If Soriano Can't Close, Then Who Will?

by gondeee on Mar 4, 2008 4:40 PM EST

I really don't know; I'm just putting it out there. Here is a snippet from DOB's blog/column today:

[Rafael Soriano] hasn't pitched yet and we've been told several times that a stomach ailment of some sort has been the problem. True that, but he's also got some inflammation in his pitching elbow, or slightly above it where the triceps connects to the elbow.

I know this because Bobby Cox mentioned the elbow inflammation to me in passing when I was talking to him in his office an hour ago, after first reiterating that Soriano had some tests to rule out an ulcer or something along those lines that might be causing his stomach discomfort.

"True that," indeed. I hadn't thought about it, but we may be a bit lean in the "reliever who can consistently close out games" department. If I had to guess as to who would assume those duties should the big man not be able to go, I'd say Peter Moylan, followed by Blaine Boyer and maybe Tyler Yates (don't hate me for saying that). But that's how problematic this may be... Tyler Yates could be our third option at backup closer.

O'Brien warns us not to jump to any really bad conclusions with Soriano, but at the same time the fact that the Braves are trying to keep this kind of quiet is a bit unnerving. Keep in mind that it is early in spring training and extra precautions are usually taken with players, so this could just be the Braves being extra cautious, but it still doesn't give me a good feeling.

I wonder if someone we haven't thought of could come in and close; someone like Jeff Bennett. If he did indeed get in better shape this winter, he does have a lively fastball, and the Braves have never been shy about converting a pitcher who is historically a starter to a relief role (see Mike Remlinger).

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Remlinger

Did you really just say Remlinger? I watched Monday's game against the Mets and Morton looked really good. I could see him as a candidate for closer. His changeup was outstanding. Albeit against backups and not starters.

by gscurro on Mar 4, 2008 5:39 PM EST reply actions

We're cooked...

... without a healthy and reliable closer. Any team who wants to win and dominate simply has to have a go-to guy in the 9th inning to slam the door. I can only hope this is the result of not having picked up a baseball since September.

-sdp-

by sdp on Mar 4, 2008 5:41 PM EST reply actions

let's not forget Mike Gonzalez

Bobby said Gonzalez' recovery is ahead of schedule. If Soriano is seriously injured, we could try Moylan, Stockman, Acosta, Bennett, Ring, or Yates until Gonzalez is ready in June.

by JimK on Mar 4, 2008 6:06 PM EST reply actions

sorry

there is no such thing as ahead of schedule when it comes to elbow surgery. You stay on their projected path or you end up paying in the long run (see mike hampton circa spring 2007). If he does come back early he won't be as effective.

.....Matt

by yondaime4 on Mar 4, 2008 10:46 PM EST up reply actions

Trade?

We could always look to acquire a closer via trade. Lidge pretty much set the market for those via trade and we could definitely pull something like that off without hurting our 2008 big league club or seriously jeopardizing the future. Thoughts?

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by ejruiz on Mar 4, 2008 7:24 PM EST reply actions

yeah

but who is available? i cant think of anyone off the top of my head...

by Doghnut on Mar 4, 2008 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

Crap

We can't afford any problems of this magnitude and hope to compete. I suppose it would be Moylan, but that weakens our already questionable set-up men.

We could deal for Huston Street, but that would require a bigger bounty that what we gave up for Kotsay.

CRAP!

by TradeAndruw on Mar 4, 2008 8:19 PM EST reply actions

Although...

What about Hampton or Chuck James? Just food for thought.

by TradeAndruw on Mar 4, 2008 8:23 PM EST reply actions

James?

Shouldn't a closer be able to throw a fastball over the 90mph mark? Hell, has James ever broken 85mph in his career?

I say give the closer role to Moylan, but I'm confident that Soriano will be ready to go by opening day.

by Chopaholic on Mar 5, 2008 3:13 AM EST up reply actions

Trevor Hoffman say's hola!

Two Teams, Two Coasts - One Obsession

by RainDelay on Mar 5, 2008 4:18 AM EST up reply actions

I think he means trade James or Hampton....

by secondbass on Mar 5, 2008 5:06 AM EST up reply actions

This is the comment, I was commenting on..

Shouldn't a closer be able to throw a fastball over the 90mph mark

Again, Trevor Hoffman doesn't come close to throwing 90mph...

