Saturday, March 04, 2006
Mailbag: Will Braves' closer be Devine?
01/09/2006
Will Joey Devine be given a chance at the closer's role? I know he's young and had a shaky year, but he's the club's only true closer at this time.-- Todd D., Simpsonville, S.C.
The most important thing to know about Joey Devine is that the organization still has the utmost confidence that he'll be a successful big leaguer. But let's not forget that last year at this time, he was in Raleigh, N.C., preparing to face collegiate hitters with aluminum bats.
Oakland's Huston Street and Washington's Chad Cordero have proven a collegiate closer can quickly become a successful one at the big-league level. Had he not suffered a hip flexor injury in his Major League debut, Devine might have traveled that same accelerated path.
That's not saying he's not still on that path. But at the same time, there isn't any reason for the Braves to rush his development by forcing him to prove himself as a big-league closer right now. It might be in everyone's best interest if he begins the season back in the Minors and regains the confidence that might have been shaken last year.
But even after allowing grand slams in both of his first two big-league appearances and surrendering the 18th-inning walk-off homer that ended the Braves' season, Devine was a standup individual willing to answer any and all questions with maturity and grace.
That is why his teammates, manager Bobby Cox and the rest of the Braves management believe he'll bounce back and be a key to the team's success by season's end. Also, they're all aware that he pitched with an injury in his first two career appearances and then made just three more regular-season appearances before being placed on the postseason roster.
However, I think your reference to Devine being the team's "only true closer" is unfair and inaccurate. Let's not forget that many of the best closers the game has seen -- standouts like Dennis Eckersley, Eric Gagne and John Smoltz -- all began their big-league careers as starters. Even Mariano Rivera was a starting pitcher throughout the majority of his Minor League career.
So just because Devine closed games with great dependability for North Carolina State over the previous three years doesn't mean he's any more suited for the closer's role than Chris Reitsma, who was named the National League's best closer in July.
There wouldn't be anything wrong with Reitsma beginning the season as the closer in the hopes that he'll be just as effective as he was before leg injuries hampered him in August and September.
At the same time, there's no reason to doubt Devine would be capable of filling the closer's role if Reitsma were to falter. But right now, there's no reason to rush a young pitcher like Devine, who has made a grand total of eight appearances in the Majors, including three playoff games.
With all the possibilities in the rotation, assuming that Jorge Sosa goes to the closer position, who has an edge over the rest of the starters for the last spot in the rotation?-- Mark S., Newnan, Ga.
First, let's not assume Sosa is going to be in the closer's role. As last week's mailbag suggested, it's simply one option being considered.
However, if the Braves were to move Sosa back to the bullpen, the final three spots in the rotation would likely be filled by John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez and Kyle Davies.
If Sosa remains a starter, the Braves certainly have some decisions to make. They would have him, Thomson, Ramirez and Davies to choose from for the final three spots in their rotation. In addition, Chuck James and Anthony Lerew are two impressive youngsters coming to camp with dreams of making the big-league rotation.
With Sosa in the rotation, or unless one of those starters is traded, Davies would likely be the odd man out. But it does appear that his mental maturity and physical skills are advanced enough for him to have the chance to be a productive figure in the Atlanta rotation.
During his first three Major League starts, Davies was as impressive as any rookie pitcher the Braves have had during the pitching-rich dynasty they've produced over the past two decades. Later in the year, he lost his aggressiveness in the strike zone and wasn't nearly as effective.
But as Braves fans will likely come to know over the next few years, Davies is a determined competitor whose mental makeup is as strong as the one a young Greg Maddux possessed. So, if given the chance to win a rotation spot, I think Davies will find a way to secure it.
Are there any concerns about the fact that Edgar Renteria had a lot of errors last year? The Braves have always had a strong defense.-- Barry F., Charlotte, N.C.
I'm not sure that a player can suddenly go, at the age of 30, from one of the most reliable performers in the field to a defensive liability. Thus, I'm sticking to the belief that field conditions, his unhappiness in Boston and his occasional struggles at the plate all factored into the career-high 30 errors Renteria committed.
Over the 2003 and 2004 seasons, Renteria committed just 27 errors combined. He refuses to blame last year's defensive struggles on cold weather or any other factors. But his sudden decline does suggest they played a role.
The Braves are confident he'll once again prove as dependable as he was while winning Gold Gloves in 2002 and 2003. That's not to say he'll cover as much ground as Rafael Furcal. Very few do. But he can certainly be just as reliable.
Whats the story with Ryan Langerhans? It seems as though he would only get better. Is his future with Atlanta or elsewhere?-- James T., Albany, N.Y.
All indications are that his immediate future is in Atlanta. Langerhans improved his offensive skills throughout this past season to the point he was one of the club's most consistent hitters in September.
Langerhans, who is an above-average defensive player, may platoon in left field with the right-handed-hitting Matt Diaz, whom the Braves acquired in December.
There were some rumors that the Braves were looking to trade Langerhans to Cleveland for right-handed reliever David Riske. But a club official said that trade was never discussed.
Will Roger McDowell continue the tradition of having a pre-Spring Training camp for the pitchers like we saw with Camp Leo? Or will he and the Braves just wait until Spring Training?-- Nicholas S., Little Rock, Ark.
