Rockies sign Billy Buckner to a Minor League Contract

by Andrew Martin on Dec 20, 2010 2:45 PM MST in Transactions & Rumors

According to MLB.com's Thomas Harding, the Colorado Rockies have signed 27 year old right-hander Billy Buckner to a minor-league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Buckner, a former 2nd-round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals has bounced around the majors a bit via trade since his major-league debut in 2007.

After several promising starts in 2007, Buckner was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Alberto Callaspo. Buckner pitched parts of the next 3 seasons with Arizona, coming out of the bullpen in 2008 and pitching as a starter in 2009 and 2010. He was traded to Detroit for Dontrelle Willis, and was cut 2 months later.

Buckner's strength seems to be a decent strikeout rate (6.7 K/9, above 7 in 3 of 4 seasons) and his weakness seems to be the long ball (although who in Arizona hasn't suffered from that?), allowing a career 1.6 HR/9. Over 138 career MLB innings, Buckner has allowed a 6.25 ERA (5.20 FIP) and a 1.91 K/BB ratio.

Buckner will likely provide AAA depth for the Rockies, along with lefthander Eric Stults, C Matt Pagnozzi, and 1B. Mike Jacobs.

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understate much? Calling the long ball Buckner's "weakness" doesn't really paint the picture of how horrific it is.

It’s like saying Yuniesky Betancourt has a bit of a weakness hitting, but who doesn’t at Safeco? Ho-ho, it’s nothing to be concerned about.

Having a 21% HR/FB ratio, which Buckner’s done in the majors twice (in 2008 and 2010) is basically saying that your average MLB hitter becomes Adam Dunn or Ryan Howard against him. It’s about as big of a flaw in this category as you’re going to see. The Rockies have seen as much of Buckner as anybody besides the D-backs, so I’m guessing they probably think there’s a fix somehow, but until there’s evidence that such a fix has taken place, this is the kind of depth that could cause a ton of damage should he be called up.

by Rox Girl on Dec 20, 2010 3:10 PM MST reply actions

Greg Smith or Buckner?

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver
Baseball fans love numbers. They love to swirl them around their mouths like Bordeaux wine. ~Pat Conroy
JFK

by jrockies on Dec 20, 2010 4:06 PM MST up reply actions

Knowing what I do now, I'd take Smith.

There’s a bit more of an upside with Buckner if his cutter (which he introduced in 2009) continues to improve and he finds some way to at least halve that HR rate, but Smith has the higher floor, I think.

by Rox Girl on Dec 20, 2010 4:13 PM MST up reply actions

thank you

by jrockies on Dec 20, 2010 4:14 PM MST up reply actions

21% HR/FB ratio

Boy, he’s going to have fun in Colo Springs.

Is it 2011 yet?

by The Lodo Magic Man on Dec 20, 2010 4:42 PM MST up reply actions

so will the opposing teams

by jrockies on Dec 20, 2010 4:49 PM MST up reply actions

I have to be diplomatic about SOMETHING today

Learn about Batting Metrics
Learn about Pitching Metrics

by Andrew Martin on Dec 20, 2010 4:51 PM MST up reply actions

true, it's probably good we're switching off here.

me going to the extreme opinion, you taking the difficult stat position of defending a weak player. I was probably in danger of losing my Internet writing creds with the Morris defense and saying that character should be used more as a HOF standard.

by Rox Girl on Dec 20, 2010 4:57 PM MST up reply actions

go team Purple Row!

Learn about Batting Metrics
Learn about Pitching Metrics

by Andrew Martin on Dec 20, 2010 8:57 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Don't Eric Duncan and Geno Espineli have invites too?

PROJECT LIBRA: Depth / Transactions
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 20, 2010 4:10 PM MST reply actions

Wow, today is NOT my day for reading comprehension.

I’m going to stay off the blog for the rest of the day. Hehe.

PROJECT LIBRA: Depth / Transactions
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 20, 2010 4:11 PM MST up reply actions

POTENTIAL

is a beautiful thing. Buckner has it and either he will sit in Colorado Springs and be a never was or he will live up to that 2nd round draft choice putting some depth in the Rox pen or even work that arm into the rotation.

The best month of the year, ROCKTOBER!

by Shangri-La Dragon on Dec 21, 2010 6:00 PM MST reply actions