Friday, February 24, 2006
Door is open for Braves' closer spot
02/08/2006
ATLANTA -- It's not accurate to state the Braves are heading to Spring Training without a closer. In actuality, they'll simply arrive in camp without having announced who they will use in that role.
While many believe Chris Reitsma will ultimately be given the job that a leg injury caused him to lose last year, the Braves are keeping their options open. There's still a chance general manager John Schuerholz could work his magic and make yet another March trade.
Or there's a chance manager Bobby Cox would feel more comfortable putting Joey Devine or possibly even Oscar Villarreal in that role.
There are a number of options and just two men have the power to make the ultimate decision. It's just one that doesn't necessarily have to be made in February.
"We're not announcing it, because we don't know who it is going to be," Schuerholz said. "Bobby has done this many times in the past when we've had openings at various positions. We'll let them compete for it, and whoever impresses the most will get the opportunity to be our closer."
During their current streak of 14 consecutive division titles, the Braves haven't always ended the season with the same closer who had been assigned that role when pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training. Last year it took three tries before they found a dependable closer in Kyle Farnsworth.
When camp began in 1998, Kerry Ligtenberg was simply hoping to grab a roster spot. A couple of Mark Wohlers fastballs to the backstop later, Ligtenberg found himself in the role en route to a 30-save season. One year later, Ligtenberg injured his elbow in camp and some guy named John Rocker suddenly became a beloved closer, albeit one whose mouth ultimately ruined the fame his arm had created.
Other than 2002-04, when John Smoltz was filling the role, the Braves really haven't had reason to enter a season feeling overly confident about their designated closer in recent memory. Yet, they've still managed to continue a historic streak of success.
If Reitsma is indeed the man who proves capable of filling that role throughout the season, Schuerholz wouldn't be surprised. In fact, he considers the veteran right-hander to currently have the inside track on the job.
"He's done it before, and we know he can do it again," Schuerholz said of Reitsma, who converted 13 of his 15 save opportunities in June and July last year.
After being named the National League's Rolaids Relief Man of the Month for July, Reitsma injured his right leg and continued to pitch through the severe discomfort. Consequently, he struggled and lost his job to Farnsworth.
Even after seeing him falter down the stretch both of the past two seasons, Smoltz has said numerous times that he believes Reitsma is the man for the job. His sentiments have been echoed by Chipper Jones.
"He's certainly the best that we have, and he has the stuff to do it," Jones said.
Reitsma has a fastball that is clocked in the mid-90s, a devastating changeup and what scouts consider to be a plus-curve. The combination could lead to dominant success if he's able to both mix and locate his pitches better than he has.
"Personally, I think this is going to be Chris Reitsma's year," said Blaine Boyer, who has the potential to be the Braves' closer in the future.
Although Jorge Sosa has been impressive as a reliever in the Dominican Winter League and Caribbean World Series, the Braves seem intent on putting him back into the starting rotation, where he flourished during a 13-win season last year.
If Sosa returns as a starter, the Braves will go to camp with six legitimate candidates for their five-man starting rotation. There's a slight chance they could trade John Thomson or Sosa. Or they could simply send 22-year-old Kyle Davies back to Triple-A Richmond for more seasoning.
Davies was part of last year's successful rookie cast that also included Macay McBride and Devine, who Schuerholz says are both viewed as candidates for the closer role.
McBride is a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher who has an outstanding curveball. As for Devine, his most important attribute might be his strong resolve, something he'll need to bounce back from the rocky start to what still could be a long and productive career.
Devine, the club's top selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, has the distinction of being the first hurler to allow grand slams in both of his first two big-league appearances. Adding to the list of forgettable events was the fact that he surrendered the walk-off homer in the 18th inning of the season-ending Game 4 loss to the Astros in the National League Division Series.
Still, the Braves are high on the 22-year-old right-hander who has a powerful sinker -- a pitch that will be even more effective when located better. Some of his struggles last year were caused by a hip flexor injury that he suffered in his Major League debut.
"I think once he's able to pinpoint his fastball a little bit better, he's going to be awesome," Cox said of Devine, who made his professional debut at Class A Myrtle Beach in June.
Two other top candidates are Brad Baker, whose outstanding changeup has delighted the Braves, and Villarreal, who appeared healthy while pitching in the Mexican Winter League.
Villarreal, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks in December, has appeared in just 28 games since making a rookie-record 86 appearances in 2003. But Braves scouts that have been in Mexico the past few months say that the 24-year-old right-hander's fastball once again has good velocity and action.
"It's going to be real exciting seeing all of the guys compete," Schuerholz said. "It will certainly be a spot of great interest for all of us."
