Hmm. Well, Villarreal started the season as one of the Braves’ primary setup men, but was awful and got kicked to long relief, where he started pitching better. Meanwhile, the starters were getting knocked out of the game early so often that Villarreal was picking up a bunch of wins. He never was able to pitch his way back into a key bullpen role but did get four starts late in the year and didn’t humiliate himself.
Here is the thing… Villarreal hurt his arm in 2004, the result of making 86 appearances at 21 years old in 2003. He needed “nerve transposition surgery”, then had a strained rotator cuff, though that hasn’t been operated on that I can tell. He has lost velocity and isn’t the same pitcher; he probably never will be. He only struck out 55 men in 92 2/3 IP last year. That isn’t going to work. Neither will the 13 home runs. His control was much better as a starter and he’s probably better suited to the role at this stage… Made ten outs in nine plate appearances thanks to a double play.
Oscar did have some heartening trends last year:
1st half — 4.67 ERA, 4.5 K/9, 3.7 BB/9
2nd half — 2.62 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 1.7 BB/9
He was bad enough in the first half of the season that it took me a while to notice that he was actually a fine pitcher in the second half. The swingman role seemed to suit him, and it looks like he might be slotted there again this year.
Can’t you just hear Don Sutton getting all puffed up saying, “Pete, you could make the argument that Oscar Villarreal is the most important pitcher on the Braves’ staff.” I miss Don already.
Outside of Smoltz, he was the most important pitcher that was on the roster for the whole season. That ins’t saying much about the rest of the guys.
I understand where you’re coming from Mac with the arm problems, but I think that they might have forced him to become more a pitcher than a thrower. That, at least to me, is a good thing. His peripherals did suck though, but he’s been lights out in winter ball and I think overall he’ll be an asset to the club this year
Villarreal could easily return to his long relief and spot starter role and be successful. That’s what I hope to get out of him. 🙂
First guy in if Davies sucks? or Cormier?
I would prefer Villarreal over Cormier as a Davies replacement, but Cormier will most likely be starting in AAA so he would get the nod.
I remember being really optimistic about Villareal when he came over last year, thinking he might return to “elite reliever” form. Alas, doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
Interesting question- who would you rather have at this point: Villareal/Cormier or Doug Davis?
While I’ll admit that The Vulture’s second half was good, he’s also one of the many reasons the Braves were buried in the first half of the season.
Fingers crossed for ’07.
I like Doug Davis, but I’d really like Dave Bush.
I think Villarreal and Cormier provide depth, but Doug Davis could be a solid #3 starter, which is what we could use. So, i dunno…
I would much rather have Doug Davis.
Despite what his numbers were, he provided something this team really needed last year. He was FOURTH on the team in innings pitched with 92! At different times in the season he was needed in both roles. I’d expect the same from him this year.
Doug Davis would be a horrible fit for the Braves.
His breadd and butter is throwing a cutter inside, which leads to lots of rounders on the left side of the infield..
Makes you wonder how he’ll fit in Arizona. Is Stephen Drew a very good defender?
The best news for Villarreal this year is that the team shouldn’t need him to do quite as much as last year, given the greatly improved pen. And it’s encouraging that his walk totals dipped, too — he may be fooling fewer batters, but his control is improving to compensate somewhat.
I think it’s also interesting that his new contract includes incentives for both finishing and starting games — it seems the Braves plan to consider him for a swing starter role for the next three years, at least.
Count me among the people who were very optimistic about Villarreal last Spring and I still haven’t given up hope. The guy made 86(!) appearances and following since we get all of the D-Backs games here in NM, I probably watched almost all of those and the case could have been made that if the D-Backs made the playoffs, he would have been ROY. He should sue Bob Brenly for pitching him until his arm fell off (literally). Anyway, I think he’s still regaining his form from his surgery and he could valuable as a 6/7/8th inning guy or a league average 5th starter who will keep the Braves in it (5-6IP) until the bullpen takes over.
Godot,
Would they be hard grounders?