Getting To Know: Braden Looper

Braden Looper, acquired via free agency, will be entering his 12th MLB season in 2009, but only his 3rd year as a starter. Between the years 2003-2005, he had 76 saves for the Marlins and Mets - so he has some big situation innings under his belt. As a starter he has posted a 24-26 record (both years for the Cardinals) as he honed his starting skills under the tutelage of one of the premier pitching coaches in the game.

Looper is a 6-3 220 pound right hander that focuses on throwing over the top. As a starter he uses his fastball about 65% of the time (averaging around 90 mph), throws a split finger, and also a slider. He basically abandoned his change-up in 2008, and increased the usage of his slider and split more. Looper is not the type of pitcher that will blow you away and is more of a contact pitcher. Like most pitchers, he is at his best when he gets ahead of the hitters (over 61% of first pitches were for strikes in 2008) and then make them chase pitches off the plate (he got batters to swing at 25% of pitches off the plate in 2008). He is a ground ball pitcher (1.60 GB/FB ratio over his career) that will keep his infielders on their toes when he is on the mound.

He is nothing more than an inning eater that is projected to be a .500 pitcher at best. He is a decent back of the rotation guy that will keep you in most games.