With a dependable Closer, we'd be 4-1, not 2-3

[BC867]

Coupling our powerful batting order and bench with our mediocre starting pitching and long relief, we could still be a good team . . . if we had a dependable Closer.

If I were Joe G., I'd be reviewing the roster of each Major League team, searching for one with two Closers or a strong Setup guy -- a team that needs help at 1B, 2B and/or 3B.

With Tony Clark ready to step in at 1B and turn the heart of our batting order from 3-4-5 to 3-4-5-6, and with young talent like Chad Tracy and Alex Cintron available . . . and stuck with 3 mediocre and/or injured potential Closers . . .

It's time to fill our greatest need via a trade. A dependable Closer. It would make all the difference.

 

[Phill11]

At this point, I don't mess with the team chemisty much. I don't trade Tracy or Cintron. Give those guys a full year and they'll have great seasons. I want to trade Clayton, but he's a clubhouse guy and would really mess with the chemisty.

Maybe offer Brian Bruney and someone else for a proven closer. Maybe a Danny Graves too. (Since the Reds have Wagner coming up)... But still Graves still has weaknesses.

If I'm the DBacks I talk to all teams with GREAT closers (Rivera, Hoffman, etc.) see if ANY are willing to be traded.

 

[Brandon_Webb]

At this point, I don't mess with the team chemisty much. I don't trade Tracy or Cintron. Give those guys a full year and they'll have great seasons. I want to trade Clayton, but he's a clubhouse guy and would really mess with the chemisty.

Maybe offer Brian Bruney and someone else for a proven closer. Maybe a Danny Graves too. (Since the Reds have Wagner coming up)... But still Graves still has weaknesses.

If I'm the DBacks I talk to all teams with GREAT closers (Rivera, Hoffman, etc.) see if ANY are willing to be traded.

Why would you want Rivera or Hoffman? Both are in there mid 30's and hav ebig contracts. Why trade off a good young player for a pipe dream fantasy that were going to make the playoffs let alone do something in them

 

[BC867]

I don't trade Tracy or Cintron. Give those guys a full year and they'll have great seasons.

I agree about Tracy, but we have Tony Clark ready to step in at 1B now, and Jackson being groomed at Tucson to add power to the 1B position starting next year.

And I once predicted that Alex Cintron would someday win a batting championship. But he's a bench player with us because of his poor fielding.

I believe that we have the potential to be the best in the West with a solid Closer. This season. I'd like to see us go for it.

It takes talent to get talent. I think that Tracy and/or Cintron for a strong Closer is do-able.

 

[Brandon_Webb]

I like Hairston but I obviously the organization doesn't. So if he doesn't ever get to play i'd like to see him traded.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I would have to fault Bob Melvin to a certain extent for what happened to Lyon on Friday night since had pitched the 2 games prior to game...I mean.. here's a player who didnt pitch whatsoever the year before and he's already being over-extended.....

Although, I guess he has to "manuever" with what he's been dealt with since the Dbacks didn't manage to acquire a veteran reliever of any worth doing the offseason (of course the Acevedo, Jimenez, and Osborne experiments failed miserably)....

I just have a feeling that Villarreal and Valverde will never fully regain their "former" form and Bruney must finally develop some type of breaking pitch to offset his fastball or else he won't last too long.......

The Dbacks won't acquire a solid veteran reliever in a trade since they're at a premium, however, Urbina is avaliable and I dont believe the Tigers have such a high asking price.. He's shown some dominance in the NL before and if I recall correctly doesnt carry a "hefty" price-tag....

Hairston is better suited for the AL since he'll be one of the best DHs in baseball, because his defensive struggles and transitions will always distract/detract away from his offensively ability.....

Cintron.. just dont know how much redeemable value he would have (unless packaged).....

Don't know if the Dbacks would part with Terrero, but he's somewhat expendable.....

I honestly believe that the Dbacks didnt really concentrate on their BP not realizing how much they actually did upgrade their roster, but will take all of that in account now and will make some sort of a trade for a dependable reliever by early May..even if its just a veteran reliever to stablize the BP would be worthwhile....

 

[Lefty]

Maybe try and trade Hairston and Devore as a package deal.

 

[devilalum]

When we start getting more out of our starters the bullpen won't kill us as bad.

When the bullpen is bad it can turn into a nightmare fast. Other teams start thinking, "All we have to do is get to their bullpen, the game's never over against these guys"

Our team starts thinking, "Here we go again" it can be very demoralizing.

I remember the Reds a couple of years ago were like that. Every team in the NL knew they always had a chance if they could knock out the starter.

Maybe there's another Papa Grande hiding in El Paso?

 

[Ryanwb]

The only name that comes to mind is Ugueth Urbina. The Tigers have Troy Percival already they really don't have a need for both, of course Troy can't stay healthy....

I agree this team is a closer away from competing

 

[Gee!]

Rivera doesnt seem to be near as dominant as he once was.

All starting in Nov of 2001.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

The only name that comes to mind is Ugueth Urbina. The Tigers have Troy Percival already they really don't have a need for both, of course Troy can't stay healthy....

