Jump to content

Featured Replies

Posted

Not good to hear...

 

McKeon has faith in Almanza

 

By Greg A. Bedard, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, July 27, 2003

 

Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon said Saturday that despite the struggles of left-handed reliever Armando Almanza, he'll continue to have him pitch in crucial situations.

 

"I have to get Almanza going," McKeon said. "I have to show him I have confidence in him, and I have to have him come out in those situations to get the guy out and he'll be all set."

 

Almanza, who is 4-5 with a 6.12 earned run average this season, has been charged with at least one run in four of his past seven outings. During that stretch, Almanza is 0-1 with a 12.86 ERA and opponents are hitting.375 against him.

 

Almanza's worst outing of the season came July 20 against the Chicago Cubs when he allowed seven runs -- including a 484-foot solo home run by Sammy Sosa -- in two innings. That outing raised his ERA from 4.95 to 5.91.

 

Almanza didn't appear again until Friday's 11-5 win against Philadelphia. McKeon summoned Almanza with one runner on and a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning. Almanza walked pinch-hitter Nick Punto, who later came around on Placido Polanco's three-run homer off Ugueth Urbina.

 

McKeon said he expects Almanza to work through his problems and be a key member of the bullpen during the final stretch of the season.

 

"You've seen the good in the past and you know it's there," McKeon said. "We haven't lost confidence in him. If we did, I wouldn't have brought him in that situation (Friday) night.

 

"I have to let him prove it. I've got to put him in there in those situations He could be a plus in these last 60 games."

whatever

 

Jack has brought us this far

 

i want to question it, but there is no reason to

  • Author

whatever

 

Jack has brought us this far

 

i want to question it, but there is no reason to

There's plenty of reason to question it.

 

But he must know something we don't.

72 years worth

whatever

 

Jack has brought us this far

 

i want to question it, but there is no reason to

There's plenty of reason to question it.

 

But he must know something we don't. He probaly looked at some tapes from anything but this year and saw that he can be solid. I Just wonder how long Jack will have the faith in him.

i think we are in no postion to question jack. look what he's done to the team.

 

maybe he's right, maybe he isnt but we just have to see

 

cuz when almanza is on he is badass. that is exactly what we saw in the beginning of the season

hey, if its okay with jack, its okay with me

I dont think he will have faith in him when he starts blowing games again!

well then who do you send down when Spooney comes back it's gotta be Almanza.

Yea it probaly is but i think he will send a rookie like Bump or Something. Its gonna be tough for Jack

i think he would send bump down too. even though i think almanza needs to get out of here fast

  • Author

The only way Bump is going down is if he gives-up 10 walk-offs...

 

Nate is Trader's new man, and there's no chance he goes back down.

Well, honestly we need Almanza to perform or our bullpen has a glaring hole...so Jack has little choice but to give him the chance to succeed unless Beinfest gets another lefty specialist.

Yea it probaly is but i think he will send a rookie like Bump or Something. Its gonna be tough for Jack

Nope Bump is the manager's pet. He's not going down. Tejera was awsome today and Phelps has being better than AA. Its going to be a tough call for Trader Jack.

nate bump has done fine in the major leagues. why would he be sent down

Levrault or Phelps is my guess.

Levrault is already down

oops. Brain fart. Sorry. Haha. I guess that leaves Phelps. Phelps would then be called up if there are any injuries in the rotation. As bad as Tejera and Almanza are, they are lefties, and we have to have someone who doesnt use their right arm to throw (as horrible as those throws may be).

oops. Brain fart. Sorry. Haha. I guess that leaves Phelps. Phelps would then be called up if there are any injuries in the rotation. As bad as Tejera and Almanza are, they are lefties, and we have to have someone who doesnt use their right arm to throw (as horrible as those throws may be).

Phelps is also a lefty and I'm sure he does not use his right arm to throw. :rolleyes:

  • Author

Phelps is also a lefty and I'm sure he does not use his right arm to throw. :rolleyes:

:lol

 

Again, Trader likes Phelps, and he's been solid all year...

It's simple why he has faith in Almanza, and it's probably because he has no other alternative.

 

Prior to this year, Almanza has always been one of our bestand most reliable setup men, a guy who could come in and totally shut the opposition down with a strikeout or two. He's battled control and confidence problems this year, and it shows. He needs to get back to throwing his big curveball more, if he does that successfully, hitters won't be able to sit on his fastball and hit bombs like Sosa did.

 

Point is, Almanza is the best LH reliever this team has, he's been awful lately, but it isn't because of his ability has declined. He still has the same 94 mpg fastball and the same hook, he just needs to use them effectivley like he used to.

 

Hell, even Tejera looked like last years Tejera, he had good control and the Phils didn't get squat off of him.

Yea Tejera had that nice curve today.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...