Chris Reitsma: closer, but for how long?

by alexwithclass on Mar 26, 2006 12:53 AM EST

Chris Reitsma is the Atlanta Braves' likeliest closer candidate, but given his midseason meltdowns the last two years, how long do you expect him to last? Will he make it all year without losing his job, or will he barely survive the first two months?

(Dan Kolb was replaced as Braves' closer mid-May last year, so that's the record for Reitsma to try to beat.)

An additional option is that he goes down with injury, but somehow doesn't lose the position--Joey Devine or someone else fills in while he's out, like Yhency Brazoban did for the Dodgers last year, but as soon as he comes off the DL the job is presumed to be still his.

What do you think?

Poll

How long will Chris Reitsma last as the Braves' closer in 2006?

All season

12 votes

He'll lose it in April/May

27 votes

He'll lose it in June/July

33 votes

He'll lose it in August/September

0 votes

He'll be shut down for injuries, with someone else in the interim, but not actually lose the job

3 votes

He won't be closer--someone else will be named closer on Opening Day

2 votes

77 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 6 comments

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Comments

Reitsma won't last....

The Braves' closer job has always been a tough one to get a handle on. The drafting of Devine seemed to signal that they wanted someone who could be a steady, long-term option for them a la Stree or Cordero. But I have this nagging feeling that although that would the most logical scenario, Bobby Cox won't stick to that plan.

by okteds on Mar 26, 2006 2:02 AM EST 0 recs

Devine

His performance this spring has been lights out. If Reitsma falters, I think Devine gets the job. Reitsma is good though - he just tends to fall apart later in the season to either fatigue or injury.

I think he'll lose it in July, likely to Devine. Devine is the obvious choice, but if Villareal is healthy, he's good to close as well.

by sasquatch83 on Mar 26, 2006 8:21 AM EST 0 recs

My prediction

As a Braves fan, I'd say that they're using Reitsma as kind of a place-holder until either someone steps up or they get someone else. Kind of like what they did last year, when they put him in there and then replaced him with Farnsworth, even when Reitmsa wasn't doing that bad. I think the team would rather have him as a set-up guy.

That said, I'd say Reitsma holds it until mid-May, getting about 10 saves or so. Then the job goes to Devine or Villareal, whoever's pitching better. I do think the Braves consider Devine to be the closer of the future (the GM mentioned in an interview that he'd like to see Devine closing for them next year), so he'd probably get the first crack.

by cinqua on Mar 26, 2006 10:12 AM EST 0 recs

Save injury...

He'll be the closer all season. He had some of the worst luck I've ever seen in my life last year, and then he injured his knee.

Before that, however, he was the Rolaids Relief Man of the Month in July. He has a devasting change up and has basically stopped giving up home runs altogether. I think this is finally the year his ERA finally comes in line with his ability.

by aCone419 on Mar 26, 2006 4:00 PM EST 0 recs

Agreed

Reitsma is going to pull it all together. Almost 50% of his hits last year were of the infield variety... unbelievably unlucky. He only allowed 3 HRs last year, and was great for a couple months... I think he puts it all together as well.

by brandnew on Mar 26, 2006 5:18 PM EST up 0 recs

Reitsma=Hoffman?

The more I see Reitsma, the more I see Trevor Hoffman. Especially stuff wise (though Reitsma needs to trust his great changeup more). He's right around the right age that Hoffman became a consistantly dominating closer as well.

The problem with Reitsma is that he'll be dominating for two weeks, and then blow several games in a row. He'll definitely needs to fix his mental problems.

by smt on Mar 26, 2006 9:18 PM EST 0 recs