My Quick Chat With Raffy Chaves

by Colby In Boston on Apr 15, 2006 3:22 PM PDT

So I had a chance to pick Rafael Chaves' brain today just before Joel Piñeiro took his bullpen session at the game today - here are a few tidbits of what I got out of him:

Just like Jeff has always said, the position of Felix's head just before the delivery of the pitch is a little off - moreso than last year. Could it be altering his control? Stay tuned. Chaves didn't tell me if the coaching staff was going to try to tinker with it or not.

Additionally, Chaves told me that Felix's lack of control in his first two starts is more due to the lack of work at the end of Spring Training than anything else - it doesn't have anything to do with the shin splints.

Blackley and Nageotte are doing just fine.

After I asked him a few questions about guys getting hurt the last few years and if Brian Price had anything to do with it, he told me that he didn't really know, and instead of blaming Price, he said, "Let's just call it bad luck."

Soriano is throwing just as hard and is 100% healthy - according to Chaves, he hit 97 in Cleveland.

I'll try to get some more questions in tomorrow before Washburn takes his bullpen session - does anybody have anything they want me to ask?

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My question

How on earth did Cha Seung Baek come back so well after pitching so horribly last year?

by basebliman on Apr 15, 2006 3:56 PM PDT reply actions

Baek is Back!!1??!?!!?eins!i

I second that question.

Go M's! Mariners Morsels (aka Free George Sherrill).

by PositivePaul on Apr 15, 2006 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Question on Set-up guys

Do he and Hargrove see Putz or Soriano as their top righty arm? Have the few early use of Soriano been the tactical use of their best set-up guy in important situations, or is it just that they were saving Putz for later innings?

by david h on Apr 15, 2006 4:05 PM PDT reply actions

Does he have any discussions

with Johjima about his catching abilities? They seem to need improvement.

Also, what are his impressions of Foppert?

by Matthew on Apr 15, 2006 4:10 PM PDT reply actions

Meche

He has a 6.75 ERA, but is only 1 inning away from being 2-0. Does Meche keep getting chances as long as the team keeps winning the games he pitches, or does Chavez have some target numbers that Meche needs to get down to in order to keep his spot?

(Not what you guys were expecting, was it?)

by kva15 on Apr 15, 2006 4:21 PM PDT reply actions

Any possibility we're going to see Soriano start

Say Meche is injured or falls off a cliff, would they consider Soriano for some starts?

by manyoso on Apr 15, 2006 4:46 PM PDT reply actions

I agree!

I also want to know if he's pushing for Soriano to be in the rotation. Will the team consider this? Does Chavy want it to happen? Does Soriano want to start?

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by ConorGlassey on Apr 15, 2006 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions

If Soriano wanted to

I'd be all for moving Soriano to start and letting Meche give long relief.

by manyoso on Apr 15, 2006 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions

The problem is

that makes Putz our ace righty setup man, and our closer if Guardado leaves.

by Rollo Tomasi on Apr 15, 2006 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions

All things considered

I'm pretty sure the team stance is that they eventually want to test Raffy out as a starter, but seriously, coming back from TJ, and with him really needing a third pitch, it's likely not going to happen this year. Depending on how the team fares, I might try lengthing him out in August-Sept to see what happens so that maybe you pencil him in the 07 rotation, but that's best care scenario.

by Matthew on Apr 15, 2006 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions

This

is exactly the only problem I have with starting of closing Raffy. He gives us a stopper in the high leverage 7th and 8th innings. If we use him for one of the suggested roles, we lose that shut-down ability. Also, there could be drawbacks: Raffy may not be as effective over 5+ inning stretches, or closing may not just be too easy for him, but he usually wouldn't come in unless we have a 1-3 run lead, whereas as it stands he can be used when needed the most.

by Gomez on Apr 15, 2006 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions