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Chriz2z

07/17/06, 07:30 PM

I called Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky the other day to talk about Cincinnati's trade with Washington, and I really didn't mean anything negative when I referred to Bill Bray and Gary Majewski as middle relievers. Honest, I didn't. To me, Mike Timlin is a middle reliever, and so were Jeff Nelson, Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza on the championship Yankees; underrated Padres pitcher Scott Linebrink is a middle reliever, and the overpowering Joel Zumaya is a middle reliever.
Krivsky thinks the phrase "middle reliever" is inexact, with some negative connotations. "It depends on what vernacular you use," he said.
His vernacular is more precise. For Krivsky, there are closers and there are middle guys and there are long guys, and there are guys with the ability to ferry a lead to the closer. He says Majewski and Bray fit the last description, and in fact, before he made the trade with Washington, he asked his scouts a related question about each: "Is this a guy who can handle a pressure spot in the seventh or eighth inning?" What he was told was, yes, they are.
Many general managers and scouts and talent evaluators thought that Krivsky made a poor trade last week. "I don't get it at all," said one veteran executive.
They think he paid too much in giving up outfielder Austin Kearns and shortstop Felipe Lopez. I disagreed, even before dialing up Wayne and having the chat about bullpen vernacular.
Here's why I think the move could turn out fine for Cincinnati -- and why, in the end, Krivsky's deal has a chance to look smart: The value of middle relievers (or set-up men, or whatever you want to call them) is increasing, like oil stock.
Just about every contender is looking for bullpen help these days, with GMs and scouts reporting that there's virtually nothing out there, unless you want to take a shot at a Roberto Hernandez. Well, Krivsky got the bullpen help he wanted and needed. "I'm scrambling to find the best pitching available," he said.
Two weeks ago, the Reds had a bullpen they could not win with, and Krivsky could have been conservative and played it safe, and eventually the Cincinnati relief corps would've torpedoed the team's chances for playing in the postseason.
But he made a deal and gambled on Eddie Guardado, hoping that Everyday Eddie would benefit from the adrenaline of being in a new situation with a new challenge. Then he went out and got two quality arms in Bray and Majewski. Cincinnati may or may not make the playoffs, in the end, but the Reds won't be taken down by their vastly improved bullpen.
Kearns and Lopez are young and talented, both 26 years old, and both could turn out fine. But the Reds couldn't make the playoffs with the team they had, and now they can. And if you want a set-up man, or a middle reliever, you have to pay -- a trend that gained momentum in the offseason when, for the first time, more money was spent on relievers than on starting pitching. Kyle Farnsworth got $17 million to be the Yankees' set-up man, the Red Sox spent decent cash on Julian Tavarez and Rudy Seanez and got the best bargain in baseball with their signing of Timlin, and the Cubs paid big cash for Bobby Howry and Scott Eyre.
The Mets' trade for Duaner Sanchez looked odd at the time it was made -- a swap of a starting pitcher for a middle reliever -- but it might turn out to be the best move of the offseason, this side of Krivsky's Bronson Arroyo-Wily Mo Pena trade.
The volatility of middle relievers is well-established. Just consider the recent rise and fall of Cliff Politte of the White Sox as perhaps the best example. It may turn out that Bray and Majewski don't an especially long shelf life, that Kearns and Lopez last longer as productive players.
But you need solid middle relief to win. The Indians, devastated by the departure of Howry, will tell you that. So will the Yankees, who haven't been able to recreate the deep bullpens of their dynasty years, the biggest reason they haven't won a World Series in nearly six years.
More than a dozen teams will be fighting over the scraps of the middle-relief trade market in the next 14 days, but Krivsky will not. He got his guys, whether you want to call them quality set-up men, as Krivsky did, or middle relievers, as Washington general manager Jim Bowden referred to them after the trade was completed.
Krivsky now has a bullpen good enough to contend. The Reds have a chance to make the playoffs, and if they get there, it'll be because he was willing to pay a high price for something he had to have.
The Reds keep on winning (http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/reds/daily/071706reds.html?UrAuth=%60N%5ENUObN %5BUbTTUWUXUWUZT%5BUcUWU%5EU%60UZU% 5DU%5CUcTYWYWZV), and the bullpen has looked solid (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/SPT04/607170378/1062/SPT).
• Rodrigo Lopez threw shutout ball (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/16/AR2006071600533.html), and I bet this is the last start he'll make for the Orioles; if I were Baltimore, I wouldn't let him throw another pitch, because you can't have a better audition than this, and he's going to get traded. Possible landing spots: The Mets, the Blue Jays, the Rangers.