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
ATLANTA -- It's not accurate to state the Braves are heading to Spring Training without a closer. In actuality, they'll simply arrive in camp without having announced who they will use in that role.
While many believe Chris Reitsma will ultimately be given the job that a leg injury caused him to lose last year, the Braves are keeping their options open. There's still a chance general manager John Schuerholz could work his magic and make yet another March trade.
Or there's a chance manager Bobby Cox would feel more comfortable putting Joey Devine or possibly even Oscar Villarreal in that role.
There are a number of options and just two men have the power to make the ultimate decision. It's just one that doesn't necessarily have to be made in February.
"We're not announcing it, because we don't know who it is going to be," Schuerholz said. "Bobby has done this many times in the past when we've had openings at various positions. We'll let them compete for it, and whoever impresses the most will get the opportunity to be our closer."
During their current streak of 14 consecutive division titles, the Braves haven't always ended the season with the same closer who had been assigned that role when pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training. Last year it took three tries before they found a dependable closer in Kyle Farnsworth.
When camp began in 1998, Kerry Ligtenberg was simply hoping to grab a roster spot. A couple of Mark Wohlers fastballs to the backstop later, Ligtenberg found himself in the role en route to a 30-save season. One year later, Ligtenberg injured his elbow in camp and some guy named John Rocker suddenly became a beloved closer, albeit one whose mouth ultimately ruined the fame his arm had created.
Other than 2002-04, when John Smoltz was filling the role, the Braves really haven't had reason to enter a season feeling overly confident about their designated closer in recent memory. Yet, they've still managed to continue a historic streak of success.
If Reitsma is indeed the man who proves capable of filling that role throughout the season, Schuerholz wouldn't be surprised. In fact, he considers the veteran right-hander to currently have the inside track on the job.
"He's done it before, and we know he can do it again," Schuerholz said of Reitsma, who converted 13 of his 15 save opportunities in June and July last year.
After being named the National League's Rolaids Relief Man of the Month for July, Reitsma injured his right leg and continued to pitch through the severe discomfort. Consequently, he struggled and lost his job to Farnsworth.
Even after seeing him falter down the stretch both of the past two seasons, Smoltz has said numerous times that he believes Reitsma is the man for the job. His sentiments have been echoed by Chipper Jones.
"He's certainly the best that we have, and he has the stuff to do it," Jones said.
Reitsma has a fastball that is clocked in the mid-90s, a devastating changeup and what scouts consider to be a plus-curve. The combination could lead to dominant success if he's able to both mix and locate his pitches better than he has.
"Personally, I think this is going to be Chris Reitsma's year," said Blaine Boyer, who has the potential to be the Braves' closer in the future.
Although Jorge Sosa has been impressive as a reliever in the Dominican Winter League and Caribbean World Series, the Braves seem intent on putting him back into the starting rotation, where he flourished during a 13-win season last year.
If Sosa returns as a starter, the Braves will go to camp with six legitimate candidates for their five-man starting rotation. There's a slight chance they could trade John Thomson or Sosa. Or they could simply send 22-year-old Kyle Davies back to Triple-A Richmond for more seasoning.
Davies was part of last year's successful rookie cast that also included Macay McBride and Devine, who Schuerholz says are both viewed as candidates for the closer role.
McBride is a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher who has an outstanding curveball. As for Devine, his most important attribute might be his strong resolve, something he'll need to bounce back from the rocky start to what still could be a long and productive career.
Devine, the club's top selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, has the distinction of being the first hurler to allow grand slams in both of his first two big-league appearances. Adding to the list of forgettable events was the fact that he surrendered the walk-off homer in the 18th inning of the season-ending Game 4 loss to the Astros in the National League Division Series.
Still, the Braves are high on the 22-year-old right-hander who has a powerful sinker -- a pitch that will be even more effective when located better. Some of his struggles last year were caused by a hip flexor injury that he suffered in his Major League debut.
"I think once he's able to pinpoint his fastball a little bit better, he's going to be awesome," Cox said of Devine, who made his professional debut at Class A Myrtle Beach in June.
Two other top candidates are Brad Baker, whose outstanding changeup has delighted the Braves, and Villarreal, who appeared healthy while pitching in the Mexican Winter League.
Villarreal, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks in December, has appeared in just 28 games since making a rookie-record 86 appearances in 2003. But Braves scouts that have been in Mexico the past few months say that the 24-year-old right-hander's fastball once again has good velocity and action.
"It's going to be real exciting seeing all of the guys compete," Schuerholz said. "It will certainly be a spot of great interest for all of us."
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
