skapur20 wrote:slomo007 wrote:skapur20 wrote:so is Otsuka the long term plan at closer you guys think?
in my dynasty im pretty much out of it for this season, but i need closers and looking more long term. i picked up Otsuka and am hoping hes the long term solution, unless of course TJ surgery goes down. is there really any chance he wont be closing when he gets back? benoit, cj wilson.. do those guys actually have what it takes?
Depends on what you mean by long-term plan.
If you mean next year, then yeah. If you mean in a few years, then no.
future always meaning forseeable future. no one will know whose the closer in a "few years" not even you
Well, there are always "closers of the future" which are players that are being groomed to be a team's closer in 2-5 years. In Texas, I think the COTF is likely either Francisco or Wes Littleton. Francisco has the edge right now, but who knows if he's ready for a steady/reliable role in the bullpen. That's why Benoit is the logical choice in the short term. In the long term I would say Francisco.
edit, I realize Francisco has been in the league for a while now and is not exactly young....but he's got closer stuff, and there have been rumors for a while that he would be converted to closer eventually.
Also, for what it's worth...TR Sullivan, the Rangers' beat reporter, had a blurb last week that if Padilla is deemed not healthy enough to start next year, he could be converted to closer. So obviously Texas has several options available.
by skapur20 » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:05 pm 
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