With Hudson back, should Hanson become a closer?
I’m just throwing it out there, OK? So don’t all scream at once. (If you do choose to scream, please take turns.) So here goes:
With the re-signing of Tim Hudson, the Braves have six starting pitchers under contract for 2010. The baseball truism holds that a team can never have too much pitching, but this one just might. The obvious solution would be to make Kenshin Kawakami a reliever, except for a couple of things: He makes too much money (around $8 million) to slot into middle relief and he generates too many baserunners to close. So …. what about this?
Tommy Hanson as closer.
I know, I know. Would any organization in its right mind redeploy its best pitching prospect in a generation so soon? And the answer would ordinarily be a resounding “Heck, no!’ Except that one organization has done pretty well with a redeployed starter as its closer.
The organization: The Boston Red Sox. The starter-turned-closer: Jonathan Papelbon.
Papelbon worked in 58 minor-league games, starting 48 of them. But then the Red Sox needed a closer to replace Keith Foulke and he got reassigned. And he has been, in the main, great — 151 saves over four seasons.
Loading ...Think of it this way: The Braves have roughly $68 million sunk into nine players (the six starting pitchers plus Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Nate McLouth). Their payroll last season was $96 million. So that leaves $38 million to spend on 16 roster spots, and the Braves at the moment have no first baseman — Adam LaRoche is a free agent — no proven corner outfielder (Jason Heyward looks good but hasn’t yet had a big-league at-bat) and no closer.
Rather than spend $5 million to re-up Rafael Soriano or Mike Gonzalez, neither of whom is among the game’s 10 best relievers, or spend even more on someone who is among the 10 best, mightn’t it be prudent, both philosophically and fiscally, to give Hanson a look? He has the stuff to do it, and he has the temperament.
OK, OK. I hear you. I’m not saying I’d do it, either. But I’d give it some thought. Because the Braves are going to have to pay big to get the big bat they lacked this summer, and a penny saved is a penny to spend elsewhere. (Get it? Saved? As in relief pitching?)
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310 comments Add your comment
MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
4:53 pm
Could it be that I’m……..
MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
4:54 pm
First! Woohoo!
don pardo
November 5th, 2009
4:54 pm
I actually think it’s a good idea.
Trey
November 5th, 2009
4:54 pm
No, Tommy should stay a starter.
Skeezix
November 5th, 2009
4:55 pm
Mark: I must say I am not keen on this idea, although he would be a helluva closer.
Trey
November 5th, 2009
4:55 pm
MightQuinn grow up, no one cares if you are first, that has nothing to do with the topic dummy.
MattyB
November 5th, 2009
4:56 pm
I hear where you’re coming from, but I think that’s a sure-fire way to ruin a great starting pitcher that could be valuable for years to come. One thing’s for sure, though. The Braves are going to make some unorthodox moves this offseason.
MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
4:58 pm
Trey: Sniff, sniff, my feelings are hurt…….Bwah-ha-ha!
Doc
November 5th, 2009
5:00 pm
I am totally confused. How can you follow a tremendous article on Coach Paul Johnson with such an assinine idea?
Tommy Hanson was the most reliable starter last year in the second half(though you could also argue Vazquez). The Braves need his youth in the rotation with all the other starters over 30. My fear would be an identity crisis a la Joba Chamberlain rather than a success story of Papelbon. The risk in your scenario above does not outweigh the reward.
Mark Bradley
November 5th, 2009
5:00 pm
The Mighty Quinn wins the marvelous prize! (Now all we need to do is decide what our marvelous prize is.)
DP
November 5th, 2009
5:02 pm
Closer is the most overrated position in baseball. Hanson as a starter will pitch 200+ innings if he’s healthy. As a closer he might pitch 75 innings, which leaves 125 innings or more to be filled by lesser pitchers.
It also doesn’t make sense because Hanson has the stuff to go through a lineup 3 times. A much lesser pitcher who throws gas and one other pitch can get the job done as a closer because hitters will only see him once in a game.
MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
5:02 pm
I have, however, noted Tommy’s unorthodox-appearing delivery(Anybody besides me look at it and think “Kerry Wood”?) and worried about durability over a career (see Kerry Wood). Moving to the pen to close could save a lot of wear and tear on the arm. That being said, I wouldn’t do it yet.
