TheFightinPhils
02-09-2005, 03:14 PM
MIAMI -- Past experiences taught the Marlins a valuable lesson: Don't bank on building a bullpen during the season.
It's difficult and pricy.
Like many teams last year, the Marlins were in need of relief help after Spring Training started. In a sellers market, the team discovered quickly that quality arms don't come cheap.
With that in mind, one of the Marlins' primary offseason objectives was to load up on relievers. They did so with the signings of four veteran right-handers: Antonio Alfonseca, Todd Jones, John Riedling and Jim Mecir.
None of these pitchers made headlines like the signature signings of slugger Carlos Delgado and lefty starter Al Leiter. But in terms of making the Marlins a formidable playoff challenger, all four free agent relievers could prove just as valuable.
The Marlins have strengthened themselves in a number of areas this season -- like adding power and depth -- but whether they succeed could fall on the shoulders of a suddenly more seasoned relief corps.
"We did a lot of research in the bullpen knowing that we needed to build as much depth and experience as possible," general manager Larry Beinfest said. "Frankly, it just gets tougher and tougher each year to build a bullpen during the season."
The past few seasons, the Marlins entered Spring Training with what they thought was a quality 'pen. But injuries and inconsistencies caused the team to make midseason moves for relief help in 2003 and 2004.
The additions of the four veteran right-handers eases the pressure on some of the younger relievers who were asked to step into tough spots last year that they may not have been ready for.
Gone from 2004 is closer Armando Benitez, who set a club season record for saves with 47. Losing an automatic reliever like Benitez creates the biggest hole to fill.
Stepping in will be Guillermo Mota, who takes over as closer after being regarded as one of baseball's best setup relievers.
Blessed with a 96-mph fastball and a changeup he learned from Eric Gagne in Los Angeles, Mota has the talent to close. Next, the lanky right-hander has to show he has the makeup to handle to role. After being dealt to the Marlins in late July, Mota had four saves while Benitez was on the disabled list.
Getting Mota to close out games successfully on a consistent basis will be the team's challenge.
If Mota struggles, Alfonseca provides a proven backup plan.
A former Marlin who was on the 1997 World Series title team, Alfonseca is projected to be the eighth-inning setup reliever. A year ago, he was successful in that role with the Braves.
Jones, who spent last season with the Reds and Phillies, also has closing experience. For now he figures to work the seventh inning.
Riedling, a South Florida native who grew up rooting for the Marlins, formerly pitched for manager Jack McKeon when they both were with the Reds. He has the reputation of taking the ball whenever asked and working the sixth and seventh innings. And Mecir, who previously was with the A's, is one of the rare screwball pitchers in the league. Because of how his screwball breaks, Mecir offers flexibility because he can get left-handed hitters out.
"I think the criteria were proven and experienced," Beinfest said of the team's relief search. "Those would be the main things. They could go right into the back end, and there would be no learning curve. They've done it."
With Mota and four veteran free agent right-handers, the competition will be tough for a large group of right-handers trying to win jobs in the spring.
There is no shortage of righties vying for spots, including Nate Bump, Ben Howard and Justin Wayne. All three spent time with the Marlins last season. Tim Spooneybarger missed all of 2004 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, and he just recently threw off the mound. If healthy, Spooneybarger could be valuable. But with experienced relievers on the squad, his recovery won't have to be rushed.
A year ago, the Marlins counted on a number of young arms to make the club. They did, and were inconsistent.
New pitching coach Mark Wiley said what veterans bring is the knowledge of how to prepare, which enables them to hold up over the course of a long season.
The team still lacks an abundance of left-handed relievers. Matt Perisho returns from last year, and he will compete with Rule 5 pickup Luke Hagerty and Chad Bentz.
If the team carries 11 pitchers, there could be just one lefty on the squad.
What the Marlins are hoping they've avoided with their offseason moves is making deals for relievers once the season starts.
Last year, Mota was obtained from the Dodgers a few months after Chad Fox was lost for the season because of an elbow problem in April. And in 2003, the Marlins opened the season with Braden Looper, Vladimir Nunez and Spooneybarger as their primary relievers. That year, Nunez didn't produce and Spooneybarger was injured. To fill in, Fox was signed and the Marlins traded top prospects to Texas for Ugueth Urbina. It paid off with a World Series title.
"[In the past] we haven't had experience," Beinfest said. "We've had a lot of younger, less experienced guys. We've had to go out in midseason and turn over the bullpen. It gets expensive to do that. It's a different look this year. It's something we really wanted to try and be aggressive with it."
http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/fla/news/fla_news.jsp?ymd=20050208&content_id=940546&vkey=news_fla&fext=.jsp
It's difficult and pricy.
