Bobby Beat 2008 v6: Season Preview: Bullpen

[jiminyhopkins]

Washington, DC--

And here we are at the conclusion of this spring's 2008 Bobwhite preview. Presenting the Washington bullpen: where you might actually find some good pitchers. Maybe even one of them being among the best in the entire league. Really!

LONG RELIEF:
Mopup duty this year will be headed up by Jerome Powell and Benigo Escolerd. Both pitchers are control artists who just try to get the ball over the plate; the Bobs don't really have any other options here. Powell has found himself in the rotation off and on the last few years, while Escolerd saw time as setup man in 2007.

MIDDLE RELIEF:
The primary middle reliever this season will be control artist Kurt Hass. Hass, another pitcher with excellent control, is a free agent signee with 245 career saves. Segundo Prado and Lamar Aguiar are also slotted for the middle innings. Both Prado and Aguiar can be counted on to get a strikeout, but they are not known for excellent control.

SETUP:
Aurelio Rodriguez has this job simply because the left hander has the best stuff outside of the closer. The problem is, he gets pissed off when he's NOT the closer, and mails in innings, as evidenced by his stats the last 4 seasons. Can he change his attitude, or will the Bobs have to deal him to a team that will give him save opps? Benigo Escolerd can also fill in if need be.

CLOSER:
In 2007, Chad Jordan had finally arrived. After coming up through the minors under the shadow of fellow 2001 top ten draftee Nate Campbell of Louisville, Jordan broke through with an All Star caliber season in 2007, saving 37 games with a 1.68 ERA and 108 Ks in 80 innings. That performance netted him a 6 year, 22 million dollar contract and status as one of the finest relievers in the MBBA. See! Told you we had a good pitcher!


So there you have it, folks. If The Baseball Gods be willing, we just might have a .500 team.

Might.