6.15.2005
Is Jim Brower the Answer?
Well, it depends on the question. But the Braves are locked in a tailspin, having lost 12 of their last 18 and playing about as badly as a team still over .500 can play. (If they lose their next two games we won't have to flesh out that particular debate.)
The recent downturn is due to a perfect storm of injuries (Chipper, Thomson, and Hampton are on the DL, while Furcal and Hudson are apparently trying to gut it out), slow starts from rookies called up to help (Andy Marte, Kelly Johnson), and, yes, a faulty bullpen. With relievers apparently spontaneously combusting all throughout MLB this year, Brower signed with Atlanta almost immediately after clearing waivers at 1 p.m. today, and though he is mere scraps from the Giants bullpen, apparently Brower had several suitors. Bobby Cox had quite the glowing endorsement: "I think he's all right. He's always pitched good against us. [Note: the Braves had a tidy .350 average against Brower.] He can throw a lot. We'll see where Jimmy fits in."
Nothing to sell your life savings about, no, but Braves bullpen acquisitions are rarely above-the-fold news when they happen. It's usually not until three months later, when we collectively look up and Brower has a 1.62 ERA as a Brave, that anyone says anything, which is probably how Cox and John Schuerholz like it. So far this year we've had Dan Kolb, Jorge Vazquez, Roman Colon, and a few others thrown at the wall. Nothing else to do but hope Brower sticks.
The recent downturn is due to a perfect storm of injuries (Chipper, Thomson, and Hampton are on the DL, while Furcal and Hudson are apparently trying to gut it out), slow starts from rookies called up to help (Andy Marte, Kelly Johnson), and, yes, a faulty bullpen. With relievers apparently spontaneously combusting all throughout MLB this year, Brower signed with Atlanta almost immediately after clearing waivers at 1 p.m. today, and though he is mere scraps from the Giants bullpen, apparently Brower had several suitors. Bobby Cox had quite the glowing endorsement: "I think he's all right. He's always pitched good against us. [Note: the Braves had a tidy .350 average against Brower.] He can throw a lot. We'll see where Jimmy fits in."
Nothing to sell your life savings about, no, but Braves bullpen acquisitions are rarely above-the-fold news when they happen. It's usually not until three months later, when we collectively look up and Brower has a 1.62 ERA as a Brave, that anyone says anything, which is probably how Cox and John Schuerholz like it. So far this year we've had Dan Kolb, Jorge Vazquez, Roman Colon, and a few others thrown at the wall. Nothing else to do but hope Brower sticks.