• It was a rough day for the reporters assigned to wait (http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/writers_roughed_up_in_boss_stakeout _yankees_evan_grossman.htm) for George Steinbrenner, as Evan Grossman writes; there was an attempted clothesline, apparently.
• Now there is an ongoing issue about Keith Foulke's Hall of Fame shoes (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/07/17/latest_dispute_its_got_to_be_the_sh oes/) from the 2004 World Series. Doug Mientkiewicz thinks he'll be OK in Fenway Park, as long as he doesn't see any little red dots on his chest (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/baseball/mlb/kansas_city_royals/15054011.htm). And it turns out that Foulke asked Mientkiewicz for the ball (http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=148649), too.
• The Braves are on a serious roll (http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/0717braves.html), and John Smoltz would love to see them trade for veterans (http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/0717bravesnotes.html). "I sure hope we make some moves," he told David O'Brien.
• The Pirates will talk about a new contract with Sean Casey this week, and if they don't work out a deal, Casey likely will be traded (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports//s_462132.html).
• Javy Lopez is all but begging for a trade (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.osnotes17jul17,0,1835299.story?c oll=bal-sports-headlines).
• With Torii Hunter now hurt and virtually untradeable, Jim Souhan thinks it makes sense now for the Twins to pick up his option for 2007 (http://www.startribune.com/150/story/555651.html).
• Mariano Rivera racked up career save No. 400 (http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spyanks0717,0,5497283.story?coll=ny -sports-headlines).
• Ben Sheets should be back (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=468719) next week.
• Uh-oh: Troy Glaus has patellar tendinitis (http://torontosun.com/Sports/Baseball/2006/07/17/1688518-sun.html).
• Conor Jackson has a left shoulder strain (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0717dbnotes0717.html).
• Within this notebook, there is word that Casey Kotchman's latest rehab attempt has ended dismally (http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-angrep17jul17,1,6659734.story?coll= la-headlines-pe-sports).
• It might be that the White Sox pitchers are just a little weary (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-060716soxbrite,1,7933634.story?coll =cs-home-headlines), as Jon Garland acknowledges. And now the Tigers, coming out of the weekend, are 4½ games ahead (http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-spt-sox17.html) of the White Sox. For me, it's interesting that the topic of weary White Sox starters came up, because two talent evaluators said the exact same thing to me last week: They wonder if the White Sox horses -- the starters -- have been carrying the load for so long that they are just tired. Think about how Boston's championship run in 2004 took a toll on its pitchers; they never really recovered in 2005.
• Tigers manager Jim Leyland rested some of his regulars Sunday, and Rob Parker thinks that was a mistake (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/SPORTS08/607170343/1004).
• The Rays had umpire issues all weekend (http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/17/Rays/Bizarre_finish_to_a_d.shtml). They got a combined no-hitter (http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/17/Rays/Durham_gets_combined_.shtml) in Triple-A.
• The Marlins' center fielder made a great catch (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-marlins17jul17,0,12731.story?coll=s fla-sports-front). Miguel Cabrera got a day off (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-marnot17jul17,0,6179972.story?coll= sfla-sports-front).
• The Astros didn't get it done (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4050877.html) in Florida, with one of their young pitchers on the hill. The Astros have bullpen issues (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/justice/4050790.html), writes Richard Justice.
• With Kevin Mench playing so little, he might get traded (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/071706dnsporangbriefs.bf1977.html); within the same notebook, we learn which day, specifically, Adam Eaton will return to the big leagues (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/071706dnsporangbriefs.bf1977.html). Texas lost ground (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/071706dnsporangerssf.1cadbf5a.html) over the weekend.
• The Mets buried the Cubs with a huge inning (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/435773p-367182c.html). El Duque was terrible, and that can only increase the Mets' need for a starting pitcher (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/435780p-367188c.html). Pedro Martinez took the mound ... in the bullpen (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/435768p-367180c.html).
• Derek Jeter's homer ended a drought (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/435764p-367178c.html) for him. Johnny Damon is still hurting (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/435778p-367181c.html).
• Alex Rodriguez sounds pretty angry (http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14278733p-15087540c.html) with all of us dopey baseball writers in an extended interview with the Sacramento Bee. It'll be interesting to see if he's turning that frustration into a nice handy chip on his shoulder, to help him focus. I've seen a whole lot of other players and managers do this.
• Barry Bonds has come out of the All-Star break noticeably more aggressive at the plate (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/17/SPGA1K0EAT1.DTL), writes John Shea, but that didn't prevent the Giants from losing Sunday. Lance Niekro was sent to the minors (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/17/SPG2EJVO7G1.DTL).
