Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRedChief
The closer job is up for someone to grab now. I still think we let Rosenthal learn on the job because of his huge upside.
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Rosenthal's huge upside remains as a starting pitcher and he's not going to develop the 3rd pitch he needs trying to get high leverage outs as a closer. You keep trying to shoehorn him into a job that he's done absolutely nothing to earn while continually spitting the bit this year when asked to get key outs.
I still think he should be in AAA learning to throw his breaking ball in fastball counts and developing his secondary offerings. I don't want the kid pigeonholed as a reliever just because he excelled in the role last September. He's been a starter his whole career - continue to develop him as one.
The more I look at Mujica, the more I can't understand why I was against him in the 9th and why others are as well. What are the two most damaging thing a closer can do in the 9th? Walks and HRs - does anyone disagree with me there?
Mujica doesn't walk
anyone and he rarely gives up HRs. Moreover, Boggs is killing us because he has no command within the strike zone - he's centering everything. Well Mujica's also outstanding at hitting his spots. If you started with a guy that virtually eliminates the 2 things that you can't have a closer doing (free passes and HRs) and said nothing else about Mujica's arsenal, you'd be doing cartwheels at the possibility of him closing.
People are a little anti-Edward because of the scouting reports; most notably his velocity. But does anyone else realize that Mujica throws 92 mph on his average fastball? No, it's not rocketfuel, but there's some giddyup there. And I'm pretty sure it was Hamas that said it, but when you watch Mujica come in after Kelly or even Rosenthal, it's like someone sets the difficulty mode to difficult with him.
Everything he throws moves like crazy. If you're dialied up to catch up to high heat and in comes Mujica throwing 92 with whiffle-ball movement, you're going to screw yourself into the ground trying to hit him.
Meanwhile, Boggs and Rosenthal are similar enough pitchers that you're going to have a better feel for that kind of guy.
I'm a huge believer in promotion on merit in major league baseball and all Mujica has ever done in St. Louis is attack the strike zone, keep the ball in the yard and get key outs for us in tight spots. He's a savvy veteran that's easily been the best pitcher in the 'pen this year. He's earned a crack at it.
Give Mujica a shot. I think he'll run with it and we'll get a year extremely similar to the year we got out of Ryan Franklin in 2009. He'll do a great job for a year or two, IMO. If Rosenthal still hasn't been able to transition to a starter's role at that point, then you put him at the back of the bullpen and tell him to fire away.