McDowell will assemble the pitchers at Turner Field for early workouts during the first few days of February. While a little shorter in length, it will be similar to the preseason workouts that former pitching coach Leo Mazzone conducted in Atlanta over the past 15 years.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
Will Joey Devine be given a chance at the closer's role? I know he's young and had a shaky year, but he's the club's only true closer at this time.-- Todd D., Simpsonville, S.C.
The most important thing to know about Joey Devine is that the organization still has the utmost confidence that he'll be a successful big leaguer. But let's not forget that last year at this time, he was in Raleigh, N.C., preparing to face collegiate hitters with aluminum bats.
Oakland's Huston Street and Washington's Chad Cordero have proven a collegiate closer can quickly become a successful one at the big-league level. Had he not suffered a hip flexor injury in his Major League debut, Devine might have traveled that same accelerated path.
That's not saying he's not still on that path. But at the same time, there isn't any reason for the Braves to rush his development by forcing him to prove himself as a big-league closer right now. It might be in everyone's best interest if he begins the season back in the Minors and regains the confidence that might have been shaken last year.
But even after allowing grand slams in both of his first two big-league appearances and surrendering the 18th-inning walk-off homer that ended the Braves' season, Devine was a standup individual willing to answer any and all questions with maturity and grace.
That is why his teammates, manager Bobby Cox and the rest of the Braves management believe he'll bounce back and be a key to the team's success by season's end. Also, they're all aware that he pitched with an injury in his first two career appearances and then made just three more regular-season appearances before being placed on the postseason roster.
However, I think your reference to Devine being the team's "only true closer" is unfair and inaccurate. Let's not forget that many of the best closers the game has seen -- standouts like Dennis Eckersley, Eric Gagne and John Smoltz -- all began their big-league careers as starters. Even Mariano Rivera was a starting pitcher throughout the majority of his Minor League career.
So just because Devine closed games with great dependability for North Carolina State over the previous three years doesn't mean he's any more suited for the closer's role than Chris Reitsma, who was named the National League's best closer in July.
There wouldn't be anything wrong with Reitsma beginning the season as the closer in the hopes that he'll be just as effective as he was before leg injuries hampered him in August and September.
At the same time, there's no reason to doubt Devine would be capable of filling the closer's role if Reitsma were to falter. But right now, there's no reason to rush a young pitcher like Devine, who has made a grand total of eight appearances in the Majors, including three playoff games.
With all the possibilities in the rotation, assuming that Jorge Sosa goes to the closer position, who has an edge over the rest of the starters for the last spot in the rotation?-- Mark S., Newnan, Ga.
First, let's not assume Sosa is going to be in the closer's role. As last week's mailbag suggested, it's simply one option being considered.
However, if the Braves were to move Sosa back to the bullpen, the final three spots in the rotation would likely be filled by John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez and Kyle Davies.
If Sosa remains a starter, the Braves certainly have some decisions to make. They would have him, Thomson, Ramirez and Davies to choose from for the final three spots in their rotation. In addition, Chuck James and Anthony Lerew are two impressive youngsters coming to camp with dreams of making the big-league rotation.
With Sosa in the rotation, or unless one of those starters is traded, Davies would likely be the odd man out. But it does appear that his mental maturity and physical skills are advanced enough for him to have the chance to be a productive figure in the Atlanta rotation.
During his first three Major League starts, Davies was as impressive as any rookie pitcher the Braves have had during the pitching-rich dynasty they've produced over the past two decades. Later in the year, he lost his aggressiveness in the strike zone and wasn't nearly as effective.
But as Braves fans will likely come to know over the next few years, Davies is a determined competitor whose mental makeup is as strong as the one a young Greg Maddux possessed. So, if given the chance to win a rotation spot, I think Davies will find a way to secure it.
Are there any concerns about the fact that Edgar Renteria had a lot of errors last year? The Braves have always had a strong defense.-- Barry F., Charlotte, N.C.
I'm not sure that a player can suddenly go, at the age of 30, from one of the most reliable performers in the field to a defensive liability. Thus, I'm sticking to the belief that field conditions, his unhappiness in Boston and his occasional struggles at the plate all factored into the career-high 30 errors Renteria committed.
Over the 2003 and 2004 seasons, Renteria committed just 27 errors combined. He refuses to blame last year's defensive struggles on cold weather or any other factors. But his sudden decline does suggest they played a role.
The Braves are confident he'll once again prove as dependable as he was while winning Gold Gloves in 2002 and 2003. That's not to say he'll cover as much ground as Rafael Furcal. Very few do. But he can certainly be just as reliable.
Whats the story with Ryan Langerhans? It seems as though he would only get better. Is his future with Atlanta or elsewhere?-- James T., Albany, N.Y.
All indications are that his immediate future is in Atlanta. Langerhans improved his offensive skills throughout this past season to the point he was one of the club's most consistent hitters in September.
Langerhans, who is an above-average defensive player, may platoon in left field with the right-handed-hitting Matt Diaz, whom the Braves acquired in December.
There were some rumors that the Braves were looking to trade Langerhans to Cleveland for right-handed reliever David Riske. But a club official said that trade was never discussed.
Will Roger McDowell continue the tradition of having a pre-Spring Training camp for the pitchers like we saw with Camp Leo? Or will he and the Braves just wait until Spring Training?-- Nicholas S., Little Rock, Ark.
McDowell will assemble the pitchers at Turner Field for early workouts during the first few days of February. While a little shorter in length, it will be similar to the preseason workouts that former pitching coach Leo Mazzone conducted in Atlanta over the past 15 years.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
