Quote Originally Posted by dougdirt View Post
Cueto keeps his walk rate in check. Broxton, this season, has walked 60% more batters per 9 innings than Johnny Cueto. Cueto has well above average control. Broxton, not so much.
Other than Chapman and Marshall (our premier relievers), Broxton's walk rate is the same as Simon's, and better than Lecure's, Ondrusek's, Arredondo, and Bray. It's even better than Nick Masset's BB/9 in 2010 (3.9) and 2011 (4.0).

And the clincher is, he's coming off of surgery.

Cueto's walk rate, BB/9, in 2012 is 2.2.
Broxton's is 3.5.

I dunno. I multiply 2.2 x .6 (60%) and I get 1.32.
I multiply 2.2 x .16 (16%) and I get 3.52.
Seems to me Broxton's BB/9 is 16% higher than Cueto, not 60% as you profess.

In other words, Broxton's walk rate is tied for third best in our reliever corps. His e.r.a. is probably top 3 in the bullpen. His groundball rate is probably tops.

I think we're getting a decent reliever, coming off surgery, regaining his form and velocity, and he's still only 28 years old and has all of that past experience including postseason. Lots of upside with very little downside.