Atlanta Braves’ Experience Movement to Bullpen Intriguing

When Nick Masset made his Atlanta Braves debut last night, he was the 15th reliever Atlanta has used this season.  We are not even through May and Fredi Gonzalez has brought more guys out for the Braves bullpen than he did in the 2014 MLB Season.  With the Craig Kimbrel trade, we all could sense that the ‘pen was going to take a giant leap backwards.  Though middle relief has been disastrous through the first two months, Fredi and John Hart might be on to something by bringing in seasoned veterans, many of whom are former starters, into the Atlanta bullpen to hold leads.

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On opening day, the Atlanta Braves had four rookies in their relief corps on their starting roster.  Brandon Cunniff, Juan Jaime, Andrew McKirahan, and Cody Martin.  Jaime has been DFA’d.  He ended up being optioned to AAA Gwinnett.  Juan struggled there and is now is Gulfport with AA Mississippi.  McKirahan tested positive to for PED’s and he’s currently serving a lengthy suspension.  Cunniff has been decent when he is not walking batters.  Martin has pitched well but is now down in AAA so that G-Braves Manager Brian Snitker can stretch out Cody’s arm so that he can work in long relief and as a spot starter for the Big League Ball Club.

Luis Avilan, Jason Grilli, and Jim Johnson are all tested veterans.  Each reliever has had their ups and downs.  Avilan had a fantastic 2013 as Atlanta’s lefty specialist but plummeted in 2014.  His ability to get clutch outs in the seventh and eighth innings have Avilan on the rebound in 2015.  Grilli has done his best to fill the giant shoes of Kimbrel.  Though The Cheese has only blown one save this season, his ERA of 5.11 is a frightening number for a closer.  Johnson’s heavy sinking fastball has induced many ground balls and JJ is doing a great job as Atlanta’s setup man thus far.

What has intrigued me the most about the Atlanta Braves bullpen debacle is that longtime starting pitchers Trevor Cahill and Eric Stults will now work in long relief for the Braves.  Both guys were back of the rotation guys for the Braves and had been inconsistent in those roles at best.  Some might argue that how these pitchers do in these long relief roles might decide if they can still play at the Major League level.

I could totally see Cahill make the smooth transition to the ‘pen because of the hard bite on his sinker.  Bullpens always need guys that can come in and induce ground balls.  Stults has yet to appear in relief for the Braves.  It will be interesting to see if the crafty, veteran lefty can bring some stability to the Atlanta bullpen.

I’m open to any idea to bring consistency in the Atlanta relief corps.  One thing is certain: If Atlanta can elevate it’s Achilles’ Heel, then the Braves can contend for a playoff spot so long as new Hitting Coach Kevin Seitzer keeps these Braves’ bats booming.