ATD: Soriano DL’d, Philly Defense Is The Worst
Around The Division (ATD) has returned for another season. Each weekday MetsBlog will provide news and notes from the beat writers and blogs of each of the Mets division foes to keep you update-to-date on the latest happenings surrounding the Braves, Marlins, Nationals and Phillies.
Braves:
The team announced on Wednesday night they have placed RHP Rafael Soriano on the 15-day disabled list due to elbow tendinitis. According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, RHP Manny Acosta could be used as the primary closer.
At her blog for the AJC, Chop Chick thinks LHP Peter Moylan should be given the first chance to close out games, but none of the Braves options inspire confidence.
…as they shouldn’t…soriano was shaky to begin with and now they must go with relievers who have virtually no closer experience…good luck, i guess…
…speaking of closers, has anyone seen Billy Wagner…
Soriano is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 22.
Marlins:
Mike Phillips of the Miami Herald reports LHP Andrew Miller has been to start trusting his stuff instead of worrying too much about throwing strikes.
…sounds like the ‘stop thinking and just pitch’ advice Rick Peterson gave to Oliver Perez when he was first acquired by the Mets…
Over at FishStripes, Craig, while disclosing a couple items he didn’t know about the Marlins, wonders if 1B Mike Jacobs can continue his pace for 81 HRs while batting .212.
The Marlins activated OF Jeremy Hermida from the disabled list.
Nationals:
Dick Heller of the Washington Times says the Nationals continue to wait for OF Austin Kearns to live up to his superstar potential and his chance to produce may be waning.
…i remember back in 2002 when kearns was supposed to be apart of that vaunted Reds outfield with Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr., but injuries, low batting average and strikeouts hampered all three…it’s a shame they became a ‘what if’…
Harper Gordek of Oleanders and Morning Glories is confused, after watching him give up seven runs in the fifth inning last night, why RHP Jason Bergmann in the starting rotation when he spent most of his minor league career and his first few major league seasons as a reliever.
The Nationals have lost six straight after opening the season 3-0.
Phillies
Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News is concerned about the Phillies poor execution on defense, which has led them to a major league leading 13 errors in nine games.
…speaking of defense, Jose Reyes was robbed of a gold glove last season…i’m not one to get too excited about individual awards, but it seems to me the media got too consumed with Jimmy Rollins to acknowledge reyes last season…
As noted earlier on MetsBlog, Rollins is a game-time decision for tonights game.
