Tanyon Sturtze

[vnodnarb]

ESPN:
News: Sturtze (shoulder) is scheduled to throw back-to-back bullpen sessions this weekend and could face live hitters next week, the team's official web site reports.

Spin: Sturtze could return at some point in mid-June if all goes well.

I'm not sure anyone cares too much at this point, but here's an update on Sturtze, btw how loaded is our bullpen gonna be in a month including triple A?

[gitrdone48]

Sturtze is a solid arm to have in the 'pen. He's definitely a good arm to go to if Paronto or Yates need a rest. I hope he comes back and contributes.

[KB 34]

Have you looked at sturtze's numbers from last year? If Moylan or Paronto are sent down to make room for him I'm going to explode. At his best, Sturtze is a mopup reliever. The Braves already have a mopup reliever in Villarreal and don't need another. There are times when a mysterious signing is good and there are times when it's bad. This is a bad one that's so bad that it's being misconceived as being good.

[gitrdone48]

Have you looked at sturtze's numbers from last year? If Moylan or Paronto are sent down to make room for him I'm going to explode. At his best, Sturtze is a mopup reliever. The Braves already have a mopup reliever in Villarreal and don't need another. There are times when a mysterious signing is good and there are times when it's bad. This is a bad one that's so bad that it's being misconceived as being good.

I'm just saying he'd be good in a role if one of the everyday relievers couldn't go. Sturtze can get big outs in big spots, he could have an impact if needed.

[GrandMasterB]

The way our pen has pitched this year, I don't see how there could be any room for Sturtze. When Bob Wickman comes back Tuesday, there will be even more of a logjam. I say keep him at AAA or just let him go.

[JCStone7]

he should be trade bait come july IMO

[McCarroll21]

As good as the pen has been, along with some of the minor league depth, Sturtze won't touch Atlanta this year. He'll get a hefty raise if he is put on the roster, he's AAA bound.

[KB 34]

Consider this Sturtze supporters: The current bullpen is
Soriano
Gonzalez
Yates
Villarreal
Paronto
Moylan
Barry

When Wickman comes back he replaces Barry and the bullpen is set for the Sturtze decision. Sturtze has a career ERA of 5.21. He's coming off of a major surgery which can't help anything. He's 36 years old. Last year he pitched 10.7 innigs and had a 7.59 ERA. His best year was 2005 when pitched 78 innings and had a 4.78 ERA. Is this the guy you want replacing one of Moylan, Paronto, or Yates? Moylan has been a pleasant surprise since he was called up. Paronto has been a solid reliever for nearly a year now. I'm finally coming around on Yates and that's saying something. Keep in mind that bringing him up also means there is $350,000 less to use to address needs at the trading deadline, when in terms of money due to an acquired player $350,000 is worth well over $700,000. I see Sturtze as being the equivalent of Armando Almanza. Who is that you ask? He was signed along with Antonio Alfonseca to fill out the 2004 (if I remember my years right) bullpen before JS got his head together and grabbed Chris Reitsma and Juan Cruz. After starting the year injured Almanza got a few innings with the Braves and proved that he was available for a reason. I say we should skip this step with Sturtze and send him home with the $750,000. There is bullpen depth in the minors with the continued development of Will Startup, Joey Devine is always an option, and Phil Stockman still deserves a shot. Each one of these pitchers has more upside than 36 year old Sturtze and should get their chance before he does.

[cklennon]

I think Sturtze is more of an insurance policy. I still don't have total faith in anyone in the bullpen except Gonzalez/Soriano/Wickman and MAYBE Yates. I don't think Bobby or JS do either. If Moylan or Yates or Paronto return to their former selves, it will be nice to have Sturtze as a plug-in.

[KB 34]

But Sturtze's normal self is no better than Moylan/Yates/Paronto at their worst. Why would you have faith in someone whose 36 years old and has NEVER had a year with an ERA under 4? I say if one of them struggles McBride, Startup, or maybe even Boyer (if healthy) should be called up since they're young and have a future in the majors.

[McCarroll21]

We have...

McBride
Startup
Stockman
Boyer
DevineAll ranked ahead of Sturtze in my book. I guess Barry is in there too since he's actually with the team right now instead of the others -- though that could have been an insurance thing for starters and long relief.

I may even through a guy like Manny Acosta out there before Sturtze. He's just not good enough to command the bonus he will get if he spends a day on the ML roster.

[cklennon]

So then why the flier on him before the season? Trade bait at the deadline? I can't imagine they went after a 36 year old to be an organizational player in Richmond...

[McCarroll21]

So then why the flier on him before the season? Trade bait at the deadline? I can't imagine they went after a 36 year old to be an organizational player in Richmond...
We signed him as insurance in the second half of the season. This signing occurred before we acquired both Soriano and Gonzalez. When that happened, it's kind of made Sturtze a AAA roster filler.

[KB 34]

So then why the flier on him before the season? Trade bait at the deadline? I can't imagine they went after a 36 year old to be an organizational player in Richmond...
Because JS was desperate to get relievers after last year and made a move without thinking. Why else would JS give $750,000 guaranteed to a pitcher who was lucky to get anything more than a minor league contract based on his career numbers? I don't see him as being a sign and trade 6 months later player because I can't think of an example of JS ever using that strategy before. The develop/trade strategy is more prevelent in places where payrolls are $20 and the constantly rebuilding philosophy is applied. See the Pirates for an example.