It’s hard to get excited about Powell, a 33-year-old reliever who’s been fairly ordinary throughout his career. Well, the Braves could use “ordinary”, but don’t go thinking he’s a savior. Powell came up with the Marlins in 1995, was traded to the Astros in 1998, to the Rockies in 2001, and spent the last three years in Texas before blowing out his arm. He’s never made a major league start, and has only 22 saves, having been used mostly as a middle reliever.
Powell’s career ERA is 4.19. Now, he’s spent the last few years in hitter’s parks, but it’s still nothing special. His strikeout rate (7.05 per nine) is pedestrian; so is his walk rate (4.47). It’s far from Gryboski territory, but he’s not someone who’s going to blow away the competition. He goes in a pile with Brower and maybe Sosa, as an ordinary reliever who can help the back of a bullpen but who isn’t really the kind of guy you want pitching the seventh or eighth of a close game… Righthanded, but over the last few years has been more effective against lefties (.239/.343/.421, versus .313/.381/.460.) It’s probably just one of those things.
Bernero is gone! Rumor was the Braves were going to demote Bernero and bring up a pitching machine and sign Mike Stanton to control the speed dial on it. The the Natspos foiled our plan, but they are going to actually let Stanton pitch.
Smitty,
Ha! out loud(my actual reaction–as I sit here at work and everyone stares) Too funny
I’ll agree with Mac on this. Right now, I’ll take an “ordinary” reliever.
Powell is the pitcher we signed with the hope of buying his contract around this time of the season, right? Who was the veteran reliever we had at Richmond to start the season and then let go? Sorry, I’m just trying to keep my fringe relievers straight.