Let's talk about Kobayashi in CLE. Is there any reason to believe that he won't be closing by the end of the season? Borowski has to be on a pretty short leash, and Betancourt hasn't shown that he can handle the CL duties in the past. Kobayashi appears to have been a stud in Japan. Anyone have any thoughts on this situation (I'm hoping this the right place to ask this question)?
Joe Borowski doesn't have the most glamorous numbers, but he seems to do just enough to get the job done. I could see Borowski losing his closer duties though and Betancourt not being up to the task again. There's no reason not to think Kobayashi would get a shot at closing sometime next season.
Half Massed wrote:Should Street get traded (although Beane says that's not the plan, and he just signed him to a one year extension to avoid arbitration) or get injured, I would think that Embree, then Casilla would get a shot before Devine, at least until Devine shows he's comfortable at the major league level.
Logically, Beane went after Devine for a reason. Was it to replace Street as the closer in event of a trade? Not sure. Also, I read last year when Street came back that if he went on the DL again that Casilla would get a shot at the closers job.
I'd trust what actually happened last year, which is Embree filling in for Street. Here's a more detailed view of what I think would happen based on last year: Beginning of the year, if Street gets injured for a short time, Embree fills in alone. If Street gets traded in the beginning to mid-year, Casilla takes over, sharing some duties with Embree (unless Casilla completely dominates of course). If Devine shows that he's comfortable and at least moderately successful at the major league level and Street gets traded later in the year, he takes over the closer role, sharing it with Embree until he feels comfortable there.
I happen to think the A's won't put Devine in the closer role unless Street gets traded (i.e. he won't fill in if Street gets injured). Given Devine's past, getting him comfortable at the major league level in a set role is more important to the A's at this point than him getting saves. They're not going to put pressure on him until he proves himself, so Embree and Casilla are going to get the save chances in event of injury, at least for the beginning of the year.
Essentially, I'd rank them Embree, Casilla, Devine for the beginning of the year in terms of save chances, although probably the opposite of that in terms of talent/future chance at being a closer.
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by SteveJeltzPhanClub » Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:35 am 
