I havent seen either of them pitch and well frankly dont know who has better stuff. Who throws a better fastball, curve, broader pitch selection,......etc.........
My personal fantasy intrest would be for Aquino, free keeper in my league LOL.
As soon as Valverde got hurt last year, Aquino stepped in and out performed him in WHIP and ERA. Aquino's 1.16WHIP to Valverde's 1.348 and Aquino's 3.057 ERA to Valverde's 4.247 ERA while Aquino pitched 5.6 more INN than Valverde.
Aquino K'd .07 baters per INN while Valverde out performed him with 1.3 batters K'd per inning.
Going into last year the D-Backs liked Valverde enough to shop Mantei openly.
After Aquino filled in just fine after Valverde got injured, is there a clear cut favorite going into spring training or will it be an open competition for the closer job?
"Son we would like to keep you around here but were trying to win a pennant this year."
i'm not a Dback fan (thank god ) but from what i've read so far here in the cafe, Aquino should start the season as the closer in 2005. i've never seen him or valverde pitch, so i can't help ya on who has better stuff.
i claimed jvalverde in 03 around the all star break and had a nice ride (i think he had a win and 6 saves in a 10 day period)and i claimed aquino last year in early july and was rewarded..valverde has more talent, throws harder, and will K more but aquino has a wicked slider ..some in arizona have questioned valverde's makeup and think his arm angle and motion may lead to continued injury problems..the job is aquino's to lose but i will be looking to grab mkoplove and bbruney and any other bullpen fodder who may get their chance later in 05
Aquino is the frontrunner, but he had never pitched effectively until his closer stint last year. Also, he got racked (5.25 ERA) in the Domincan Winter League. I believe he loses his job early to Valverde.
I would go with a healthy Valverde between the two. Aquino had never closed a game in his life (Minors/Majors) prior to last season. Valverde had been groomed to the position for a few seasons now. Also I wouldn't rule out the Diamondbacks going out and signing somebody ... ..
trevisc wrote:Aquino is the front runner but all thier closers suck so i'd expect a closer by committee approach with Aquino probably getting the bulk of saves
Unfortunately for Diamondback fans, that's a pretty accurate statement.
I'm another one of those guys who grabbed Valverde as a FA in '03 and enjoyed his stretch run. He's got wicked stuff with a great K/9 rate and, if healthy, will play a prominent role in that pen somewhere. In a league that counts holds, it would be a no-lose to snare him somewhere in the later rounds.
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by Bukoski77 » Sat Dec 25, 2004 7:37 am 
) but from what i've read so far here in the cafe, Aquino should start the season as the closer in 2005. i've never seen him or valverde pitch, so i can't help ya on who has better stuff.
