Braves' deal with Rangers opens door again for Jose Ramirez
ATLANTA -- Decades managing in the minor leagues taught Brian Snitker a lesson: roster change isn't merely expected, nor is it simply an inevitability.
"You live it," the Braves interim manager said Thursday. "It's like that every day there. We'd got into a situation where you move two relievers up and get three back that can't pitch. It's an every day occurrence there."
So instances like the Braves sending Dario Alvarez to the Rangers as part of Wednesday's three-player deal and having to bring up Matt Marksberry and Jose Ramirez to fortify the bullpen are nothing new. Though it does put the Braves in an interesting situation given the recent losses to their stable of relievers.
Since June 14 -- the date Alvarez joined the team -- Snitker had largely relied upon a core of right-handers Chris Withrow (18 appearances, 0.63 ERA in that span), Jim Johnson (17 games, 2.16 ERA), Mauricio Cabrera (13 games, 3.38 ERA), Arodys Vizcaino (12 games, 5.00 ERA) and left-handers Hunter Cervenka (17 games, 2.61 ERA), Alvarez (16 games, 3.00 ERA) and Ian Krol (14 games, 3.00 ERA).
Vizcaino has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 16 with a right oblique injury, leaving the Braves without their saves leader. Now in losing Alvarez to Texas, they are also without their second-best option against lefties -- Alvarez's 217 batting average against trails only Cervenka at .148 -- and the owner of the lowest WHIP in the bullpen since Snitker took over (1.07).
"We still have some options with the left-handed (relievers) with Cervenka and Krol, O'Flaherty, (he) can go both ways, can get a right-hander out also. But it's kind of rework it a little bit," Snitker said. "Who's the freshest guy out there just to keep everybody in play every day."
Marksberry, who has two appearances with the Braves this season -- he's allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings -- adds another lefty option, though he's not one that's had the effectiveness of anyone on Atlanta's current roster. It's return of Ramirez, though, that could be key. The righty made the MLB roster out of spring training, but struggled mightily in giving up six runs in his first two outings.
Designated for assignment April 11, he cleared waivers and posted strong numbers in Triple-A Gwinnett with a 2.18 ERA in 4 11/3 innings, including a 45 to 18 strikeout-to-walk ratio and just two free passes in his last 14 innings. With Vizcaino out, he now has an opportunity to try and give the Braves another power-arm option late in games, if he can finally be effective at the major league level.
"The arm's always been there," Snitker said. "He came when I was (manager in Gwinnett) and it was just like 'We need to stay after this guy, because if we can get him going, there's something there.' He's a big-arm guy and he seems like he's been a lot more consistent."
Ramirez won't have to wait long to get his chance. With Cabrera and Withrow coming off back-to-back outings in Minnesota --Cabrera allowed two hits with five strikeouts in 2 1/3; Withrow didn't allow a hit in 1 2/3 -- Snitker expects to be working with a short bullpen to open the series against the Phillies.
"That's why it's good to get Ramirez here today," Snitker said. "He's fresh and ready to go."
Follow Cory McCartney on Twitter @coryjmccartney and Facebook. His book, 'Tales from the Atlanta Braves Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Braves Stories Ever Told,' is out now, and 'The Heisman Trophy: The Story of an American Icon and Its Winners' will be released Nov. 1, 2016.