I agree this team is a closer away from competing

The Tigers might be inclined sacrifice Urbina regardless of Percival because they have hard throwing closer Franklyn German who's been groomed as their closer of the future.....

Others that come to mind are Orioles Jorge Julio (his name was linked w/the Dbacks throughout this past offseason since they have BJ Ryan whos a very capable closer), Dotel (since Oakland will peddle him off soon because they want Huston Street to eventually assume the closing role there), and perhaps even Tom Gordon of the Yankees......

More than likely it wont be anyone from the NL West obviously because none of those teams would want to contribute to the Dbacks improving themseleves....

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Octavio Dotel will likely be available but the thought of another trade with the A's is nauseating.

 

[moviegeekjn]

Pushing the panic button too early.. there will NOT be a reliable, dependable closer available. MANY teams are going through the same blown save scenario we are... with NAME closers.

If panic mode ensues, Dbacks will end up dealing Scotty Hairston to Colorado for old times sake (thinking that BK may revert to his 2001-2 form).

 

[Phill11]

I'd dig a Bruney, Terrero, and Hairston for Dotel deal...

 

[The Commish]

Pushing the panic button too early.. there will NOT be a reliable, dependable closer available. MANY teams are going through the same blown save scenario we are... with NAME closers.

If panic mode ensues, Dbacks will end up dealing Scotty Hairston to Colorado for old times sake (thinking that BK may revert to his 2001-2 form).

I agree, panic way too quickly. But I am not sure Lyon is the answer. What happened to Aquino?

Personally I would like to see Valverde (when he gets healthy) as the setup man because he is a sinker-ball pitcher, and then see Aquino as the closer. Thats just what I would like to see.


PS. Solid Durham Bulls logo

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I'd dig a Bruney, Terrero, and Hairston for Dotel deal...

That is a ridiculously HUGE overpayment.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I agree, panic way too quickly. But I am not sure Lyon is the answer. What happened to Aquino?

Personally I would like to see Valverde (when he gets healthy) as the setup man because he is a sinker-ball pitcher, and then see Aquino as the closer. Thats just what I would like to see.


PS. Solid Durham Bulls logo

Aquino was placed on the DL the other day.

 

[The Commish]

Aquino was placed on the DL the other day.

Gotcha, guess I missed that.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Wow, three games into the season and people are already suggesting dive headfirst into the ridiculously overpriced closer market?

 

[Evil Ash]

Wow, three games into the season and people are already suggesting dive headfirst into the ridiculously overpriced closer market?

Yeah, people are leaning torwards hitting the panic button already event though they are looking at the wrong problem. Our closer hasn't been the problem ... getting to our closer has been the problem.

Our middle relief has been whats been killing us (with the exception of one game). We need to worry about the rest of our bullpen before I'd go into panic mode and overpay for a closer. We also need to get more innings out of our starters.

We need to give Lyon more time to figure out how well he is doing his job. As of this point its way too early to determine anything

 

[schillingfan]

Our middle relief has been whats been killing us (with the exception of one game). We need to worry about the rest of our bullpen before I'd go into panic mode and overpay for a closer. We also need to get more innings out of our starters.

Everyone is having early relief pitching problems - closers, set-up, you name it. It's not uncommon the first week of the season.

Phillies lost 3 straight games with leads blown in the 8th inning this week - so I feel the pain.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I apologize for my delay in responding to this thread, but I havent been in the mood to post much recently....

Anyways....The reason why I was vastly concerned with the Dbacks bullpen (albeit only after the 1st wk of the season) was not necessarily because of their performance, but the need to add some veteran arms is a concern as a "preventive" measure.....

It just seems that Bruney has been over-extended as of late and I just dont want him to suffer the same fate that Villarreal, Valverde, and Aquino have.....

Also, I am concerned about Lyon since he's just a year removed from missing an entire season that they should not use him excessively either.....

Gosling and Cormier of course been starters througout their entire minor league career and people tend to overlook the strain that relievers endure each and every time they "warm-up" in the bullpen...

Fortunately Koplove has a "rubber-arm" to a certain extent, but I do recall some instances in the past cpl years that he pitched thru some injuries that hampered his results.....

Choate is more effective just opposing one LH minimal and seems to falter whenever he pitches more than an inning......

I must applaud though the Dbacks in addressing this concern with 3 moves that have seemed to "slip under the radar"..

Darren Oliver is solid as one of those "AAAA" starters who could be promoted up in case of an emergency....

Javier Lopez and Kerry Ligtenberg were also good moves because they added 2 veteran relievers to the team who both could eventually help stabilize the bullpen on the Major League level..... Definitely better than Fetters and Service, but obviously that isnt saying much!

I wasn't sounding the "red alert" alarm because of how poorly they had been, however, because I just dont want to see past mistakes ruin the promising young arms.....I'll absolutely never forgive Brenly and Kniffin for destroying Villarreal's career and now it seems that Valverde and Aquino will never revert back to their former form either....