Loading ...Bullpen Ready For Better Luck
Written by Kent on February 8, 2009 – 12:14 amToday’s article is from a new guest writer, Kent Covington. We’re working on convincing Kent to write for us more often, so make him feel welcome. In the meantime, you can follow Kent on Twitter @FriedBasballATL. And while you’re at it, follow BravesBlast too @BravesBlast.
For the past two years, the Braves have reported to their spring training facilities at Disney’s Wide World of Sports with the hope and belief that their bullpen would be among the game’s best. And for the past two years, their hopes have been shattered. Prior to the start of the 2007 season, the Braves acquired one of the game’s elite setup men, Rafael Soriano, from Seattle, and a filthy (in a good way) young closer in the person of Mike Gonzalez, from the Pirates. Along with Bob Wickman, who was brilliant in Atlanta after a mid-season trade in 2006, the Braves were thought to have a bullpen trio capable of shortening any game to a 6-inning contest.
But before long, Atlanta’s bullpen plans began to skid off the runway. Mike Gonzalez’s season was cut short less than two months after opening day, as he was forced to go under the knife for “Tommy John” surgery. What’s more, Bob Wickman was unable to duplicate his 2006 success, and was eventually released by the Braves.
Not everything went awry in the ’07 bullpen. Soriano was as good as advertised and the emergence of Peter Moylan (1.80 ERA in 80 appearances) was certainly a pleasant surprise. Nevertheless, injuries to key relievers left the Braves with a shell of the dominant bullpen they planned to throw at opponents.
Fast forward to Spring 2008. The Braves had re-inked Soriano to a two-year deal over the winter and anticipated a bullpen headed by Soriano and Moylan. The two hard throwing relievers had combined for an ERA of 2.44 over 150 innings the previous season. And as soon as Mike Gonzalez returned to action, they thought they would have no fewer than three dominant relievers, as they had planned the year before. But the baseball gods again revealed other plans.
Soriano and Moylan both began complaining of elbow discomfort in spring training. Moylan made it less than two weeks into the season before being disabled (eventually undergoing “Tommy John” surgery). Soriano was forced out of action just one week from opening day. He would spend the remainder of the season on and off the disabled list (mostly on).
Mike Gonzalez’s successful comeback was a bright spot in what was otherwise the Braves’ most forgettable season in almost 20 years. But once again, the bullpen never possessed the kind of depth they were counting on.
Which brings us to 2009.
The calendar has flipped on a year that the Braves undoubtedly couldn’t put behind them quickly enough. And as pitchers and catchers prepare to report (except for those tied up with the damned World Baseball Classic – a topic for another day), the Braves once more hope to feature a bullpen capable of being baseball’s best.
If healthy, Atlanta may finally have their lights-out late-inning trio. And their relief talent runs deeper than what they have at the back of the ‘pen’. Much deeper. Next week we’ll break down the Braves’ bullpen, and explore what kind of relief they will have in ’09. That is, if they can avoid Murphy (no, not old #3 – the other Murphy… the one with that law).
So where does that leave us? Is the injury bug behind us and ready to let the bullpen actually prove their ability in pitching? Are there some unanswered holes in the bullpen? All I know is that I’m ready to put 2008 behind us and see what 2009 brings.
Tags: Bullpen, Mike Gonzalez, Peter Moylan, Rafael Soriano
Posted in General | 16 Comments »
By PWHjort on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
I think Jeff Bennett could find himself in a four-some of great late-inning relievers for the Braves in 2009. His stuff is absolutely electric, plus the last month of the season his ERA was 1.59 with a WHIP of 1.00 and 13 strikeouts in 17 innings over 15 appearances. That's closer stuff.
By jereme on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
I would have to say that the injury bug is behind us. I mean how many years can the braves have these kind of season's. My prediction is if the rotation stays healthy and if the bullpen stays healthy then we are good. Who is the strength and conditioning coach by the way? Maybe we should look there to also lose are bad luck streak.
By Kent Covington on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
I would guess that injuries won't be a huge issue for the pen. But then… I never would've guessed that Soriano and Moylan would both go down after very healthy seasons the year before. Even though Moylan is the one coming back from TJ surgery, I think Soriano is the biggest question mark. They moved a nerve in his elbow at the end of last season. Fortunately, doesn't appear his problems were due to anything structural. If that procedure fixed the problem and he's healthy this year… the Braves pen will be a beast.
By Larry on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
Well I just read some bad news. Apparently the Braves are no longer pursuing Ohman. With that said I think we'll still be ok. Hopefully Boone Logan can pick up the slack. But if Moylan and Soriano stay healthy we can make every game a 6 to 7 inning game.
By CMS on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
Moylan!
I hope he's ready ASAP.
Cuz I love him
By OriginalRandom on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
How can you say "the [2008] bullpen never possessed the kind of depth they were counting on" without mentioning the devastated SP corps and the general failure of the Braves' SPs to make it through a whole five or six innings? Or Boby Cox's relief pitcher abuse?
By Larry on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
Relief Pitcher Abuse???? Are you crazy. Whats he suppose to do. The starters were giving up runs out the ying yang by the third inning. He could have made the starters go longer but who would it have benefitted. Yah the bullpen threw more than it should have but we weren't in regular circumstances. If anything it may make our bullpen better this year. At least bobby tried to stay competitive with what he had. No body would have expected three starters to be lost for the year. Plus the reduced bullpen. The offense was forgettable. I think it makes us stronger this year.
By Kent Covington on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
The lack of innings from the rotation was certainly a big factor. I'll be making mention of that in the upcoming bullpen breakdown. But regardless of whether or not the rotation gave the Braves the innings they were looking for… the pen was thin. The lack of starter innings made matters WORSE, but it didn't create the bullpen problems. Injuries did.
By Jonathan on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
I'm with you there, I just hope he's back in 2007 form.
By Jonathan on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
It was a tough year on pitching, all around. We couldn't get our starters deep in the game over 75% of the time. The bullpen was plagued by injuries and having to pitch 4-5 innings a game. Just bad news in the long run.
By Larry on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
I would like to say though that this was a good article. Kudos to Kent. Hope to see some more of your writing.
By dave on Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
I think the pitching problems we have faced the past couple of years should be greatly improved. I believe the starting pitching will take pressure off the bullpen, and the pen will take pressure off the starters. I am sorry to hear Will may be out of the Braves plans, I also read where Andruw is signing a MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT with the Rangers, something he would not do with the Braves. With the way things have gone this off season nothing would surprise me, but there is one thing I feel sure of with or without Tom ,and or Will, our pitching all the way around is much much improved. Best Wishes
By Larry on Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
Has anyone heard anything on the arbitration hearings of Frenchy and KJ. How much longer do they have to settle?
By Jonathan on Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
Wren seems confident that they won't have to go to a hearing for KJ. There is an arbitration for Frenchy scheduled for 2/20 if they have not settled by then.
By Larry on Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
any idea if its a long term deal or just a one year settlement?
By Jonathan on Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
Highly unlikely that you'd see anything more than a one-year deal right now I'd think. If it goes to the hearing, it will definitely only be for a year.