Two Teams, Two Coasts - One Obsession

by RainDelay on Mar 5, 2008 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

no subject

a general rule with a lot of clubs, is that the closer role goes to the pitcher at the top of the food chain in the bullpen. Often times its the one with the best stuff, sometimes its not. I would think that it would go between moylan and yates at this point. I think jo jo, and morton's stuff is closer caliber, but the rotation could use it (like bobby said about morton, which is why he'll most likely be sent to aaa to start). Also a thing to look for is experience, especially in a crucial role such as closing. Which is also why yates or moylan would get it. I think moylan gets the job hands down. He's already known as one of the premier (yet long term unproven) relievers in the game...

by bravos408 on Mar 4, 2008 9:46 PM EST reply actions

vomit

Tyler Yates as closer...its like god doesn't want the Braves to win any close games.

by bigjoe on Mar 4, 2008 9:49 PM EST up reply actions

Wickman!

Let's bring him back! We can try Kolb and Rocker as well! They are all available!

by kc @ Talking Chop on Mar 4, 2008 10:42 PM EST reply actions

Hellz yeah!

Rocker FTW! Err.. FTS!

by Chopaholic on Mar 5, 2008 3:14 AM EST up reply actions

let us not forget about...

chris reitsma. oh wait, for some reason the mariners keep bringing him back. who knows, maybe when seattle comes to town this year for interleague, he'll have this massive chip on his shoulder and throw shutout innings and earn some holds. or he'll just walk everyone in sight, and blow a save to mccann or francoeur.

by royhobbs on Mar 5, 2008 8:23 AM EST up reply actions

Trades

I think this is a little bit of the Braves being careful. However, I go back to offseason trades of Virreal and Devine (among others) for various parts. I think that could come back and bite the Braves. Do I think either would be viable closer options; no. Not now. However, I think they would have enable the Braves to stretch the bullpen out if Peter moved into the closer and Yates moved into the set up role. Right now we are talking about Bennett as a closer or top flight set up man? To me that displays a lack of depth and THAT is what scares me. Teams can survive a lose of a closer by promoting that Grade A set up guy. The problem lies in that the work load falls to lesser pitchers earlier in the game and if those pitchers can't carry the load it becomes irrlevant who is the closer because the game won't be in a save situation come the 9th innning.

by calbers on Mar 4, 2008 11:11 PM EST reply actions

Smoltz!

I know this will never happen but it's not secret we haven't made the playoffs since he left the pen. Glavine-Hampton-Hudson as our 1-2-4 and then bring in Smoltz to close...WOW.

Jason Forthofer www.sportsinmovies.com

by jjbaseball on Mar 5, 2008 8:28 AM EST reply actions

Wrong..

..did you some how block out 2005?

Two Teams, Two Coasts - One Obsession

by RainDelay on Mar 5, 2008 12:34 PM EST up reply actions

everybody calm down

How about let's wait and see. I don't think it is anything worth freaking out over. He has all spring to get that kink worked out. Hell he just started throwing so its likely he hasn't gotten back into game shape.

The baseball gods have plagued the Bravos for too long. Its time for them to let us catch a break.

by Chester Highwater on Mar 5, 2008 10:58 AM EST reply actions

Smoltzie

Not true. We made the playoffs in 2005 when Smoltz left the pen. He won the only game we won against Houston in the division series.

by seifer300 on Mar 5, 2008 11:59 AM EST reply actions

soriano

its hard not to be a little bit pessimistic at this point. i mean he has inlflamation on the elbow that he previously had surgery on. no one likes to see that. I'm not assuming that this could be a long term thing, but i wouldnt be surprised if we opened the season with Soriano not completely ready. with that being said there are some options that can possibly hold it down in the 9th inning for the short term (at least until Gonzalez makes his way back ahead of schedule). moylan could step in but another good option could be Manny Acosta. He pitched well enough in his short term stint in ATL last year and showed a pretty good K rate as well. It might be wise for the Braves to throw him into some save situations this Spring

by MIZIKE74 on Mar 5, 2008 4:40 PM EST reply actions

Acosta

PLEASE DO NOT PUT ACOSTA IN AS CLOSER....I think his ML success is a little decieving. He has great stuff, but questionable control. My stomach can't handle watching him walk batters in the 9th.

by calbers on Mar 6, 2008 5:42 PM EST reply actions