Even though he took the loss against the Yankees last night, Chad Orvella is the future in the Tampa Bay bullpen. While he hasn't been trusted with the job to this point, it is only a matter of time until he starts to see the majority of save chances.
The other DRay options are going to do more harm than good on your roster. Walker has shown nothing that would justify picking him up and Camp simply doesn't possess the stuff to be a closer. The 25 yr old Orvella struck out 116 in 73 2/3 IP in the minors in 2004 while walking just 10. That is closer material.
Walker has been a nightmare for both SF and TB this season.
Camp and Orvella have had their good moments but overall haven't been very good. They are less nightmarish.
I think Orvella will calm down and become much steadier soon. He's a young guy with alot of pressure on him to be the future. He has to sort through all that and get accustomed to the league. I'm banking on him, but I also have T. Jones and Rivera if Orvella doesn't work out. For me, if he (Or Villareal) works out it will just be the icing on the cake.
However, if you're counting on him in order for your team to compete in the Saves category at all, I'd try for a trade, or possibly something else that could pop up in the future with another team.
I am also stashing Orvella. It's taking longer than I thought for him to get some save opps. He had one vs. the Yanks last week. He came in for the eighth and started the ninth and gave up back to back HR's to cut the lead to 1. Then, he got yanked and hasn't gotten a save opp since. I don't know what they could possibly be thinking giving all those other bums the save opps. It's not like TB is contending or anything. Just put the youngster in there and let him learn. Good closers blow saves sometimes and he blows one and he is done??!! I don't get it. Must be why TB is a perennial doormat.
I really can't imagine the situation right now where I'd want any of these guys on my roster. Ok, I can -- where you have 30 man rosters so there are a half dozen guys you can sit on the bench just for spec value. If every spot on your roster is reasonably precious, though, I don't think I'd bother with Tampa Bay closers right now. Yes, you want saves. But you also want to maintain a good ERA, and a good WHIP. And you want to have a couple backup hitters on your bench for travel days. And maybe some decent starters you can pitch when they have good matchups. The point is that you can use that spot for lots of things, and to tie it up for the odd save now and then, and risk hurting you in other ways...not me. I'd at least wait until a clear closer is identified. And I wouldn't cry too hard if someone else beat me to him on the FA wire.
He has a ton of upside but he is going to have his ups and downs. He's only 25 and has to get acclimated to the big leagues, but, he is legit. Just check his minor league stats... especially his K/BB ratio. His control should get better but it might take some time.
Amazing Oopah wrote:Hmm, Walker works a scoreless inning, with 1k, to earn the save... could we have the makings of closer here...
lol, this guy is brutal. He has more blown saves than actual saves so far this season
he is brutal, but i think he might win the job if he's anywhere near mediocre then next few outings. that's how bad TB's closer situation is...
i had walker as a potential CL when benitez went down (picked up both worrell and walker) and he was brutal in SF...walked four straight in one game and all four came home (still trying to get my WHIP down from that night)...
but i picked him up again (gulp) and he'll be on my bench hoping that he gets more consistent and maybe a reliable saves guy somewhere down the road...not too optimistic, though...
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by George Bell » Fri May 05, 2006 8:03 am 
![:-]](./images/smilies/smirk.gif "Scottie")
