barzilla wrote:
Here's my point. When the Dodgers converted Eric Gagne into a closer everyone thought it was a desperate move. When the Red Sox converted Papelbon people thought it was a stretch. Heck, Lidge and Dotel were even converted starters.
I agree that converting starting pitchers to closers can be a useful strategy. But it's not like the Astros have a Papelbon or Gagne to bring up from the farm. Those guys were top prospects. And the Astros' practice in this regard is to create a "closer in waiting" by developing the young pitcher as a set up reliever for a couple of years. Both Lidge and Dotel worked a couple of years as late inning relievers before they were deemed sufficiently ready that the incumbent closer could be let go. That seems like a sound practice. So, if the Astros have anybody who fits that mold, the best idea would be to move them into the late inning relief spot next year and hope that they have proven themselves well enough to take over the closer role in 2010 when Valverde is a free agent. Currently, the only intriguing young Astros pitcher for that type of situation might be Arias. It might be interesting to see what he can do as a reliever next year; he has excellent stuff and seems to pitch better the first time through the order. His control is problematic though.

Think somebody like Octavio Dotel. Is he as good a closer? No. Will he suffice as a cheaper alternative if we trade Valverde? Yes.
I was in favor of signing Dotel last season (albeit for a set up role). And his strike out numbers continue to be good, which indicates his stuff is still hard to hit. I had Dotel on my fantasy team, even though I didn't follow his performance that closely. A friend of mine who is a White Sox fan was telling me how upset ChiSox fans are with Dotel. I then looked at his numbers again and they are pretty good. But I noticed that Dotel blew 4 of 5 save opportunities for the White Sox. Maybe that is why the fans were upset with him. Dotel has the reputation as a good set up man, but shaky as a closer. Blown saves can sometimes be deceptive, but Dotel's save ratio last year doesn't seem to change that perception of him.


Last Edited By: Clack Oct 4 08 12:59 PM. Edited 2 times.