2011 Rockies Player Reviews: Huston Street

by Jeff Aberle on Jan 4, 2012 11:00 AM MST in Rockies Player Reviews

Fair or not, when I conjure up an image of Huston Street, I don't think of him saving a game for the Rockies, which he did 84 times (3rd in franchise history) in the three seasons he was with the team, only blowing 11 (88 save %). I don't think of him striking someone out, though he struck out a little more than a batter an inning with Colorado (170 Ks in167.2).

No, when the name Huston Street is mentioned, I think about him giving up a game tying double to Ryan Howard in the 2009 playoffs when Jim Tracy should have gone to the bullpen and gotten Joe Beimel. I think of him giving up a home run, which he did at a rate (1.54 HR/9 innings) that was the 4th highest for a reliever in the majors in 2011. In other words, my visions of Street are of failure.

I don't know why it is I have mostly negative memories of Street's tenure with the Rockies. After all, Street was a good relief pitcher for Colorado who by most accounts pitched very well in high leverage situations. Maybe it's because a higher salary (at $7.3 million in 2011, Street was the 4th highest paid player on the team and was paid roughly twice as much as the next highest reliever) created expectations of a player more valuable than Street was capable of being given that he only threw 58.1 innings in 2011.

But that's the way things go with closers. Street had the problem of getting paid more than I thought he was worth at the same time of not fitting my mental image of what a dominant closer should look like. I mean, he's short, he looks like a model, his stuff is low 90s, and he's not intimidating (unless you count being intimidated by his wondrous visage). He was getting paid twice as much as a superior reliever (Rafael Betancourt) to come in for one inning and get three outs. For his time in Colorado, Street received $20 million (including $1 million for 2012) and produced 3.4 rWAR in 167.2 IP.

There I go again, getting negative. I'm sorry guys -- Street was an above average reliever for Colorado, but there's a reason that his trade return ended up being salary relief and a pitching prospect from a division rival that was passed over in the Rule 5 Draft (Nick Schmidt). Rating and 2012 past the fold.

Rating: Since we've been asked to rate based upon performance relative to peers, I'd give Street a C+ for 2011. He accrued only 1 rWAR in a relief role, gave up a bunch of homers and lost his closing job -- but he did pitch pretty well for Colorado in 2011 on a rate basis (91 FIP-, 6.11 K/BB). I just wish that he had pitched more innings for us.

2012: For better or worse, Street is San Diego's problem now. His flyball tendencies should be neutralized somewhat in Petco, so I would expect a good season for Street in a contract year. Hopefully he isn't the piece that pushes them into the playoffs (or us out).

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I thought it was 500K this year and 500k more if they buy out his option?

"Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage." ― Thucydides

by TomCat009 on Jan 4, 2012 1:13 PM MST reply actions

your description of why Street didn’t seem like a better closer is exactly the same list of reasons why I though B. J. Ryan was and would be the best closer around.

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

PRMLB: The Brew Crew

by Resolution on Jan 4, 2012 2:17 PM MST reply actions

Liked Street quite a bit

he could be frustrating when he’d go through those phases where he didn’t trust his stuff, but overall it was nice to have a guy that I generally felt very good about. Wish DOD could have returned some value for him, but I assume he knew he was going to overpay Cuddyer so had to clear that $$$.

(And I know I’ve posted this before (and I doubt many will remember or even read my posts in the first place) but I can’t let the Street/Beimel thing go without saying so again: I spoke to a 15 year MLB player shortly after this happened and asked about the Street/Beimel move and what he thought. He was flatly incredulous, suggesting that no manager would ever have pulled Street there, and no clubhouse would have reacted well to such a move (in context). And I think anyone who watches baseball a lot would have to agree with this pragmatic reality, regardless of the wisdom of the philosophy underlying it. So while we can all lament that managers in general for being too conventional and sticking too much to ordered bullpen roles, it remains unfair to blame Tracy specifically for that move. Just a shame Street couldn’t set him down.)

by Teekalong on Jan 4, 2012 2:22 PM MST reply actions

Just because a lot of managers wouldn't have made the move doesn't make it any less dumb?

Do you want to face Frank Thomas in his prime or David Eckstein? That was essentially the L/R difference for Howard

The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!

by Jeff Aberle on Jan 4, 2012 5:55 PM MST up reply actions

The point is not that "a lot of managers" wouldn't have done it

its that “no managers would have done it.” As I concede in the post, banging on the wisdom is perfectly fair and reasonable as you suggest (though the Frank Thomas/Eckstein premise is obviously absurd) but the point is that Tracy did something that everyone else would have done, so constantly banging on him for it doesn’t really make any sense.

by Teekalong on Jan 5, 2012 11:08 AM MST up reply actions

BUT IT WAS THE UMPIRES

I'M SORRY I WAS EVER MAD AT YOU, ROCKIES! COME BACK TO ME! I LOVE YOU!!

by prettyinpurple on Jan 4, 2012 5:14 PM MST reply actions

In the beating a dead horse category

it was interesting that of MLB’s 50 most questionable calls in the history of baseball, game 3 of the 2009 NLDS was included, specifically the double mess up of the “hit” that should have been a foul ball followed by the runner reaching first when Todd clearly beat him – thought it was interesting that that reached that level to be included in that show (Street pitching).

"We made too many wrong mistakes" - Yogi Berra

by purpleJerseygirl on Jan 4, 2012 10:48 PM MST up reply actions

all of chase utley's at-bats that series could reasonably have been shown on that show

arenado: it's Rockie for future

PRMLB Arizona Diamondbacks GM

by papality on Jan 4, 2012 11:33 PM MST up reply actions

"...when I conjure up an image of Huston Street"

I DO think of all the positive statistics you cite in your first paragraph. The failures were few and far between, and I expected him to leave the game a winner, which he did very consistently, even if the process included some nail-biting. Perhaps those heartbreaking moments in the 3rd & 4th games of the NLDS were so heartbreaking precisely because of the fabulous regular season outings he had had, but I became a huge fan of his during that season, and although disappointed at the end, during the next two seasons, particularly 2011, I saw him continuing to post all the positives stats that you cite. The qualities I see are a skilled pitcher, great personality, passionate about winning, never gives up – what’s not to like? But the deeply negative feelings toward him have been obvious and disappointing to me, and I would imagine to other fans of his. I’m sorry he’s gone. In my book, the Padres have acquired a gem.

"We made too many wrong mistakes" - Yogi Berra

by purpleJerseygirl on Jan 5, 2012 7:51 AM MST reply actions

l totally agree. BTW. So glad you declded to start postlng...lt's nlce to have another CS. rep. :)

In all things, it is better to hope than despair.

by butterfly on Jan 5, 2012 9:45 AM MST up reply actions

I can understand

the thought that he’s overpaid for his talent and is not a truly elite closer, but I agree completely that the anti-Street vibe very often goes beyond reason.

by Teekalong on Jan 5, 2012 11:09 AM MST up reply actions

I was probably unfair to him

at least in the privacy of my own living room – I don’t recall blasting him on here (unlike Wiggy and Tracy). He was frustrating, but his save percentage was outstanding. I always wanted a power guy, or an intimidator, like Mariano Rivera, but then again, who doesn’t?

by volduck on Jan 5, 2012 5:13 PM MST reply actions