“Failure” to acquire right-handed reliever made sense
August 1, 2011 at 2:32 pm by Kevin Orris under Atlanta Braves
For weeks and even months leading up to the trade deadline, Peter, Ben, and I all expressed our desire for Frank Wren and Co. to add a right-handed reliever to the bullpen. While Eric O’Flaherty, Jonny Venters, and Craig Kimbrel have all ranked among the best in the league, the depth of the bullpen has been lacking, leading to more than expected usage.
I can’t help but reiterate the fact that O’Flaherty, Venters, and Kimbrel have been used extensively this season. Among the relievers of all 30 teams, Venters (63.1 IP) ranks first in appearances with 59. Kimbrel (53.0 IP) and O’Flaherty (49.1 IP) are tied for third at 54.
There’s no arguing against their dominance though. Kimbrel leads MLB relievers with a 2.4 fWAR with Venters (1.5) and O’Flaherty (1.0) also ranking among the top 20. They make a pretty good group.
But if they’ve pitched too many inning to this point, a point which some would argue against and the Braves only reliable right-handed reliever is Kimbrel, it makes sense to acquire a right-handed bullpen option, right?
Yes. It makes perfect sense, however, the trade deadline has since passed and the Braves failed to acquire a right-handed reliever. But I’ve come to realize that failed isn’t the correct word to use. I’m actually happy that Wren chose to avoid the right-handed bullpen market.
Blame the Texas Rangers and GM Jon Daniels. Daniels, Baseball America’s 2010 Executive of the Year, was able to acquire two of the premier right-handed arms available at prices the Braves appear to be reluctant to pay. For San Diego’s Mike Adams, the Rangers dealt Robbie Erlin, Texas’ No. 4 prospect heading into the season, and Joe Wieland, their No. 23 pre-season prospect who has posted a 1.80 ERA with a 9.2 K/9 this season between Single and Double-A.
There’s no doubting that Adams is a great pitcher, but IMHO the price was too steep. If the Braves were to have offered up a similar package, it would have likely included a top four pitching prospect (Mike Minor, Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado, or Arodys Vizcaino) and possibly another young arm. That move would make little sense for the Braves.
Then there’s Koji Uehara. He was dealt for former Braves farmhand Tommy Hunter and Chris Davis, a masher who has failed to stick with the Rangers. Uehara is certainly a name that we’ve talked about extensively, but the price was pretty high. The added value of both Uehara and Adams is sure to be large, but was it worth trading such valuable pieces? Probably not.
Enter Arodys Vizcaino, a right-handed pitcher acquired from the Yankees in the Javier Vazquez deal, who has finally been converted to a reliever, just as many scouts have predicted since joining the Braves in December ‘09.
If you listened to the podcast last week, you heard Peter mention Vizcaino’s promotion to Triple-A Gwinnett and bullpen conversion, and so far it’s been nearly flawless. Through four appearances in Gwinett, Vizcaino allowed just one run (a home run in his first outing) while striking out six batters in four innings pitched.
Even though Wren “failed” to acquire a right-handed reliever at the deadline, Vizcaino is his prize possession that appears to be on the fast track to Atlanta. The Front Office’s reluctance to add an arm shows the trust in Vizcaino to arrive soon, because really, how long can Scott Proctor remain on the active roster?
With Vizcaino, Fredi will have a converted starter in his play pen with innings to burn and batters to K that will hopefully transition smoothly to the big leagues. There’s no doubting the potential of Vizcaino in the bullpen with his mid-90’s fastball and swing-and-miss curveball that he can command in the zone.
The time will come soon when fans will be filled with exuberance with the permanent call-up of Vizcaino and potentially Teheran and Delgado to throw valuable bullpen innings come September. For now, be happy that Wren pulled off a phenomenal deadline deal when he acquired Michael Bourn, and allowed the Texas Rangers to make upgrades at a steep price.
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53/Kyle
http://www.insidethebook.com/
This game is starting to look eerily like all the previous losses. Tons of hits and nothing with runners on base. Already our two ‘speedsters’ have created two outs on the base paths. It’s hard to fault Bourn for the out on first, it was a great play at 3rd that would have scored a run if it got past.
@51/Royal-
My cap is in the pawn shop, so I guess I’ll have to tip my waiter.
Running fast is indeed the most prized skill in all of baseball, and some guys should just keep on running until they reach the parking lot.
Jason looked lost at the plate. HBP is a blessing. Lets go Ross…
Nevermind
GIDP
The Braves mantra.
All kinds of regression to the mean on display: JJ allowing earned runs, Uggla launching bombs, and Ross starting to come back to earth with more playing time. Only Heyward hasn’t gotten the message. Gonzalez got it but swung and missed.