Like many teams last year, the Marlins were in need of relief help after Spring Training started. In a sellers market, the team discovered quickly that quality arms don't come cheap.
With that in mind, one of the Marlins' primary offseason objectives was to load up on relievers. They did so with the signings of four veteran right-handers: Antonio Alfonseca, Todd Jones, John Riedling and Jim Mecir.
None of these pitchers made headlines like the signature signings of slugger Carlos Delgado and lefty starter Al Leiter. But in terms of making the Marlins a formidable playoff challenger, all four free agent relievers could prove just as valuable.
The Marlins have strengthened themselves in a number of areas this season -- like adding power and depth -- but whether they succeed could fall on the shoulders of a suddenly more seasoned relief corps.
"We did a lot of research in the bullpen knowing that we needed to build as much depth and experience as possible," general manager Larry Beinfest said. "Frankly, it just gets tougher and tougher each year to build a bullpen during the season."
The past few seasons, the Marlins entered Spring Training with what they thought was a quality 'pen. But injuries and inconsistencies caused the team to make midseason moves for relief help in 2003 and 2004.
The additions of the four veteran right-handers eases the pressure on some of the younger relievers who were asked to step into tough spots last year that they may not have been ready for.
Gone from 2004 is closer Armando Benitez, who set a club season record for saves with 47. Losing an automatic reliever like Benitez creates the biggest hole to fill.
Stepping in will be Guillermo Mota, who takes over as closer after being regarded as one of baseball's best setup relievers.
Blessed with a 96-mph fastball and a changeup he learned from Eric Gagne in Los Angeles, Mota has the talent to close. Next, the lanky right-hander has to show he has the makeup to handle to role. After being dealt to the Marlins in late July, Mota had four saves while Benitez was on the disabled list.
Getting Mota to close out games successfully on a consistent basis will be the team's challenge.
If Mota struggles, Alfonseca provides a proven backup plan.
A former Marlin who was on the 1997 World Series title team, Alfonseca is projected to be the eighth-inning setup reliever. A year ago, he was successful in that role with the Braves.
Jones, who spent last season with the Reds and Phillies, also has closing experience. For now he figures to work the seventh inning.
Riedling, a South Florida native who grew up rooting for the Marlins, formerly pitched for manager Jack McKeon when they both were with the Reds. He has the reputation of taking the ball whenever asked and working the sixth and seventh innings. And Mecir, who previously was with the A's, is one of the rare screwball pitchers in the league. Because of how his screwball breaks, Mecir offers flexibility because he can get left-handed hitters out.
"I think the criteria were proven and experienced," Beinfest said of the team's relief search. "Those would be the main things. They could go right into the back end, and there would be no learning curve. They've done it."
With Mota and four veteran free agent right-handers, the competition will be tough for a large group of right-handers trying to win jobs in the spring.
There is no shortage of righties vying for spots, including Nate Bump, Ben Howard and Justin Wayne. All three spent time with the Marlins last season. Tim Spooneybarger missed all of 2004 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, and he just recently threw off the mound. If healthy, Spooneybarger could be valuable. But with experienced relievers on the squad, his recovery won't have to be rushed.
A year ago, the Marlins counted on a number of young arms to make the club. They did, and were inconsistent.
New pitching coach Mark Wiley said what veterans bring is the knowledge of how to prepare, which enables them to hold up over the course of a long season.
The team still lacks an abundance of left-handed relievers. Matt Perisho returns from last year, and he will compete with Rule 5 pickup Luke Hagerty and Chad Bentz.
If the team carries 11 pitchers, there could be just one lefty on the squad.
What the Marlins are hoping they've avoided with their offseason moves is making deals for relievers once the season starts.
Last year, Mota was obtained from the Dodgers a few months after Chad Fox was lost for the season because of an elbow problem in April. And in 2003, the Marlins opened the season with Braden Looper, Vladimir Nunez and Spooneybarger as their primary relievers. That year, Nunez didn't produce and Spooneybarger was injured. To fill in, Fox was signed and the Marlins traded top prospects to Texas for Ugueth Urbina. It paid off with a World Series title.
"[In the past] we haven't had experience," Beinfest said. "We've had a lot of younger, less experienced guys. We've had to go out in midseason and turn over the bullpen. It gets expensive to do that. It's a different look this year. It's something we really wanted to try and be aggressive with it."
http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/fla/news/fla_news.jsp?ymd=20050208&content_id=940546&vkey=news_fla&fext=.jsp