Mar 11 Giants trainer Stan Conte and closer Robb Nen were both "amazed" at the right-hander's 60-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. Throwing off flat ground at 90 percent velocity did not result in soreness in his surgically repaired shoulder on Wednesday and is an indication that he'll be ready by Opening Day. "I can only use his words," Conte told the San Francisco Chronicle. "This is the best he's felt in two years. The good thing is he didn't have any pain. He threw free and easy, and we'll be able to progress on his secret program." Nen missed the entire 2003 season after undergoing surgery on May 7 to repair his partially torn right rotator cuff. That operation came after similar procedures in November 2002 and April 2003.
Views: We're not ready to move Nen back among our top-five NL relievers, but this is certainly the most positive news we've had on him in a long time. Fantasy owners drafting Nen should still consider selecting backup closer Matt Herges as insurance if roster space permits.
IMO, if nen is ready by opening day, he'll have a huge impact not only for his team, but for any fantasy team that takes a chance on him... a robbie nen at 90% is better than most closers at 100...
w/ 43 saves, 2.2 ERA 1.14 WHIP and a crapload of k's before he went out, nen has proven he's an uppier tier closer option when healthy. sure, odds are he wont duplicate those stats, but he wont be as far away as ppl think.
if u dont, i will... in fact, i've already taken him in the 17th round of an 11 team league... i'm telling u... if rob nen is healthy, that'll be the biggest steal of the draft.
I wouldn't pinpoint a closer as the biggest steal of the draft. Closers overall don't affect much other than saves. In my opinion, a nice bat or a solid inning-eating pitcher with nice numbers is easily as impactful as a closer.
[quote:4fef447375="Geek"]The odds of the AL MVP coming from the American League are looking pretty good.[/quote]
I still don't think Nen will be a good option. Why is everything so secretive? 90% sounds nice, but if consider his Fastball less 90%, you're down below 90 MPH. I don't see how he can be a closer who relies on velocity throwing at below 90 MPH. He has a long way to go before he's worthy of being their closer. I'll believe it when I see it............I'm avoiding him unless I get him when guys like Kolb and Baez have just left the board. Which isn't likely at all.
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by Vladdy the Impaler » Thu Mar 11, 2004 5:16 pm 
