May 27, 200521 yr Author In my estimation, where the Marlins biggest pitching need is steady and dependable long relief. In some thread Rferry made the point that the relief staff has only two blown saves but that ignores what has happened all too frequently...that is the lack of save opportunities because by the time gave is in the final inning(s) the game is often out of hand or our big lead makes a save opportunity moot. We need a Rick Helling, who that would be I have no idea, but we need a guy ala Helling in 2003 who could come in and shut the door in any inning from the third to the ninth, either pitching one inning or one out, or more commonly keeping a game tight for three or four innings in long relief. Helling wasn't perfect nor was he Superman. He had bad outings, but for the most part you knew the guy was going to keep you in a game. That what we need, a guy who can keep us in a game. How many additional games would we have in the win column if we had someone in that roll? Certainly two or three more than we do currently. Sure I'd like to upgrade our starting pitching with AJ questionable and Leiter struggling, and it would be great to add another guy who can close along side who we have now or step in to setup, but the one thing we don't have anyone (and if you think Nate Bump is the answer I pity you) who can approximate what Helling did late in 2003. If I were Beinfest (and he hasn't called me recently for my advice) that's the guy I'd be searching for first and foremost. 785820[/snapback] With Zito on our team, Valdez and one of Leiter/Meuhlar (forgot how it is spelled) could help with long relief.
May 27, 200521 yr We do have spoony comming back as well. Bump will probably end up in AAA, and leiter will probably go to the pen when Valdez gets back.
May 28, 200521 yr It doesn't do any good to have X number of "quality" arms if one of them isn't a horse. Take Jim Mecir for example, hecan't pitch more than an inning, maybe two in heroic circumstances and would probably be useful for a day or two afterwards. Riedling, same thing, Perisho ditto. We can disagree but to me that's the single missing element in our relief corps. Everything else fits into place once you find that missing component. 785963[/snapback] I think time will heal our relief problems and that it's not worth the effort for the immediate help. Mota and Jones will push Mecir back to middle relief and Reidling to long relief with Bump. The rotation is a presents a far more desperate situation, and is best place to acquire upgrades in my opinion. We are having problems right now (Leiter), could very likely in the future (injury concerns and Moehler coming back down to earth) and will probably next year (Burnett to free agency, Leiter retiring, the kids not being ready). There's no one quite like Mota or Spooneybarger coming back from the DL to help, and the free agency ranks are not of the highest caliber.
May 28, 200521 yr Marlins2003, I don't doubt that middle relief has let some games that were tied or slightly trailing get away. However I don't think you're going to get much better talent in the middle relief ranks than we have now. Even if we add another quality arm to the staff (which again I'd point out would baloon the ranks to 8 quality relievers in two weeks and could cause roster and clubhouse problems), this is not going to help Jack McKeon manage the middle three innings better. 785830[/snapback] Rferry, I wasn't taking a shot at you, I was suggesting that we need a specific position filled and I felt it was overlooked.. It doesn't do any good to have X number of "quality" arms if one of them isn't a horse. Take Jim Mecir for example, hecan't pitch more than an inning, maybe two in heroic circumstances and would probably be useful for a day or two afterwards. Riedling, same thing, Perisho ditto. We can disagree but to me that's the single missing element in our relief corps. Everything else fits into place once you find that missing component. 785963[/snapback] If we pick up another good starter who throws a lot of innings we kill 2 birds with 1 stone. We get Leiter out of the rotation and we wouldn't have a need for more than 1 long reliever. Also, we may have a pretty good long reliever waiting in the wings in Ishmael Valdez.
May 28, 200521 yr We do have spoony comming back as well. Bump will probably end up in AAA, and leiter will probably go to the pen when Valdez gets back. 785998[/snapback] what has he done to deserve a demotion?
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