When does Soriano become the closer?

by Bobby Cocks on Apr 11, 2009 11:43 AM EDT

No, this is not to bash Gonzo, as I really like the way he pitches. But so far he hasn't looked that great. Soriano, barring last year's craziness, has been an unstoppable force since he came over to the Bravos. If Gonzo has a couple more outings like last and opening night, are you in favor of moving Soriano to the closing role? How would that affect Gonzo's psyche? Gonzo's big plus is he's a lefty he's greatly suited for the NL East with all their left handed bats.

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I really think they should both close

If the guys due up in the eighth are primarily left handed have Gonzo pitch then, if they’re right hand sand out Rafael and try to use the same logic for the ninth inning. I think this gives us a luxury, that Bobby failed to use in game 3 vs the Phils, of bringing in a closer in say the 7th inning and still having one to close out the 9th. If Moylan can get his velocity up we should be in good shape. We also have Medlen down at AAA to come up and help the pen.

by MatM on Apr 11, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

Good point

Instead of having an official closer’s role, put in Soriano when the righties are coming up and put in Gonzo when the lefties are coming up regardless of inning.
I wouldn’t even be opposed to having Soriano and Gonzo pitch the 7th and 8th if it will leave the closer of the day to face the bottom part of the order.

by Bobby Cocks on Apr 11, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with all of this. Soriano and Gonzalez should pitch the highest leverage situation on days they’re available; that’s not necessarily the 9th inning.

by 17843 on Apr 11, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

This is especially true if Moylan can regain his form. He, at least in the past, was more than capable of mowing down the bottom part of a line up in the 9th inning.

by MatM on Apr 11, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

gonzo makes me need tums with his bobbing and all the balls he throws out of the zone. soriano makes me feel much better at the end of the game. if he is thowing a ball it is in the dirt or it is in the batters ribs, and the first gets a strike alot, the second induces fear.

by heapofoatmeal on Apr 11, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

Both of them I am not 100% confident of shutting the door at the end of the game. I just hope Kimbrel progresses and is fast tracked this year to be ready in 2010 for Closer/Setup Man. I hope Gonzo/Soriano can figure things out for this year or we could be done in thinking about competing for post season baseball. I am kind of glad that we do have some depth in AAA with Medlen/Acosta/Loogan and others to get the call up once again we see another big FAIL by the bullpen. Soriano has always been the most effective when healthy in closing than gonzo and probably be the best to use both in situational Lefty vs Righty match ups in the 8th/9th innings. Only if bobby could actually do this in practical manner that this could be an option but he will probably stay with Gonzo till he coughs up several more save till he makes the move. Moylan will be the wild card that if he get back his velocity and his pre injury form that he could be the man coming out and closing.

by Hanson-Ace on Apr 11, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

i personally just like Soriano’s stuff more than Gonzo’s. Forget the fact that the guy didnt blow a save opportunity for however long. He has been blowing them with us.

I personally would just like to see moylan get back into form that way Moylan and Gonzo are Setup Men and Soriano is being the Closer. Then we only need our starters to get to the 6th inning.

If the Rockies are out of it by the deadline i say we try to get Houston Street or Corpas if the bullpen is still struggling because to be honest i dont trust any of those guys in AAA anymore than the ones in the bigs

by drumzalicious on Apr 11, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

what makes u think Street or Corpas are improvements over what he have right now?

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Apr 11, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Soriano

I’d try him in the 9th right away. When healthy, Soriano has the best stuff and control of anyone in the ATL pen. And right now, he looks healthy.

Gonzalez can be an excellent reliever once his command returns.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Apr 11, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Had Diaz caught that ball last night, the entire outing by Gonzo could have gone differently. Had he retired everyone 1-2-3 I’m sure we wouldn’t have these posts. It’s not completely his fault people.

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all.

by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 11, 2009 5:03 PM EDT reply actions

+1

what they said

"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Apr 11, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s true. Diaz was no help that inning. And I know it’s only been 3 appearances. But Soriano has arguably looked much better thus far. Diaz didn’t give up a walk and a couple hits. Gonzales did. Like I said, I’m not Gonzo bashing nor am I calling for a move to be made. But how many more of these outings do you allow before making changes?

Disclaimer: I have to actually see either one pitch. I’m basing this purely on what I’ve read and it seems that Soriano has been much more dominant thus far.

by Bobby Cocks on Apr 11, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Soriano is lights out right now. He's in the zone.

"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Apr 11, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Soriano has looked better thus far, I’m not arguing that.

