TheFightinPhils
02-09-2005, 03:21 PM
PITTSBURGH -- Heading into the 2004 campaign, the Pirates had plenty of reasons to be concerned about the makeup of their bullpen.
Pittsburgh's closer, Jose Mesa, was a 37-year-old coming off a season in which he posted a 6.52 ERA with Philadelphia, lost his job and feuded with Phillies manager Larry Bowa. Salomon Torres, the top setup man, had spent most of his career as a starter. The same was true of middle man Brian Meadows. And the two lefties in the bullpen were rookies with a sum total of five big league games under their belt.
What a difference a year can make. In 2005, barring unforeseen health problems, Pittsburgh's relief corps is expected to be the team's greatest strength.
Mesa rebounded from his nightmarish final year in Philly to convert each of his first 18 save opportunities, thus quieting those critics who felt that he was washed up. Mesa went on to finish sixth in the National League with 43 saves for a team that won 72 games. And, as evidenced by his mid-90s fastball, he showed that there was a lot of gas left in his tank.
Perhaps just as important as Mesa's production on the field were his contributions in the locker room. A tireless workout fanatic, Mesa is in better shape than many players half his age, and his work ethic sets the tone for the rest of the pitching staff. As the lone "old-timer" on what was the youngest club in baseball for much of last season, Mesa freely shared his knowledge of the game with his inexperienced teammates.
Pittsburgh rewarded the free agent Mesa by signing him to a $2.5 million deal in the offseason with a club option of $4 million in 2006.
"Mesa did a tremendous job for us and he is in tremendous shape," said Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon. "He's a great team leader and he obviously got the job done on the field. We're happy to have him."
Torres displayed amazing resiliency during his first full season out of the bullpen. The 32-year-old right-hander finished third in the NL with 84 appearances -- the most by a Pirates reliever in more than two decades -- while posting a stingy 2.64 ERA as one of the league's top setup men.
"Torres just continues to marvel me," said McClendon. "Every year he gets better and better, stronger and stronger. He has a better knowledge of the league and he is maturing more. He is starting to come into his own a little bit."
Meadows' transition from the starting rotation to the bullpen was also smooth. In 68 appearances, the right-hander was 2-4 with a 3.58 ERA.
No Pirates reliever was more impressive in 2004 than rookie Mike Gonzalez. After beginning the year at Triple-A following several injury-filled minor league seasons, Gonzalez went 3-1 with a 1.25 ERA in 41 appearances as McClendon's top left-hander out of the bullpen. In 43 1/3 innings, the hard-throwing southpaw fanned 55 and issued just six free passes.
"The strides that Gonzalez made were unbelievable," said McClendon. "If you really look at his numbers, at times he was just flat out dominating."
Gonzalez credited his veteran bullpen mates for helping him have a breakout season.
"I think a lot of it had to do with the veteran guys in the bullpen that I was able to talk to," said Gonzalez. "I had Mesa there, Torres and Meadows. They were just a great bunch of guys. They didn't mind working with me. I didn't feel dumb asking questions. They helped me out a lot."
Fellow lefty John Grabow took his share of lumps as a rookie. However, he gained valuable experience in his 68 relief appearances, the most ever by a Pirates rookie southpaw.
With five spots already solidified in the bullpen, the Pirates will go to camp with just two openings available. At least one of those spots, the long-relief job, will likely be filled by either Ryan Vogelsong or Dave Williams, two pitchers vying for the final starting rotation opening.
"I like our bullpen," said McClendon. "We have some depth. We have some power arms down there. We have some guys who fit nicely in the middle.
"I feel confident if we have a lead after six that things are going to be tidied up nicely. The key is staying healthy."
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pit/news/pit_news.jsp?ymd=20050208&content_id=940834&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp
Pittsburgh's closer, Jose Mesa, was a 37-year-old coming off a season in which he posted a 6.52 ERA with Philadelphia, lost his job and feuded with Phillies manager Larry Bowa. Salomon Torres, the top setup man, had spent most of his career as a starter. The same was true of middle man Brian Meadows. And the two lefties in the bullpen were rookies with a sum total of five big league games under their belt.
What a difference a year can make. In 2005, barring unforeseen health problems, Pittsburgh's relief corps is expected to be the team's greatest strength.
Mesa rebounded from his nightmarish final year in Philly to convert each of his first 18 save opportunities, thus quieting those critics who felt that he was washed up. Mesa went on to finish sixth in the National League with 43 saves for a team that won 72 games. And, as evidenced by his mid-90s fastball, he showed that there was a lot of gas left in his tank.
Perhaps just as important as Mesa's production on the field were his contributions in the locker room. A tireless workout fanatic, Mesa is in better shape than many players half his age, and his work ethic sets the tone for the rest of the pitching staff. As the lone "old-timer" on what was the youngest club in baseball for much of last season, Mesa freely shared his knowledge of the game with his inexperienced teammates.
Pittsburgh rewarded the free agent Mesa by signing him to a $2.5 million deal in the offseason with a club option of $4 million in 2006.
"Mesa did a tremendous job for us and he is in tremendous shape," said Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon. "He's a great team leader and he obviously got the job done on the field. We're happy to have him."
Torres displayed amazing resiliency during his first full season out of the bullpen. The 32-year-old right-hander finished third in the NL with 84 appearances -- the most by a Pirates reliever in more than two decades -- while posting a stingy 2.64 ERA as one of the league's top setup men.
"Torres just continues to marvel me," said McClendon. "Every year he gets better and better, stronger and stronger. He has a better knowledge of the league and he is maturing more. He is starting to come into his own a little bit."
Meadows' transition from the starting rotation to the bullpen was also smooth. In 68 appearances, the right-hander was 2-4 with a 3.58 ERA.
No Pirates reliever was more impressive in 2004 than rookie Mike Gonzalez. After beginning the year at Triple-A following several injury-filled minor league seasons, Gonzalez went 3-1 with a 1.25 ERA in 41 appearances as McClendon's top left-hander out of the bullpen. In 43 1/3 innings, the hard-throwing southpaw fanned 55 and issued just six free passes.
"The strides that Gonzalez made were unbelievable," said McClendon. "If you really look at his numbers, at times he was just flat out dominating."
Gonzalez credited his veteran bullpen mates for helping him have a breakout season.
"I think a lot of it had to do with the veteran guys in the bullpen that I was able to talk to," said Gonzalez. "I had Mesa there, Torres and Meadows. They were just a great bunch of guys. They didn't mind working with me. I didn't feel dumb asking questions. They helped me out a lot."
Fellow lefty John Grabow took his share of lumps as a rookie. However, he gained valuable experience in his 68 relief appearances, the most ever by a Pirates rookie southpaw.
With five spots already solidified in the bullpen, the Pirates will go to camp with just two openings available. At least one of those spots, the long-relief job, will likely be filled by either Ryan Vogelsong or Dave Williams, two pitchers vying for the final starting rotation opening.
"I like our bullpen," said McClendon. "We have some depth. We have some power arms down there. We have some guys who fit nicely in the middle.
"I feel confident if we have a lead after six that things are going to be tidied up nicely. The key is staying healthy."
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pit/news/pit_news.jsp?ymd=20050208&content_id=940834&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp