When are we going to find a real closer?

[weams]

George has closer make up and mentality, When he is sound, he is wonderful.

[lint06]

I'd rather have Sherrill than Ray...and if it wasn't for that Kinsler double tonight (which he could have hit off of anybody), I don't know that this discussion would even take place.

At my house, this discussion happens every night that Sherrill pitches.

Sherrill is fine, no, good as a specialist, but a closer he is not.

[Owen21]

I thought his name was David Hernandez.

I was kind of thinking this myself.

[Great 2BA FL Gator]

Last time I checked Tampa Bay won the AL East with Troy Percival as their closer. The closer is an extremely overrated position. As long as you have an effective guy with a good mentality for closing games, and a decent rest of the bullpen, you're going to be fine.

Very good point.

[elsid]

I think in Seattle he proved he is valuable out of the pen. He is just not a closer' date=' nuff said. He got me worried when he threw those consecutive curve balls to Andruw Jones.. I was actually happy when he walked him, because he was just sitting on the fastball.[/quote']

The reason you throw consecutive sliders to Jones is that he sitting on the fastball. He was from the beginning. George didn't want to give him anything to hit. He was already hitting .640something. He was hoping to get a swing, and that is even what Zaun talked to him about was staying offspeed.

I... I actually do hate the guy.

Sorry you feel this way. Not sure what he has done to you.

[Mackus]

I'll worry about finding a "real" closer when Sherrill's performance as closer prevents us from winning meaningful games.

Sherrill is fine as a closer, he's not an elite closer, but a team that is going to finish below .500 doesn't need one.

I think ideally he's better suited for a role where he can face more lefties, not a LOOGY by any stretch, but can be brought in during the 7th or 8th when 2 of the 3 batters coming up are left-handed.

But for now, I'm absolutely fine with him in the closer's role.

[SimplyZ]

Last time I checked Tampa Bay won the AL East with Troy Percival as their closer. The closer is an extremely overrated position. As long as you have an effective guy with a good mentality for closing games, and a decent rest of the bullpen, you're going to be fine.

Great point

But i do see the argument for having him as our lefty specialist rather than walker...Sherrill can even stay in to pitch to both types of batters. But, Sherrill has done his job so I'll spend my time worrying/complaining about our rotation instead

[Stotle]

The reason you throw consecutive sliders to Jones is that he sitting on the fastball. He was from the beginning. George didn't want to give him anything to hit. He was already hitting .640something. He was hoping to get a swing, and that is even what Zaun talked to him about was staying offspeed.

This seemed pretty obvious -- Jones was cheating FB all night. I think Sherrill is fine as a closer, but probably more valuable as a lefty-specialist. To be honest, your best relievers should probably be in whenever the opposing team's best hitters are batting in the last three innings. It shouldn't be a huge feet to come into the ninth and get three outs with no one on without blowing a lead.

[OnlyO'sFanInLV]

I like D Hernandez if he has success like he does in the minors in the majors and doesnt pan out to be a starter.

[RShack]

How about we not worry about someone whose actually doing their job.

Thank you.

[scottbbfm]

His name is Hernandez or Tillman or Patton or Arrietta or Erbe There's not enough openings in the rotation for our big 6 or 7...so someone might be converted. A LOT of the successful closers have been converted starters who didn't necessarily 'lose' a starting spot, but were placed in the bullpen when they were called up because they could contribute, the roles stuck...look at Papelbon.

[jspess1]

I wonder if Randy Myers is available....

[Stotle]

I projected Hernandez as a closer. If he holds his stuff but for another reason (failure to go deep because of pitch count) he can't stick as a starter, he could be great as a 120IP guy, throwing two innings once a series.

Seven BP arms, go with:

Swing/Long

MR

MR

2-IP SU

RH Setup

LH Setup

CL

In fact, ideally I'd add one more 120IP arm in place of another MR. Of course, you need a solid rotation in this set-up so that your bullpen generally isn't entering until the 6th/7th.

[Mackus]

I wonder if Randy Myers is available....

Coming to a duck blind near you...

[fansince71]

I think pitching wise there is alot more to worry about then GS. The guy is 34 for 40 since he got here, nuff said.