From Wohlers To Vizcaino, The Braves Find Young Pitching Help From Within Their System

by gondeee on Aug 10, 2011 1:50 PM EDT

At just 20 years old, Arodys Vizcaino is ready for the Show.

The debut of rookie pitchers in their early 20's is something of a second half routine for the Atlanta Braves. Arodys Vizcaino may be one of the youngest Braves pitchers to make his debut in the Atlanta pen in the past 20 years, but he is just the latest in a long line of promising prospects to help the team down the stretch.

Twenty years ago another great young Braves pitcher made his debut in the middle of August. Mark Wohlers entered the Show on August 17th, 1991, with the tying run on third base in a one-run game with two outs in the ninth inning, and struck out Tim Teufel for his first Major League save. Wohlers was 21 and already had a well established track record of being a successful minor league closer.

Jason Schmidt and Terrell Wade, both 22 in 1995, helped out of the pen. At the age of 22, Kevin Millwood picked up the win in relief during his first Major League mound appearance in mid-July, 1997. Odalis Perez collected a hold on September 1st, 1998, in his first Major League appearance as a 20-year-old. Jason Marquis tossed a scoreless inning at the age of 21 in his first appearance in early June of 2000.

Twenty-one year old Tim Spooneybarger looked to have a promising relief career when he debuted in September of 2001. Joey Devine was 21, and barely two months out of college when he entered a game on August 20th, 2005. Of course, we all know that he promptly coughed up a grand slam.

There is a rich history of talented young pitchers ascending to the Majors in the second half of the season to help the Braves drive towards the postseason -- many more than I listed. Surely the debut of Arodys Vizcaino will be one that is watched with the utmost anticipation, as he could be as good as any of these pitchers who came before him.

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It's a great move...

I think he can fill in at literally any time, although it’s possible he won’t see the ninth inning. Basically, it allows the Braves to properly rest their big three by adding a guy that is probably of equal (or better, perhaps…we’ll see) talent.

We could see 7-9th inning combos of EOF/Venters/Kimbrel, EOF/Viz/Kimbrel, EOF/Viz/Venters, Viz/Venters/Kimbrel, Viz/EOF/Kimbrel, Viz/Venters/Kimbrel, Viz/EOF/Venters, and so forth. It should really give us opportunities to give everyone some rest while allowing the other guys to come in for more situational help.

So…who goes once everyone’s healthy?? We should have 8 legit BP arms once Moylan and Linebrink return, so it will be interesting.

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Aug 10, 2011 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

a good problem to have

I would guess Varvaro would go down if one of those is ready to go before Sept 1, but if Viz is doing well, I don’t think they rush either of them back and wait til rosters expand.
If you’re talking about playoffs, I think Varvaro, and either C-Mart or the 5th starter would be the odd men out, leaving the 4 starters, O’Ventbrel, Moylan, Sherrill, Linebrink, Viz, and 5/CMart in the pen… not to shabby

DFA Heyward. I'm dead serious
by wpf3211 on Aug 6, 2011 9:11 PM EDT

by leedawg on Aug 10, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Not sure you need a 12 man staff

in the first round of playoffs, especially if there are two off days. I’d rather leave off Linebrink in your list (I mean he wouldnt have a meaningful role unless it went to extras) and have an extra bat off the bench.

by atlynkhtr on Aug 10, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd go

Hudson
Beachy
Hanson (assuming healthy)
JJ (assuming healthy)
Lowe
Minor
Kimbrel
Venters
EOF
Vizcaino (assuming effective)
RH setup man acquired in trade

Put the best 11 arms in the organization on the playoff staff.

First alternates: Sherrill, Linebrink, Gearrin, Moylan, Martinez, Varvaro

by pbrfan on Aug 10, 2011 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

You can't leave Sherrill off. Unhittable against LH.

This also assumes he is utilized correctly.

by jacket15 on Aug 10, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I completely agree, but Venters and EOF both have an advantage of LHB, too, and they can face RHBs as well. Sherrill’s numbers against RHBs, except for batting average, are in Scott Proctor territory.

Playoff teams are going to be much more R/L balanced lineups and have strong bench bat options, and the value of a ROOGY or LOOGY drops a ton. R/L balance means that Sherrill can probably only see one batter at a time and strong benches means he can be neutralized easily.

In the playoffs, Sherrill is going to be the 3rd best option after Venters and EOF. He’d be my first alternate in, though.

by pbrfan on Aug 10, 2011 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think you need

two long guys. Not sure Minor would ever get in a game unless it went to the 15th inning. I would much rather have a groundball specialist for a time when you were up 1 with the bases loaded and 0 or 1 outs.

I would rather have Sherrill than a RH that would come in a trade because I think the AV move is going to work and was done in order to see if a RH would have to be traded for before 8/31.

by atlynkhtr on Aug 10, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

My guess is that Linebrink, if 100%, takes Varvaro’s spot. Moylan pitches in September on the expanded roster. Wren trades for an established RH setup man that takes Martinez’s spot, who won’t be needed in the playoffs. For all the potential that Vizcaino has, if Wren can get an established RH reliever cheap (and there should be plenty available) he should. It would be as much insurance for Vizcaino as it would be for Linebrink (unknown health status at this point) and EOF (has had injury problems).

