Chacon vs. Valverde

[Baseballer02]

I've got a roster spot to fill up 'cuz I put Nen on the DL, but can't decide between Chacon and Valverde. Chacon's job is secure in Colorado, but Valverde is capable of putting up much better numbers if Mantei sits out long enough. Any idea which one I should go with?

[KolbSaves]

Depends what your team neads more, ratios or saves.

[Baseballer02]

Have Wagner, Percival, and Issy already. My league doesn't use ratios, but if Valverde is used long enough, he could be golden.

[Yikes]

Chacon doesn't seem like a bad option after I read this piece:

[quote]
No one expected new closer Shawn Chacon to go through the spring perfect. He gave up his first run on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly on Wednesday.

Chacon gave up no hits but walked three in his inning. It was raining at the time, but Chacon didn't blame that. He said the problem was a lack of focus. It's understandable because it was not a save situation, but Chacon said that's not acceptable.

He said Goose Gossage, a former relief star, warned him about situations when relievers lose focus.

"I don't make an excuse for anything," he said. "I don't care if there's 10 feet of snow on the ground. Everybody else has got to pitch and play out there, too. In a game situation, if I lose focus like I did today, that's what's going to happen.

"Goose told me he'd come in during the eighth inning, bases loaded and get out of it, then go out for the ninth and the next thing you know he'd have the bases loaded because he lost focus, that fire. That's one thing I still need to work on. It's good that it happened today."

After pitching coach Bob Apodaca came to the mound and told Chacon what he was doing wrong, he pitched better.
[/quote]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/ ... &fext=.jsp

It's good to hear he's taking his new role pretty seriously and that he's working pretty diligently with the coaches.

Given the choice of a full-time closer (Chacon) and a part-time close (Valverde), I'm leaning towards the former.

[point06]

WOW, that article kinda changed my mind on this guy too. Hes on waivers right now, thinking of grabbing him.

[Ry-Guy]

I was completely against taking Chacon back i the beginning of March. I've come around to him in recenet days because I think he can close in Coors better than most guys. I don't know why, but Chacon could easily wind up with 35+ saves and very nice K totals. If Chacon is on any waiver wire, pick him up immediately.

[EricF]

I've got both of them, and I'm excited about what they can do. Chacon certainly, if you're looking for saves. He has the job and won't lose it easily. Valverde (nickname Papa Grande) will give you more innings and strikeouts, and he'll pick up a few saves while Mantei toughens his nails, but the D-backs seem set on using Mantei for the closer if he's able.

[zEli173]

Keep in mind that Chacon is SP eligible in many leagues. That can be a huge advantage depending on how many slots you have for RP's.

[Guest]

I've got both of them, and I'm excited about what they can do. Chacon certainly, if you're looking for saves. He has the job and won't lose it easily. Valverde (nickname Papa Grande) will give you more innings and strikeouts, and he'll pick up a few saves while Mantei toughens his nails, but the D-backs seem set on using Mantei for the closer if he's able.

EricF, you'll have to enlighten me: what is "Papa Grande" for?

Rk

[LBJackal]

He's called Papa Grande because he's huge. He says he likes it though, because it gave him good luck last year. It means "big potato" in Spanish I think. Although Colon or Ponson seem more deserving of that nickname if you ask me. And that's only because "El Guapo" is taken by Rich Garces, or that's what I'd refer to Colon as.