Angels Official Website: Frieri working his way back to closer role

[AngelsWin.com]

Joe Smith, 3 for 3 in save opportunities for the Angels, went into Sunday's game against the Rangers still in his temporary role as the closer. But fellow right-hander Ernesto Frieri, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning to set up Smith in a 5-3 Angels victory Saturday, is closer to regaining the role, manager Mike Scioscia said.

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[Glen]

No. Just no.

Scioscia is just waiting for Smith to blow one save so he can justify making Frieri the closer again.

No.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

"Our optimum bullpen is really with Ernie back in the ninth inning and being able to move Joe Smith around," Scioscia said. "But we need some bullpen depth to evolve before we can push Joe that far.

SMH. Keep Smith as the closer and move Ernesto around!

[jshep]

There probably is some merit to using Joe Smith as a fireman type who comes in to extinguish rallies instead of the 9th and only the 9th if Ernesto can get his shit together.

 

But I have no confidence that Scioscia would actually do that instead of sticking Smith strictly back into the 8th inning role, so leave him as closer, I guess.

[HeavenlyHalos]

So Smith is 3-3 in save opportunities, Frieri is 3-3 in his set-up opportunities, was dominanit as a mid-relief/set-up role when we first traded for him, and Scioscia is already thinking about swapping Smith and Frieri's roles? Alright then.

I wouldn't necessarily have an issue if we went to a straight closer by committee approahc, but I doubt that will happen, so unless Smith really starts to struggle, I see absolutely no logic in this.

[ELEVEN]

They need to be able to yank Ernesto out of the game on the nights he doesn't have it. As a closer you can't do that.

Edited May 4, 2014 by ELEVEN

[bloodbrother]

"Our optimum bullpen is really with Ernie back in the ninth inning and being able to move Joe Smith around," Scioscia said. "But we need some bullpen depth to evolve before we can push Joe that far.

SMH. Keep Smith as the closer and move Ernesto around!

 

If that's the case, we sure haven't been seeing it from Mike. Dude's been saving Smith for the 8th inning only rather than having him move around and pitch other innings if an opponent is threatening

 

Could have went to him in that Mets game with 2 outs in the 7th rather than Salas

[Jason]

Frieri is not a closer.

[Redondo]

No. Just no.

Scioscia is just waiting for Smith to blow one save so he can justify making Frieri the closer again.

No.

 

This.

 

We finally have something that is working and he wants to go back to what was broken. Typical MS

[Vegas Halo Fan]

So Smith is 3-3 in save opportunities, Frieri is 3-3 in his set-up opportunities, was dominanit as a mid-relief/set-up role when we first traded for him, and Scioscia is already thinking about swapping Smith and Frieri's roles? Alright then.

 

If it ain't broke, fix it anyway.

[DW711]

He's alright as long as it's not just fastballs 10 out of 10 pitches.

[ukyah]

So Smith is 3-3 in save opportunities, Frieri is 3-3 in his set-up opportunities, was dominanit as a mid-relief/set-up role when we first traded for him, and Scioscia is already thinking about swapping Smith and Frieri's roles? Alright then.

 

 

i completely agree with this. we found a mix that is working, but that's not good enough.

[rafibomb]

[Vegas Halo Fan]

i completely agree with this. we found a mix that is working, but that's not good enough.

 

It's as is Scioscia has already decided what every relief pitcher's role will be, and that is always what we will return to regardless of results.

Edited May 5, 2014 by Vegas Halo Fan

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

I'm sure veteran players love that Scioscia is loyal, but sometimes he's too loyal and he's too stubborn when it comes to making changes.

[Homebrewer]

Scioscia being Scioscia. He wants to work things back to the way he had it, to try and prove he was right to begin with.

[arch stanton]

Let me see him throw a 3-2 change up for a strike and I might welcome him back as one of multiple options for the 9th.

[Angel Oracle]

Even if he could throw ONE 3-2 off speed pitch with success, that doesn't guarantee he can do it again.

The guy's pitch repertoire and mental focus are NOT geared to closing.

[Troll Daddy]

If and when Frieri returns to the closer position ... this will be a group decision that involves Dipoto, Butcher, and others. This team is in win now mode. Some decisions will work out and others will not but you can expect a quicker hook on players this season.

[Chuck]

NO

[tdawg87]

[Vegas Halo Fan]

I told my wife as soon as I saw that Frieri was pitching the ninth, "He will give up a home run and the Yankees will win."

[fan_since79]

NO

 

Bears repeating, in fact it needs to be shouted into Scioscia's ear.

[wopphil]

Minor setback. Other than that one mistake, the ball came out of his hand nicely. He looks ready to be given back the closer role.

[Taylor]

NO

 

+1,000,000,000