Bob Wickman

[McCarroll21]

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070510&content_id=1956557&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
Closer Bob Wickman is ready, willing and able to rejoin the Braves, and should be back with the team on Tuesday, when he is eligible to be activated.

"He's feeling good," said Braves manager Bobby Cox. "He threw a bullpen [session on Wednesday]."

Wickman went on the 15-day disabled list on April 30 with upper back tendinitis, after uncharacteristically blowing two saves in three appearances and getting hit hard in the other.He goes on to say...
"I've been saying since Spring Training that we can throw someone out there if somebody needs a day or two off and not miss a beat," Wickman said. "In my 15 years, this is one of the best bullpens I've ever been with."Looks like he's ready to come back. He'll probably be worked back in slowly, but will take back over the closer's role.

All this injury has done is given Gonzalez a chance to get "right" and hopefully that continues. It's given Bobby the confidence in the men to not run Wickman in the ground.

Hopefully our starters and other relievers cooperate so we don't have to use all three of them on the same night too many more times.

[grafe]

And I was loving our two headed monster, oh well a bullpen cerebus shouldn't be too bad

[dogmanx23]

yeah i was liking gonzalez and soriano but wickman is good also and i hope hes back to normal cause then 7,8,9 is a done deal with those 3.

[Rick]

And I was loving our two headed monster, oh well a bullpen cerebus shouldn't be too bad

Good job to work a little Greek Mythology into a baseball discussion ! Cerberus ( corrected spelling )
was the three- headed dog who guarded the entrance to Hades in Greek Mythology .

Now the question is - would Wickman , Gonzalez and Soriano take it as a compliment to be compared to a three-headed dog ? !

[McCarroll21]

Soriano takes no complements.

[grafe]

Good job to work a little Greek Mythology into a baseball discussion ! Cerberus ( corrected spelling )
was the three- headed dog who guarded the entrance to Hades in Greek Mythology .

Now the question is - would Wickman , Gonzalez and Soriano take it as a compliment to be compared to a three-headed dog ? !
I knew it looked weird :(

[JCStone7]

I can't wait for Wick to come back, it makes the triumvirate complete

[vnodnarb]

very good to hear, his shoulder should be well rested and once he is back at 100% in a week or so we should be able to get more off days for gonzo/soriano

[AtlFan7]

Speaking of Wick....


We should send him to the minors (AAA) for 3 or 4 rehab appearances to "get loose", and to make sure his back problems are completely gone. A blown save by a guy coming straight off the DL would surely disrupt the rhythm and flow this team has right now. If he does well in his rehab appearances at the AAA level, then bring him up and allow him to rejoin the bullpen. The last thing we wanna see is Wickman walking the first two hitters he faces in the 9th because he isn't game-ready after sitting for more than 15 days.

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

agreed...Then after that we can unleash the 4 Headed Monster from the South :)

[gobravez]

agreed...Then after that we can unleash the 4 Headed Monster from the South :)


4? Are you including Tyler, If so I praise you!:D

[vnodnarb]

Speaking of Wick....


We should send him to the minors (AAA) for 3 or 4 rehab appearances to "get loose", and to make sure his back problems are completely gone. A blown save by a guy coming straight off the DL would surely disrupt the rhythm and flow this team has right now. If he does well in his rehab appearances at the AAA level, then bring him up and allow him to rejoin the bullpen. The last thing we wanna see is Wickman walking the first two hitters he faces in the 9th because he isn't game-ready after sitting for more than 15 days.

either that or a couple no pressure situations just for him to get back in rhythm, hopefully this 15 days off helps him be fresher later in the season as he isnt the ideal physical specimen

[DanielW4444]

Thats good to hear. Even though I think Soriano is the future its still good to have a guy like Wickman in the pen. Hopefully this little time off can keep him strong for the rest of the year.

On another note, Its good to have three guys we can argue about which should be the closer. Last year it was more of an argument about which ones need to be released.
lol

[McCarroll21]

I think Wickman will be eased back in to the role. He'll probably make a few appearances when the game isn't on the line in the 9th, or some earlier in the game for about a week, then split the duties before gaining back the full-time closing duties.

There's no reason to just hand it back to him, not with the way we've been going, but at the same time ... he is our closer and will get the job back.

[cklennon]

...and hopefully get traded at the deadline to some hopeful team in need of a closer. Let's face it, this guy is old and we aren't gonna need him as long as we lock up Gonzalez and Soriano. Would be great to trade him for some prospects or a SP come deadline-time. That is, assuming he gets back the form he would need to be in to be trade bait.

[KB 34]

If last year taught us anything it was the importance of having tons of good relief pitching. Keep Wickman unless the offer is incredible because injuries can crush a good bullpen easily.

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

4? Are you including Tyler, If so I praise you!:D


yep most def...it's nice having a 6th inning setup man :)