Wagner reminded Kimbrel to learn from last year’s ending
Braves closer Craig Kimbrel has learned from his mentor, Billy Wagner. (Jason Getz/AJC)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Having just watched the final out of the final loss of the final-month bloodletting that would crush the Braves’ season, Billy Wagner – retired, but a little sick over matters himself – picked up the phone in his rural Virginia home to call one of the team’s players. He figured Craig Kimbrel would be in need of some emotional counseling.
“It was right after the game,” Wagner said. “I was just going to leave him a voice message, but I was surprised when he actually answered. I think he was still in uniform. I just reminded him of the season he had. I told him what an honor it was for him just to be there. I said, ‘You went out there and it didn’t work out. But you got the greatest gift ever. So learn from it, go back out there next year and don’t beat yourself up.’ He’ll be fine.”
The Braves start playing games again Saturday, albeit a spring training weekend series against Detroit doesn’t hold the same significance as the deciding last few days of the 2011 season. When Kimbrel makes his first appearance, it will be his sincere hope to pick up not quite where he left off.
Closers need to have short memories. Their job isn’t much different than a drag racers’. Slam on the gas, then either win or watch engine parts fly into Row 6.
Either way, re-centering oneself is crucial. It would explain why when I asked Kimbrel what he thought it takes to be a great closer, he responded without hesitation: “I don’t know. I failed a lot last year.”
Not really a lot. Just a few more times late than he had been.
His first full major league season was largely dream-like. He was named the National League’s Rookie of the Year, receiving all 32 first-place votes. He registered 46 saves, a major league rookie record. Only one Braves closer in franchise history has had more: Guy named John Smoltz (55 in 2002).
But things didn’t end well. After a stretch from June 19-Sept. 8 that saw Kimbrel string together a perfect 25 saves and two wins without a blown appearance, he began to leak oil. He lost three of six leads (officially two blown saves and one loss).
It wasn’t quite a complete breakdown. There were some command issues. But looking relatively unconscious for so long, Kimbrel just looked human for the first time. On Sept. 9 in St. Louis, he was handed a 3-1 lead, but gave up a two-out, two-run single to Albert Pujols in the ninth. Ten days later, with a 5-4 lead at Florida and two outs, Chipper Jones lost a chopper in the lights – it happens every 2,000 years – Omar Infante followed with a two-run walk-off homer against Kimbrel.
Then came the season finale. A win over Philadelphia would allow the fading Braves to preserve a wild-card berth. But Kimbrel, holding a 3-2 lead, allowed a single, two walks and a sacrifice fly to allow the Phillies to tie the score. Wagner, who mentored Kimbrel when he was the Braves’ closer in 2010, said it was “the only game when the emotions of the game got to” Kimbrel. The Braves lost in 13. When the Cardinals won, the season was over.
Kimbrel said he recovered emotionally “relatively quick.” When manager Fredi Gonzalez phoned him two days after the season, Kimbrel was back home in Alabama, putting up his tree stands for hunting.
“I’m the kind of guy who’s not going to dwell on things for a while,” Kimbrel said. “There was nothing I can do about it. I’m not going to let it hinder me or hurt me this season because that was last season. If anything, what happened last year has motivated, not just me, but the whole team, to play good baseball for, not 90 percent of the season but 100 percent of the season.”
Staying grounded doesn’t seem to be an issue for one of the majors’ best closers last season. Some teammates have been calling him, “Roy” (acronym for rookie of the year). Kimbrel isn’t thrilled.
“They only call me that because they know I don’t like it,” he said. “My name is Craig.” And Craig has a short memory.
By Jeff Schultz
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66 comments Add your comment
The Duke of Flatbush
March 4th, 2012
7:48 am
Good story Jeff, as usual. Looking forward to your Braves’ perspective as the season progresses.
Kimbrell was great last season-the bullpen will be better without the 2 journeyman they had last season. We all know pitching is the one real strength of this team I thing we are in a better position than any other team in the division, maybe the league.
john30456
March 4th, 2012
9:01 am
Dear Sonny, Time to pack it in. You are jealous of Chipper. You are no fan. You remind me of good Joe Tess Fishhouse. No fun to read anymore, when I see your name I skip the post. Fade away. I disagree with Stinger. You probably are on call with Roto Rooter, more in line with your comments.
..An inmate at a correctional facility
March 4th, 2012
9:32 am
David O’Brien is a putz. All last year, I posted in his stupid blog that the Braves would be better off trading McCann this winter…because his trade value would be at it’s peak. I said that given what he’ll command after the 2013 season…the Braves will either be in a position of having to overpay for his services with a huge contact offer…or risk him walking away and the Braves getting nothing in return.
Given the demands of the catching position, I stated that there is a real possibility that he’ll need to DH in the latter years of the next contract he gets. I said that is why he’d be ideal for a team like Boston or the Yankees…who’d have no problem with paying him big bucks, bucks the Braves probably will not be able to afford paying.
With two years left on his contract, the Braves can get a king’s ransom in a trade for McCann right now.
After blasting me for saying what I had to say….David O’Brainless One posted an article that basically said what I’ve been saying all along on his stupid blog..with the exception of the trade proposal (he’s too scared to propose anything like that…because he’s a coward who doesnt want to ruffle any feathers of Braves players or management).
He talked about an American League team sweeping in and overpaying because McCann’s value could be in DHing in the latter years of his contract…whereas the Braves cant DH him in the National League…nor do they have another position to put him because he’s pretty much limited to catching. He said that the Braves pretty much couldnt afford to pay him $20 mil plus when he isnt able to catch regularly later in his career.