Frank Robinson (Rockmart)
November 5th, 2009
5:04 pm
Hell.No. But Medlen on the ohter hand…
Mc21
November 5th, 2009
5:04 pm
Why would you take your most dominant starter and put him in the bullpen? Give me 200+ innings and 35 starts over some saves. Hanson has four big league pitches and an incredible amount of confidence in his abilities. We finally develop a pitcher that can be an ace in the major leagues and you want to move him to the bullpen?
ArkyTech
November 5th, 2009
5:04 pm
Difference is Hanson is already a proven ML starter. Papelbon never was. You could make a better argument for Vazquez as closer with his strikeout totals and the fact that the Braves don’t have a long term interest with him.
Jay
November 5th, 2009
5:05 pm
Running out of ideas to meet your weekly blog quota, I see.
Mark Bradley
November 5th, 2009
5:05 pm
I disagree. Closer is not an overrated position. It’s especially not overrated if you don’t have one.
MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
Just being mentioned by the future Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Mark Bradley is prize enough for anyone!
Colonial Dawg
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
Enter your comments here
Colonial Dawg
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
No, I didn’t forget….that WAS my comment!
We Need Him Too Badly in the Rotation
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
Hanson can pitch a lot of innings and is very difficult to hit. He and Jair are a dangerous 1-2 punch in our rotation.
I’d be more amenable to any of the other four back there than Hanson.
Herschel Talker
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
No, this is a terrible idea. Almost as bad and idea as keeping Booby the manager or Richt the coach of the Dawgs.
Smack
November 5th, 2009
5:08 pm
No no no. Unlike Paps, he has already proven himself a dominant front end starter and the likes of him do not come around often. I actually would be a bit ticked off if he isn’t slotted as the #1 or #2 next year. Also, Mark look back at KK’s contract, he will make less the next 2 years than he did this year. It was front loaded. While overpaid, he would be the one to send to the pen if we hold the other 5 going into next season. Either that or at least consider a 6 man rotation, that’s a whole other can of worms…
cricket
November 5th, 2009
5:08 pm
I usually like your work but this is completely insane..
We Need Him Too Badly in the Rotation
November 5th, 2009
5:08 pm
I also agree that Medlen, if he continues to improve, could nicely fill that slot. Perhaps not right now, but at some point
Kurdt Kobain
November 5th, 2009
5:09 pm
So Matt Ryan is overrated and Tommy Hanson should close… Are you feeling okay, Mark? I liked the Paul Johnson article. This is insane. Hanson’s way too valuable as a starter to put in the pen. I’d move probably every other starter to the pen before I’d move Hanson there.
Besides, he’s so fun to watch, I’d hate to only see him one inning at a time every few days.
MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
5:10 pm
Interesting idea, there, ArkyTech. Kind of like when we put Smoltzie in there.
Eric C.
November 5th, 2009
5:10 pm
Ummm…no.
Don
November 5th, 2009
5:11 pm
No
Einstein
November 5th, 2009
5:11 pm
Cynthia, I mean Mike…have you lost your mind? Tommy should be our #2 starter behind JJ, and I would trade Vasquez, because he just can’t seem to put two good seasons together, and the Braves can get a lot for him. Don’t sign Mike or Sorryano…both are overpaid and overrated and underperform in the clutch. I would work on getting Medlin in shape as the closer. Justmy opinion. Peace.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
November 5th, 2009
5:11 pm
I’d rather use Kawakami as the closer than Hanson. It’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard, though. Closers are overrated, anyway. I’d rather have 5 solid starters and a bad bullpen.
Freddie G
November 5th, 2009
5:11 pm
Mark,
What a crazy idea. Could you not come up with a better subject for this debate. Why would the Braves do that to such a promising young starting Pitcher?
Ken Stallings
November 5th, 2009
5:13 pm
You reveal little appreciation for baseball, Mark Bradley. Hanson has proven he can excel as a starting pitcher. You never then rotate such a player to the bullpen. There are too many quality pitchers out there who cannot start, but who can pitch in relief.
It is vastly more difficult to find quality starting pitching than to find bullpen relief, even closers.
Your answer is obvious — no!
The Braves have already signed one veteran who may come off Tommy John surgery well. There will be others available.
The Braves need to spend about $12 million dollars above last season to secure the two big bats it needs to compete for a World Series. Either the team pays it, or we stay mired outside the playoffs.
