tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969719124137500057.post3759645784032615117..comments2024-02-02T03:21:08.549-08:00Comments on Opinion of Kingman's Performance: OK, Go Ahead, Sign WilsonEvan Bladhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00882462203403645860noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969719124137500057.post-65252167685560478202012-12-29T19:01:07.439-08:002012-12-29T19:01:07.439-08:00Interesting take Harold. My opinion of Tolleson i...Interesting take Harold. My opinion of Tolleson isn't quite as high as yours, but his ceiling is certainly high. Much higher than a player on the wrong side of 30, coming off TJ surgery and commanding about $8 million per year. I know we saw some signs that Shawn can be a fine reliever, especially in the September stretch. Hopefully he will grow this spring and develop intimidating traits that closers usually need. An upper 90s heater might do that.Evan Bladhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00882462203403645860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-969719124137500057.post-38696209137900317832012-12-29T18:02:10.086-08:002012-12-29T18:02:10.086-08:00Evan - since you and Ron both hit the same topic o...Evan - since you and Ron both hit the same topic on the same day, I will post the same comment on both blogs. I liked the different perspectives in both articles. In any event, this is waht I also submitted to TBLA.<br /><br />My answer to another reliever who can be a closer – ST. No, not Spring Training – Shawn Tolleson.<br /><br />Some express concern that Luis Cruz is questioned as a starting third baseman, others are concerned that AJ Ellis does not seem to get a vote of confidence. Now we are talking about Brian Wilson coming off his second TJ surgery and maybe not at full steam by mid season when we have Shawn Tolleson. Shawn will be at full steam long before then.<br /><br />How can Shawn match Brian Wilson? Quite well, I submit. First he is healthy. Secondly he is beginning a second season. Shawn struggled at the beginning of 2012 but finished strongly. He made it the majors quite quickly, being a 30th round pick in 2010. Wilson was a 24th round pick. Shawn (4.30 ERA – 1.32 WHIP) had a better first season as a 24 year old than Wilson (5.40 ERA – 1.76 WHIP)had in his first year, also at 24. The next season Wilson pitched only 23 innings with six saves.<br /><br />As a 26 year old Wilson saved 41 games with an ERA of 4.62 and a WHIP of 1.44. In 2011 (29) he had another good season, yet his WHIP was still high at 1.47, striking out 53 and walking 31. Shawn’s rookie WHIP (1.372) matches Wilson’s career WHIP (1.338}.<br /><br />So how could Shawn Tolleson step into a closer’s role? He has no experience as a closer at the MLB level. Shawn had 30 minor league<br />saves in a a full season and part of another. Kenley Jansen had no minor league saves. Javy Guerra had 3. Brian Wilson had 21.<br /><br />Brian Wilson would be a good pick up, insurance, but a better bet is Shawn Tolleson, in my opinion.Bluenose Dodgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02803830130432084223noreply@blogger.com