Closing Arguments

The best news from the bullpen is that for 2011 the Braves return a lot of the key pieces from last year as well as a couple of other experienced parts. The most intriguing storyline however is who will be trotting out of the bullpen come the ninth inning; second year sensation Jonny Venters or rookie fireballer Craig Kimbrel. While Kimbrel seems to have the inside track on the closers job he has struggled early in Spring Training, which shouldn’t mean a whole lot but has provided at least a little bit of concern. In 3 games consisting of only 2.1 innings Kimbrel has allowed six hits and two walks which has equated to a 3.43 WHIP, opponents have batted .429 against the Braves righty meaning this has added up to a brutal 15.43 ERA. While this is a tiny sample size it’s a little worrying to see Craig struggling at a point that pitchers are supposed to be further advanced than hitters. The only noticeable difference between Kimbrel now and the one that finished the 2010 season striking everyone he saw out is his velocity seems down. This means that rather than seeing the 95-98 mph fastball mixed in with a mid-80’s breaking pitch there has been less difference in speed between his pitches thus making him easier to hit. There has been a lot of suggestion that Kimbrel could well be like Billy Wagner and just need time to get his speed up, if that’s the case then the Huntsville-native could be on the brink of establishing himself as one of the game’s premier closers. Kimbrel is projected to post a 2.57 ERA with an eye-popping 14.29 strikeout rate as well as achieving 25 saves, if that’s what we get from the 22-year-old I don’t think anyone could complain.

If a Kimbrel struggle then it’s hardly like the bullpen will suddenly fall of a cliff with Jonny Venters ready to take over the closers job. No surprise was better for the Braves last season than Venters, not even Jason Heyward, in fact it could be argued that Venters’ rookie season could have been ever better than that of the right field phenom. Venters made his debut in the Majors on April 17^th during Ubaldo Jimenez’s no-hitter at Turner Field in which he pitched 3 innings of one hit scoreless innings. Those were the first three innings of the 83 that Venters would pitch in 2010 appearing in 79 games and striking out 93 hitters while posting a sparkling 1.95 ERA. Venters became the Braves primary set-up man after struggles by Peter Moylan and injury to Eric O’Flaherty a role that earned him 24 holds as well as picking up his only big league save. In many ways it would be even more relaxing for Braves fans to have Venters closing games in place of Kimbrel mainly due to the latter’s occasionally suspect control, in his 79 games Venters put up a remarkably good 1.20 WHIP which looks even better when you see that Kimbrel had a WHIP of 1.21. Whoever wins the closing job for the Braves the back of the bullpen should be in good shape for the next five to ten years.

The organisation replaced the experience lost by Billy Wagners retirement with the acquisitions of George Sherrill and Scott Linebrink, both chiselled veterans looking for bounce back years after recent struggles. Sherrill’s arrival seems to be to serve solely as the Braves designated LOOGY or, as it should be shown on the Braves depth chart, Philly specialist. Against left-handed hitters in 2010 the ‘Brim Reaper’ limited them to .192/.286/.288 rates giving up only 14 hits in 73 at bats. In comparison against right-handers Sherrill pitched 75 at-bats allowing righty’s to hit .427 with 30 walks. Linebrink will be much more effective against righties whilst also being serviceable facing lefties in a ballpark that plays much better for fly ball pitchers like Linebrink. Despite giving up 11 homers in 57 and a third innings Scott posted a respectable 4.40 ERA against American League hitters striking out 52 hitters. Both men provide the experience that, when mixed with that of Moylan and O’Flaherty gives the Braves ‘pen the back bone needed to maximise its success. All of these guys also take some pressure off the starting rotation who won’t need to worry about going seven or eight innings, maybe even giving them confidence in handing the ball to the bullpen.

I think that pretty much does it for this year’s Big Braves Blogs, not quite as big or good as last year, due to various things. Luckily for Braves fans the Hawks and Thrashers are both floundering in mediocre-ness leaving us a lot of time for our beloved Braves. I’m hoping to put something out later looking back at the potential Jake Peavy trade of 2008 that fell apart and then my first ever ‘No Trade List’ either tomorrow or Wednesday. Please keep reading and starting writing!