JCStone7
11-01-2007, 09:20 AM
The Do Tell on Dotel
by: Jonathan C. Stone | Braves-Nation.com
Octavio Dotel, the enigmatic flamethrower the Braves acquired from their former assistant General Manager Dayton Moore in Kansas City on July 31, 2007. This deal took a back seat to the Mark Teixeira, or as I like to call it: "The Mercenary Deal." In exchange the Braves sent Kyle Davies straight up for Dotel. At the time the Braves were in the thick of the pennant race and Davies wasn't really contributing to the cause other than sending fans to the exits while pining for Maalox (sorry Mc). In the minds of many baseball writers and analysts the Braves got Octavio for little to nothing.
After all if Octavio did well in an Atlanta uniform there would've been a strong chance that Dotel would exercise his 6.2 million dollar option to stay in Atlanta through 2008 and the braintrust would utilize him as the closer that was vacated by Bob Wickman (thank God). It started off as the Braves had hoped as Dotel's first two appearances he pitched two scoreless innings giving up no hits, no walks, and striking out one and again making John Schuerholz look like a genius as he normally does in August year after year after year. Prematurely the thoughts were though; Dotel's next three appearances after those strong first two were as abysmal as Kyle Davies was, Octavio gave up five runs, four of which were earned and his ERA rose a full run in those three appearances. After that final outing against the New York Mets on August 7th, Dotel landed on a familiar spot; the disabled list.
So in hindsight, as of August 7th, the trade looked more one-sided towards Kansas City's side. Luckily the Atlanta fan base were still drooling over Mark Teixeira's arrival while Peter Moylan was quietly stepping in Octavio's role and pitching magnificently. It's kind of funny if you take a step back and look at things. Atlanta gave up Kyle Davies and Adam LaRoche for a total of 21.1 innings pitched in 2007 by Mike Gonzalez (17) and Octavio Dotel (4.1) as of August 7th. It may just be my sense of humor.
When Octavio came back from the disabled list on September 22nd, (I know, a month and half on the DL from a pitcher that was supposed to help during the stretch run) against the Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta was five feet under ground in the National League Wild Card race. So on that fateful day Bobby Cox casually pointed his right arm to call on Dotel for the sole purpose of getting a key strikeout against Rickie Weeks in a key spot to keep the slim playoff chances alive in an eventual Atlanta extra-inning victory and Dotel looked again to be proving his worth. Octavio came in again the next day against the Brewers and struck out the side while the Braves ended the Brewers' playoff hopes in the finale of a stunning four game series in which Atlanta took three out of the four. But unfortunately it was the last meaningful game Dotel would pitch in 2007.
So to have a brief summary of Dotel's 2007 season in a Brave uniform; I can do it only six words and they are as follows and in this exact order: LIT UP, NICKED UP, LIGHTS OUT! So instead of me giving you pros and cons of a possible Dotel return, I think it's as simple as this. You don't invest six million dollars in a middle reliever who has only pitched 50+ innings only once since 2004. Liberty Media isn't George Steinbrenner and Mariano Rivera won't be running out of that gate in right center field. Was it exciting to see Dotel come in and dominate the Brewers throwing straight heat? Sure. But was it not exciting to see Peter Moylan come in time and time again to get a key ground out or double play on a weekly basis? I think so. If Bobby Cox desires a strikeout in a late game situation he has a bevy of options in Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez, Manny Acosta, and Jose Ascanio, and possibly even Joey Devine. Did I mention all of those named combined are due less than what Dotel would want? I think that makes my argument clear and financially sound. So it's time to sweet adieu to the Octavio Dotel regime in Atlanta.
