Saturday, March 24, 2012
How does Madson’s injury affect the Reds?
Posted by Jason LindenNews came today that Ryan Madson will have Tommy John surgery and is down for the season. This is a painful loss for the Reds, but it's mostly an emotional wound. Madson is/was an excellent relief pitcher, but the Reds still have a strong bullpen, even if it isn't as strong and deep as it was before.
It is important to remember that relief pitchers rarely, if ever, contribute as much to a team as many people believe. They just don't throw enough innings to have an enormous impact. Madson was among the best, but it was unlikely he was going to be the difference maker for the Reds this year.
So what are the repercussions for the rest of the team? Sean Marshall is probably going to close. He's easily the best reliever on staff (this was true before the Madson injury, as well) and recently signed an extension with the implication that he would close after this year. The setup role is less certain, but there's a good chance it reverts to Nick Masset, since he's held that job the last several years.
Everyone is going to want to know what this means for lefty Aroldis Chapman. Lots of people are already convinced he's headed to the bullpen, but don't be so certain. While Reds manager Dusty Baker has been constantly pushing to have Chapman move to the pen, GM Walt Jocketty has indicated that Chapman will start, be it in Triple-A or the majors.
Only with the injury to Madson has Jocketty said Chapman might move to the bullpen. "Maybe" was the word he used, and that should encourage Reds fans.
This is Chapman's last option year, and if they plan to convert him to starting, this is the time to do it. Inserting him into an already-good bullpen as a Band-Aid would be a short-sighted mistake.
Jason has too many irons in the fire. He fancies himself a fiction writer and also writes about the Reds at Redleg Nation, books at Elephants for Bookends, and everything else at The Winesburg Eagle. Email him at winesburgeagle *at* gmail or follow him on Twitter @jasonlinden
Why can’t Chapman be this team’s closer? I find it hard to believe that they have maybe one of the only humans ever capable of pitching a ball 105MPH, and nobody thinks that wouldn’t be an advantage to a closer? Wouldn’t it be at least palpable that the Reds could say, “Hey, go throw 105MPH for an inning every couple of days. And while yer at it, mix in that knee buckling slider every now and then.” Blows my mind that nobody thinks his stuff would make him a good closer. Specially since the Reds are sorta in need of one now.