Saturday, March 04, 2006
Around the Horn: Bullpen
01/11/2006
ATLANTA -- If there is one negative John Smoltz has provided throughout his highly successful career, it might be that he gave Braves fans the impression that saving games was as easy as sinking a two-foot putt.
After watching Smoltz prove so dominant as their closer from 2001-04, Braves fans were reminded last year just how nice it was to have somebody they confidently believed could secure a ninth-inning lead.
It took Braves manager Bobby Cox three tries before he found a dependable closer to carry into last year's postseason. Now, as the third week of January approaches, he's not sure who will fill that role at the start of the 2006 season.
But that doesn't mean this year's group of relievers will cause as much uneasiness as last year's. The Braves have added depth to the bullpen during the offseason and there is a chance Chris Reitsma can be dependable if given the shot to be the closer.
"If everybody is healthy, we can be just fine out there," said Cox, who saw his bullpen post a 4.74 ERA and squander 22 of 60 save opportunities last year.
Primary injury concerns relate to right-handed relievers Blaine Boyer, Joey Devine and Oscar Villarreal, who all seem to be healthy and capable of providing strong setup work for Reitsma or whomever the Braves choose to place in their closer's role.
Smoltz has said numerous times that he believes Reitsma is capable of being a successful closer. Now as Spring Training nears and the options dwindle, it appears Reitsma will be given that opportunity to prove himself.
Before suffering a leg injury that hampered him in August and September, Reitsma was a dependable closer for the Braves. During June and July, he converted 13 of 15 save opportunities and was named the National League's Rolaids Relief Man of the Month for July.
Because Reitsma has struggled down the stretch both of the past two seasons, fans don't seem to have confidence in him as the closer. But his late-season struggles last year were a product of the injury and the fatigue that came from appearing in 160 games over the past two seasons.
With an outstanding changeup, strong fastball and improving curveball, Reitsma has the tools necessary to be a strong closer. In fact, some believe his stuff fools hitters so badly that they swing and get so little of the ball that it creates a bad hop or spin that results in a bad-luck single.
If Reitsma is able to work with new pitching coach Roger McDowell and find a pitch that creates more strikeouts, he certainly could be a solid closer. He's recorded just 102 strikeouts in 153 innings over the past two years.
"I think Reitsma has done a good job with us," Cox said. "He's been spectacular at times. Like you say, the tail end, it's gotten a little rough for him at times. But I think he's quality and I know he's looking forward to working with Roger."
If the Braves choose to go in another direction, it could be because they've acquired another closer via a trade or have decided to move Jorge Sosa into that role. But it appears they'll likely keep Sosa in the rotation in hopes that he proves as effective as he did as a starter last year.
Whatever happens, the Braves are hoping that Boyer is ready to be one of their top setup men. The 24-year-old right-hander made 15 consecutive scoreless appearances before soreness in his shoulder slowed him in September.
All indications are that he's healthy and will be ready to go at full strength at the start of Spring Training. That also seems to be the case with Devine, who suffered a hip flexor injury while making his Major League debut last year.
Devine, the club's top selection in June's draft, became the first Major Leaguer to surrender grand slams in both of his first two career appearances. His season ended with Chris Burke's 18th-inning walk-off homer in the clinching fourth game of the National League Division Series.
But the Braves believe his confidence is solid and that he'll be a key part of their bullpen by the time this season ends. The 22-year-old right-hander didn't begin playing pro ball until June, but he's already made a good impression on the organization. He has the potential to be Atlanta's closer within the next two years.
"I really like the kid a lot," Cox said of Devine. "I think once he's able to pinpoint his fastball a little bit better, he's going to be awesome."
If Villarreal is able to stay healthy, he too could be a valuable setup man or possibly even the closer. Since appearing in a rookie-record 86 games in 2003, he has been plagued with injuries. An elbow injury limited him to 17 games in 2004, and a shoulder injury allowed him to make just 11 appearances this past year.
Villarreal, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks along with Lance Cormier in exchange for Johnny Estrada, has been throwing well in the Mexican Winter League. A Braves scout has told the team it appears he's regained all of his arm strength.
Two other key additions to the bullpen include Cormier, who posted a 2.70 ERA in 37 appearances before last year's All-Star break, and Brad Baker, who was acquired as a Minor League free agent in November. The club likens Baker to Greg McMichael, who enjoyed success in Atlanta in the 1990s.
