Julio still Closing?

by craig on Apr 9, 2007 7:24 AM EDT in News and Rumors

As C60 pointed out in the comments yesterday, that after four pathetic outings Jorge Julio still remains the "closer".

I understand that it is probably too early to give up on someone who the organization ~~wasted a pitching prospect~~ traded for.

But unless Julio gets his act together, he is not long for the job. Especially when he is sent out in the ninth and the coaches already have the bullpen phone in their hands before he finishes his warmup tosses. That is not a good sign for his longevity in the position and if he continues on his present path, he won't be missed.

This is a strange departure from the last two seasons, when the middle relief couldn't get the ball to closer with the lead still in tack. This year, the middle relief has been quite capable, at least up to this point, and it is the "closer" who has sucked.

This will prove an interesting dilemma when Tankersley is ready to go. Given the bullpen performances thus far, Julio is the one who should be jettison. Unfortunately, given his performance, I don't think the Marlins could get a bag of balls and a fungo bat for him in a trade.

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F%$#!

Oh well. Beinfest is allowed ONE bad move. I just hope Yusmeiro doesnt turn out to be a stud. That would REALLY suck.

I can't believe Mike doesn't remember Ocala - he was having a GREAT time!

by jrfelix on Apr 9, 2007 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

With so many other options

it seems silly to keep using him as the "closer". Maybe he just wants to give other teams a chance?

by MistaRaggy @ FishStripes on Apr 9, 2007 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

ha

This is Beinfest's boy. Fredi doesn't run this team. Girardi didn't run this team. No one runs this team but Larry Beinfest. I expect Julio to be trotted out there an awful lot over the next month or so.

This trade being bad or good has absolutely NOTHING to do with Yusmiero Petit. We could have traded a bag of balls for Julio and this trade would have been horrible. Remember, we are also paying $2.5mil for this guy. Normally that wouldn't be a problem but WE AREN'T A NORMAL TEAM. He is the 3rd highest paid Marlin now. How retarded is that?

Not sure about any of you, but I hated this deal from the second it was announced and I could care less about Petit. Jorge Julio has amazing amazing stuff, but he has absolutely no control over where it's going.

Now we have to pray that Petit doesn't regain his prospect status.

Future Fish

by Maverick @ FishStripes on Apr 9, 2007 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

We've had J. Julio for ONE WEEK. Give him time!

My first impression of Jorge Julio was that he's a bum. Who else gives up 5 hits, a walk and 3 runs in his first save opportunity?

But I haven't closed the book on this guy. And I think it's way too early for anyone to be calling for his head just yet.

We're not Yankee's fans, people! We give our players a few chances to be human before we expect them to be gods.

First of all, we know Julio has underperformed on other ball clubs. So he essentially joins the Marlins as damaged goods. He has to gain confidence as the closer, and he probably won't do that if he's demoted after a few trips to the mound.

For that reason alone, I think we need to consider the month of April as Julio's spring training and hope Fredi can do enough damage control so that he doesn't cost us too many games the way he cost us a sweep in Washington.

At least this much is true: the team is off to a solid start. It would be a different story if we started out like the Phillies (or the Giants here in SF). But why get too agitated when, as Craig pointed out, the middle relief has been strong -- and the hitters are hitting?!

Not all the hitters, of course, are defying those "sophomore slump" expectations. Are all you Julio-haters going to start calling for Dan Uggla's job next?

by mhirsch on Apr 9, 2007 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

heh

Jorge Julio has been mediocre since 2002

next, some of us expect Uggla to come back to Earth this year. No we won't be yelling for his head because we have no one better in our system (atleast close anyway).

We get agitated because we could be 5-1, and we could be 2-4 because of one player. Lee Gardner pulled a Houdini out of his you know where yesterday.

Julio needs to be on the shortest leash possible, and preferably a choker.

Future Fish

by Maverick @ FishStripes on Apr 9, 2007 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions