Lost Closer -- I Guess Nightmares Do Come True
It was just a matter of time. One of two things was going to happen. Either he was going to right the ship and return to his 2005/early 2006 form or he was being replaced, but Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow needed something to happen.
After celebrating a breakout season in 2005 where he went 7-1 with 39 saves and a 1.744 ERA, Turnbow walked into this year as the team's closer and immediately picked up where he left off with 8 saves and a 1.80 ERA for the month of April. But then it got a little rocky. He had a relatively cold May, an average June, and stumbled into the All Star Break with a bloated 4.74 ERA and having blown 2 of his last 3 save opportunities.
The post-Break times have been even worse. Since returning from a decent outing in his first ever All Star appearance, Turnbow has no saves, an 0-3 record and a whopping 47.25 ERA. Including last night's debacle he has blown 5 save opps in a row and 7 of his last 9.
Manager Ned Yost has hung on as long as he could. For the past 2 weeks, all we've heard is that his job is safe due to the fact that the Brewers don't have many options. Matt Wise and Danny Kolb had been average at best, Dana Eveland is too young and inconsistent, and the team didn't want to move a somewhat effective Jose Capellan from his middle relief/set up job.
Well, the end of the rope has arrived. Yost has finally removed Turnbow from the closer's role and has handed over the duties to Danny Kolb. He did hold down the job in 2004 with the Brewers and then went to Atlanta for 2005. He did not find success there and after a dismal year with only 11 saves and a lost job, he came back to Milwaukee. So he's got the experience...maybe not the talent, but he does have the experience.
But don't count Turnbow out just yet. Don't go freaking out and drop him from your roster. If someone in your league does, you may think about grabbing him while he's in exile. Technically, the job is still his. Technically, it's just a temporary move. Maybe he just needs to adjust his mechanics; maybe he's tipping his pitches. Either way, he should hopefully figure things out in the next few weeks.
If you own him, you should probably reserve him for the upcoming scoring period, but don't worry too much. He should be back.
After celebrating a breakout season in 2005 where he went 7-1 with 39 saves and a 1.744 ERA, Turnbow walked into this year as the team's closer and immediately picked up where he left off with 8 saves and a 1.80 ERA for the month of April. But then it got a little rocky. He had a relatively cold May, an average June, and stumbled into the All Star Break with a bloated 4.74 ERA and having blown 2 of his last 3 save opportunities.
The post-Break times have been even worse. Since returning from a decent outing in his first ever All Star appearance, Turnbow has no saves, an 0-3 record and a whopping 47.25 ERA. Including last night's debacle he has blown 5 save opps in a row and 7 of his last 9.
Manager Ned Yost has hung on as long as he could. For the past 2 weeks, all we've heard is that his job is safe due to the fact that the Brewers don't have many options. Matt Wise and Danny Kolb had been average at best, Dana Eveland is too young and inconsistent, and the team didn't want to move a somewhat effective Jose Capellan from his middle relief/set up job.
Well, the end of the rope has arrived. Yost has finally removed Turnbow from the closer's role and has handed over the duties to Danny Kolb. He did hold down the job in 2004 with the Brewers and then went to Atlanta for 2005. He did not find success there and after a dismal year with only 11 saves and a lost job, he came back to Milwaukee. So he's got the experience...maybe not the talent, but he does have the experience.
But don't count Turnbow out just yet. Don't go freaking out and drop him from your roster. If someone in your league does, you may think about grabbing him while he's in exile. Technically, the job is still his. Technically, it's just a temporary move. Maybe he just needs to adjust his mechanics; maybe he's tipping his pitches. Either way, he should hopefully figure things out in the next few weeks.
If you own him, you should probably reserve him for the upcoming scoring period, but don't worry too much. He should be back.
posted by Howard Bender at
12:24 PM
