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Notes: Kolb loses job as closer
Cox moves struggling right-hander to middle relief role
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
all-star ballot/ticket info
Dan Kolb is 1-4 with 16 walks, 11 strikeouts and a 6.48 ERA in 16 2/3 innings this season. (John Bazemore/AP)
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SAN DIEGO -- Braves manager Bobby Cox stuck with Dan Kolb as long as he could. But the veteran skipper has decided it's time to move the struggling closer into a middle relief role and utilize a closer-by-committee system.
Cox made his decision after Kolb wasted John Smoltz's strong eight-inning effort against the Padres on Tuesday night. He met with Kolb on before Wednesday afternoon's game and informed him that he was being removed from his closing duties.
"I'm going to use him in the middle somewhere for a few outings and see how it goes there," said Cox, who has seen Kolb issue 16 walks and post a 6.48 ERA in 19 appearances this year.
Cox said he is planning to use matchups to determine who he utilizes in the closer's role. But it's believed that Adam Bernero will receive a majority of those opportunities over the coming days.
Bernero, who has never recorded a save since joining the professional ranks in 1999, has been a consistent force in the Braves' bullpen throughout the season. He's issued just two walks in 22 2/3 innings and limited opponents to a .236 batting average. Left-handed hitters are batting just .184 against Bernero.
Before Wednesday's game, Bernero said he hadn't been told that his role will be changing. Another option would be Chris Reitsma, whose recent struggles have decreased his chances of gaining that role.
Coming into the season, Kolb was viewed as the man who was going to make Braves fans forget Smoltz was no longer their closer. But in 13 opportunities, he's already suffered three blown saves, only two fewer than he recorded in 44 opportunities during his All-Star campaign with Milwaukee last year.
When Kolb, who also blew a save when Smoltz went eight innings on May 11 at Coors Field, was told of his demotion, he was surprised. But he said he understood.
"It's part of the game," Kolb said. "(Cox) has got to do what he thinks is best for the team. All I can do is go out there when they give me the ball and do the best that I can.
"If you're not getting the job done, you've got to find somebody who is going to do it."
The Braves are hoping moving Kolb into a less stressful middle relief role will help him regain his form from last year, which would open the door for him to regain the closer's role later this year.
Kolb has retired the first batter he's faced in just eight of his first 19 outings. His leadoff walk to Ryan Klesko got things rolling toward his blown save in Tuesday night's defeat.
"Leadoff walks don't bother me," Kolb said. "I'm a groundball pitcher. I can get the double plays. I'm not worried about that. When they're hit to where people aren't, you can't get the double plays."
Chipper Jones / LF
Born: 04/24/72
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats: S / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Gallery
Team Site | Shop
Chipper sits again: Cox thought Chipper Jones would be available to pinch hit in Wednesday's series finale against the Padres. But the veteran third baseman's strained left oblique muscle wasn't going to allow him to do so.
"It's feels pretty good today and I'm hoping I'll be fine for Friday," said Jones, in reference to Friday's series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Jones suffered the injury during batting practice on Tuesday night. He was scratched from the lineup and replaced by Wilson Betemit, who also started Wednesday's game at third base.
"If I tried to do anything at 60 or 70 percent, it just really bit me hard," Jones said.
Saturday's starter: The Braves have confirmed that Tim Hudson will start on Friday and that Smoltz will get that nod in Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox. Presently, they're saying Saturday's starter will be determined later. But all indications are that it will be Kyle Davies.
Davies, the club's top pitching prospect, would be making his Major League debut. His promotion was necessitated when Mike Hampton was still experiencing tightness in his left forearm during a short bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon.
Hampton is hopeful that he'll be able to make his next start on Tuesday against the Mets. He exited his start on Saturday after 2 1/3 innings because of the ailment.
Braves bits: Beginning Monday, the Braves will offer a mini-season ticket package that gives fans a chance to buy tickets for select groups of four games. The packages begin at $48 and are available for purchase on atlantabraves.com. Those who purchase a package will receive either a limited edition Smoltz collectible figurine or limited edition World Series 10th Anniversary baseball. ... Marcus Giles celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday, with his parents in the stands to watch him play against his big brother, Brian, a veteran outfielder for the Padres. ... Right-handed reliever Kevin Gryboski, who is expected to come off the disabled list on Sunday, allowed just one hit and needed only eight pitches to complete a scoreless inning while making a rehab assignment for Class A Rome on Wednesday.
Coming up: Hudson will oppose Wade Miller in Friday's opener of the three-game series against the Red Sox. The Braves right-hander was 0-2 with a 15.43 ERA in two starts against the Red Sox last year. He's 1-3 with an 8.53 ERA in four career starts at Fenway Park.