It appears John Foster and Macay McBride will enter camp as the top candidates to serve as the club's left-handed relievers. Foster was strong early last year, and McBride enjoyed a strong rookie season after making his big-league debut in late July.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
ATLANTA -- If there is one negative John Smoltz has provided throughout his highly successful career, it might be that he gave Braves fans the impression that saving games was as easy as sinking a two-foot putt.
After watching Smoltz prove so dominant as their closer from 2001-04, Braves fans were reminded last year just how nice it was to have somebody they confidently believed could secure a ninth-inning lead.
It took Braves manager Bobby Cox three tries before he found a dependable closer to carry into last year's postseason. Now, as the third week of January approaches, he's not sure who will fill that role at the start of the 2006 season.
But that doesn't mean this year's group of relievers will cause as much uneasiness as last year's. The Braves have added depth to the bullpen during the offseason and there is a chance Chris Reitsma can be dependable if given the shot to be the closer.
"If everybody is healthy, we can be just fine out there," said Cox, who saw his bullpen post a 4.74 ERA and squander 22 of 60 save opportunities last year.
Primary injury concerns relate to right-handed relievers Blaine Boyer, Joey Devine and Oscar Villarreal, who all seem to be healthy and capable of providing strong setup work for Reitsma or whomever the Braves choose to place in their closer's role.
Smoltz has said numerous times that he believes Reitsma is capable of being a successful closer. Now as Spring Training nears and the options dwindle, it appears Reitsma will be given that opportunity to prove himself.
Before suffering a leg injury that hampered him in August and September, Reitsma was a dependable closer for the Braves. During June and July, he converted 13 of 15 save opportunities and was named the National League's Rolaids Relief Man of the Month for July.
Because Reitsma has struggled down the stretch both of the past two seasons, fans don't seem to have confidence in him as the closer. But his late-season struggles last year were a product of the injury and the fatigue that came from appearing in 160 games over the past two seasons.
With an outstanding changeup, strong fastball and improving curveball, Reitsma has the tools necessary to be a strong closer. In fact, some believe his stuff fools hitters so badly that they swing and get so little of the ball that it creates a bad hop or spin that results in a bad-luck single.
If Reitsma is able to work with new pitching coach Roger McDowell and find a pitch that creates more strikeouts, he certainly could be a solid closer. He's recorded just 102 strikeouts in 153 innings over the past two years.
"I think Reitsma has done a good job with us," Cox said. "He's been spectacular at times. Like you say, the tail end, it's gotten a little rough for him at times. But I think he's quality and I know he's looking forward to working with Roger."
If the Braves choose to go in another direction, it could be because they've acquired another closer via a trade or have decided to move Jorge Sosa into that role. But it appears they'll likely keep Sosa in the rotation in hopes that he proves as effective as he did as a starter last year.
Whatever happens, the Braves are hoping that Boyer is ready to be one of their top setup men. The 24-year-old right-hander made 15 consecutive scoreless appearances before soreness in his shoulder slowed him in September.
All indications are that he's healthy and will be ready to go at full strength at the start of Spring Training. That also seems to be the case with Devine, who suffered a hip flexor injury while making his Major League debut last year.
Devine, the club's top selection in June's draft, became the first Major Leaguer to surrender grand slams in both of his first two career appearances. His season ended with Chris Burke's 18th-inning walk-off homer in the clinching fourth game of the National League Division Series.
But the Braves believe his confidence is solid and that he'll be a key part of their bullpen by the time this season ends. The 22-year-old right-hander didn't begin playing pro ball until June, but he's already made a good impression on the organization. He has the potential to be Atlanta's closer within the next two years.
"I really like the kid a lot," Cox said of Devine. "I think once he's able to pinpoint his fastball a little bit better, he's going to be awesome."
If Villarreal is able to stay healthy, he too could be a valuable setup man or possibly even the closer. Since appearing in a rookie-record 86 games in 2003, he has been plagued with injuries. An elbow injury limited him to 17 games in 2004, and a shoulder injury allowed him to make just 11 appearances this past year.
Villarreal, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks along with Lance Cormier in exchange for Johnny Estrada, has been throwing well in the Mexican Winter League. A Braves scout has told the team it appears he's regained all of his arm strength.
Two other key additions to the bullpen include Cormier, who posted a 2.70 ERA in 37 appearances before last year's All-Star break, and Brad Baker, who was acquired as a Minor League free agent in November. The club likens Baker to Greg McMichael, who enjoyed success in Atlanta in the 1990s.
It appears John Foster and Macay McBride will enter camp as the top candidates to serve as the club's left-handed relievers. Foster was strong early last year, and McBride enjoyed a strong rookie season after making his big-league debut in late July.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