Just shows that rear end kissing imbeciles like David O’Brainless One have a knack for stealing ideas and making them their own…despite ripping the idea prior.
Duke of Flatbush
March 4th, 2012
10:27 am
So who is going to catch when we dump McCann?
Marty Perez
March 4th, 2012
10:27 am
WE just wish Clusters would go the hell AWAY…..his bit was kinda funny at first, but it got old a LONG time ago
Sonny Clusters
March 4th, 2012
10:29 am
We was glad to hear from our supporters and also from the peanut gallery. Listening to Chipper talk is like listening to a potato head. Because he can turn on a fastball he is revered by many Atlanta fans but he should never open his mouth to speak. We think that’s why they keep seeds and gum and tobacco in the dugout so he will keep his mouth full and not open it until he needs to breathe. We clearly are not the only one in town that thinks the Braves are giving us a line of crap and that they should come clean with us. Homeboy wrote a letter after the EPIC Collapse and we was wondering if he was serious or just trying to keep ticket buyers from bailing. If we was trying to project an image of winning we’d have somebody smarter than Chipper and Fredi talking about it. How about a deer? And we enjoyed listening to Dale Murphy on the radio yesterday. He was a gentleman ballplayer and one all Braves fans can look to and respect because he was a star on and off the field. Fredi said the boys hit the ball pretty well yesterday but only got one hit. We was hoping they will do better today.
Sonny Clusters
March 4th, 2012
10:32 am
Sticks and stones will break our bones but you’d miss us if we were gone. We think we’ll just hang around and let you read us and get mad and post about us using 3 or 4 different names. Than again, you could just skip our posts and read the ones with one syllable words. You’d probably handle those better. Run, Chipper, Run.
Forrest G.
March 4th, 2012
10:44 am
I don’t shoot deer, but I don’t hold it against folks who obey the laws and eat what they kill. I have had the rascals try to wreck my car, and I think there are too many of them on the highway. As far as Sonny’s comments, you pay your hundred dollars for a ticket and a bad hotdog, you have the right to critique sloppy play and stupid commentary.
Sonny Clusters
March 4th, 2012
11:01 am
Eating what was killed would be okay with us, too. Say for instance, we did kill a little deer out in the woods . . . we would have a deer fry for all our friends and make some deer kabobs and some deer dogs to roast over the fire. Before we was finished everybody would be full of deer and some of us would have earmuffs. If we was Fredi, we would start the hitters today so the team can get some hits. What? They started yesterday?
bulldogbubba
March 4th, 2012
11:27 am
I have read Fredi is only taking 3 everyday players for todays game.Seems he is easing them into the games.Why? Also, Sonny- it seems Jeff has written the articles this week and you have taken care of the blog.You should be there with him.
Sonny Clusters
March 4th, 2012
12:55 pm
Thanks, Jeff may take us in as a partner. When he’s too busy we can blog here and make sure nobody steals anything.
My Braves’ camp wrap (and finally, your questions) | Jeff Schultz
March 4th, 2012
1:39 pm
[...] – Wagner told Kimbrel: Learn from last sesson’s ending [...]
bulldogbubba
March 4th, 2012
2:23 pm
Braves pitching making a difference today – 10 – 0 in the 3rd. WOW!!!!
..An inmate at a correctional facility
March 4th, 2012
6:45 pm
Duke of Flatbush….I’m not saying that we should “dump” McCann like we did Derek Lowe. I’m saying that the reality is that either the Braves are going to have to pay McCann $20 mil a year for at least 5 or 6 years (I find it hard to believe that he’ll be catching 130-140 games in the 5th or the year of his next contract)…meaning that the Braves will be vastly overpaying for a hitter who can only catch 110-120 games a year (McCann simply doesnt have it in him to play another position…unless the Braves decide to trade Freddie Freeman).
Or..the Braves will lose McCann for nothing after the 2013 season…because the Yankees and Red Sox would be more than willing to offer McCann $20-$25 mil a year…because McCann can DH throughout the life of his next contract…meaning less wear and tear on his body,, which would actually extending the years he’ll be able to catch.
By trading McCann now…they could command a king’s ransom for him..because he’s a relative bargain under contract for both 2012 and 2013.
If the Braves played in the American League..I’d be all for McCann getting big bucks to stay with the Braves…or if McCann played another position. But we play in the National League..and he plays a position that wears and tears a player’s body as he gets older.
..An inmate at a correctional facility
March 4th, 2012
6:54 pm
Teheran rocked for 6 homers today? I said all along last year that Teheran was a bum. Dude was hyped up by the media and Braves management…just like Heyward was.
Teheran has a pretty straight fastball….Ryan Howard hit one so far off him last year..that it still hasnt landed. In fact, that homer he hit probably wont land until after he comes off the disabled list.
Hudson’s hurt, Hanson’s not 100%, Freeman knee is hurting. It’s only a matter before Chipper breaks down. Our pitchers are throwing BP pitches in games. If something happens to either Kimbrel or Venters….we’re going to have a LONG 2012 season.
..An inmate at a correctional facility
March 4th, 2012
6:58 pm
Also…sick and tired of hearing Fredo Gonzalez go with one excuse after another, like he learned from Bobby Cox. He said, “there were 5 or 6 balls hit today that normally dont go out”.
I’m surprised he didnt use the patented Bobby Cox “we hit it right at them”, “we threw good pitches that got hit”, “they hit balls that had eyes helping it get through the infield..or drop in the outfield”…etc.
Bobby Valentine isnt using excuses managing Boston. He tells it like it is. Fredo tells it like it aint..just like Bobby Cox used to.