10th. Cheesey.

[Quaker]

I have Foulke and I'll take the win. I don't think Foulke will blow as many as saves as Koch did though.

[rjforlife]

im a little worried about foulke as he has blown his last 2 save i believe or at least 2 out of the last 3. lets hope this is just a minor slip up and that he will continue to be a top 10 closer as he was prior to last year.

[bleach168]

I hate the Wins category. It's 50% run support and 50% luck. Nothing to do with pitching.

[Quaker]

Foulke actually converted 3 save chances before blowing this one, so it's two blown in 5 chances. Still, the A's left him in today to pitch the 10th and he closed it out. Don't worry, yet.

[timkell]

bleach168, I think you're exagerrating a bit. There's a reason why the best pitchers usually end up with the most wins, and that's skill.

In one game, yes, a win or loss can be based on luck or run support, but over the season, good pitchers get the wins. Exception, of course, is good pitchers on really crappy teams. Still, they should be able to get at least 13 wins over the season if they're really good pitchers.

[jonnyblack]

I also think that the Wins column balances out over an entire season. Last year, Koch numbers were as lucky as they were staggeringly productive. I had to win the Wins column to close it out and clinch my league last year. I ended up with eleven more wins than the other guy. Koch had ten of those wins. Lucky? Yes. Productive? Yes. I'll take those wins, cheesey or not.

I don't think we need to worry about foulke, for it is koch that is really causing some people some worries. Word around here is that Damaso Marte is the closer, while koch "figures things out." Jerry Manuel gave Foulke some time to "figure things out" last year, and he didn't get another save until this year, for a new team. I think Foulke is more solid than koch. The A's have strong history of dominant and successful closers, i.e. they are well coached (Eck, IZZY etc.). And they have the kind of electric offense that can win games late, early, or anytime. That means lots of save opps, "lucky" situations, and much needed experience in preparation for a stretch run and beyond. This makes foulke more than just a top ten closer.