rockin500
04-02-2003, 10:11 AM
NEW YORK -- When Antonio Alfonseca went down with a hamstring injury two weeks ago, Dusty Baker was forced to call the first audible of his Cubs career.
Who would replace "El Pulpo" as the Cubs closer?
"Maybe I'll call that guy in Boston," Baker said, referring to statistics analyst turned Red Sox consultant Bill James.
"This is right up Bill's alley, ain't it?"
Upon the advice of James, Boston ditched the traditional assembly-line usage of its relievers, opting for a five-headed closer rather than installing one man in the most pressurized of baseball jobs. James' theory, which reams of statistical analysis naturally backed, generally argued that the seventh and eighth innings are as important as the ninth, so it makes no sense to use your top reliever only in closing situations.
In its first test Monday, Boston relievers Alan Embree and Chad Fox combined to blow a three-run ninth inning lead against Tampa Bay, forcing general manager Theo Epstein to defend the bullpen by committee decision right off the bat.
Like Red Sox management, Baker also has decided to go with a bullpen by committee, but only as a way to get through the first six weeks or so of the season without Alfonseca. He always preferred a single closer in his 10 years with San Francisco and there's no reason to think he will change his stripes at this point in his managerial career.
Either right-hander Dave Veres or lefty Mike Remlinger is likely to get the ball in the first save situation, depending on matchups, because the two have the most experience in closing out games.
But 24-year-old right-hander Juan Cruz became a wild card in the mix Monday with his impressive outing against the New York Mets, becoming the first Cubs reliever since Bruce Sutter in 1977 to strike out six straight hitters in a game.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said the Cubs would like Cruz to gain more confidence before giving him a shot at the closer's role. Cruz was diplomatic when discussing the possibility of filling Alfonseca's shoes.
"Last year I closed a couple games, but it doesn't matter to me," Cruz said. "I'm not saying baseball is easy, but I will do whatever they want. If they want me to relieve, start, close, whatever, I'll do it. Just let me work."
Cruz spent his entire minor-league career as a starter and only moved to the bullpen last May 27 after starting out 1-7 in the rotation. But he held opposing hitters to a .217 average in relief, proving he could adapt easily to a change of roles. The Cubs believe he's too valuable as a swingman to extend his arm as a closer, while acknowledging he has the talent to do so.
"He always has had the stuff," general manager Jim Hendry said. "He got in a little funk last year, but [had] pure stuff. He was tipping some pitches at times, other people told us, but his stuff was really, really good and his command right now is at a very high level."
Alfonseca's injury was the first big blow of the Baker era, but it could be a blessing in disguise if the rest of the bullpen can follow Cruz's lead.
Whether Cruz will be afforded an opportunity to close games in the future is unknown, but he already is making a case for himself without having to declare his candidacy.
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-030401cubsnotes,1,2166437.story?coll=cs%2Dhome%2Dh eadlines
Who would replace "El Pulpo" as the Cubs closer?
"Maybe I'll call that guy in Boston," Baker said, referring to statistics analyst turned Red Sox consultant Bill James.
"This is right up Bill's alley, ain't it?"
Upon the advice of James, Boston ditched the traditional assembly-line usage of its relievers, opting for a five-headed closer rather than installing one man in the most pressurized of baseball jobs. James' theory, which reams of statistical analysis naturally backed, generally argued that the seventh and eighth innings are as important as the ninth, so it makes no sense to use your top reliever only in closing situations.
In its first test Monday, Boston relievers Alan Embree and Chad Fox combined to blow a three-run ninth inning lead against Tampa Bay, forcing general manager Theo Epstein to defend the bullpen by committee decision right off the bat.
Like Red Sox management, Baker also has decided to go with a bullpen by committee, but only as a way to get through the first six weeks or so of the season without Alfonseca. He always preferred a single closer in his 10 years with San Francisco and there's no reason to think he will change his stripes at this point in his managerial career.
Either right-hander Dave Veres or lefty Mike Remlinger is likely to get the ball in the first save situation, depending on matchups, because the two have the most experience in closing out games.
But 24-year-old right-hander Juan Cruz became a wild card in the mix Monday with his impressive outing against the New York Mets, becoming the first Cubs reliever since Bruce Sutter in 1977 to strike out six straight hitters in a game.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said the Cubs would like Cruz to gain more confidence before giving him a shot at the closer's role. Cruz was diplomatic when discussing the possibility of filling Alfonseca's shoes.
"Last year I closed a couple games, but it doesn't matter to me," Cruz said. "I'm not saying baseball is easy, but I will do whatever they want. If they want me to relieve, start, close, whatever, I'll do it. Just let me work."
Cruz spent his entire minor-league career as a starter and only moved to the bullpen last May 27 after starting out 1-7 in the rotation. But he held opposing hitters to a .217 average in relief, proving he could adapt easily to a change of roles. The Cubs believe he's too valuable as a swingman to extend his arm as a closer, while acknowledging he has the talent to do so.
"He always has had the stuff," general manager Jim Hendry said. "He got in a little funk last year, but [had] pure stuff. He was tipping some pitches at times, other people told us, but his stuff was really, really good and his command right now is at a very high level."
Alfonseca's injury was the first big blow of the Baker era, but it could be a blessing in disguise if the rest of the bullpen can follow Cruz's lead.
Whether Cruz will be afforded an opportunity to close games in the future is unknown, but he already is making a case for himself without having to declare his candidacy.
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-030401cubsnotes,1,2166437.story?coll=cs%2Dhome%2Dh eadlines