It’s Time To Shut Down Jason Motte

I am a Jason Motte fan. Truly. I have followed the guy since he was a catcher with zero pop at the plate. The Cards turned him into a pitcher because he could throw hard. After several attempts to establish himself as a difference maker in the Cardinals bullpen and two failed closing attempts, Motte was given the closer role “unofficially” by Tony La Russa for a tired dead armed Fernando Salas in 2011. Motte ran with it. He closed down the 2011 World Series and saved 42 games in 2012. He was given a two year/12 million dollar contract by the Cards after the 2012 season. In other words, Motte was the man in the 9th. He lived and died on his heater, which could touch 99 mph and at times, 100 mph. He mixed in a cutter but was able to command his fastball during 2012. Then his elbow popped in the 2013 spring training and he missed the entire season due to Tommy John. He came back this season on May 21st and gave up a solo home run in his second outing.

Overall, in 22.1 innings this year, Motte has allowed 7 home runs. He hasn’t been effective or near his 2011-12 dominance. Motte is hittable and someone that hitters don’t fear anymore when he reaches the mound, adjusting his cap and whisking his hand through his beard. The man is a fierce competitor but is firing blanks out there. Motte doesn’t have his fastball humming no longer. His cutter is flat. He went into Thursday’s game against the Brewers with a one run lead looking like Chuck Norris with his legs tied up. It was sad and unfitting for a formerly lethal arm.

Breaking down the difference with Motte between 2012 and 2014-

Average Fastball velocity

2012-97.1

2014-94.5

Percentage of Batters retired via Strikeout

2012-38.5%

2014-18.6%

HR Rate on His Fastball-

2012-16.7%

2014-38.5 %

Opponents slugged less than .400 off Motte’s fastball in 2012. This year, they are slugging over .600. The sample size is a lot smaller in 2014 due to his limited amount of work but it doesn’t deny the inevitable truth. Jason Motte won’t get any better this month or next. It’s time for the team to shut him down. Mike Matheny attracts his critics and haters when he makes those sort of foolhardy moves like the one last night. It’s not Motte’s fault he isn’t effective. He did all the hard work and rehab to get back. It just takes relievers time to recover from Tommy John Surgery. He won’t be 100 percent until 2015. Those are his words and not mine.

It’s a sad truth because fans and coaches want to see Motte out there mowing down hitters. In a perfect world, Motte would be taking some closing chances from Trevor Rosenthal in the heat of summer. That didn’t work out. Motte can barely be counted on for a scoreless frame much less one in the 9th inning.

He is making 7.2 million this season to do mostly mopup duty and that’s unfortunate. Some contracts are undermined by long term injuries. Look at Chris Carpenter. He gave the team bargain years early in his career and sat on the disabled list for entire seasons with a 10-12 million dollar price tag. That’s the sports business.

I expect Motte to rebound in 2015 and I hope the Cards find room for him. An incentive laden deal of some kind would be good. You never know with this team’s load of young pitching.

I do know this. Jason Motte isn’t right. At all. It’s no good for him or the team to run him out there in any kind of a high leverage situation.

Shut it down. Shut it down now.

Thanks for reading folks and have a good weekend,

Dan Buffa