• The big leagues have been rough so far for Seattle center fielder Adam Jones, and he was given a day off (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003131559_marinotes17.html) Sunday. The Mariners lost another extra-inning game (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003131593_mari17.html) in Toronto, and they are drifting in the AL West standings. Felix Hernandez threw well (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/277785_mbok17.html), at least.
• It was a sobering return (http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/15055177.htm) for Brett Myers. There's been no post-Home Run Derby power outage (http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/15055176.htm) for Ryan Howard.
• Nick Johnson broke open (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/16/AR2006071600583.html) Sunday's victory for the Nationals. Now Jim Bowden needs pitching (http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20060717-124955-3248r.htm), writes Mark Zuckerman.
• The Athletics played great defense (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/17/SPGA1K0EAV1.DTL) and took three of four in Boston. Eric Chavez is likely to return to the lineup (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/17/SPG2EJVO7E1.DTL) this week.
• Within this Tom Gage notebook, we learn that Dmitri Young might be heating up (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/SPORTS0104/607170317/1004) as he prepares to possibly rejoin the Tigers.
• The Cubs' debacle on Sunday night was a total nightmare (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060716cubsgamer,1,4930374.story?col l=cs-home-headlines), says Dusty Baker.
• Daniel Cabrera headed off to the minors (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/16/AR2006071600826.html).
• Ryan Zimmerman ran his hitting streak to 15 games (http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20060717-124954-3152r.htm).
• The Red Sox had a rough weekend (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/07/17/good_side_not_showing/) against the Athletics. The Royals are coming to Boston for a series that's big mostly because the Red Sox need to take advantage (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/07/17/royal_chance_for_momentum_swing/) of these games. It's summer, so it must be Red Sox-Yankees (http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=148659), writes Steve Buckley.
• Chris Duffy is back and playing better (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06198/706445-63.stm) with Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates went to the brink one too many times against the Nationals; this time, they couldn't recover (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06198/706441-63.stm).
• Tony La Russa kept waiting for the Cardinals to shake out their June problems, and now it has happened and the team is rolling (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/DA135922149D74A1862571AD0083473A?Op enDocument); they've gained five games on the Astros, in particular, since July 7. Jeff Weaver is getting a fresh start (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/D8E8BC0E576F6984862571AE0016F66E?Op enDocument) with the Cardinals, as Derek Lowe notes.
• Scott Elarton drew a line in the sand (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/15054012.htm) for the Royals.
• Randy Wolf keeps making progress (http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/15054058.htm) in his rehab.
• Zach Miner got knocked around (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/SPORTS02/607170388/1048/SPORTS), and the Tigers finally ran into a hole too big for even them to climb out of.
• Todd Hollandsworth's misplay added to the Cleveland misery (http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1153125465205330.xml&coll=2). The shared heat is on GM Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge for the first time (http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1153125321205330.xml&coll=2), writes Bud Shaw.
• Jason Tyner of the Twins had to shush (http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1153125274205330.xml&coll=2) Indians first baseman Ben Broussard over the weekend.
• The Toronto bullpen knows how to pitch tired (http://torontosun.com/Sports/Baseball/2006/07/17/1688520-sun.html), Bob Elliott writes. Burnout is a risk (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1153087815257&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064), writes Richard Griffin. The Jays had to make the Russ Adams move (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051101.wblai/BNStory/Sports/home), writes Jeff Blair.
• The Rockies are in a state of collapse (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_4849652,00.html) right now. The bullpen has been terrible, but the offense hasn't been too good (http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_4060620), either, as GM Dan O'Dowd points out.
• The new guys are holding the fort together (http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/15055441.htm) for the Twins. Carlos Silva has been getting advice (http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/15055472.htm) from teammate Johan Santana.
• Geoff Jenkins couldn't remember the last time the Brewers had done a double-digit thing (http://www2.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=468642).
• Claudio Vargas had a bad day (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0717dbgame0717.html).
• The Padres got ripped over the weekend, and their home park suddenly became a homer heaven (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060717/news_1s17padres.html). Jake Peavy continues to struggle (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060717/news_1s17sullivan.html) with command of his fastball, as Tim Sullivan writes.
• The St. Louis humidity got the Dodgers, and so did the Cardinals (http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_4060634), and Brad Penny was pointed in his criticism of the team afterward.
• Howie Kendrick may have saved his spot (http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_4060068) on the Angels' roster with his hit Sunday. A couple of young Anaheim pitchers may showcase themselves (http://www.dailynews.com/angels/ci_4060067) the next couple of games, and the Angels might have a match with Toronto, as mentioned within this Doug Padilla story.