Loading ...Arbitration Avoided For Gonzalez
Written by Jonathan on January 20, 2009 – 2:16 amThe Braves made a move yesterday to avoid arbitration for the 2009 season with Mike Gonzalez by signing him to a one-year, $3.45 million contract. The Braves are looking for Gonzalez to serve as the closer for the 2009 season, filling a position that has lacked consistency and stability over the past few years. Last season alone, Soriano, Smoltz, Gonzalez and a host of other fill-ins took their shots at the role. While Gonzalez isn’t the true definition of a power closer, a constant figure in the position will prove well for the Braves.
After returning from Tommy John surgery in the middle of the 2008 season, Gonzalez had 14 saves in 16 opportunities while striking out 44 in his 33.2 innings pitched. Of a little concern however is the 6 home runs that he issued in that work as well. His 4.28 ERA last season isn’t exactly what you want to see out of a closer and hopefully this season he can get back around and under his career average of 2.62.
While returning from surgery last season, Gonzalez struggled to find the full strength in his arm at times, but is hoping to regain the consistency in his arm through his work this offseason and the upcoming preseason. He has always been a strikeout pitcher, with a 1.16 K per inning average and could prove to be a great asset down the stretch should the Braves continue to find themselves in the onslaught of one- and two-run games they did last season.
This leaves Casey Kotchman, Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur as the only three remaining arbitration-eligible players. I’m hoping Gonzalez can pitch a consistent and injury-free season to help keep the bullpen on track. It seems that the Braves develop injury issues at the closer position every season and the pen slowly degrades from there. So are you happy to see Gonzalez locked in for the season to fill the closer role? Who takes the reins should he develop any injuries throughout the season?
Tags: Atlanta Braves Bullpen, Bullpen, Closer, Mike Gonzalez
Posted in Roster Moves | 24 Comments »
By Larry312 on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
I really like Gonzalez. I wish they would have been able to lock him in for a few years. At one point he had 30 somethin consecutive saves. A lot of his struggles came in non-save oppurtunities. Hopefully Moylan comes back healthy and strong because I think hes being groomed for the closer of the future. The only problem there is how do the Braves react to his agents, Kinzer and Tellem.
By Colin Ake on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
I like Gonzo as well – let's hope he does well this year in the closer role. I hope that the Braves can re-sign Moylan as well – we'll see how the Kinzer/Tellem thing plays out.
Drop me an email at colin [at] bravesblast [dot] com, Larry. Got a question for ya
By Larry312 on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
I forgot to mention one more key player to the bullpen. Acosta. He looked good after returning from the DL. This is the most excited I've been about the bullpen in years. The formation of the team kinda reminds me of the '90's Braves team. Solid rotation and strong bullpen.
By Jonathan on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
I'm excited about the bullpen as well, or I guess cautiously optimistic would be a better term. The injury bug last season was hard to overcome so I'm hoping the majority of people can stay healthy this season. I always attributed it to Hampton being contagious so maybe we'll be fine now that he's gone.
Gonzo's save streak was at 39 games late into last year, so I'm just hoping the Braves can create save situations for him this year.
By JGras on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
Big fan of Gonzo, and excited to see he will perform with a full, healthy season in Atlanta. Establishing the set-up guys will be huge. We know the majority of our starters are going to eat up innings. If we can turn each outing into a 7-inning game like the Phillies did last year ,we will stay in the mix all season. We must win the 1-run games this year to compete, which is something that plagued the Braves all of '08.
By Tim on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
I really like Mike Gonzalez. I'm not worried because most of his struggles came in non save situations. For some reason closers don't do good in those situations. I love the energy Gonzalez brings to the team. The entire Braves pitching staff has me excited. If everyone is healthy and lives up to their expectations the Braves could have one of the top 5 best pitching staffs in all of baseball.
By B-RITT on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
Having a lefty closer like Gonzo in this division is huge with the big Philly bats. Add to that his electric stuff and and awesome rock and you have a closer that can match up against any lineup. People say that the Braves bullpen is weak, BUT when you look at the potential 7-8-9 punch of Moylan/Logan (or Ohman), Soriano, and Gonzalez, then you have a bridge to a closer that few teams can boast.
This team could compete if it isn't decimated by injury again. We have 2 starters that are guaranteed 200 innings, young players realizing their talent, a minimum .320 hitter, the best offensive catcher in baseball, and as mentioned above, a great setup core.
Watch out Mets and Phils, this team getting hungry after 3 years, and is ready to compete NOW.
