Nationals get stronger with addition of Soriano
The Washington Nationals were already the team to beat in the National League East and Tuesday they made it even more unlikely that somebody will beat them.
Nationals get stronger with addition of Soriano
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
The Washington Nationals were already the team to beat in the National League East and Tuesday they made it even more unlikely that somebody will beat them.
According to Yahoo.com's Jeff Passan, the Nationals have teamed up with their favorite agent, Scott Boras, and struck a two-year, $28 million deal for arguably the premier reliever on this year's free-agent market.
Rafael Soriano, 33, spent the last two seasons with the New York Yankees and posted a 2.94 ERA in 111 games. He served as Mariano Rivera's setup man in 2011, but when the future Hall of Fame closer went down early last season, Soriano stepped in as New York's closer.
His performance was Rivera-esque as he went 2-1 with a 2.26 ERA while converting 42 of 46 save opportunities.
Soriano's addition to the Nationals makes a strength even stronger. A year ago, the Nationals' bullpen ERA was 3.23, which was the seventh best in baseball and the third best in the National League.
That is a nice complement to a starting rotation that had a 3.40 ERA and a major-league leading 72 victories. Only Tampa Bay's starters had a better earned run average among baseball's 30 teams last season.
The Phillies felt they significantly upgraded their bullpen by adding free agent Mike Adams, who is considered one of the best setup men in baseball. They signed Adams to a two-year deal worth $12 million.
Relying on a cast of young relievers to get the ball to closer Jonathan Papelbon, the Phillies' bullpen had a 3.94 ERA last season, which ranked 21st in baseball and 10th in the National League.
The addition of Soriano gives the Nationals the luxury of three quality pitchers with closer experience. Tyler Clippard served as the team's primary closer last season and had 32 saves in 37 opportunties. The year before, Drew Storen had 43 saves in 48 opportunities and posted a 2.75 ERA.
It will be interesting to see who manager Davey Johnson selects to be his primary closer in 2013, but it's obviously a nice problem to have and another reason the Nationals will be difficult to dethrone as N.L. East champs.
I guess this counters the Phils' move for Rodrigo Lopez. Maybe Rube can get Gossage out of retirement.— butchcat- Tyler Clippard W-2 L-6 32saves 5-blvs era 3.72 IP-72.. Storen 30 IP W-3 L-1 4saves 1-blvs era 2.37... Papelbon w-5 L-6 38saves 4-blvs era 2.44 IP-70.Infinitely better No. Good pickup by Nats.— honomugym
- I agree with warbiscuit, I got to watch Papelbum blow games with the Sox, and now I get to watch him stink up the joint here in Philly. He's Mitch Williams as a right hander, and it's painful to watch. The Nationals should probably cruise easily to another 100 win season and probably finish about 15 games over the Phillies and 10 over the Braves... The National League East race could be over by the 1st or 2nd week of September.....— BosoxJohnny
- 70 appearances. 38 saves. 4 blown saves. 2.44 ERA. 5.1 K/BB. How is that 'stinking up the joint"?
— 1980 - Phillies = Done. It's been a steady decline since 2009. It was a helluva ride!— 25years/100seasonsandcounting
I say this only half-seriously. But we need to stop going to Washington for those 9 away games. 9 games is 11% of their home game revenue. I think Phillies fans may have just paid for Soriano. :)— zubzub- Did anyone else notice that the article doesn't mention Soriano's first name?— 1980
- @zubzub -- in near future Phils home games will be filled mostly with Nats fans just like the many years that Mets fans took over the Vet -- Phils fans are not going to continue to support the mediocre trash that Rube puts out there....expect Rube to trade away Lee at some point, and possibly even Hamels at the rate ths team is going....— warbiscuit
- Show of hands - how many people would be willing to kick in $10 each to see this J/O speak his tiny little mind to Amaro, face to face, then get his @$$ kicked all up and down the street? — 1980
- Come on Biscuit. You know that I , and most other reasonable folks, don't for one second believe that Ruben has any real decision making authority for the Phillies. You may continue your crusade as long as you like. It mostly falls on deaf ears.
If however you wish to engage in any kind of baseball dialogue that doesn't involve your favorite GM; I'm all in. :) See ya.— zubzub - @zub, I'm not getting your point here about Amaro not having any real decision-making authority for the Phils. If not him then who?
Were you just being sarcastic here? If not, you must explain— advantasux - Advanta , the Phillies are a Billion Dollar business. They don't just let Ruben run amuck. My point isn't that Ruben doesn't have a voice. Of course he does. But his does not drown out all the others. So blaming him or applauding him exclusively is just silly. And to do it over and over again is manic !
Here's a few guys who have some impact on Phillies decisions.
David Montgomery, CEO, Bill Giles Chairman of the board,
Ruben Amaro, Jr.Senior Vice President & General Manager Pat GillickSr. Advisor to the President/General Manager Scott ProefrockAssistant General Manager Benny LooperAssistant General Manager, Player Personnel Marti WoleverAssistant General Manager, Amateur Scouting Dallas GreenSr. Advisor to the General Manager Charley KerfeldSpecial Assistant to the General Manager Joe JordanDirector, Player Development Ed WadeSpecial Consultant, Baseball Operations Gordon LakeyDirector, Major League Scouting Susan Ingersoll PapaneriDirector, Baseball Administration Mike OndoDirector, Professional Scouting Lee McDanielDirector, Minor League Operations Jay McLaughlinBaseball Information Analyst Adele MacDonaldAdministrative Assistant, Baseball Operations Chris CashmanBaseball Operations Representative Frank CoppenbargerDirector, Team Travel and Clubhouse Services Rob HolidayAssistant Director, Scouting Steve NoworytaAssistant Director, Player Development Ray RoblesAdministrative Assistant, Minor League Operations Joe CynarManager, Minor League Equipment & Florida Training Complex Operations— zubzub - @zub, thanks for the fullness of your answer, as always, but I feel I need to point out that my challenge to you was based on the claim that "I, and most other reasonable folks, don't for one second believe that Ruben has any real decision making authority for the Phillies."
That statement and the one you followed up with ("Advanta, the Phillies are a Billion Dollar business. They don't just let Ruben run amuck") are not in sync with each other.
Of course they don't let him run amok. Of course there are many other voices and influences on the GM in any organization. But to claim that "he doesn't have any real decision-making authority" is to cheapen the job at least somewhat, no?
For what they must pay him, and for all the notoriety given to Cashman, Epstein, Sabean, Jocketty, Duquette, Dombrowsky, Beane and the rest, I'm thinking Amaro enjoys a bit more authority than what you've suggested here.— advantasux - Totally get what you're saying. We agree to disagree. You think Amaro has more authority than I do. Good.
Every GM in MLB has a different level of authority.
I have been a fan for a while. And I think I know enough about Montgomery and Giles to conclude that they wouldn't just hand over the reins to Ruben. Why else is Pat Gillick not only the Advisor to the GM but also the advisor to the president? Why else is Dallas Green still employed? Why was Ed Wade rehired ?
The question you have to answer, Advanta, is when the Phillies got Michael Young ... did Ruben ask Bill Giles beforehand whether he should do it or did he tell him after he already did it ? Which is more likely? :)
All good either way. I was responding to the Biscuit not you. Be well.— zubzub - Phillies season over in 3...2...1...— Mo Biggsley
