Perhaps without meaning to, Frank Wren indicated that Craig Kimbrel will not win one of the two remaining bullpen spots on the Atlanta Braves. Here are his comments when he was interviewed on Sirius and XM Radio's MLB Home Plate channel, as well as those of host Jim Bowden:
Host/Jim Bowden: "You've done a tremendous job in rebuilding the bullpen in Atlanta. ... You've got another young kid who actually won the game today for you in Craig Kimbrel, who's got an unbelievable arm. Is there any chance he goes north with you?"
Frank Wren: "Well, I think we're going to give him a little more time, Jim. He's pitched extremely well. He's really shown great poise for a young kid in his first big league camp. He's our right-handed Billy Wagner. He's similar stature-wise, body, his delivery, arm slot, they're all almost identical. And his stuff is very similar. He'll pitch at 96, 97 [mph] and he has that real good, tight slider. Like I said, just like Billy Wagner, just the opposite side. He continues to be impressive but I think for his development we probably need to give him a little more time, just to pitch in triple-A and continue to work on his command and he'll be here real quickly, I think."
There doesn't seem to be any official word from the Braves as to Kimbrel's status, or that of any of the other contenders for the last bullpen spots. There were supposed to be some more roster cuts today, but those never materialized. Perhaps the team is taking more time to examine their options.
By the way, Cory Gearrin has pitched great this spring when he's been invited over to participate in big league games, including coming on today to get Jonny Venters out of a jam. Why are we not considering him as a relief option for the major league pen?
0 recs | 26 comments
Yes!
Good news. So…Chavez in, CK out. Who else?? My money is on Jo Jo.
Scott Coleman - March 29, 2010 via mobile
I hope to see Kimbrel up with the team by the time they come to Minnesota. I’d love to get a good look at him in person. (Wow, did that kind of come off a bit stalker-ish.) If some arms don’t hold up early on, he will be.
UMDBHIK - March 29, 2010
I’ll be at the 3 game series in Minnesota too. I agree, it’d be great to see him there.
vooodooo - March 30, 2010
I completely agree Gerrain should def be considered especially since Venters is missing another pitch right now; I think Jo Jo definitely has a spot locked up. I was impressed when I saw his numbers for the spring and hopefully he will strive as a reliever. Chavez basically has a roster spot bc the Braves don’t want to ruin other pitchers arbitration and though he has been horrible he still has the most complete pitches with at least some experience.
RWH2 - March 29, 2010
When Cory gets to the show, I might have to get my first legit jersey ever.
cbwilk - March 29, 2010
Is he a good guy? He went to my school, which is a small one, but I never met him there…
bwellnjonesco - March 30, 2010
Dude, he’s awesome. He’s generally just a great person and really an outstanding example of why I like going to games and meeting players, because I get a chance to meet wonderful people that I’d otherwise never get to. And I’m not just saying that because my novel made his book rotation for this season.
cbwilk - March 30, 2010
Just wondering... (and I thought you'd know better than anyone)
How many dudes from both the minor and major leagues read frequently? What percent?I’ve always wondered what guys do on long plane or bus rides.
Scott Coleman - March 30, 2010 via mobile
Honestly, I couldn’t really answer that. I don’t think it’s a high percentage. Definitely lower than 50, possibly lower than 20. Here in Norfolk I see the road team packing a lot and I really don’t see a lot of guys carrying books on the travel day, which is the day where they’re pretty much taking everything with them on the bus to their seat that’s essential for a ride. Most guys just carry pillows, ipods, and cell phones.
cbwilk - March 30, 2010
You know you’re the shit when you’ve got a kindle edition of your book.
http://www.amazon.com/Four-A-ebook/dp/B0030GF7MC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
Congrats man, I wish I had known sooner. I’m definately pickin this one up.
oVecKid - March 30, 2010
Appreciate it. I really don’t know what’s up with the Kindle. I don’t know if anyone has bought one, or how I would even know. I’m pretty sure they could sell a thousand and the might never tell me.
cbwilk - March 30, 2010
thanks CB
IIRC, Maddux was a big reader, wasnt he? Or maybe its just the glasses…
Scott Coleman - March 30, 2010
He might have been. I know he liked the original Nintendo system and playing Black Jack.
cbwilk - March 30, 2010
Does Gearrin not have many innings or something? It seemed like according to the minor league recaps and all from last year that he lit it up pretty well.
ATLforlife - March 29, 2010
Here's the raw data...
Gearrin this Spring: 5 games. 4 IP, 2 hits, 3 K, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA.
Kimbrell: 7 games, 7 IP, 3 hits, 10 K, 6 BB, 0 R, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA.
They’re good…
carpengui - March 30, 2010
Imagine once Kimbrel turns those extra BBs into Ks…
bwellnjonesco - March 30, 2010
Re: Gearrin
For some reason, he’s ended up behind the organizational pecking order behind Kimbrel, even though he’s pitched just as well or better at every stop. Even though Gearrin is older, they fast-tracked Kimbrel to an extent, who started off in Rome and went all the way up to AAA last year. Not exactly sure why.
In 19 appearance in high-A, Kimbrel posted an ERA over 5 (FIP about 4) and for some reason was still promoted before Gearrin, even though he’d com up from Rome. Then, if I recall right, he missed time to an injury and Gearrin got the promotion to Mississippi. Despite pitching well, he was sent back down until an end of year promotion.
Kimbrel definitely has some big-league stuff, but he also posted an insane walk rate. He doesn’t keep the defense involved much with tons of walks and tons of strikeouts. I don’t think he’s ready for major league pitching-they’ll just have enough patience to wait him out. Gearrin already has pretty solid control, which is saying something when you talk about a side-armer.
Bronn - March 30, 2010
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, after Jason Heyward, Cory Gearrin is the next best lock for meeting his Major League potential in the Braves’ system.
cbwilk - March 30, 2010
Not Minor?
Scott Coleman - March 30, 2010 via mobile
Number 3.
cbwilk - March 30, 2010
All this Gearrin talk got me looking at his stats and I started out concerned when I saw that his K/9 went from 14.1 in 2008 to 8.6 last year but then I saw that his BB/9 also decreased from 7 to 1.8. Count me impressed. What kind of stuff does he have? I know he has a deceptive delivery but I’m hoping he can pump it up into the low 90’s.
ajones2522 - March 30, 2010
Yeah, he works in the low 90s, sometimes getting up to 93. Like most sidearmers the big thing with him is the tilt, the ball comes across to a hitter rather than down. He’s got solid secondary stuff, with a good changeup and a tight slurve.
cbwilk - March 30, 2010
Peter Moylan 2.0?
How is he at inducing ground balls?
It’d be pretty damn valuable to have two Moylans in the Atlanta bullpen.
jpx7 - March 30, 2010
Moylan’s a pretty good comp. Though his fastball isn’t near as fast and his stuff overall isn’t as nasty. Moylan really is a class above a lot of guys.
cbwilk - March 30, 2010
I liked what I saw of him today...
Gearrin and Kimbrel seem like they can get a little more seasoning this year, and come up if needed (how many other teams would have to be making room for them in their ‘pen while we have the luxury to keep them down). We’ve got plenty of vets, but they can come up whenever ready or needed and become fixtures for the next several years.
Mr. Sanchez - March 30, 2010
So how does this shake-out as far as the competition for the last spots in the Braves bullpen?
Chopaholic - March 30, 2010
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