1st Closers to Lose Their Jobs

[Snakes Gould]

I am really puzzled still as to why people think Sherrill will lose his job. To who? He pitched very well last year and has experience closing at AAA. There are far worse 'closers' out there who have much better pitchers competing for their job.

In the majors he has been a situational lefty and this has grossly slanted his numbers to look decent enough. But if you look deeper you will see a career 1.79 whip and .265 BAA versus right handed hitters which is very concerning now he has to pitch the 9th inning on his lonesome.

not to mention they have their closer of the future with chris ray. i fully expect sherrill to be dealt sometime this season if proven effective enough in the late innings.

[Yoda]

I am really puzzled still as to why people think Sherrill will lose his job. To who? He pitched very well last year and has experience closing at AAA. There are far worse 'closers' out there who have much better pitchers competing for their job.

In the majors he has been a situational lefty and this has grossly slanted his numbers to look decent enough. But if you look deeper you will see a career 1.79 whip and .265 BAA versus right handed hitters which is very concerning now he has to pitch the 9th inning on his lonesome.

Fair enough. How about 07? Do we just discount his performance completely and rely more on his previous years' numbers?

[Noggy]

I am really puzzled still as to why people think Sherrill will lose his job. To who? He pitched very well last year and has experience closing at AAA. There are far worse 'closers' out there who have much better pitchers competing for their job.

I'm not convinced he'll lose his job as the closer but I'm pretty certain that BAL will trade him at the deadline to a contender for prospects.

Why would they trade a possible stud closer with two more years of arbitration eligibility.
They can use him this year and next year for fairly cheap, and trade him next year, after the break for prospects, if they still see that the team is goin nowhere.

Baltimore is going to be terrible this year and next year (and probably the year after that) regardless of who is closing. Not to mention Chris Ray will be back next year and Baltimore controls him for more years and less money. Sherrill being under control for the next two years gives him more trade value. If Baltimore waits until the 2009 trade deadline, they won't get as much in return because he'll be a 2 month rental at that point.

[hot4tx]

Yes, Cordero is a very nice mention here.

how? hes never had his ERA higher than 3.50, pitched very well during the spring, and if dealt, would probably go to a team like arizona, chicago, milwaukee, as the closer. sure the possibility of him being dealt to a contender is there, but i dont think anyone needs to worry about cordero in the least.

Cordero has watched his ERA, WHIP, BB, H and ER climb in each of the last three seasons. He put runners on at an alarming rate last year, and this year will be pitching half his games at a less pitcher friendly home park. People are throwing names out left and right; but removing injury and trade from the picture, I have Chad Cordero as one of the top 3 guys who will lose their closing job this season. Having Jon Rauch waiting in the wings only makes it an easier decsion.

bigh0rt = nails