Atlanta Braves: what is Brian Snitker worrying about?
More Tough Calls
BULLPEN
All of a sudden, people have started noticing Tyler Matzek, a new Brave that we introduced to you about a week ago. He’s one of two relievers that are likewise injecting themselves into some extended conversations.
Patrick Weigel is the other. Let me give an indication of why they are the names getting the most play right now with a run-down of their combined stats so far:
- ERA: 0.00
- HITS: 3
- WALKS: 1
- STRIKEOUTS: 13
- INNINGS: 10
- WHIP: 0.40
But with a bullpen that thought it’s members were already spoken for, who’s the odd man out if these guys are retained?
First off, here’s those ‘incumbents’ we referred to:
- Mark Melancon (3 innings, 0.00 ERA, .091 WHIP)
- Will Smith (4.1 innings, 2.08 ERA, big contract)
- Darren O’Day (2.0 innings, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP)
- Chris Martin (2.0 innings, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP – this is not a cut-n-paste error)
- Luke Jackson (3.0 innings, 0.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP)
- Shane Greene (4.2 innings, 9.64 ERA, 2.14 WHIP)
Greene is clearly the only one struggling in this group.
Other hopefuls (with 2 more slots in the pen): Dayton, Minter, Sobotka, Toussaint, and an assortment of others, including some ‘long men’ like Josh Tomlin… though on Monday, the Braves optioned Minter and Sobotka to Gwinnett.
Patrick Weigel has a leg up on many since he is on the 40-man roster: Matzek is not.
That said, Shane Greene might find himself off that roster if he continues to give up runs as he has. There has been one recent clean outing… but only one.
Toussaint… for the record… is having himself a remarkable Spring: 8.2 innings, 2 hits, 3walks, 8 K’s, 2.08 ERA, and a WHIP of 0.58.
There’s also decisions to make about the bench… but we’ll hold that discussion for another day.