Atlanta Braves Bring Back Right-Handed Relief Pitcher Blaine Boyer
By Fred Owens
Why Sign Boyer?
Boyer is a local guy (Marietta) and brings a lot of experience in handling the ups and downs of life in the bullpen. According to Andrew Simon on MLB.com, there’s a baseball reason too. While he has no special tool, nobody was barreled up less often than Boyer.
"Out of 265 pitchers who had at least 150 balls put in play . . . Boyer allowed the lowest rate of barrels (1.0 percent. . .(with) an average 86.2 mph exit velocity that ranked 11th. . . .avoidance of solid contact is how a pitcher with a fastball averaging less than 93 mph and with MLB’s lowest strikeout rate . . .(survives)."
As I said at the top, Bowman suggests Boyer is likely to earn a job out of spring training and that statistic is likely why he feels that way.
That’s A Wrap
The projected bullpen includes Jon Johnson, Ian Krol, Arodys Vizcaino, Chaz Roe, Josh Collmenter, Jose Ramirez, Mauricio Cabrera and Armando Rivero who has to stay or be returned to the Cubs.
Waiting in the wings are A.J. Minter, Paco Rodriguez, Jason Hursh among others, adding Boyer emphasizes Coppy’s belief that competition is good. It also allows plenty of depth in the event of Injury.
Boyer isn’t a sexy choice but he costs little and provides a completely different look from everyone else. Pitchers and catchers report in 27 days; let the jostling for jobs begin!