rockin500
03-26-2003, 09:52 AM
PEORIA, Ariz.--Right-handed reliever Dave Veres could be the right man at the right time in Chicago. Because he has the most closer experience of anyone in the Cubs bullpen that will open the season, Veres may provide valuable assistance while closer Antonio Alfonseca sits out until possibly May nursing a strained right hamstring.
Just as left-hander Jeff Fassero saved nine games in April 2001, when Flash Gordon was sidelined by injury, Veres might have that same chance to help ensure the Cubs don't get off to a bad start. He was signed as a free agent to be a setup man but could return to a former role.
Manager Dusty Baker pointed Tuesday to Veres' 94 saves compared to Mike Remlinger's 16 during his major-league career as self-explanatory. When asked if Remlinger may handle the closer duty in the early stages of the season, Baker went to the stats to imply that Veres could be frequently used as a closer--even if Baker plans to use different pitchers for saves based on game matchups.
''How does that make more sense?'' Baker said of Remlinger being used ahead of Veres. ''[Remlinger] was setup in Atlanta to [closer] John Smoltz.
Veres, 36, knows the enemy. He was with St. Louis for the last three years and needs no one to remind him of the significance of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. He was there from 2000 to '02, when the Cubs went 3-20 at Busch Stadium, so he knows how much the Cubs have seen red in St. Louis.
''There, it's like, 'Beat the Cubs, beat the Cubs,''' Veres said. ''Here, it's probably, 'Beat St. Louis, beat St. Louis.' It's fun because of the history. I don't know if I turned it up a notch [for the Cubs series], but I was trying to do well, and maybe it was because of that history.''
Just as Remlinger is playoff-toughened after spending the previous four years in Atlanta, Veres was in the postseason the last three years with the Cardinals. He was 29-of-36 in 2001 in save chances with a 2.85 ERA.
''I have been through basically everything you can go through as a relief pitcher,'' Veres said. ''Being in the playoffs the last few years in St. Louis and pitching in playoff games, it's easier to do it again once you have been through something.''
Veres recalled his fear when he got a save against Atlanta in Game 1 of the 2000 NL Division Series.
''The first time against the Braves I got a save, and I was scared to death,'' he said. ''If I don't do my job, it could mean the playoffs. It's nice to have been through that.''
While setup man and closer shouldn't be that different, Veres said, he understands the extra scrutiny on a closer.
''As a setup man, you see a lot of game-on-the-line situations,'' he said. ''It's just not as magnified. For some reason it shouldn't be that different, but for some reason it is. Some guys are outstanding when they are down by two or three runs. They are the best pitchers you have ever seen. But up by two runs, it's a different story.''
Veres had a long, hard road to the majors. After beginning at Class A in 1986, he didn't reach the majors until 1994 with Houston. He didn't cope with the closer's role until 1999 in Colorado, where he was 31-of-39 in save opportunities for the Rockies.
''Once I started doing it, it's fun,'' he said of being a closer. ''You get that rush. If you do good, your teams wins. If you don't, you lose.''
Veres relies on his split-fingered pitch, whether he is facing right-handed or left-handed batters.
''I'm not a guy who will throw just splits to lefties or sliders to righties,'' he said. ''I'll throw split-fingers to everybody, so it doesn't bother who is coming up to bat. Righties probably do better off me.''
That was the case last season when Veres held left-handers to a .190 average. Right-handed batters hit .246 off him.
''I wish I had the fastball I had about five years ago, but I have never been one to need my fastball,'' he said. ''I know I'm a better and smarter pitcher."
Veres wants to do whatever he can to make up for Alfonseca's absence.
''We are a better team with Antonio,'' he said. ''Most times teams that struggle, they struggle getting to the closer and not necessarily the closer in general. Antonio could affect us that way.''
http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub26.html
Just as left-hander Jeff Fassero saved nine games in April 2001, when Flash Gordon was sidelined by injury, Veres might have that same chance to help ensure the Cubs don't get off to a bad start. He was signed as a free agent to be a setup man but could return to a former role.
Manager Dusty Baker pointed Tuesday to Veres' 94 saves compared to Mike Remlinger's 16 during his major-league career as self-explanatory. When asked if Remlinger may handle the closer duty in the early stages of the season, Baker went to the stats to imply that Veres could be frequently used as a closer--even if Baker plans to use different pitchers for saves based on game matchups.
''How does that make more sense?'' Baker said of Remlinger being used ahead of Veres. ''[Remlinger] was setup in Atlanta to [closer] John Smoltz.
Veres, 36, knows the enemy. He was with St. Louis for the last three years and needs no one to remind him of the significance of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. He was there from 2000 to '02, when the Cubs went 3-20 at Busch Stadium, so he knows how much the Cubs have seen red in St. Louis.
''There, it's like, 'Beat the Cubs, beat the Cubs,''' Veres said. ''Here, it's probably, 'Beat St. Louis, beat St. Louis.' It's fun because of the history. I don't know if I turned it up a notch [for the Cubs series], but I was trying to do well, and maybe it was because of that history.''
Just as Remlinger is playoff-toughened after spending the previous four years in Atlanta, Veres was in the postseason the last three years with the Cardinals. He was 29-of-36 in 2001 in save chances with a 2.85 ERA.
''I have been through basically everything you can go through as a relief pitcher,'' Veres said. ''Being in the playoffs the last few years in St. Louis and pitching in playoff games, it's easier to do it again once you have been through something.''
Veres recalled his fear when he got a save against Atlanta in Game 1 of the 2000 NL Division Series.
''The first time against the Braves I got a save, and I was scared to death,'' he said. ''If I don't do my job, it could mean the playoffs. It's nice to have been through that.''
While setup man and closer shouldn't be that different, Veres said, he understands the extra scrutiny on a closer.
''As a setup man, you see a lot of game-on-the-line situations,'' he said. ''It's just not as magnified. For some reason it shouldn't be that different, but for some reason it is. Some guys are outstanding when they are down by two or three runs. They are the best pitchers you have ever seen. But up by two runs, it's a different story.''
Veres had a long, hard road to the majors. After beginning at Class A in 1986, he didn't reach the majors until 1994 with Houston. He didn't cope with the closer's role until 1999 in Colorado, where he was 31-of-39 in save opportunities for the Rockies.
''Once I started doing it, it's fun,'' he said of being a closer. ''You get that rush. If you do good, your teams wins. If you don't, you lose.''
Veres relies on his split-fingered pitch, whether he is facing right-handed or left-handed batters.
''I'm not a guy who will throw just splits to lefties or sliders to righties,'' he said. ''I'll throw split-fingers to everybody, so it doesn't bother who is coming up to bat. Righties probably do better off me.''
That was the case last season when Veres held left-handers to a .190 average. Right-handed batters hit .246 off him.
''I wish I had the fastball I had about five years ago, but I have never been one to need my fastball,'' he said. ''I know I'm a better and smarter pitcher."
Veres wants to do whatever he can to make up for Alfonseca's absence.
''We are a better team with Antonio,'' he said. ''Most times teams that struggle, they struggle getting to the closer and not necessarily the closer in general. Antonio could affect us that way.''
http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub26.html