Fanarts » his second major league season

The Detroit Tigers traded a high-quality starting pitcher for a mediocre package of players and prospects from the Washington Nationals. Numbers Game looks at the Nationals acquisition of Doug Fister. The Nationals Get: RHP Doug Fister. Fister, 29, has been a highly-effective, if underrated, pitcher for the last three seasons. While his record in that span is merely 35-32, Fister has a 3.30 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Early in his career, Fister wasnt much of a strikeout pitcher, relying on his sinker to generate groundball outs, striking out 5.0 per nine innings over his first two seasons. However, Fister got much better as a strikeout pitcher upon arriving in Detroit, throwing significantly more breaking balls. For example, in his second major league season, with Seattle, Fister threw either a slider or curve on 18.7% of his pitches. Over the last three years, that has increased from 32.6% to 33.6% to 34.6% last season. So, even with lacklustre velocity, including a fastball that averages 88.6 MPH, Fister has seen his strikeout numbers climb. In 70 games with the Tigers, Fister has whiffed 7.2 batters per nine innings, which isnt dominant, but is dramatically better than his first couple of seasons with the Mariners. All told, Fister has a fWAR of 13.3 over the last three seasons, which ranks ninth among starting pitchers in that span. Seriously, ninth! What were indicating here is that, while he may not have the name recognition, Doug Fister is a very good starting pitcher. Fister hasnt faced a lot of National League competition, making five career Inter-League starts, but has a 2.23 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings, an indication (in a very small sample) that the move to the NL shouldnt pose a problem. Fister, who made $4-million in 2013, is arbitration-eligible for the next couple seasons, but is ultimately very affordable for a starting pitcher is of his calibre. Joining a Washington Nationals rotation that already includes Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Gio Gonzalez makes it easy for Fister to come in and perform, without any pressure to be the staff ace. Theres a whole lot to like about this deal for the Nationals. Its the kind of trade that could put them over the top as contenders next season. The Tigers Get: INF Steve Lombardozzi, LHP Robbie Ray and LHP Ian Krol. Lombardozzi is a 25-year-old utility player who has played at least 20 games at second base, third base and left field in the course of his two-plus major league seasons. He doesnt hit for power (.342 career slugging percentage) and doesnt get on base (.297 career on-base percentage) so, without notable offensive improvement, hes no more than a fill-in at the major league level. Ray, a 22-year-old southpaw, was a 12th-round pick of the Nationals in 2010. Splitting the 2013 season between High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, Ray was 11-5 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, striking out 160 in 142 innings. He could develop into a major league starting pitcher, but hes not there yet and that means there is risk in his projection. Krol, 22, is a lefthanded reliever who pitched 32 games for the Nationals last season, posting a 3.95 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 27 1/3 innings, striking out 22 and walking eight. Those are respectable enough numbers and, given his age, its fair to expect improvement, but lefthanded relievers have a limited impact on the game as a whole. Krols presence should allow Drew Smyly to move into the Tigers rotation, taking Fisters place. Smyly was excellent in relief last season, posting a 2.39 ERA and 1.03 WHIP, with 81 strikeouts in 76 innings. Even if Smyly is a wonderful addition to the Tigers starting rotation, that wont justify the relative pittance that Detroit received in return for Fister. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Evgenii Dadonov Jersey .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Custom Florida Panthers Jerseys . To be fair, the celebrations are already anything but tame. Nerf ball tricks shots are just the tip of the iceberg for a group that has performed in zero gravity, faced pro-skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and an assembled team on the MTV series "Fantasy Factory", and even hit a basketball trick shot from a passing blimp. http://www.hockeypanthersofficialonline....-hockey-jersey/. Although the deal cannot be made official until the free agent moratorium period is lifted on July 10, Patterson has agreed to a three-year, $18 million extension to remain in Toronto, sources confirm to TSN. Aleksander Barkov Jersey . The Yankees made the moves before Tuesdays game against Baltimore. Robertson was listed retroactive to Monday. Robertson posted two saves in three games as the replacement for retired Yankees closer Mariano Rivera before getting hurt. Florida Panthers Jerseys . Bell Medias 12-year partnership with the Ottawa Senators includes five major components: - English-language regional television broadcast rights for TSN – a minimum of 52 regular season and pre-season games - French-language regional television broadcast rights for RDS – a minimum of 40 regular season and pre-season games - English-language broadcast rights for TSN Radio 1200 – all games - French-language radio broadcast rights – all games - Telecommunications and retail sponsorship and activation rights "We recognized early on that our regional broadcast rights coming up for renewal was a very important asset," said Senators owner Eugene Melnyk.TSN football analyst Chris Schultz is back with his Week 6 selections in the CFL. The Big Man finished 2-2 in Week 5, and sits at 9-11 on the season in Schultz vs. The World. Now Schultz is ready for more action, including a close prediction between the Lions and Stampeders. Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Hamilton Tiger-Cats We know Drew Willy is for real as so far this season he has had only one game - Edmonton - where you did wonder. The other four have been pretty good. Now with Dan LeFevour he is coming off a great game but to be "for real" he has to have a great game the majority of the time. I will be very interested to see if Kent Austin limits any of Lefevours spontaneous plays. One of the most difficult things to defend in football is when the quarterback makes that split-second decision to take off and run. You cant defend it because to do so would take away from an aggressive attitude on defence. There is always an injury risk with a running quarterback but I hope no limitations will be given on Lefevours reactive desires. Both teams will come into the game confident as both are coming off impressive wins and if Hamilton was healthier especially up front I would "take em". I dont think they will be so I have to take the Bombers in a close one. Winnipeg moves to 5-1. Toronto Argonauts at Montreal Alouettes This is the desperation game for Week 6. For the visiting Argonauts they are desperate to put the 37-9 loss in Regina behind them quickly and forever. Every year there will be one or two games that a team has to decide whether it is even worth watching video or more beneficial to just "move on". This may be the game to do that with Toronto. No Durie, Owens, Barnes and others is a primary reason but a primary concern must be how they could start so poorly in a game where being in Regina you always have to match intensity with the home team.dddddddddddd With nine teams this year every team gets two bye weeks. Montreal had theirs and the timing could not be better. They will go into this one healthy again and Troy Smith will go in with as much quality preparation time as possible. He will have had reviewed all four of his previous starts and have a crystal clear idea of his strengths and weaknesses. Then it is simple, improve the weakness and maintain the strength. Montreal over Toronto. BC Lions at Calgary Stampeders Both teams did not play well last week. It was evident in BC with only nine points scored against Winnipeg. With Calgary at the end of the first quarter they had zero first downs, three yards rushing and 17 yards passing. If not for special teams mistakes by Edmonton, Calgary would not have won that game 26-22. Earlier in the season BC lost two in a row and then re-grouped and won two straight in an impressive way. It may happen again as even though Calgary won it just did not feel right and I am sure it did not feel right with the players as well. Bo Levi Mitchell goes for win No. 8 in a row. I think he gets it in a close one. Stampeders. Saskatchewan Roughriders at Ottawa Redblacks Last time the Riders were on the road they were destroyed 46-15 in Toronto - that loss will be forefront in their memories. At running back I think George Cortez has found his guy. Will Ford looked confident, powerful and hungry. Not that Anthony Allen and Hugh Charles didnt but Will Ford took an opportunity and ran with it. The Riders will not have the pass rush success they had against Toronto but should be able to benefit from no Justin Phillips and Kerrie Johnson. This game features a Grey Cup championship team playing an expansion team with the Grey Cup team learning fron their last road loss in Toronto. Riders over Redblacks. ' ' '