TheFightinPhils
02-09-2005, 03:16 PM
The Nationals will need their bullpen to provide more stability in 2005 than a year ago.
Last year's group struggled mightily as it started the season, going 1-14 through June 6. The relievers improved as the year progressed, posting a 27-29 record with a 4.00 ERA.
Now, with a key addition and some added depth, the team is looking to finish out games even more effectively this season.
While Luis Ayala may see more save opportunities than he did in 2004 (two saves), Chad Cordero returns as the team's primary closer. Cordero, who will turn 23 during Spring Training, inherited the job from Rocky Biddle midway through last season. Cordero pitched well, saving a team-leading 14 games in 18 opportunities. The right-hander posted a 7-3 record with a 2.94 ERA while tossing 82 2/3 innings over 69 appearances.
Ayala, who saved 20 or more games in four consecutive seasons in the Mexican League before coming to the Majors in 2003, will be the Nationals' primary setup man.
The 27-year-old right-hander recovered from a tough start last season to record a 2.69 ERA. Ayala looked dominant at times, evidenced by a July in which he went 3-0 and didn't allow a run in 17 1/3 innings.
Bridging the gap from starter to closer will be helped by the offseason acquisition of Antonio Osuna and the improved health of Joey Eischen. The pair has a combined 21 years of big-league experience.
A 10-year veteran, Osuna went 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA for the Padres last year. The right-hander is a fly ball pitcher with a low-to-mid-90s fastball.
Eischen missed the first two-thirds of the 2004 season after he underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his shoulder during Spring Training. After finishing the season strong, the veteran left-hander re-signed with the club in December.
Eischen, who has held left-handed hitters to a .230 batting average in his career (including a .167 average last season), is expected to be manager Frank Robinson's top lefty out of the bullpen.
While those four pitchers will anchor the back end of the Nationals' bullpen, interim general manger Jim Bowden said the final -- most likely two -- spots might be earned through competition in Spring Training.
Another left-hander likely to come out of the 'pen will be Joe Horgan, who is entering his second Major League season. After being called up from Triple-A Edmonton last June, he stayed with club the rest of the season. Horgan went 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA and a pair of saves in 47 games.
John Patterson and Jon Rauch also will figure into the mix. The club thinks Patterson, who has been a starter the majority of his career, has potential to be a successful relief pitcher.
Rauch, the 6-foot-11 hurler acquired in a trade with the White Sox last July, made two starts with the Expos. However, he had to leave the second outing after 4 2/3 no-hit innings because of a strained left oblique muscle.
After missing a month of game action, Rauch returned to the club as a reliever. The right-hander excelled in the new role, allowing one run in 12 2/3 innings (0.71 ERA).
Other pitchers that may factor into the Nationals' bullpen include lefty T.J. Tucker and right-handers Claudio Vargas, Gary Majewski and Francis Beltran. They will be just four of the more than 25 pitchers to convene in Viera, Fla., next week.
The team's bullpen will have a better opportunity to succeed if the starters can pitch deeper into games. The starters averaged less than 5 2/3 innings per start in 2004, the lowest output in the National League.
That being said, if the team can take a lead into the seventh and eighth innings, the Nationals might be tough to beat.
http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050208&content_id=940854&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was
Last year's group struggled mightily as it started the season, going 1-14 through June 6. The relievers improved as the year progressed, posting a 27-29 record with a 4.00 ERA.
Now, with a key addition and some added depth, the team is looking to finish out games even more effectively this season.
While Luis Ayala may see more save opportunities than he did in 2004 (two saves), Chad Cordero returns as the team's primary closer. Cordero, who will turn 23 during Spring Training, inherited the job from Rocky Biddle midway through last season. Cordero pitched well, saving a team-leading 14 games in 18 opportunities. The right-hander posted a 7-3 record with a 2.94 ERA while tossing 82 2/3 innings over 69 appearances.
Ayala, who saved 20 or more games in four consecutive seasons in the Mexican League before coming to the Majors in 2003, will be the Nationals' primary setup man.
The 27-year-old right-hander recovered from a tough start last season to record a 2.69 ERA. Ayala looked dominant at times, evidenced by a July in which he went 3-0 and didn't allow a run in 17 1/3 innings.
Bridging the gap from starter to closer will be helped by the offseason acquisition of Antonio Osuna and the improved health of Joey Eischen. The pair has a combined 21 years of big-league experience.
A 10-year veteran, Osuna went 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA for the Padres last year. The right-hander is a fly ball pitcher with a low-to-mid-90s fastball.
Eischen missed the first two-thirds of the 2004 season after he underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his shoulder during Spring Training. After finishing the season strong, the veteran left-hander re-signed with the club in December.
Eischen, who has held left-handed hitters to a .230 batting average in his career (including a .167 average last season), is expected to be manager Frank Robinson's top lefty out of the bullpen.
While those four pitchers will anchor the back end of the Nationals' bullpen, interim general manger Jim Bowden said the final -- most likely two -- spots might be earned through competition in Spring Training.
Another left-hander likely to come out of the 'pen will be Joe Horgan, who is entering his second Major League season. After being called up from Triple-A Edmonton last June, he stayed with club the rest of the season. Horgan went 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA and a pair of saves in 47 games.
John Patterson and Jon Rauch also will figure into the mix. The club thinks Patterson, who has been a starter the majority of his career, has potential to be a successful relief pitcher.
Rauch, the 6-foot-11 hurler acquired in a trade with the White Sox last July, made two starts with the Expos. However, he had to leave the second outing after 4 2/3 no-hit innings because of a strained left oblique muscle.
After missing a month of game action, Rauch returned to the club as a reliever. The right-hander excelled in the new role, allowing one run in 12 2/3 innings (0.71 ERA).
Other pitchers that may factor into the Nationals' bullpen include lefty T.J. Tucker and right-handers Claudio Vargas, Gary Majewski and Francis Beltran. They will be just four of the more than 25 pitchers to convene in Viera, Fla., next week.
The team's bullpen will have a better opportunity to succeed if the starters can pitch deeper into games. The starters averaged less than 5 2/3 innings per start in 2004, the lowest output in the National League.
That being said, if the team can take a lead into the seventh and eighth innings, the Nationals might be tough to beat.
http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050208&content_id=940854&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was