Braves Fan in Dawg Country
November 5th, 2009
5:14 pm
I wouldn’t make Hanson the closer, but I would consider it with Javier Vazquez. He is a veteran and a strikeout pitcher. It would be nice to be able to get a strikeout when needed in the 9th.
ATL DAWG
November 5th, 2009
5:15 pm
Well Hmm…. The Braves never want to spend money on any free agents that will help the cause always getting players at the end of their careers. I’m really sick of the Braves and Bobby Cox if u ask me.. Oh the question about Hanson he was about the best pitcher they had besides J.J
Dan
November 5th, 2009
5:18 pm
While this is an intersting option, I believe that keeping Tommy Hanson as a starter makes more sense as he has already proven to be a very solid starter. I would suggest that the Braves would be better off to use Derek Lowe and Peter Moylan as their primary relievers. Thoughts???
singndablues
November 5th, 2009
5:18 pm
Throwing darts at the old idea board again eh…………………
Dawgs and Braves
November 5th, 2009
5:18 pm
Having young cheap dominant starting pitching is the most valuable thing in the game. You want to throw that away? It is almost as insane as trading JJ. With those two guys you have a great chance to win every time they go out. Trade Vasquez while his value is high. After all he is a free agent after next year anyways. That will free up enough money to sign a closer and a set up man. And while you are at it Mark, leave the Braves writing to Dave O’ Brien.
DP
November 5th, 2009
5:18 pm
With regard to my comment about the closer being an overrated position, a team has to get 27 outs to win a 9 inning game. Why are the 3 outs in the 9th more critical than the 3 outs in the 5th? In a 162 game schedule you need starting pitchers who can eat innings so you don’t have to use the bottom 3 guys in your bullpen in tight situations, or do like Bobby Cox and burn up your best 3 bullpen guys by using them every day.
If the Braves were going to consider doing something as crazy as moving Hanson to the bullpen they should declined Hudson’s option and let him go.
gmister54
November 5th, 2009
5:19 pm
I think that is a terrible idea, he could be the horse of this franchise for the next 10 yrs and we don’t have nearly the type of talent that boston had when it made Papelbon the closer. When the braves were dominant in the East it all started with starting pitching… Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz,… We could have a true big three in Hanson, Hudson, and Vasquez… Closer is important, but not as important as a dominant starting rotation.
Bring Me the Head of Deforest Kelley
November 5th, 2009
5:19 pm
Should we move McCann out of the starting catcher role to improve our bench?
Don!
November 5th, 2009
5:19 pm
No.
gmister54
November 5th, 2009
5:21 pm
check that the rotation should be JJ, Hanson, Hudson…. that could be the tops in the majors if all three pitch to their potential… and then have Vasquez and Lowe at the back… we would be very dangerous with that intact
don pardo
November 5th, 2009
5:21 pm
Wasn’t Lowe a successful closer early in his career with Boston?
That would leave KK as the 5th starter ( which is about what he is) on one of the best staffs in baseball.
O'Brien
November 5th, 2009
5:21 pm
Mark,
As other bloggers have mentiond, have you considered Medlen as a closer? If I’m not mistaken, he averages more strikeouts per 9 innings than Hanson does.
That being said, the Braves have to keep Hanson in the rotation, because they will probably trade either Lowe, Vazquez or KK for a big bat.
Justin
November 5th, 2009
5:24 pm
Your an idot for even writing a article about that
311
November 5th, 2009
5:25 pm
No.
They’re going to have to trade a pitcher to either get a bat or free up some money to help sign a bat. There’s no way we keep all 6.
We have a bigger need. A BIG BAT in either left field or at first.
Bring back Gene Garber and Bob Horner
November 5th, 2009
5:25 pm
Interesting idea Mark, but he’s just got too much promise as a starter.
But it is good to be creative with our current resources in order to afford a big bat (thus my moniker) – we knew we should have paid for Ibanez last year when he was available….
Sonny Clusters
November 5th, 2009
5:28 pm
Norton should be the closer.
MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
5:28 pm
Breaking NewsArmy: 12 dead; 31 wounded at Ft. Hood » .Mark Bradley With Hudson back, should Hanson become a closer?
4:43 pm November 5, 2009, by Mark Bradley
He started as a starter. Then he became a championship closer.
