The One That Got Away

Today's episode: Joe Nelson.

Joe Nelson, for whatever reason, has always been one of my favorite heckling targets. The bulk of these encounters occurred in 2006, when Nelson was the Kansas City Royals closer. I had no real basis to pick on him, but pick on him I did. I only write this in the interest of full disclosure.

That being said, the Twins dropped the ball big time by not signing Joe Nelson. Given the chance in the Majors, dude has put up some pretty decent numbers.

Career Stats

Year	Team	League	ERA	W	L	GP	GS	CG	ShO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K
2008	Florida	NL	2.00	3	1	59	0	0	0	1	54.0	42	16	12	5	22	60
2008	Albuquerque	AAA	2.10	1	1	19	0	0	0	11	25.2	17	6	6	1	6	36
2006	Omaha	AAA	1.97	2	2	24	0	0	0	7	32.0	19	9	7	4	12	39
2006	Kansas City	AL	4.43	1	1	43	0	0	0	9	44.2	37	22	22	5	24	44
2005	Springfield	AA	2.03	0	0	9	0	0	0	1	13.1	4	3	3	1	7	22
2005	Durham	AAA	4.11	0	3	35	0	0	0	6	46.0	41	25	21	9	21	62
2004	Portland	AA	1.78	3	2	25	0	0	0	13	30.1	16	8	6	1	15	49
2004	Pawtucket	AAA	4.64	0	0	16	0	0	0	0	21.1	27	14	11	1	9	31
2004	Boston	AL	16.87	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	2.2	4	5	5	0	3	5
2003	Did not play	--	0.00	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	Trenton	AA	14.54	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	4.1	9	8	7	1	2	3
2001	Richmond	AAA	1.13	1	2	29	0	0	0	8	39.2	23	5	5	1	14	40
2001	Atlanta	NL	36.00	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2.0	7	9	8	1	2	0
2000	Jamestown	A	2.25	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	4.0	3	3	1	0	1	7
2000	GCL Braves	R	2.25	1	0	4	0	0	0	1	4.0	3	1	1	0	3	7
1999	Richmond	AAA	4.54	2	3	12	3	0	0	1	33.2	33	18	17	2	15	31
1999	Greenville	AA	2.37	1	1	25	0	0	0	8	30.1	19	15	8	2	14	37
1998	Greenville	AA	4.98	6	9	45	12	1	1	2	108.1	124	76	60	9	69	74
1997	Durham	A	4.76	10	6	25	24	0	0	0	124.2	114	74	66	17	61	99
	Total	MLB	4.09	4	2	107	0	0	0	10	103.1	90	52	47	11	51	109
	Total	NL	3.21	3	1	61	0	0	0	1	56.0	49	25	20	6	24	60
	Total	AL	5.13	1	1	46	0	0	0	9	47.1	41	27	27	5	27	49
	Total	AAA	3.04	6	11	135	3	0	0	33	198.1	160	77	67	18	77	239

His 2008 stats are particularly impressive, as he nearly had as many strikeouts (60) as walks and hits allowed-COMBINED (62). Pretty remarkable stuff. He pitches equally well against lefties (.227 BAA) as righties (just .189!). His ERA for the season was an even 2.00. He came in in the seventh and ninth innings regularly, but shone when called in to duty in the eighth.

The worst part, the part that really stings, the part that really makes you question the intelligence of the Twins' brass (at least a little)? Joe Nelson got 1.3 million to play for the Rays. Luis Ayala (2-10; 5.71 ERA 86 H in 75 IP) received 1.4 million PLUS INCENTIVES to play for the Twins?

Obviously there were other factors likely in play such as Nelson remaining in Florida (signed with TB via Marlins), and the fact the Rays are the defending AL champs. But you can't tell me that Joe Nelson would not have signed with Minnesota for 2 or 3 million, or double the Rays offer.

And you can't tell me he wouldn't be worth it, the same way I contend Crede IS worth 7 million.

Take ONE risk, dammit.