Cox moves struggling right-hander to middle relief role
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
all-star ballot/ticket info
Dan Kolb is 1-4 with 16 walks, 11 strikeouts and a 6.48 ERA in 16 2/3 innings this season. (John Bazemore/AP)
More Coverage
Related Links
• Braves fall to Padres again in San Diego
• Thomson to have more tests on finger
• Braves head to Fenway for Interleague opener
• Andruw homers: 56K | 350K
• Padres extend win streak to seven
• Padres notes: Loretta's injury not serious
Braves Headlines
• Braves notes: Kolb won't close
• Thomson to have more tests on finger
• Braves fall to Padres again in San Diego
• Braves notes: Hampton loosens up
• Smoltz's start spoiled in ninth
• More Braves Headlines
MLB Headlines
• Selig, Fehr testify at House hearings
• Pedro's start vs. Yanks moved to Sunday
• Padres extend win streak to seven
• Nationals clip Brewers in the ninth
• Buehrle and balanced attack rock Rangers
• More MLB Headlines
ADVERTISEMENT
print this pageprint this page | e-mail this pageemail this page
SAN DIEGO -- Braves manager Bobby Cox stuck with Dan Kolb as long as he could. But the veteran skipper has decided it's time to move the struggling closer into a middle relief role and utilize a closer-by-committee system.
Cox made his decision after Kolb wasted John Smoltz's strong eight-inning effort against the Padres on Tuesday night. He met with Kolb on before Wednesday afternoon's game and informed him that he was being removed from his closing duties.
"I'm going to use him in the middle somewhere for a few outings and see how it goes there," said Cox, who has seen Kolb issue 16 walks and post a 6.48 ERA in 19 appearances this year.
Cox said he is planning to use matchups to determine who he utilizes in the closer's role. But it's believed that Adam Bernero will receive a majority of those opportunities over the coming days.
Bernero, who has never recorded a save since joining the professional ranks in 1999, has been a consistent force in the Braves' bullpen throughout the season. He's issued just two walks in 22 2/3 innings and limited opponents to a .236 batting average. Left-handed hitters are batting just .184 against Bernero.
Before Wednesday's game, Bernero said he hadn't been told that his role will be changing. Another option would be Chris Reitsma, whose recent struggles have decreased his chances of gaining that role.
Coming into the season, Kolb was viewed as the man who was going to make Braves fans forget Smoltz was no longer their closer. But in 13 opportunities, he's already suffered three blown saves, only two fewer than he recorded in 44 opportunities during his All-Star campaign with Milwaukee last year.
When Kolb, who also blew a save when Smoltz went eight innings on May 11 at Coors Field, was told of his demotion, he was surprised. But he said he understood.
"It's part of the game," Kolb said. "(Cox) has got to do what he thinks is best for the team. All I can do is go out there when they give me the ball and do the best that I can.
"If you're not getting the job done, you've got to find somebody who is going to do it."
The Braves are hoping moving Kolb into a less stressful middle relief role will help him regain his form from last year, which would open the door for him to regain the closer's role later this year.
Kolb has retired the first batter he's faced in just eight of his first 19 outings. His leadoff walk to Ryan Klesko got things rolling toward his blown save in Tuesday night's defeat.
"Leadoff walks don't bother me," Kolb said. "I'm a groundball pitcher. I can get the double plays. I'm not worried about that. When they're hit to where people aren't, you can't get the double plays."
Chipper Jones / LF
Born: 04/24/72
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats: S / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Gallery
Team Site | Shop
Chipper sits again: Cox thought Chipper Jones would be available to pinch hit in Wednesday's series finale against the Padres. But the veteran third baseman's strained left oblique muscle wasn't going to allow him to do so.
"It's feels pretty good today and I'm hoping I'll be fine for Friday," said Jones, in reference to Friday's series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Jones suffered the injury during batting practice on Tuesday night. He was scratched from the lineup and replaced by Wilson Betemit, who also started Wednesday's game at third base.
"If I tried to do anything at 60 or 70 percent, it just really bit me hard," Jones said.
Saturday's starter: The Braves have confirmed that Tim Hudson will start on Friday and that Smoltz will get that nod in Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox. Presently, they're saying Saturday's starter will be determined later. But all indications are that it will be Kyle Davies.
Davies, the club's top pitching prospect, would be making his Major League debut. His promotion was necessitated when Mike Hampton was still experiencing tightness in his left forearm during a short bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon.
Hampton is hopeful that he'll be able to make his next start on Tuesday against the Mets. He exited his start on Saturday after 2 1/3 innings because of the ailment.
Braves bits: Beginning Monday, the Braves will offer a mini-season ticket package that gives fans a chance to buy tickets for select groups of four games. The packages begin at $48 and are available for purchase on atlantabraves.com. Those who purchase a package will receive either a limited edition Smoltz collectible figurine or limited edition World Series 10th Anniversary baseball. ... Marcus Giles celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday, with his parents in the stands to watch him play against his big brother, Brian, a veteran outfielder for the Padres. ... Right-handed reliever Kevin Gryboski, who is expected to come off the disabled list on Sunday, allowed just one hit and needed only eight pitches to complete a scoreless inning while making a rehab assignment for Class A Rome on Wednesday.
Coming up: Hudson will oppose Wade Miller in Friday's opener of the three-game series against the Red Sox. The Braves right-hander was 0-2 with a 15.43 ERA in two starts against the Red Sox last year. He's 1-3 with an 8.53 ERA in four career starts at Fenway Park.
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