Around the Horn: Bullpen
01/11/2006
There's really no getting around the fact that the Diamondbacks' bullpen struggled mightily in 2005.
The relievers ranked last in the National League with a 5.50 ERA, and that number would have been higher if not for a late-season turnaround.
But the Diamondbacks have reason to believe they'll get a different result in 2006 with a bullpen that has only a few different names.
The first reason for their confidence is 26-year-old closer Jose Valverde. The hard-throwing right-hander established himself in the role last season when he converted his final 13 save opportunities.
It was reminiscent of his rookie year in 2003 when he saved 10 games, and it was a far cry from his 2004 performance, when his command was poor and he allowed a whopping seven homers in 29 2/3 innings. The reason for the difference appeared to be health. Valverde missed significant time in 2004 with a partial tear in his labrum, which required surgery.
While the closer is set, who sets him up is less so.
Last September, Tim Worrell stepped nicely into that role, but he's no longer in the mix, having signed a two-year contract with the Giants.
"Having Tim fill the eighth [inning], I think it was huge for us," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "It made everybody better. The psychological effect it has on your team, knowing once you have a lead going into the seventh, you feel like you really have a chance to close it out."
Worrell's departure means the Diamondbacks will have to find a reliable setup man out of a group that includes Brandon Lyon, Brandon Medders, Jason Grimsley and Luis Vizcaino.
"We've got some options down there," Melvin said. "We'll have to see how things play out."
Lyon won the closer's job with an outstanding spring last year and was tied for the Major League lead in saves with 13 before injuring his elbow in mid-May. The injury put him on the disabled list for two months, and after he returned, he was unable to regain his previous form.
"Spring Training is going to be important for him in that he needs to get through it healthy and not have concerns about his elbow," Melvin said. "If that happens, then he's certainly a guy that will pitch well."
Medders established himself as big-league ready during three stints with Arizona last season. Less than a year after surgery to repair a torn labrum, the 25-year-old was one of the club's most consistent relievers. He compiled a 4-1 record and 1.78 ERA in 27 games and impressed the staff with his fearlessness in attacking hitters.
Grimsley, 38, had Tommy John surgery in 2004, and he struggled when he returned last year until putting together an impressive September. A sinkerballer who gets a lot of ground-ball outs, Grimsley is well-suited to Chase Field, where fly balls tend to carry. Arizona hopes he can step into Worrell's old role, and he may get the first shot at it. But if Grimsley is unsuccessful, the D-Backs will go in another direction.
That other direction could include Vizcaino, who was acquired by the Diamondbacks in the trade that sent Javier Vazquez to the White Sox. The right-hander is a workhorse, having appeared in 65 games for Chicago in 2005. Vizcaino went 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA in those games, throwing more than one inning in 33 of them. And since the start of the 2002 season, his 280 appearances are the sixth most in the big leagues.
Greg Aquino, Brian Bruney and Mike Koplove, who all struggled at times in 2005, also could make a strong push for a roster spot with good springs. Aquino entered Spring Training last year as the club's closer, but an arm injury during camp set him back, and he seemed to lose his confidence once he did return.
The Diamondbacks are still looking for a left-handed specialist, something they struggled with last year until finally getting some production out of Buddy Groom, who was not re-signed.
Veteran Terry Mulholland looks like the favorite at this point. He has reportedly signed a Minor League contract, though the team has yet to make an announcement. Randy Choate and Doug Slaton are other possible in-house lefty candidates.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
There's really no getting around the fact that the Diamondbacks' bullpen struggled mightily in 2005.
The relievers ranked last in the National League with a 5.50 ERA, and that number would have been higher if not for a late-season turnaround.
But the Diamondbacks have reason to believe they'll get a different result in 2006 with a bullpen that has only a few different names.
The first reason for their confidence is 26-year-old closer Jose Valverde. The hard-throwing right-hander established himself in the role last season when he converted his final 13 save opportunities.
It was reminiscent of his rookie year in 2003 when he saved 10 games, and it was a far cry from his 2004 performance, when his command was poor and he allowed a whopping seven homers in 29 2/3 innings. The reason for the difference appeared to be health. Valverde missed significant time in 2004 with a partial tear in his labrum, which required surgery.
While the closer is set, who sets him up is less so.
Last September, Tim Worrell stepped nicely into that role, but he's no longer in the mix, having signed a two-year contract with the Giants.
"Having Tim fill the eighth [inning], I think it was huge for us," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "It made everybody better. The psychological effect it has on your team, knowing once you have a lead going into the seventh, you feel like you really have a chance to close it out."
Worrell's departure means the Diamondbacks will have to find a reliable setup man out of a group that includes Brandon Lyon, Brandon Medders, Jason Grimsley and Luis Vizcaino.
"We've got some options down there," Melvin said. "We'll have to see how things play out."
Lyon won the closer's job with an outstanding spring last year and was tied for the Major League lead in saves with 13 before injuring his elbow in mid-May. The injury put him on the disabled list for two months, and after he returned, he was unable to regain his previous form.
"Spring Training is going to be important for him in that he needs to get through it healthy and not have concerns about his elbow," Melvin said. "If that happens, then he's certainly a guy that will pitch well."
Medders established himself as big-league ready during three stints with Arizona last season. Less than a year after surgery to repair a torn labrum, the 25-year-old was one of the club's most consistent relievers. He compiled a 4-1 record and 1.78 ERA in 27 games and impressed the staff with his fearlessness in attacking hitters.
Grimsley, 38, had Tommy John surgery in 2004, and he struggled when he returned last year until putting together an impressive September. A sinkerballer who gets a lot of ground-ball outs, Grimsley is well-suited to Chase Field, where fly balls tend to carry. Arizona hopes he can step into Worrell's old role, and he may get the first shot at it. But if Grimsley is unsuccessful, the D-Backs will go in another direction.
That other direction could include Vizcaino, who was acquired by the Diamondbacks in the trade that sent Javier Vazquez to the White Sox. The right-hander is a workhorse, having appeared in 65 games for Chicago in 2005. Vizcaino went 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA in those games, throwing more than one inning in 33 of them. And since the start of the 2002 season, his 280 appearances are the sixth most in the big leagues.
Greg Aquino, Brian Bruney and Mike Koplove, who all struggled at times in 2005, also could make a strong push for a roster spot with good springs. Aquino entered Spring Training last year as the club's closer, but an arm injury during camp set him back, and he seemed to lose his confidence once he did return.
The Diamondbacks are still looking for a left-handed specialist, something they struggled with last year until finally getting some production out of Buddy Groom, who was not re-signed.
Veteran Terry Mulholland looks like the favorite at this point. He has reportedly signed a Minor League contract, though the team has yet to make an announcement. Randy Choate and Doug Slaton are other possible in-house lefty candidates.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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