I’m just throwing it out there, OK? So don’t all scream at once. (If you do choose to scream, please take turns.) So here goes:
With the re-signing of Tim Hudson, the Braves have six starting pitchers under contract for 2010. The baseball truism holds that a team can never have too much pitching, but this one just might. The obvious solution would be to make Kenshin Kawakami a reliever, except for a couple of things: He makes too much money (around $8 million) to slot into middle relief and he generates too many baserunners to close. So …. what about this?
Tommy Hanson as closer.
I know, I know. Would any organization in its right mind redeploy its best pitching prospect in a generation so soon? And the answer would ordinarily be a resounding “Heck, no!’ Except that one organization has done pretty well with a redeployed starter as its closer.
The organization: The Boston Red Sox. The starter-turned-closer: Jonathan Papelbon.
Papelbon worked in 58 minor-league games, starting 48 of them. But then the Red Sox needed a closer to replace Keith Foulke and he got reassigned. And he has been, in the main, great — 151 saves over four seasons.
Would you try Tommy Hanson as closer?
Er, maybe.
No way!
View Results
Loading …
Think of it this way: The Braves have roughly $68 million sunk into nine players (the six starting pitchers plus Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Nate McLouth). Their payroll last season was $96 million. So that leaves $38 million to spend on 16 roster spots, and the Braves at the moment have no first baseman — Adam LaRoche is a free agent — no proven corner outfielder (Jason Heyward looks good but hasn’t yet had a big-league at-bat) and no closer.
Rather than spend $5 million to re-up Rafael Soriano or Mike Gonzalez, neither of whom is among the game’s 10 best relievers, or spend even more on someone who is among the 10 best, mightn’t it be prudent, both philosophically and fiscally, to give Hanson a look? He has the stuff to do it, and he has the temperament.
OK, OK. I hear you. I’m not saying I’d do it, either. But I’d give it some thought. Because the Braves are going to have to pay big to get the big bat they lacked this summer, and a penny saved is a penny to spend elsewhere. (Get it? Saved? As in relief pitching?)
.ShareThisPrint
..45 comments Add your commentMightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
4:53 pm
Could it be that I’m……..
LinkReport this comment.MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
4:54 pm
First! Woohoo!
LinkReport this comment.don pardo
November 5th, 2009
4:54 pm
I actually think it’s a good idea.
LinkReport this comment.Trey
November 5th, 2009
4:54 pm
No, Tommy should stay a starter.
LinkReport this comment.Skeezix
November 5th, 2009
4:55 pm
Mark: I must say I am not keen on this idea, although he would be a helluva closer.
LinkReport this comment.Trey
November 5th, 2009
4:55 pm
MightQuinn grow up, no one cares if you are first, that has nothing to do with the topic dummy.
LinkReport this comment.MattyB
November 5th, 2009
4:56 pm
I hear where you’re coming from, but I think that’s a sure-fire way to ruin a great starting pitcher that could be valuable for years to come. One thing’s for sure, though. The Braves are going to make some unorthodox moves this offseason.
LinkReport this comment.MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
4:58 pm
Trey: Sniff, sniff, my feelings are hurt…….Bwah-ha-ha!
LinkReport this comment.Doc
November 5th, 2009
5:00 pm
I am totally confused. How can you follow a tremendous article on Coach Paul Johnson with such an assinine idea?
Tommy Hanson was the most reliable starter last year in the second half(though you could also argue Vazquez). The Braves need his youth in the rotation with all the other starters over 30. My fear would be an identity crisis a la Joba Chamberlain rather than a success story of Papelbon. The risk in your scenario above does not outweigh the reward.
LinkReport this comment.Mark Bradley
November 5th, 2009
5:00 pm
The Mighty Quinn wins the marvelous prize! (Now all we need to do is decide what our marvelous prize is.)
LinkReport this comment.DP
November 5th, 2009
5:02 pm
Closer is the most overrated position in baseball. Hanson as a starter will pitch 200+ innings if he’s healthy. As a closer he might pitch 75 innings, which leaves 125 innings or more to be filled by lesser pitchers.
It also doesn’t make sense because Hanson has the stuff to go through a lineup 3 times. A much lesser pitcher who throws gas and one other pitch can get the job done as a closer because hitters will only see him once in a game.
LinkReport this comment.MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
5:02 pm
I have, however, noted Tommy’s unorthodox-appearing delivery(Anybody besides me look at it and think “Kerry Wood”?) and worried about durability over a career (see Kerry Wood). Moving to the pen to close could save a lot of wear and tear on the arm. That being said, I wouldn’t do it yet.
