Has Devine already locked up the closer spot in Atlanta?

[Dark Knight]

He has his 95 mph fast ball and great slider kicking much @ss for him already this spring. He has 8 innings pitched, 1 save, 15 K's, and a 0.00 ERA.

[Havok1517]

It's a good gamble...

From Sporting News:

Quote:
Manager Bobby Cox told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Devine is in the running to be the Braves' closer. Devine hasn't allowed an earned run in eight innings this spring and picked up the save Wednesday.
Fantasy Source spin: Sleeper alert, sleeper alert, sleeper alert. I'm among the doubters when it comes to Chris Reitsma, so Devine is looking like an excellent late-round pick. (Chris Bahr/TSN)

[JohnnyBenchBest Ever]

I read that he is for sure the set up guy.

[Havok1517]

read above then.

[nuggets]

Baseball Prospectus doesn't even list him on Atl's assumed roster.
They list his predicted ERA (Based on adjusted EqH9, EqHR9, EqBB9, EqK9) at 6.63 based on his 20 innings pitched in AA Mississippi. They don't bother factoring in his horrid 1 IP in AAA and 5 IP with Atl.

http://www.baseballamerica.com lists him as the Braves 6th best prospect. He was good in college. Why will he be good in the pros?

[BillyHallDisciple]

Because sometimes guys just come outta nowhere.

[Havok1517]

ala Gagne! lol

[George_Foreman]

Devine was drafted last year because Schurholtz saw that the Braves' pen was in serious need of some help. He was an excellent closer in college and people were talking about him for the closer job in ATL since the day he was drafted. He's had an excellent spring, and if he doesn't break camp with the job (I'm pretty sure that it'll be Reitsma's job to lose, but I don't think Cox will cut him too much slack), I'm confident that he'll be closing for the Braves at some point this year. My best guess is that he'll be the closer by mid-year, but there are no guarantees.

Another guy to keep your eye on is Oscar Villareal. I think both Devine and Villareal are more likely to be closing for the Braves at the end of the year than Reitsma.

Another guy I've heard people mention is Anthony Lerew, but I would be disappointed if they moved him from a role as a starter.

Anyhow, if you want a Braves closer, I think I would take Devine, Villareal, Lerew in that order. I just don't have enough confidence to recommend taking Reitsma, since I doubt you'll get more than a month or two of saves out of him.

edit: oh, and I'm 95% sure that he'll be on the roster come opening day. He's one of the best arms they've got, and it's not like he's got anything left to prove after pitching his college to the CWS.

[BillyHallDisciple]

Good insight, Foreman. Makes me feel great about snaggin' him on waivers a couple of days ago. Worth the risk if your closers are questionable.

[nuggets]

How about Kyle Davies. BP projects him to have 92K in 30 IP, giving up 15 HR.

I think some of the PECOTA projections don't matchup with their fantasy depth chart projections.