Kolb has an ERA of 8.00 and a k/bb ratio of .5. He was removed from the game today by Bobby Cox for a minor league call-up John Foster. A team that hopes to go deep into the playoffs cannot have a shaky closer situation. With a rotation that already features Hudson, Hampton, Horatio Ramirez and John Thompson, and a guy in Smoltz who is a proven dominant closer, dont you think he should close??
Yes, I think he should close. It would be better for the team to have him as the closer rather than a starter. But, he would rather start. I don't know why he is obsessed with starting. Many players have switched positions later in their carreers and flourished.
Smoltz should also close because it is less taxing on his arm. The last thing the Braves need is for him to injure himself by throwing as a starter. Honestly, I think Cox needs to put some pressure on Smoltz to at least consider going back to the closer's role.
Also, I think that the braves would rather have Capellan back so they could groom him to be the closer of the future, than have Kolb right now.
mikemcj55 wrote:Well, that begs the question for me...is Smoltz more valuable as a closer or as a starter??
In fantasy I'd say he has more value as a closer. His average season in 2002-2004 was 47 saves, 81 K's, an ERA of 2.46 and a WHIP of 1.00. = pretty dominant stuff
In real life I'd say he has more value as a closer as well. He is almost automatic, which instills lots of confidence with his teammates, and effectively shortens the game to 8 innings.
It would be awfully hard for the Braves to move Smoltz to the bullpen after the start he has had. While a quality closer has value, dominant starters are few and far between.
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Smoltz's pitching is the reason they were in line for the win today in the first place. I think his place is as a starter. Bullpen arms can be found. Good starters, not so much. And starting is less stressful on his arm.
dotel to atlanta doesn't sound that unreasonable if it comes to that.... and we know bean and shurholtz don't mind dealing with eachother.
but honestly, i don't think the braves are worried about their post-season closer situation ATM. i think they'll give kolb a few more weeks before they do anything drastic. i mean, it could just be a run of bad luck. i mean, we're talking about dotel as a possible upgrade, and he had a similar rough patch at the beginning of last season for the astros and rebounded just fine. so it's really not time to panick yet.
and i'm not sure why kolb's K/BB ratio was brought up. he's never been much of a "K" guy. (true, not much of a "BB" guy, either, but still....)
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by loophole21 » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:59 pm 
I think his place is as a starter. Bullpen arms can be found. Good starters, not so much. And starting 
