Closer? We don't need no stinking closer!

bedir than average · April 2nd, 2008, 05:08 PM

So with the news of JJ Putz going down for a minimum of 15 days the speculation is who will close?

Committee? I'm really hoping not.

There is the opportunity for Lowe. Sure he has only 6 saves back in 2006 and at A+ and AA. But his retinue looks typical Closer style with his mid to high 90s fastball, a solid slider and occaissional change. The largest issue I have with Lowe though is his health.

Morrow - PLEASE NO. Keep him down for the long term success.

Miguel Batista might be a decent idea. He has the flexibility and capacity for it, but he wasn't great and he's aging. It would be a gamble, but this might be where I head. Slide Cha Baek into the five slot.

coachjeff · April 2nd, 2008, 05:35 PM

While JJ is gone, let Lowe close until he proves he can't. If he can't, I like the Batista idea. He is the only other pitcher with MLB closing experience on our staff. Morrow needs to find some command in Tennessee and should be setting up someone else when he returns, whether JJ or anyone else. Green might also be a good option. He has looked much better since he is pitching to both sides of the plate and is not relying on the predictable outside slider to all RHB.

bedir than average · April 2nd, 2008, 07:26 PM

I like the Batista idea even less now. Mainly because GasMan likes it.

bedir than average · April 2nd, 2008, 10:05 PM

But it seems as if McLaren likes it

Wow, that's rather an off the wall thing for someone as traditional as Mc

bedir than average · April 6th, 2008, 01:47 PM

Damn, someone speculated to me that the Mariners would only be about two games worse due to the lose of JJ Putz.

They have already lost two games due to his absence/injury

The game he had blown, O'Flaherty today, and you might even peg the injury with the Batista start as Miguel closed early in the week and hasn't been used like that for half a decade.

What last year was the Mariners greatest strength is now their weakest link.

RotatorCuff · April 6th, 2008, 01:53 PM

Yup. Kind of reminds me of the 2006 Indians. The year before they had a tremendous pen and won 93 games and then they won 78 in '06 with a rotten pen.

I've already got a really bad feeling about this year.

Timberwolf · April 6th, 2008, 05:15 PM

This has been an extremely disheartening week. You don't want to base too much on one bad week, but I sure don't like what I am seeing out of our bullpen and offense.

April 2nd, 2008, 05:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Closer? We don't need no stinking closer! So with the news of JJ Putz going down for a minimum of 15 days the speculation is who will close? Committee? I'm really hoping not. There is the opportunity for Lowe. Sure he has only 6 saves back in 2006 and at A+ and AA. But his retinue looks typical Closer style with his mid to high 90s fastball, a solid slider and occaissional change. The largest issue I have with Lowe though is his health. Morrow - PLEASE NO. Keep him down for the long term success. Miguel Batista might be a decent idea. He has the flexibility and capacity for it, but he wasn't great and he's aging. It would be a gamble, but this might be where I head. Slide Cha Baek into the five slot. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

April 2nd, 2008, 07:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	I like the Batista idea even less now. Mainly because GasMan likes it. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

April 2nd, 2008, 10:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	But it seems as if McLaren likes it Wow, that's rather an off the wall thing for someone as traditional as Mc __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

April 6th, 2008, 01:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Damn, someone speculated to me that the Mariners would only be about two games worse due to the lose of JJ Putz. They have already lost two games due to his absence/injury The game he had blown, O'Flaherty today, and you might even peg the injury with the Batista start as Miguel closed early in the week and hasn't been used like that for half a decade. What last year was the Mariners greatest strength is now their weakest link. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

April 2nd, 2008, 05:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
coachjeff Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Olympia Posts: 91	While JJ is gone, let Lowe close until he proves he can't. If he can't, I like the Batista idea. He is the only other pitcher with MLB closing experience on our staff. Morrow needs to find some command in Tennessee and should be setting up someone else when he returns, whether JJ or anyone else. Green might also be a good option. He has looked much better since he is pitching to both sides of the plate and is not relying on the predictable outside slider to all RHB.

April 6th, 2008, 01:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
RotatorCuff Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 257	Yup. Kind of reminds me of the 2006 Indians. The year before they had a tremendous pen and won 93 games and then they won 78 in '06 with a rotten pen. I've already got a really bad feeling about this year.

April 6th, 2008, 05:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Timberwolf Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,855	This has been an extremely disheartening week. You don't want to base too much on one bad week, but I sure don't like what I am seeing out of our bullpen and offense.