Philip Humber Should Be Cut… Now

Feb 18, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher Philip Humber (47) throws during a workout at Papago Park. Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland A’s have brought Philip Humber to their big league camp as a non-roster invitee. He was attempting to get his career back on track, but the way he’s been performing, he has no chance of making this bullpen. Let’s look at why the A’s should just cut him from camp now, considering he is just doing more harm than good.

In his first outing, he faced the Milwaukee Brewers. He had a decent start getting one out, but then he really messed up. He had a ball grounded to him, and he had a lot of time to make the throw. When he did make the throw, he overthrew to first and threw it out of play, allowing runners to go up. After giving up a single, a run scored. He got the other two outs, but the throwing error is what really looked bad. It was his first outing though, so he should still be given more time right? Well let’s see what his other outings have looked like.

His 2nd outing was better. It gave me hope for him. He got all three hitters he faced out against the Angels. It seemed as though that first appearance wasn’t something that would happen often.

His 3rd outing came today, against the Brewers. He inherited a runner at 2nd base. His first batter he gives up a single to Mitch Haniger. The run scored doesn’t go against him. He then hits Mark Reynolds with a pitch, when he was a strike away from striking him out. That’s two straight runners on base. He just needs a double play to get out of it, but any kind of out will be fine. Instead, he walks Juan Francisco to load the bases, and then with the bases loaded, gives up a double to Martin Moldonado. Two runs score. That’s four straight hitters on base. After that, he finally got the two outs he needed.

I know 3 outings isn’t really fair to judge a player, but two of three were bad ones, and he doesn’t have much of a chance of making the roster anyways. He is a minor league player in the A’s minor league system, and he isn’t getting through his innings very well. He should work on improving with the minor league team.

After the first week, the A’s are getting closer to the point in camp where they send some people home. The Mariners made 13 cuts already. The A’s should make some cuts too, and Humber should be on that list.