And as far as the walk and 2 hits that Gonzalez gave up, who knows how the inning had played out if Gonzo didn’t have to worry about a runner on 2nd that wasn’t supposed to be there. Maybe he goes right at the next hitter and strikes him out, instead of being extra careful since there’s already a RISP

by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 11, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Again. Four games into the season. We are 3-1. No body has stunk enough yet to lose their job, especially while not losing. Yes, the loss to the Phillies stung, but it doesn’t mean we need to overhaul the bullpen.

I was watching the game last night. I didn’t think Gonalez pitched that poorly. No, he was not lights out (but how many guys in the MLB actually are? three?). He got the first batter to fly to left…ball was misplayed. Struck out a guy or two. Got a groundout with the bases loaded that he inconvieniently deflected into foul territory but, had he not reached for it, would have been an easy grounder for Kelly or Escobar. So, from my seats, the Nationals got through one run after being spotted five outs.

Again, still not dominate, but he pitched well enough, IMO.

by kalesi on Apr 11, 2009 5:58 PM EDT reply actions

I think the OP’s point is just that so far Soriano has showed more consistency and has gotten out of Jams easier and more efficiently than Gonzalez.

by drumzalicious on Apr 11, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Escobar would have had to made a hell of a play to field that ball that deflected off of Gonzo’s glove. Certainly not a given. Other than that I agree with you.

by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 11, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

i had this conversation earlier today… This is less of a reaction to last night and more of a reaction to his overall performance so far. I certainly dont propose anyone lose their job on Apr 11th (esp not in this economic market…hehe)…but Soriano has looked better, no matter the circumstances. When healthy i think the job should be Soriano’s no matter what (i.e. when they are both at their top form… I liek SOriano better than Gonzalez).

the question is how many failures (whether u think last night is a failure or not) would it take for Soriano to replace Gonzalez?

is a month of inconsistency by Gonzalez, or is it just a couple of bad outings?

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Apr 11, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

At the end of spring training I was hoping we broke camp with Soriano as the closer, so it’s not like I’m against the guy. A month of inconsistency is certainly way too long to deal with Gonzo in his role, but I would say if he continues to show a lack of command in 2 maybe 3 more appearances the switch should be made..

by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 11, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

thats what Bobby Cocks was asking i think… i dont think he was trying to say Gonzo is the reason we almost lost last ngiht….. we got unlucky on the mistake by DIaz and then Gonzo had toruble gettin out of the jam.

and I agree that 2 or 3 bad outings int he next month or so and he should probably be removed

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Apr 11, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Gonzo looked like he was rounding back into form tonight. I got home just in time to see the top of the ninth. He was a little wild IMO to the first batter but to me, anytime a guy is getting check swings his stuff must be pretty good.

"People need help, and you know how to help them."

by VegasAces on Apr 11, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

so that makes him 2-2 in his appearances (two good ones and two not as good ones)

hopefully this is the Gonzo we all know and love and those other 2 are just him showing that he is in fact not Pujols (who by the way is um quite good… Im looking at you scstrato[ i think ur the one with eh Pujols prejudice ya i called u out again])

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Apr 11, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Let’s try to be a little less yankee-fan-like on here. Gonzalez was a solid closer in Pittsburgh, he was a solid closer last year, and he had two mediocre outings this season, neither of which cost us the game. Soriano’s a good pitcher, but unless some of you forgot, he had the closers role last year for a time and it was an utter train wreck.

by kalesi on Apr 12, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but that was before he had that surgery

Either way, if it aint broke, don’t fix it.

"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Apr 12, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

i will punch u in the head if u call me a yankee fan

for the love of god…im not advocating Gonzo not being the closer, generally removing someone from that role destroys any semblence of ability he has ( anyone remember that Derrick Turnbow guy, former AS then last year he wasnt good enough to play for the Brewers minor league system)… the question on the top was how many performance os a sub par nature would it take… im discussing the question.

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Apr 12, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

It was classic. Escobar went and said something to Gonzo.

Dude batted one right to Esco. Out.

"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Apr 11, 2009 10:25 PM EDT reply actions

Can't be done

Gonzalez has entrance music, and a video. Soriano has nothing. Gonzalez wins.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Apr 12, 2009 12:38 AM EDT reply actions

Soriano is silent but deadly

8 ))

"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Apr 12, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I just dislike how straight Soriano’s fastball is and his HR tendencies. But it was stated above that they should be used when the respective handed batters are coming up (Gonzo for L, Raffy for R), and I agree with that statement.

by soup du jour on Apr 12, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions