:whistle

I heard a sports guy from 790 the zone in Atlanta say this morning that he believes that the Marlins are the leading contender for Danny Graves. There has been some talk in Atlanta about him coming to the Braves but he believes he will be in Florida.

 

From behind enemy lines,

 

Fish and grits 007.

ah dude, he personally has been going around telling the press and Marlin pitcher Readling that the Marlins is were he wants to be for about 1 1/2 now

Does this just add another arm to our bullpen.... not our closer correct?

Does this just add another arm to our bullpen.... not our closer correct?

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correct, he would just add depth to the pen

I'd love to get him because around the trade deadline teams in the race pay dearly for middle relievers and maybe we can rip a team because he was a "closer."

Marlins courting Graves

 

By Michael Russo

Staff Writer

Posted June 3 2005

 

 

PITTSBURGH ? Danny Graves' velocity has dipped from a reported 92-93 mph to 86-87 mph in recent years, but if the Marlins sign the former Cincinnati Reds closer, manager Jack McKeon said he is confident Graves can return to his All-Star form.

 

"I just think he needs a little tuneup to get back," McKeon said. "The problem is: Can you get that sinker back? If we were fortunate [to sign him], I think between me and [pitching coach] Mark [Wiley], we could get him back to where he was.

 

"I think a change scenery would be good for him -- if he's healthy."

 

After Graves cleared waivers at 2 p.m. Thursday, his agent was contacted by the Marlins, according to John Riedling, Graves' friend and former Reds teammate. The Marlins' reliever spoke to Graves just before Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.

 

When reached Thursday afternoon by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Graves didn't confirm which teams called but said he is looking at all options and is hopeful to resume his career soon.

 

If the Marlins agree to terms with the 31-year-old right-hander, who has 182 career saves, it would be for roughly $215,000, pending his ability to pass a physical. The Marlins open a three-game series in Washington tonight, and Graves, an Orlando resident, is still at home in Cincinnati.

 

The Cubs are another team reportedly vying for Graves.

 

"Coming [to the Marlins] makes perfect sense," said reliever Todd Jones, Graves' former teammate with the Reds. "Why would you go to Chicago unless they tell him he's going to close? When you come here, you're on a better team and you're in the state that you live in.

 

"Plus, Jack loves him because he's not scared and he throws strikes. He's competitive and fearless."

 

McKeon said that when he managed the Reds, "[Graves] was one of my favorite guys over there. He wanted the ball every day."

 

 

The Sentinel

I was reading the Cincy Post today and the Headline ran "Graves Heading to Marlins". All indications from Cincy is that he will sign by weeks end. I live up here, and thats also what everyone is talking about. I think its a good deal, especially if you only have to pay, 215,000 dollars. I just think he needs to change his zip code, they have such a losing attitude up here, and I just think that going down to Florida, with a winning attitude will do nothing but help him, so I say sign him up!! :thumbup

I was reading the Cincy Post today and the Headline ran "Graves Heading to Marlins". All indications from Cincy is that he will sign by weeks end. I live up here, and thats also what everyone is talking about. I think its a good deal, especially if you only have to pay, 215,000 dollars. I just think he needs to change his zip code, they have such a losing attitude up here, and I just think that going down to Florida, with a winning attitude will do nothing but help him, so I say sign him up!! :thumbup

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good first post, welcome to the site

I think it's a done deal. May take Danny a little while to get back in a groove but I'm willing to wait. He will be a second half asset!

Graves is probably better than Bump, Riedling, or any of the assorted minor league callups we've been having to make.

If we sign Graves, i?m pretty sure we?d be the only team in the majors with 4 players capable of closing out games (Jones, Mota, Alfonseca, Graves)...

 

just a thought... With 4 potential closers I wonder if we?ll deal one of them to a team (Oakland just lost Dotel for example) for some new piece to our October puzzle...

For the guys who aren't exactly thrilled about this signing if it happens, think of it this way:

 

Jones, Mota, Mecir, and Perisho (VsL) are all going to be ahead of him for crucial spots at the outset.

 

So who do you prefer in Mopup, Danny Graves or Jim Crowell?

Maybe Wiley can fix whatever is going on in his head and he can be an effective (and reliable) arm for us coming out of the bullpen. :thumbup

This move probably also signals the eventual demotion of Bump to AAA barring any other pen injuries because of Alfonseca. This will be a solid pen.

I just hope they can get him back to the old Danny Graves, & this isn't another Billy Koch story. Sounds like it could be a good situation for him though.

This move probably also signals the eventual demotion of Bump to AAA barring any other pen injuries because of Alfonseca. This will be a solid pen.

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Should be about a month before that decision has to be made, Smith is the man out right now, but Riedling Perisho and Bump are in a tight race to survive...

I just look at it as he's another good arm in the bullpen and we don't have to give anything up for him so SIGN HIM

For the guys who aren't exactly thrilled about this signing if it happens, think of it this way:

 

Jones, Mota, Mecir, and Perisho (VsL) are all going to be ahead of him for crucial spots at the outset.

 

So who do you prefer in Mopup, Danny Graves or Jim Crowell?

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Crowell. He won't complain about playing time. His minor successes won't confuse him and Jack to try him in tighter situations and possibly hand over a game.

For the guys who aren't exactly thrilled about this signing if it happens, think of it this way:

 

Jones, Mota, Mecir, and Perisho (VsL) are all going to be ahead of him for crucial spots at the outset.

 

So who do you prefer in Mopup, Danny Graves or Jim Crowell?

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Crowell. He won't complain about playing time. His minor successes won't confuse him and Jack to try him in tighter situations and possibly hand over a game.

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i highly doubt if graves signs here he wil complain about playing time. He will know his role

if we signed graves, we'd get him for about $215,000 for the rest of the season...per espn mlb insider rumor central

For the guys who aren't exactly thrilled about this signing if it happens, think of it this way:

 

Jones, Mota, Mecir, and Perisho (VsL) are all going to be ahead of him for crucial spots at the outset.

 

So who do you prefer in Mopup, Danny Graves or Jim Crowell?

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Crowell. He won't complain about playing time. His minor successes won't confuse him and Jack to try him in tighter situations and possibly hand over a game.

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:blink: :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink:

 

Forget it! I will probably never solve the absurdity of your so-called logic....

It's pretty simple. You don't need 10000 men in the bullpen. It's hard to keep them all fresh, physically and mentally, when they come into games. We have a ton of 1-inning relievers as it is, we don't need one whose ceiling is Braden Looper (card-carrying member of the Shaky Closers Union) and could more likely be a Billy Koch (card-carrying member of the Finished Closers Union). We have Mota and Jones and an above-average cast supporting them. Those that disagree should take a look at the other bullpens in the league and stop comparing everythign to this mythical bullpen that never gives up a run that it seems every fan of every baseball tem on every playing level seems to think is the norm.

 

Answer me this, when will we slot Graves into Smith's roster spot, does that mean Jack won't stop going to his lesser arms with a small lead/deficit early? Is Graves/Bump/Reidling pitching in those spots so much better than Smith/Bump/Reidling? Will Graves or Reidling or Bump be willing to spend a week or two or a month at AAA should we need an extra batter or starting pitcher? We know the positives. Graves was once a good pitcher and may be again. We have some arms that are not living up to their promise. Also, I remind you that one of those, Reidling, is a favorite of the owner and highly unlikely to be cut. Some of our competitors are looking at him, and at the very least lockign him up into a mop-up role would keep him from Mazzone. But what about the negatives? There's many. This causes roster problems in the near and far future, and some might argue make existing roster problems (*cough* someone who can run or play middle infield competently *cough*). Possible clubhouse issues over playing time, manager favorites and so on. It sends a negative sign to Alfonseca, which is the only reliever the team picked up for 2 years and who wants to return this year. You have to consider those things. It's not as simple as a fantasy team where you can add and drop players any time you want.

Some of our competitors are looking at him, and at the very least lockign him up into a mop-up role would keep him from Mazzone.794391[/snapback]

 

That's about 85% of our reasoning behind the move. Also, the thought is that Graves could be the quality arm we need out of the pen and he could be had for simply money, not money and a prospect. Aside from Guardado and Wagner (who won't be dealt in the division) I don't see a bullpen arm that figures to be available at deadline time that is substantially better than Graves to the point that it warrants the price it'll cost in prospects.

Is John Riedling Danny Graves official spokesman? That Riedling is always being quoted in the papers about all sorts of things. I sometimes wonder about that guy. He apparently has a lot of connections.

I'd argue that Alfonseca or Spooneybarger, due back near the trade deadline, are better middle relievers than Graves, and that the team could be better served over the next 2 months to remove Smith or any 7th pitcher from Jack's bullpen and call-up Willingham to spotlight him / see if he could handle Lowell or Enc's job.