Your choice for closer

[11larkin11]

If you were Narron, who would START the season as the closer? No committee, 1 closer.

[TeamSelig]

Weathers

[Dracodave]

Burton. The movement on his pitcher would really be great to see in one innings bursts. His slider/cutter is just flat out nasty

[reds44]

I'm going to go all moneyball, and say Burton because he has the best stuff.

[Highlifeman21]

I love the "if you're Narron" threads.

This team would be so different if I were Narron.

Although if I were Narron, I'd hate myself.

My vote.... Burton.

[Prf15]

I would start the year with Coffey as the closer because I think he can still be a great Major League closer. If Coffey struggles as closer early in the season though I would love to see Jared Burton be the closer. He has some great movement on his pitches.

Another idea would be use Burton first when teams don't really know what he will throw in what situation and once or if he starts faltering I would go to Coffey.

[captainmorgan07]

burton best stuff and nobody's saw him before would give the element of suprise in the 9th

[justincredible]

I voted Coffey as I have yet to see Burton pitch. If his stuff is as good as I have read then I would be fine with him closing too.

[Redskinalum02]

I'd like to see Coffey get another shot. He's not as bad as he pitched in that role last year.

[Caveat Emperor]

I'm going to go all moneyball, and say Burton because he has the best stuff.

He also has never pitched above the AA level.

I'd let Burton get his feet wet and feel comfortable retiring ML hitters before I threw him out there in the 9th to close games out. He has the stuff to do it, but I'd rather see him succeed a few times when the game wasn't on the line first.

He's a young player -- baby steps.

For right now, I'd choose Todd Coffey to go out as the closer. I'd give him the ball and tell him "You're the man this season." If he's going to become a closer, he needs to be allowed to grow into the role, not have someone waiting with a hook right behind him the minute he blows a save.

[redsfanmia]

Coffey just doesnt have it in him to be a good closer.

[Dracodave]

He's a young player -- baby steps.

Chris Ray says Hi.


W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO IP H R ER HR BB SO
4 4 2.73 61 0 0 0 33 38 66.0 45 22 20 10 27 51

[Degenerate39]

Bill Bray

[Sea Ray]

He also has never pitched above the AA level.

I'd let Burton get his feet wet and feel comfortable retiring ML hitters before I threw him out there in the 9th to close games out. He has the stuff to do it, but I'd rather see him succeed a few times when the game wasn't on the line first.

He's a young player -- baby steps.

For right now, I'd choose Todd Coffey to go out as the closer. I'd give him the ball and tell him "You're the man this season." If he's going to become a closer, he needs to be allowed to grow into the role, not have someone waiting with a hook right behind him the minute he blows a save.

You got it.

They can't throw him right into the pressure of closer. He's got to prove that he can throw enough strikes. I'd like to see Weathers start off in this role and eventually see Burton or Coffey work into it. But we're stuck with Weathers for now.

[TRF]

outside the box, I'd go with Lohse and add Livingston to the rotation.

[AtomicDumpling]

I wanted to vote for Ryan Wagner but I forgot we gave him away for free. Bray? Nope.
Majewski? Nope.

Then I thought of Jeff Brantley, but he will be up in the booth.

Danny Graves is available.

I am a fan of the committee in the absence of a proven closer. Why tell the enemy in advance of your intentions? Keep 'em guessing.

I would rather use the best reliever in the most critical situation rather than using him just because we are ahead in the ninth. Maybe we would be ahead in the ninth more often if we used the best pitcher in the most dangerous scenarios regardless of the inning.

Coffey is the best reliever we have right now. Weathers and Stanton are good too. Coutlangus and Burton are unknowns.

[AtomicDumpling]

Chris Ray says Hi.


W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO IP H R ER HR BB SO
4 4 2.73 61 0 0 0 33 38 66.0 45 22 20 10 27 51


Don't forget about B.J. Ryan, Trevor Hoffman, Todd Jones and Ryan Dempster. All of these former Reds are closing games in the majors right now.

[TeamSelig]

Burton? lol

2 weeks ago no one actually thought he would even make the team

[Nugget]

Whoever answers the Bullpen Phone and says I'm up for closing.

[Tom Servo]

Whoever answers the Bullpen Phone and says I'm up for closing.

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6187.jpg
"Hey guys, I heard your phone was ringing and nobody answered so I picked it up. Sure, I'll close. Oh, no problem."

[Caveat Emperor]

Chris Ray says Hi.


W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO IP H R ER HR BB SO
4 4 2.73 61 0 0 0 33 38 66.0 45 22 20 10 27 51


Chris Ray also tossed 40.2 innings in 2005 before having his huge year in 2006. Even Papelbon had 34 innings of big league service time prior to his huge 2006.

Last I checked, Burton had yet to throw a single major league inning. Lets see how the kid looks in games that matter before the Reds throw the additional weight of the 9th inning on his shoulders.

[Dracodave]

Chris Ray also tossed 40.2 innings in 2005 before having his huge year in 2006. Even Papelbon had 34 innings of big league service time prior to his huge 2006.

Last I checked, Burton had yet to throw a single major league inning. Lets see how the kid looks in games that matter before the Reds throw the additional weight of the 9th inning on his shoulders.

Those teams could afford to give their players time as Baltimore wasn't going anywhere and Boston had a decent closer in Foulke.

The Reds don't have that honor. It's running out hapless scraps of ancient arms or Burton. He's unproven but I'd have more faith in him then Cormier or Weathers. Expecially after Weathers sudden "I can't feel my pitching arm" stint last season.

[11larkin11]

Well, Bill Bray can't really start the season as closer seeing as how hes on the DL.