T.S Elliot once said, "mediocre writers borrow, great writers steal." With that quote in mind we bring you Eric Karabell's blog post from ESPN.com. You can find the complete article here.
If there's any team that can seemingly overcome the loss of not only its closer, but also the fellow who was next in line, it has to be the Atlanta Braves. For years we've watched manager Bobby Cox trot out strange, unknown names to close, and he'd turn the guy into a pretty decent stopper who would end up pitching in October. It got annoying for Phillies fans, for example, as the team always seemed to overpay for someone to get saves or had to watch Mitch Williams' wildness. The Braves didn't even try to get a name closer, and it always worked out. I mean, look at this list of names who led the Braves in saves from 1991 through 2005:
Juan Berenguer was 36 when the Braves induced 17 saves from him in 1991, the first season of 15 straight division titles. He was out of baseball a year later. Fellow veteran Alejandro Pena had closed a bit in the bigs before Cox turned to him, but he wasn't Dennis Eckersley, either. Lefties and right-handers alike got their chance for Cox, from Mike Stanton to Greg McMichael to Kerry Ligtenberg. Honestly, other than the John Smoltz experiment, which worked out beautifully, no other team has turned to unknowns to close the way the Braves had, whether or not they had so-called "closer" ability -- whatever that is. I'd say Mark Wohlers had it, and once in a while John Rocker did.
Manny Acosta could be next in the long line of anonymous Braves closers.Does Manny Acosta have it? Does it matter?
In a chat last week, I surmised that Acosta and Peter Moylan were each in line for saves after Rafael Soriano was placed on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis. I would've mentioned it in the April 9 Relief Efforts, but the Soriano injury came from nowhere hours after it was posted, naturally.
The Braves' theory was Moylan had his 2007 stats on his side for future opportunities, and Acosta was the one who had that closer stuff. In fact, Acosta would've been in line for a save a few days earlier when Soriano was originally scratched and had Cox's confidence, much to the surprise of many.
However, the struggling Braves have had one actual save chance in the past week, and Moylan got it.
Now Moylan has joined Soriano on the shelf with a right elbow strain, and with a visit looming to meet Dr. James Andrews, I'd say you shouldn't expect the Aussie submariner back anytime soon, if at all this season. If there's any manager who wouldn't be worried about this, it would be Cox. Incredibly, a season ago this team had so many possibilities for closer who could have slid right into the role, but one by one, they all found their way somewhere else and not closing. It's all about the timing. Octavio Dotel sets up Bobby Jenks in Chicago. Joey Devine seems to have a future in Oakland. Tyler Yates, Oscar Villarreal and Chad Paronto would all probably be in line ahead of Acosta if they were still around. But they're not.
Don't laugh. While everyone and their plumber rushes to the waiver wire to sign Acosta, a move I agree with, it's hardly assured Acosta will thrive in the role or be Cox's fancy. At this point, let's discuss what options Cox does have at his disposal.
Manny Acosta: It's not like he's been lights-out, you know. If he were, that certainly would make his transition to closing look smarter. As colleague Will Harris pointed out in his If You're Hardcore article late last week, Acosta has had control problems in the past, and it kind of looks like he still has them. He also gives up home runs. This doesn't mean he can't be a good closer, just that the chances seem great that he'll lose the role quickly. The other thing that would worry me if I was trading something good to get Acosta is that he's pitched only once since April 8, and before that his last appearance was April 3. Sure, the Braves have trailed a lot, but c'mon, get the guy work. Or is he hurting as well?
Blaine Boyer: I won't laugh if you name anyone in the current Braves bullpen as a contender for saves, by the way. Boyer doesn't have a track record for closing, but he leads the Braves in strikeouts. He's a relief pitcher. In 7 2/3 innings, Boyer has fanned 13, and I took a chance on him Tuesday in our office's 18-team auction league, just to make sure. There are so few free agents there. Why not? Boyer didn't walk people this spring, a nice change from his 2007 numbers at Triple-A Richmond, when he issued 50 free passes and struck out 62. The case can be made he was still working his way back from missing all of 2006 with shoulder surgery. I'll buy it. I think if Soriano and Moylan are out awhile, he's going to get chances.
Matthew Berry and Nate Ravitz talk with Buster Olney about the Indians' and Braves' closer situations among other topics in today's Fantasy Focus podcast. Listen to the Fantasy
Chris Resop: Let's just say he's done a better job in left field than on the mound. OK, maybe that's not fair, as he was only in left field for one batter, as part of a nifty Cox switcheroo that resulted in Resop losing the extra-inning game anyway. On the other hand, Resop could, in theory, be the next Kevin Gregg, someone the Angels felt they had no use for, a seemingly ordinary right-handed innings eater with decent K rates. Oddly enough, Resop was traded to the Angels from the Marlins for Gregg. Resop has allowed 8 hits and 5 walks in 5 2/3 innings, so I'd think Boyer is safely ahead of him.
Jorge Campillo: Um, who? Now 29, Campillo once threw hard and was an undrafted free-agent find by the Braves in 1996. He toiled in the Mariners' system much of this decade as a starter, and missed 2006 after Tommy John surgery. You might remember this guy as the one who threw at Vladimir Guerrero's head last September, earning a four-game suspension. He'll probably end up back in Richmond within a few days.
John Smoltz: Don't even think it. The Braves' rotation depth is being tested, and there's no chance Cox does a Brett Myers with his aging Hall of Famer and moves him back to the closer's role, unless the pitcher asks for it or injury dictates it. I don't think the balky shoulder he's dealing with will force a role change.
Anyone else?: Buddy Carlyle was recalled from Triple-A Richmond Tuesday, but I think it's Tom Glavine insurance for the rotation. Jeff Bennett is there, too, so maybe he's Chuck James/Mike Hampton insurance. Either way, I think Cox keeps them as starters. As for the lefties in the bullpen, Will Ohman has had enough trouble getting lefties out, but he could be a situational ninth-inning guy. Royce Ring was once thought to be a closer candidate when the Mets acquired him years ago, but he's been inconsistent and lacking command ever since. If Mike Gonzalez was healthy, he'd be next in line, but he had Tommy John surgery last June. You'll see and hear his name mentioned for a return this June, but I'll take August as the over/under. It takes more than a year for pitchers to come back and pitch well from this surgery.
Ultimately, I think Acosta gets the first chance, Boyer is lurking, and for all we know Soriano could return in two weeks or two months and usurp them both. I still think Soriano ends up leading the Braves in saves, with around 25.
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