By Larry312 on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
I agree our setup and closer can be as dominant as the Mets and Phils. One big advantage the Braves have and I commend Wren for this is the fact he built his rotation on innings eaters. With Moylan, Acosta, Soriano and Gonzalez sitting in the late innings you have a good group there. I personally am big on Jeff Bennett. If he gets enough rest between appearences I think he can be a dominant MRP. Sometimes it seemed the Braves rushed him out there for to many 2 or 3 inning appearences without proper rest. Im very excited about the bullpen. Now all thats left is can the braves add another producer in the lineup.
By Larry312 on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
Sure thing, I'll shoot you an email right over.
By Tim on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
The one thing I hate about Bennett is you just never know which one you are going to get. Sometimes he is lights out but other times he can't throw a strike to save his life and walks the ballpark. And no that has nothing to do with him being rested or not because it happened from his first game on.
By Tim on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
Exactly I agree. I don't understand where all the talk comes from about our bullpen being weak. One guy not mentioned is Blaine Boyer. I know many don't like him because they remember the bad 2nd half he had but he had a great first half of the season. He also had a great year in 2005 for the Braves. Boyer and Acosta can both be lights out if rested. Too many times Bobby Cox used them to try to pitch more than 1 inning at a time and you can't do that.
By Jonathan on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
It seemed to me last year that we were pushing too many of the pen arms out onto the field every game. The starters weren't getting deep enough into the game and Bobby was consistently putting 5+ bullpen arms on the mound every night.
By Larry312 on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
The biggest problem with Boyer is his fastball. Its flat and doesn't have a lot of movement. It makes him more vulnerable to the long ball which is his problem. I think Boyer is a good assett to the bullpen because he does throw hard but I don't see him being a stud reliver.
By jadarm on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
Who takes the reins should he develop any injuries throughout the season?
Easy, …Soriano.
I think the signing is a good move by Wren. I am also thinking that Frenchy might now wish that he had taken that contract that was offered to him around the same time that B-Mac signed with us. That arbitration could get ugly. It could either motivate him or hurt his self confidence even further.
By Tim on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
I was watching a game from last year today and noticed something about Boyer that leads to him not being constient. When he is in the windup sometimes he leans back too far and it causes his arm to drag behind and as a rest his release point is way off causing his pitches to sail high and we all know if you pitch up in the zone you're gonna get killed. He needs to do a better job of being more constient during his windup by not leaning backwards. Boyer's out pitch is his curveball when it's down.
By Tim on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
Yes. Too many times the bullpen was in the game in the 3rd or 4th inning and that lead to 5 or 6 pitchers a game and it eventually caught up to us. But for the longest time the Braves were in the top 3 in ERA in the NL.
By Larry312 on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
I dont think its Soriano. That may be Cox's pick but I think Soriano has been very inconsistent since he got here. Hes been hot then cold so you never know which one your gonna get. I think Moylan will be the Braves closer eventually, probably not this year but eventually.
By Tim on Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
Soriano has been very solid since coming to the Braves. You have to give him a pass on last year. Yes in 2007 he had about a 2 week stretch in the 2nd half of the season where he was giving up homeruns but other than that he has been solid.
By Larry312 on Jan 21, 2009 | Reply
He's been solid as a setup man not as a closer. Hes 16-26 in save oppurtunities in his career.
By B-RITT on Jan 21, 2009 | Reply
I like Boyer too, I didn't include him b/c I felt I was getting too long-winded. But to expand on his bad 2nd half, I rally don't think you can expect a guy to perform like he he is capable of after, say, 81 appearances? Its obvious to me that even the greatest manager of all time, Bobby Cox, has his flaw, and that is loyalty (not that loyalty is "bad"). He sees a guy succeed and automatically feels obligated to play him every time an opportunity presents itself (one more reason not to bring back Andruw-he'll play him out of respect even if he's displaying uber-suckage)
By B-RITT on Jan 21, 2009 | Reply
Woops, didnt see your post and said almost exactly the same thing
By Tim on Jan 21, 2009 | Reply
Well I rather have him saving games than Acosta or Boyer should something God forbid happen to Gonzo.
By Jonathan on Jan 21, 2009 | Reply
I definitely agree with you there. Manny scares me every time he comes into a game.
By Keith on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
This has shaped up to be one of the best bullpens in the league. Nice signing with Gonzo. If he remains healthy then he will put big numbers this year. That means he will likely leave next year as free agent. The Braves have four potenial options for closer and will NOT pay him big bucks over a long term deal. I seriously doubt Soriano will be the answer. Look for Manny or Peter to save games next year.