Padres Re-Sign Marquis - Gary Armida's Blog

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Gary Armida's Blog

Padres Re-Sign Marquis Stuck

Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:36 AM.

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(Nashville, Tennessee) Heaven for pitchers isn�t in Iowa. Pitching heaven is in San Diego. Aside from nearly perfect weather, Petco Park is the ideal place for a pitcher to put his career back on track or to hang on. Jason Marquis was just the latest example of that after starting the 2012 season with the Minnesota Twins. Marquis� stuff at age 33 just didn�t translate to the American League as he compiled an 8.47 ERA in 7 starts. He allowed an incredible 52 hits in 34 innings along with 14 walks and just 12 strikeouts.

After being waived, it looked as if the 13 year veteran innings eater might be finished. But then, pitcher heaven called. Marquis signed with the Padres and made 15 starts. His 6-7, 4.04 ERA was much more in line with his career ERA of 4.60. He allowed a hit per inning, cut his walks by one per nine innings, and upped his strikeout rate to 7.6 per nine in those 15 starts. In seven starts at Petco, he compiled a 3.67 ERA.

The Padres agreed to terms with Marquis for the 2013 season with a one year, $3 million deal. Marquis will provide rotation depth and a skill that is necessary for any team. He will pitch close to 180 league average innings--likely better considering Petco Park--and allow Manager Bud Black to save the bullpen on most nights.

While Marquis has never been a star, he has been consistent. His career ERA of 4.60 is close to his career FIP of 4.80, meaning that he doesn�t depend all that much on his defense. A groundball specialist--50 percent for his career--Marquis has averaged 166 innings and a 4.67 ERA since 2004.

Marquis will slide into a rotation fronted by Edinson Volquez in likely the fourth or fifth spot. The Padres will hope he will help stabilize the back end of a rotation that disappointed last season as it finished with a 4.44 ERA and 4.35 FIP and had just two pitchers throw 180 innings.

The Padres enter the 2013 season as somewhat of a popular pick. They finished the second half of the season with a 42-33 record. But, it wasn�t the rotation that led the way as they pitched to a 4.93 ERA in that second half. The Padres are looking for league average innings and some stability. Jason Marquis has fit the role for many years when healthy.

He won�t make the Padres a contender, but his presence will allow for some certainty. He has never deviated from his career norms, which does give Josh Byrnes 180 innings that he didn�t have last season. Marquis, if healthy, can give the Padres that type of dependability.

Throwing in Pitcher�s Heaven will help.