So far not a good start to a very important road trip, but still a few innings left to do some damage…
So… Jurrjens giving up multiple bombs to Rick Ankiel.
Where was Rick Ankiel last year during.. most of his stay in Atlanta?
Fuck this shit!
Ankiel with two homers?
Jesus.
what has happened with the starters since the all-star break?
@66/Jason-
MBD said it…regression to the mean.
This is not pretty.
its pathetic every year this team plays down to the nationals. we should easily get 13-14 wins off them and instead play stupid ass .500 baseball
Regression to the mean….as fast as they can get there.
On the bright side, they definitely just called SF “the Ginas” on national TV.
The “failure” to acquire a right handed reliever may not have seemed like a bad thing. However, with Linebrink down an experienced right hander is now non-existent in the pen. Two weeks with this group is not a good thing.
The thing that is getting scary for JJ:
First 18 starts – 5 hr allowed
Last 3 starts – 6 hr allowed
Really worried about the team. The offense is just abysmal. Love the addition of Bourn, but he isn’t gonna help drive in any runs. He can single, steal 2nd and 3rd, but he’s just gonna be left stranded there. Jurrjens and Hanson have not been sharp since the break. Lowe looks terrible. Chipper still seemingly far from ready to start. How is Hinske not starting tonight?!? The 2nd half of this lineup is as bad as any team in baseball right now. Gonna be really hard to tread water until McCann comes back and there’s no guarantee he’ll be back in 2 weeks. Terrible start to this road trip. We always struggle against Washington and the Mets are 5-4 against us so far this year. Panic time?
David Ross enabling a Nationals reliever to potentially earn a save tonight.
Anyone have any idea if there is a site to see how opposing pitchers are doing against us at the plate? Seems like we give up an abnormal amount of hits to the other starter.
So you mean to tell me that Fredi’s decision to choose speed over talent hasn’t produced? Gee, what a shock.
Well, Proctor on to pitch. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to read all the Proctor and FG bashing after the loss tonight.
I wonder how many of members of the braintrust over at the AJC comment section are still riding the “Jurrjens is an untradeable ace” bandwagon.
Uggla is going crazy. Actually has over .700 OPS now..
@69 That’s exactly why the Braves are trailing the Phillies-they don’t beat the teams they’re supposed to read. I fucking hate the Nationals.
Was it me that wanted Hinske hitting 7th…
How the @#$$%! does he let Alex Gonzalez hit there with with Hinske on the bench? How is he allowed to get away with this crap?
Should we be suprised that a lineup with four black holes in it cant generate offense outside of the longball?
Sadly, I think this is gonna be the same sad story until Chipper gets over his little boo boo.
@82/Greg
I agree, but realistically if he uses Hinske, Lugo has to hit next in the 8 hole for the pitcher. So it becomes Sea Bass or Lugo. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
“You put that kid Constanza in there you figure he’ll steal you a couple bases, maybe put a couple runs on the board. And Gonzo’s been real good at short all season keeping runs off the board but you gotta think his bat’s gonna come around. You know, you play your four aces, all your cards on the table. But this is baseball and sometimes you lose so you go back out there and do it the same again tomorrow. Except maybe you try Boscan in the 6 spot instead of Rossy.”
“Proctor looked real good out there for us tonight. Real good. What’s that, 2, 3 games now he’s been putting zeroes on the board? Makes you real confident as a manager having a righty like that can come in and shut em down like that.”
“And how bout Danny tonight? What’s he got, a ten game hitting streak going? I’ve known him for a few years now and he’s the same guy as ever. He’s gonna give you two, three home runs out there most nights.”
[...] Capitol Avenue Club, “Failure” to acquire right-handed reliever makes sense- Over at CAC all the writers were talking about how the RH relief pitcher was the biggest need and it seems they have come to their senses and realized Viz. [...]
Michael at 19,
Peter had a good recitation of exactly how these rules worked last year as it related to bringing up Heyward immediately.
My possibly not quite as exact version.
ALL player have a minimum of 6 full years of team control. Team control time INCLUDES time on the major league DL.
If a player stays off the ML roster for more than 10 (days / games?), then that year does not count as a full year. Otherwise, it does.
If a player is on the ML roster for (88 days or games?) or less, that year leaves 3 ML minimum years and 3 arb years.
For all of the players between 88 and 150, then they go in a “pool.” And out of that “pool” the 175 with the most service time (closer to 150) get a special arb treatment. That is two more full years at major league minimum and then 4 years of arb.
So, no way that affects Vizcaino now. If Teheran came up today to add to the pen, it might affect him. Since Minor worked some last year, if he comes up before round September 1, that could throw him into “Super Two”.