Moylan has been canonized since going on the DL but he’s a ROOGY and a massive unknown coming back from major surgery.

There is also a distinct possibility that either one or both of JJ or Hanson won’t be on the playoff roster. That’s when things get interesting.

by pbrfan on Aug 10, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

If Viz does what he's capable of, we're not trading for a relief addition

come September, we can have Teheran, Delgado, and others in the pen. If Viz can show the overhwelming stuff he has, we don’t need more. A backup SS maybe, but that’s all I can see Wren acquiring.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Aug 10, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes!

Please God, a backup SS!

by fjrobinson44 on Aug 10, 2011 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Linebrink and Moylan could hold off til September

so no one “goes”.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Aug 10, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

O’VizVentbrel!

Braves, (NHL and NFL) Jets, Bruins, Celtics, and Whitecaps FC fan! Just one of God's mystical creatures, a big sports fan.

Twitter: @jrodisjust2cool

by jrodisjust2cool on Aug 10, 2011 2:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Starters go 4, then turn it over to

Peteodys O’Ventbrel

DFA Heyward. I'm dead serious
by wpf3211 on Aug 6, 2011 9:11 PM EDT

by leedawg on Aug 10, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

just hoping it doesn't stunt his growth

as either a starter or in general..

not saying i have any reference, but just hope it doesnt..

by dank7 on Aug 10, 2011 2:12 PM EDT reply actions

I agree. We don't want a midget pitcher.

God typed "iddqd" before creating Jason Heyward.

by EyePod on Aug 10, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

har har har

by dank7 on Aug 10, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I would love a midget pitcher. It would be creepy as anything, but fun to watch.

Daffy Duck goes to bed at 10:00 every night, except on New Year's Eve, he goes to bed at 8:30.

by bwellnjonesco on Aug 10, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I would love to see a guy throwing a 30mph fastball, although it would probably look more like a curve, given the distance it has to travel…

by HeyMikey on Aug 10, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

eephus pitch

so goofy

DFA Heyward. I'm dead serious
by wpf3211 on Aug 6, 2011 9:11 PM EDT

by leedawg on Aug 10, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Midget hitters work well though

/EddieGaedel.jpg

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Aug 10, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

The Future is now!

Big homestand coming up…..

by CowboyCurtis on Aug 10, 2011 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

Bye-bye Proctor

We will miss having something negative to talk about on here .

by bravesdude on Aug 10, 2011 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Oh did you forget about Lugo?

by atlynkhtr on Aug 10, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

he’s got to be next on the hit list no?

by nuftjedi on Aug 10, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah kind of the last of the mohicans. McClouth, Schafer, Proctor. It might take a while but we get our guy.

by atlynkhtr on Aug 10, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

i'd rather have diory than lugo

"My everything, or nothing. My everything, or nothing. WE gonna fight, til we can't fight no more. We gonna lie down, and bleed a while. Gonna get up, and fight again." -Tashard Choice

by SouthernPanther on Aug 10, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d rather have Hicks/Diory and in September when Gwinnett is done playing the Rev. Hell I’d rather have Prado be the emergency backup and cut Lugo and bring up Nieves so that Ross could be used as a pinch hitter once McCann comes back.

by atlynkhtr on Aug 10, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Posters here have only been clamoring for this for 4 months. Glad to see it finally happened, although it will be harder to tell when Fredi has officially given up on winning any particular game.

by Choppa2Chippa on Aug 10, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Always exciting to see the young buck get his shot

The last of the “Big 4” now reaches the bigs…

Anyone know if he’ll be in Miami tonight? I’m sure he wants to be

by theatlfan on Aug 10, 2011 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

I hope his debut comes tonight and he gets a 6 out save. We may need him to do that.

by Fatvirus on Aug 10, 2011 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

Phillies and Dodgers just getting going

Rollins with a 15 pitch AB to open the game… must be nice

DFA Heyward. I'm dead serious
by wpf3211 on Aug 6, 2011 9:11 PM EDT

by leedawg on Aug 10, 2011 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

i am so freaking pumped to have vizzy in atlanta now!!!

finally a legit RH power-arm coming out of the pen, this is a HUGE improvement for this team. can’t wait to get moylan and linebrink back, this bullpen will be scary good

"My everything, or nothing. My everything, or nothing. WE gonna fight, til we can't fight no more. We gonna lie down, and bleed a while. Gonna get up, and fight again." -Tashard Choice

by SouthernPanther on Aug 10, 2011 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

what’s kimbrel then, if not a legit RH power-arm?

not that I don’t agree about being excited for vizzy’s mlb debut

Morton hit Heyward with an offspeed pitch. Early indication is that the baseball survived the impact.

by award6 on Aug 10, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

what i meant was since kimbrel is firmly entrechned in his very rigid "save situation only" role

we don’t have a legit power arm to come out in tough spots outside the 9th inning

"My everything, or nothing. My everything, or nothing. WE gonna fight, til we can't fight no more. We gonna lie down, and bleed a while. Gonna get up, and fight again." -Tashard Choice

by SouthernPanther on Aug 10, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions