Atlanta Braves Fifth Starter: Top Contenders
Jul 26, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
Wandy Rodriguez(51) looks on from the dugout during a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Wandy Rodriguez – LHP
Interesting factoid from Wikipedia…
"When he was scouted by the Astros in 1998, Rodriguez falsely stated his name was Eny Cabreja and that he was only 17 years old. He had convinced a friend to let him borrow his identity. The real Cabreja was born on August 18, 1981, while Wandy was born on January 18, 1979. Wandy lived under the name Eny Cabreja until 2002, when he admitted to the Astros that he was in fact Wandy Fulton Rodriguez and that he was not really 21 years of age but 23."
So far this spring, Wandy has impressed manager Fredi Gonzalez. According to MLB Reporter Mark Bowman, Gonzalez spent time watching Rodriguez, and shared the following impressions:
"He’s healthy. His arm’s working really, really good. He’s not laboring. He’s spinning the breaking ball pretty good. Boy, if we could get him back to those Pittsburgh Pirates years or even the Houston Astros years? Pretty good fifth starter. He was their ace for a couple years. He’s a guy that, offensively against him, gave you fits. He’s not throwing 97 [mph], but he knows how to pitch a little bit."
I’m not sure that’s a ringing endorsement, but what concerns me with Wandy are his overall health and his performance the last couple of years.
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You’ll recall that he was on the cusp of signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, but failed his physical. While that was probably just Rodriguez dealing with some lingering issues that made the Phillies (understandably at the time) nervous, the hope for the Braves is that he’s truly healthy.
Wandy struggled the last two season with injury and made only 18 starts during that period, but the upside for him is his workmanlike approach.
Rodriguez has put together almost 1,500 innings over a ten year career with a respectable 4.06 ERA. He has definite potential as a viable 5th starter, and if continues to impress, don’t be surprised if you see him as a fifth starter for the Atlanta Braves.
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