I've said it time and time again and I'll say it once more. Baseball is a business, and for the Braves to be successful in 2008 they need to cut the fat so to speak. Why pay more when you can get the same for less? That is my philosophy as a fan in baseball. In closing I feel very confident that Frank Wren feels the same way I do, thanks for the help (sort of), but we need to part ways before it turns into a bloody marriage.
by: Jonathan C. Stone | Braves-Nation.com
Octavio Dotel, the enigmatic flamethrower the Braves acquired from their former assistant General Manager Dayton Moore in Kansas City on July 31, 2007. This deal took a back seat to the Mark Teixeira, or as I like to call it: "The Mercenary Deal." In exchange the Braves sent Kyle Davies straight up for Dotel. At the time the Braves were in the thick of the pennant race and Davies wasn't really contributing to the cause other than sending fans to the exits while pining for Maalox (sorry Mc). In the minds of many baseball writers and analysts the Braves got Octavio for little to nothing.
After all if Octavio did well in an Atlanta uniform there would've been a strong chance that Dotel would exercise his 6.2 million dollar option to stay in Atlanta through 2008 and the braintrust would utilize him as the closer that was vacated by Bob Wickman (thank God). It started off as the Braves had hoped as Dotel's first two appearances he pitched two scoreless innings giving up no hits, no walks, and striking out one and again making John Schuerholz look like a genius as he normally does in August year after year after year. Prematurely the thoughts were though; Dotel's next three appearances after those strong first two were as abysmal as Kyle Davies was, Octavio gave up five runs, four of which were earned and his ERA rose a full run in those three appearances. After that final outing against the New York Mets on August 7th, Dotel landed on a familiar spot; the disabled list.
So in hindsight, as of August 7th, the trade looked more one-sided towards Kansas City's side. Luckily the Atlanta fan base were still drooling over Mark Teixeira's arrival while Peter Moylan was quietly stepping in Octavio's role and pitching magnificently. It's kind of funny if you take a step back and look at things. Atlanta gave up Kyle Davies and Adam LaRoche for a total of 21.1 innings pitched in 2007 by Mike Gonzalez (17) and Octavio Dotel (4.1) as of August 7th. It may just be my sense of humor.
When Octavio came back from the disabled list on September 22nd, (I know, a month and half on the DL from a pitcher that was supposed to help during the stretch run) against the Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta was five feet under ground in the National League Wild Card race. So on that fateful day Bobby Cox casually pointed his right arm to call on Dotel for the sole purpose of getting a key strikeout against Rickie Weeks in a key spot to keep the slim playoff chances alive in an eventual Atlanta extra-inning victory and Dotel looked again to be proving his worth. Octavio came in again the next day against the Brewers and struck out the side while the Braves ended the Brewers' playoff hopes in the finale of a stunning four game series in which Atlanta took three out of the four. But unfortunately it was the last meaningful game Dotel would pitch in 2007.
So to have a brief summary of Dotel's 2007 season in a Brave uniform; I can do it only six words and they are as follows and in this exact order: LIT UP, NICKED UP, LIGHTS OUT! So instead of me giving you pros and cons of a possible Dotel return, I think it's as simple as this. You don't invest six million dollars in a middle reliever who has only pitched 50+ innings only once since 2004. Liberty Media isn't George Steinbrenner and Mariano Rivera won't be running out of that gate in right center field. Was it exciting to see Dotel come in and dominate the Brewers throwing straight heat? Sure. But was it not exciting to see Peter Moylan come in time and time again to get a key ground out or double play on a weekly basis? I think so. If Bobby Cox desires a strikeout in a late game situation he has a bevy of options in Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez, Manny Acosta, and Jose Ascanio, and possibly even Joey Devine. Did I mention all of those named combined are due less than what Dotel would want? I think that makes my argument clear and financially sound. So it's time to sweet adieu to the Octavio Dotel regime in Atlanta.
I've said it time and time again and I'll say it once more. Baseball is a business, and for the Braves to be successful in 2008 they need to cut the fat so to speak. Why pay more when you can get the same for less? That is my philosophy as a fan in baseball. In closing I feel very confident that Frank Wren feels the same way I do, thanks for the help (sort of), but we need to part ways before it turns into a bloody marriage.