Riske and Day

GeorgiaRoyal · 12-22-2006, 09:06 AM

Both pitchers were drafted in the 1996 day. Zach Day was selected in the 5th round by the Yankees and Riske was a 56th rounder of the Indians. Day has been traded a few times in his career. He came up through the Yankees system, but then was traded to the Indians in the David Justice trade. Before reaching the majors, he was traded to the Expos for Milton Bradley. He pitched in Montreal/Washington for 3 or 4 seasons and then was traded to Colorado. He stayed in Colorado for the end of '05 and the first part of '06 before being claimed off of waivers by Washington. He finished the season in Washington and then was released by the team in October.

Riske made his name with the team that drafted him. He was traded to Boston in January of '06 and then Boston traded him to Chicago in June. He then became a free agent after the '06 season. Though his K numbers have been declining, he's still been putting up fine seasons. He used to post K/9 numbers greater than 9, but over the last few seasons, he's been in the area of 6 K's per 9 innings. He has posted whips of less than 1.00 2 times in recent years (2003, 2005). He hasn't been used much as a closer, but I imagine that if Dotel struggles or gets hurt, he is the guy the Royals will turn to to fill that role.

Day really hasn't pitched that badly. His 25 innings that he pitched while a Rockie were not good (1-3, 9.12 era), but his numbers while with the Expos/Nationals weren't bad (20-23, 4.34 era in roughly 348 innings). His K/BB ratio isn't good at only about 1.25 K's per BB (2.00 is where that would need to be). His K/9 ratio is about 4.50 K's per 9 (not good/would like it to be at least 6.00). So, he walks a few too many and he doesn't strike out many. Sounds like a bad recipe, to me. But, he has had some success in the past, and he was signed to a no risk minor league deal.

gene · 12-31-2006, 12:49 PM

I am an old Montreal Expos fan who remembers Zach Day from when he was pitching well. He had (and hopefully still has) a "heavy" sinker with which when he was on induced a very high ratio of ground balls. He never did get many K's but he didn't try to. He also has a curve and change but when he had problems it was because his mechanics would get out of whack...his control would go off, he would walk people and get the ball up too much. Some days he would be very good and some days you wish you weren't at the park. He has had some injuries so I do not know what to expect..but he could be a sleeper.

12-22-2006, 09:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
GeorgiaRoyal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21	Riske and Day Both pitchers were drafted in the 1996 day. Zach Day was selected in the 5th round by the Yankees and Riske was a 56th rounder of the Indians. Day has been traded a few times in his career. He came up through the Yankees system, but then was traded to the Indians in the David Justice trade. Before reaching the majors, he was traded to the Expos for Milton Bradley. He pitched in Montreal/Washington for 3 or 4 seasons and then was traded to Colorado. He stayed in Colorado for the end of '05 and the first part of '06 before being claimed off of waivers by Washington. He finished the season in Washington and then was released by the team in October. Riske made his name with the team that drafted him. He was traded to Boston in January of '06 and then Boston traded him to Chicago in June. He then became a free agent after the '06 season. Though his K numbers have been declining, he's still been putting up fine seasons. He used to post K/9 numbers greater than 9, but over the last few seasons, he's been in the area of 6 K's per 9 innings. He has posted whips of less than 1.00 2 times in recent years (2003, 2005). He hasn't been used much as a closer, but I imagine that if Dotel struggles or gets hurt, he is the guy the Royals will turn to to fill that role. Day really hasn't pitched that badly. His 25 innings that he pitched while a Rockie were not good (1-3, 9.12 era), but his numbers while with the Expos/Nationals weren't bad (20-23, 4.34 era in roughly 348 innings). His K/BB ratio isn't good at only about 1.25 K's per BB (2.00 is where that would need to be). His K/9 ratio is about 4.50 K's per 9 (not good/would like it to be at least 6.00). So, he walks a few too many and he doesn't strike out many. Sounds like a bad recipe, to me. But, he has had some success in the past, and he was signed to a no risk minor league deal.

12-31-2006, 12:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
gene New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2	I am an old Montreal Expos fan who remembers Zach Day from when he was pitching well. He had (and hopefully still has) a "heavy" sinker with which when he was on induced a very high ratio of ground balls. He never did get many K's but he didn't try to. He also has a curve and change but when he had problems it was because his mechanics would get out of whack...his control would go off, he would walk people and get the ball up too much. Some days he would be very good and some days you wish you weren't at the park. He has had some injuries so I do not know what to expect..but he could be a sleeper.