WE NEED SPOONEY NOW!!

I think everyone is giving Jones way too much credit. He hasnt been a good closer in this eague for 5 years.

 

Jones is ok to fill a hole for a little bit, but he isnt the man for the long haul.

Exactly right now. Last year our third option was...? The third option the year before that? Before that?

 

Get the point now?

758868[/snapback]

 

But right now we're more thin than we were even last year. I have a hard time believing that Jones/Mota (which is, essentially what we've got now, and it may just become simply Jones) is better than anyone/Benitez from 2004. The confidence I had in this pen came from Alfonseca or Jones being the guy to come in to extinguish a fire in the 6th or 7th, with the other pitching the 8th, but now we've gone to Jones being the closer or set-up man and Bump or Mecir or Riedling is the swing-man reliever. While Mecir and Bump have really overachieved so far, I have no more confidence in this bullpen now than I did in last year's, in fact, I'd say I have less because the 9th is hardly automatic now. Losing Alfonseca hurt us more than anything because our insurance closer is now out two months, and Mota hasn't looked overpowering in the save situations he has had so far (and this was before his elbow trouble got to be too much).

 

I agree with your assertion that we were better suited to lose a guy or two because of the overall depth of the bullpen, but right now we're in worse shape than we were at any point last season. I just hope that it's nothing serious with Mota, and that Spooney can come back lights out in a few weeks.

Sure, Jones can't do what Benitez did, but even Benitez only did those 1-run-lead-with-a-guy-on heroics maybe twice a month. And I'm pretty confident in Bump-Reidling-Mecir-Perisho to atleast do as well as Bump-Manzy-Phelps-Perisho. And that post-ASB 'pen wasn't any better with Seanez allowing nearly every inherited baserunner to score and Mota's arm tired and Koch's problems. The middle relief corps is better than last year, well maybe not, but their skills as strikeout pitchers translate well to more tense 'stopper' bullpen work as he so accurately described.

 

rant It's not that big of a deal. The effectiveness of relievers according to us fans is based on the time they enter the game. If the offense does its job and the starters' theirs for a few weeks, we won't be cursing the 'pen for failing to hold a 1-0 lead or close deficit. Although we probably shouldn't be blaming them anyway /rant

Mota do the DL, Travis Smith called back up...

 

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Florida Marlins closer Guillermo Mota is headed to the 15-day disabled list after tests conducted Saturday revealed inflammation in his pitching elbow.

 

The righthander is expected to be officially placed on the DL Sunday. Travis Smith, who was just optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, remained with the Marlins in Philadelphia and will likely replace Mota in the bullpen when the move is made.

 

Mota is 0-1 with a 1.86 ERA and two saves in 9 2/3 innings this season. The righthander last pitched April 23 and picked up a save against Cincinnati in Miami.

 

He was examined Saturday by Marlins team physician Dan Kanell. An MRI and CT scan disclosed the injury, which will likely shelve Mota for around three weeks.

8-freaking-man bullpen staff until May 10th. 8-freaking-man bullpen for 8 games in 10 days. Unbelievable.