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Atlanta Braves’ Bullpen Moves: Real or Not?

By Alan Carpenter

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Aug 31, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Dana Eveland (61) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning of a game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

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Until yesterday, this post was going to be heading in a different direction:  that being whether John Hart would be making any short-term bullpen moves at all.  Clearly, the last 24 hours has changed that with the twin signings of both David Aardsma and Dana Eveland.

Fredi Gonzalez, for all the criticism he is taking about his use of the bullpen, actually gets some sympathy from yours truly:  what can you do if you know that whoever you run out there is going to fail?  There is literally no option for him that brings confidence of success.  There are 100 different stats we could cite to prove this, but this one from Saturday seemed to singularly capture the essence of a universally failing groups of relievers:

The New Names

So here is the list of what we know the Braves now have assembled as the next “wave” of options to give Gonzalez and Roger McDowell:

So I have to give Hart and Coppollela at least some credit for (a) continuing to look for options, and (b) actually getting these guys on board when there are other teams that are also competing for their free agent services.  After all, the Braves do not operate in a vacuum-sealed environment:  they don’t have exclusive negotiation rights.

But here’s the question:  are these guys going to be real solutions or are they simply the next stop-gaps?

What To Expect

  • AARDSMA – Initially being assigned to AAA Gwinnett, which is probably going to become the standard operating procedure for bringing in these guys and any others they may inevitably be needed.  He was pitching well for the Dodgers at AAA, but reached his opt-out date with that team unwilling to pull the trigger.  While Atlanta is starting him at AAA, it’s pretty clear that he won’t be there long:  likely just a matter of getting organized and a bit acclimated to the system before throwing him to the wolves – the Braves probably guaranteed him time in the majors to get a signing.
  • MOYLAN – He’s now completed two stints in rehab at AAA… getting the win in relief after a good 11th inning outing on Friday night.  That consisted of 1 K, 1 BB, and 2 groundouts – better than the initial outing, though we’ll give some leeway for butterflies on that.
  • EVELAND – Perhaps more mysterious than the Dodgers allowing Aardsma to walk is Eveland. His numbers in AAA with the Red Sox were even better, with better control (3 walks in 27 innings).  In fact, his control success dates back to 2011, so it’s not a new-found thing for him.  This is perhaps the most encouraging sign for Atlanta – that he doesn’t hurting his own cause.  Now Eveland is a Lefty, but he’s not a LOOGY.  In fact, he’s closer to being a starter, and could be used in multiple innings. Left-handed hitters actually hold their own, doing slightly better than righties over his career.
  • VIZCAINO – Was having a rough time in Spring, but said to be throwing well in extended Spring Training.  We won’t really know until July when he is released from the suspension whether that translates to real competition, but control has been an issue for Vizzy since coming back from his surgeries.  It would be difficult to expect that he suddenly finds his aim in time to come back and help the bullpen very quickly, though depending on how others fare, he still might be given a chance.
  • McKIRAHAN – Like Eveland, McKirihan has a history of good control and good results… at the AA level and below… and your have to also acknowledge that he may have been operating with some “help”.  Now the question will be whether his early majors’ success can be repeated – cleanly.

The problem the Braves have had with their bullpen – overall – have been the ‘unforced errors’:  primarily walks and home run balls.

Aardsma has a history of control issues, though has been better this season so far.  Eveland has shown better control than the rest, so he is probably the best option of this group.  Aardsma is a veteran and has shown that he can get hitters out, though his skills weren’t trusted fully by the Dodgers.  Moylan is a coin flip – and that’s all about his health.  The others are still young and without much experience.

So far, Atlanta has already run through a raft of relievers:  Juan Jaime, Donnie Veal, Josh Outman, Eric Stults, Michael Kohn, Sugar Marimon, Ian Thomas, and John Cornely… just to name those that have already come and gone.  The problem hasn’t been in “searching” – it’s about the “finding”… finding reliable pitchers who can throw strikes.

Jun 14, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Peter Moylan (41) on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Will this group be an improvement?

Overall, you’d have to look at them and say they are cut in the same mold as the rest:  low-cost, high-opportunity, high-risk pitchers that are either veterans or rookies… not much in between.  The vets have been gleaned from elsewhere and all have their mileage… and warts.

My own hope is that Eveland and Aardsma can provide relief to the rest of the relief corps so that it doesn’t feel like the world is staring at them.  Anything to reduce the pressure would help.  Anything to reduce the feeling that the opposition is holding 7th inning batting practice would help.  Anybody who could actually throw a clean inning would help.  Atlanta doesn’t need all five to perform that well, but just having these two to earn a few “holds” should change the whole mood.

Of the others, I think Moylan could provide a little help… perhaps as the ‘get-out-of-trouble’ guy.  We’ll have to see if his ‘stuff’ and his confidence still measures up to that role.  Anything from the others (Vizcaino and McKirahan) would be a bonus… but of course we’ll have to wait another month-plus on them anyway.

You might even surmise that it’s expressly because we are already 16 relief pitchers into the season that McKirahan and Vizcaino are even in this discussion; despite being way out on the horizon.

It’s hard to believe that the Braves’ bullpen has been this bad – with so many attempts to find any stopper at all who can be consistently effective.  We’re running out of options quickly.  A little improvement will go a long way, but if these new guys fail, then it will be a long Summer and Fall.

The good news?  Today the bullpen worked.

Next: Walk it Off! CBeth Stuns the Pirates

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