LinkReport this comment.Frank Robinson (Rockmart)
November 5th, 2009
5:04 pm
Hell.No. But Medlen on the ohter hand…
LinkReport this comment.Mc21
November 5th, 2009
5:04 pm
Why would you take your most dominant starter and put him in the bullpen? Give me 200+ innings and 35 starts over some saves. Hanson has four big league pitches and an incredible amount of confidence in his abilities. We finally develop a pitcher that can be an ace in the major leagues and you want to move him to the bullpen?
LinkReport this comment.ArkyTech
November 5th, 2009
5:04 pm
Difference is Hanson is already a proven ML starter. Papelbon never was. You could make a better argument for Vazquez as closer with his strikeout totals and the fact that the Braves don’t have a long term interest with him.
LinkReport this comment.Jay
November 5th, 2009
5:05 pm
Running out of ideas to meet your weekly blog quota, I see.
LinkReport this comment.Mark Bradley
November 5th, 2009
5:05 pm
I disagree. Closer is not an overrated position. It’s especially not overrated if you don’t have one.
LinkReport this comment.MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
Just being mentioned by the future Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Mark Bradley is prize enough for anyone!
LinkReport this comment.Colonial Dawg
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
Enter your comments here
LinkReport this comment.Colonial Dawg
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
No, I didn’t forget….that WAS my comment!
LinkReport this comment.We Need Him Too Badly in the Rotation
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
Hanson can pitch a lot of innings and is very difficult to hit. He and Jair are a dangerous 1-2 punch in our rotation.
I’d be more amenable to any of the other four back there than Hanson.
LinkReport this comment.Herschel Talker
November 5th, 2009
5:07 pm
No, this is a terrible idea. Almost as bad and idea as keeping Booby the manager or Richt the coach of the Dawgs.
LinkReport this comment.Smack
November 5th, 2009
5:08 pm
No no no. Unlike Paps, he has already proven himself a dominant front end starter and the likes of him do not come around often. I actually would be a bit ticked off if he isn’t slotted as the #1 or #2 next year. Also, Mark look back at KK’s contract, he will make less the next 2 years than he did this year. It was front loaded. While overpaid, he would be the one to send to the pen if we hold the other 5 going into next season. Either that or at least consider a 6 man rotation, that’s a whole other can of worms…
LinkReport this comment.cricket
November 5th, 2009
5:08 pm
I usually like your work but this is completely insane..
LinkReport this comment.We Need Him Too Badly in the Rotation
November 5th, 2009
5:08 pm
I also agree that Medlen, if he continues to improve, could nicely fill that slot. Perhaps not right now, but at some point
LinkReport this comment.Kurdt Kobain
November 5th, 2009
5:09 pm
So Matt Ryan is overrated and Tommy Hanson should close… Are you feeling okay, Mark? I liked the Paul Johnson article. This is insane. Hanson’s way too valuable as a starter to put in the pen. I’d move probably every other starter to the pen before I’d move Hanson there.
Besides, he’s so fun to watch, I’d hate to only see him one inning at a time every few days.
LinkReport this comment.MightyQuinn
November 5th, 2009
5:10 pm
Interesting idea, there, ArkyTech. Kind of like when we put Smoltzie in there.
LinkReport this comment.Eric C.
November 5th, 2009
5:10 pm
Ummm…no.
LinkReport this comment.Einstein
November 5th, 2009
5:11 pm
Cynthia, I mean Mike…have you lost your mind? Tommy should be our #2 starter behind JJ, and I would trade Vasquez, because he just can’t seem to put two good seasons together, and the Braves can get a lot for him. Don’t sign Mike or Sorryano…both are overpaid and overrated and underperform in the clutch. I would work on getting Medlin in shape as the closer. Justmy opinion. Peace.
LinkReport this comment.Kelly Johnson Fan Club
November 5th, 2009
5:11 pm
I’d rather use Kawakami as the closer than Hanson. It’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard, though. Closers are overrated, anyway. I’d rather have 5 solid starters and a bad bullpen.
LinkReport this comment.Freddie G
November 5th, 2009
5:11 pm
Mark,
What a crazy idea. Could you not come up with a better subject for this debate. Why would the Braves do that to such a promising young starting Pitcher?
