Smoltz a SP, Who's Atl's Closer

[Tony Clark is my son]

Has anyone heard news about the Braves chasing a closer, whether free agent (I'm thinking Benitez) or via trade (Urbina). I haven't, but I know my sources aren't the best.

Any Braves upper management in here?

[Lofunzo]

If I was Atlanta, I would keep him in the pen. It has worked great and he has had arm problems. He is too old to be moving back at this point, IMHO. Can he handle the extra workload??

[reiser]

Reitsma, Cruz....I'd say Alfonseca is the real wild card here. he pitched as well as either of those guys, and could be due for a Benitez like resurgence.

i don't expect Capellan to go to the bullpen, he had too good a year in the minors-though whether he starts in AAA or Atlanta is anyone's guess.

[LBJackal]

Well the difference between Alfonseca and Benitez is Benitez has been one of the best closers over the past decade while Alfonseca has been pretty bad over the past decade. I think last year was his resurgence (it was his best season ever) and I would definately expect worse next year. But with Reitsma and Cruz as seemingly the only other options... who knows. We'll just have to wait and see.

[rlee]

LB Jackal said:
"Most latin fireballers (I'm not being racist am I) have great K ability but don't make it as closers because they don't have control."

What about Rivera? Benitez? Urbina? Dotel? Guardado? Mesa (this really defeats my point )? Francisco Cordero?

Getting back to the thread, I'm not sure which way the Braves will go with Smoltz, but you sure have to trust the track record of Cox, Mazzone, Shuerholz.

[Walden warriors]

So, does Cruz become keepable in a keeper league where I can only hold 13?

[Lofunzo]

So, does Cruz become keepable in a keeper league where I can only hold 13?

Too early to know what will happen for sure but using the logic that 13 keepers = first 13 rounds of the draft, I would definitely say no.

[LBJackal]

LB Jackal said:
"Most latin fireballers (I'm not being racist am I) have great K ability but don't make it as closers because they don't have control."

What about Rivera? Benitez? Urbina? Dotel? Guardado? Mesa (this really defeats my point )? Francisco Cordero?

Getting back to the thread, I'm not sure which way the Braves will go with Smoltz, but you sure have to trust the track record of Cox, Mazzone, Shuerholz.

i wouldn't consider all thsoe guys fireballers..... and I meant the pure speed guys. There are exceptions but a lot of them throw hard without control. Cruz is one of thsoe guys... and I don't know what's gonna happen in Atlanta but whatever they do, it'll probably work.

[GSes]

According to Smoltz..........he says that moving into the rotation would be BETTER for his arm, because he wouldnt be pitching multiple days in a row, he would only be pitching every 5 days.

He is very very adamant that it would be better for his health to move back into the rotation.

righttttttttttttttttt?



with that being said, I don't think its a good idea either and I think atlanta would be smart to leave smoltz in the pen as well.

[Lofunzo]

According to Smoltz..........he says that moving into the rotation would be BETTER for his arm, because he wouldnt be pitching multiple days in a row, he would only be pitching every 5 days.

He is very very adamant that it would be better for his health to move back into the rotation.

righttttttttttttttttt?



with that being said, I don't think its a good idea either and I think atlanta would be smart to leave smoltz in the pen as well.

It would be better for the health of his wallet.