The stats are simple ones but I’m a simply type of guy.

In 2007 Gregg posted for the season:

89% save ratio, 6.75 H/9 inn., 4.3 BB/9 and 9.3 K/9. Also only one unearned run scored during the whole season.

In 2008 his number so far:

71% save percentage, 6.75 H/9, 6.08 BB/9 and 7.4 K/9. Four unearned runs have scored.

To be fair, his save percentage was 79% entering the Colorado series.

He has already blown more saves (4 v. 1) than he did all of last year. How many of those are due to the extra walks or the lack of help from his friends? I didn’t research it deeply enough to enter a guess.

A closer at a minimum should at least covert 75% percent of his chances. Anything over 85% is considered quality. Clearly Gregg is not performing at that level and any type of run for the playoffs can’t be sustained with the closer converting 71% of his save chances.

Obviously Gregg has not been as sharp this season but he isn’t allowing anymore hits. The problem seems to be the extra runners on base, due to either walks or errors, when the hits happen. Gregg can do something about the walks, those are in his control or lack thereof. The errors he can do nothing about.

You are absolutely correct that a playoff run is impossible if things keep going the way they are. But if Gregg can sharpen his command and the defense will show up he should improve. Hopefully if his command improves his strikeout rate will increase, thus putting fewer balls into play and not giving the defense a chance to screw up.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that putting free runners on base, whatever the means, is killing us. And some of that is Gregg’s fault, but not all. I guess the question remains how long do you wait for him to get the walks under control? Which is of course is basically the question you asked, so I’ve added nothing.

Oh, welcome to FishStripes! Glad to have you onboard!