LinkReport this comment.Ken Stallings
November 5th, 2009
5:13 pm
You reveal little appreciation for baseball, Mark Bradley. Hanson has proven he can excel as a starting pitcher. You never then rotate such a player to the bullpen. There are too many quality pitchers out there who cannot start, but who can pitch in relief.
It is vastly more difficult to find quality starting pitching than to find bullpen relief, even closers.
Your answer is obvious — no!
The Braves have already signed one veteran who may come off Tommy John surgery well. There will be others available.
The Braves need to spend about $12 million dollars above last season to secure the two big bats it needs to compete for a World Series. Either the team pays it, or we stay mired outside the playoffs.
LinkReport this comment.Braves Fan in Dawg Country
November 5th, 2009
5:14 pm
I wouldn’t make Hanson the closer, but I would consider it with Javier Vazquez. He is a veteran and a strikeout pitcher. It would be nice to be able to get a strikeout when needed in the 9th.
LinkReport this comment.ATL DAWG
November 5th, 2009
5:15 pm
Well Hmm…. The Braves never want to spend money on any free agents that will help the cause always getting players at the end of their careers. I’m really sick of the Braves and Bobby Cox if u ask me.. Oh the question about Hanson he was about the best pitcher they had besides J.J
LinkReport this comment.Dan
November 5th, 2009
5:18 pm
While this is an intersting option, I believe that keeping Tommy Hanson as a starter makes more sense as he has already proven to be a very solid starter. I would suggest that the Braves would be better off to use Derek Lowe and Peter Moylan as their primary relievers. Thoughts???
LinkReport this comment.singndablues
November 5th, 2009
5:18 pm
Throwing darts at the old idea board again eh…………………
LinkReport this comment.Dawgs and Braves
November 5th, 2009
5:18 pm
Having young cheap dominant starting pitching is the most valuable thing in the game. You want to throw that away? It is almost as insane as trading JJ. With those two guys you have a great chance to win every time they go out. Trade Vasquez while his value is high. After all he is a free agent after next year anyways. That will free up enough money to sign a closer and a set up man. And while you are at it Mark, leave the Braves writing to Dave O’ Brien.
LinkReport this comment.DP
November 5th, 2009
5:18 pm
With regard to my comment about the closer being an overrated position, a team has to get 27 outs to win a 9 inning game. Why are the 3 outs in the 9th more critical than the 3 outs in the 5th? In a 162 game schedule you need starting pitchers who can eat innings so you don’t have to use the bottom 3 guys in your bullpen in tight situations, or do like Bobby Cox and burn up your best 3 bullpen guys by using them every day.
If the Braves were going to consider doing something as crazy as moving Hanson to the bullpen they should declined Hudson’s option and let him go.
LinkReport this comment.gmister54
November 5th, 2009
5:19 pm
I think that is a terrible idea, he could be the horse of this franchise for the next 10 yrs and we don’t have nearly the type of talent that boston had when it made Papelbon the closer. When the braves were dominant in the East it all started with starting pitching… Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz,… We could have a true big three in Hanson, Hudson, and Vasquez… Closer is important, but not as important as a dominant starting rotation.
LinkReport this comment.Bring Me the Head of Deforest Kelley
November 5th, 2009
5:19 pm
Should we move McCann out of the starting catcher role to improve our bench?
LinkReport this comment.Don!
November 5th, 2009
5:19 pm
No.
LinkReport this comment.gmister54
November 5th, 2009
5:21 pm
check that the rotation should be JJ, Hanson, Hudson…. that could be the tops in the majors if all three pitch to their potential… and then have Vasquez and Lowe at the back… we would be very dangerous with that intact
LinkReport this comment.don pardo
November 5th, 2009
5:21 pm
Wasn’t Lowe a successful closer early in his career with Boston?
That would leave KK as the 5th starter ( which is about what he is) on one of the best staffs in baseball.
LinkReport this comment.O’Brien
November 5th, 2009
5:21 pm
Mark,
As other bloggers have mentiond, have you considered Medlen as a closer? If I’m not mistaken, he averages more strikeouts per 9 innings than Hanson does.
That being said, the Braves have to keep Hanson in the rotation, because they will probably trade either Lowe, Vazquez or KK for a big bat.
LinkReport this comment.Justin
November 5th, 2009
5:24 pm
Your an idot for even writing a article about that
That should be: “You’re an idiot for even writing an article about that.” One should be able to use grammer and spelling correctly before calling someone else an “idot”.