Thursday, January 17, 2013

Rizzo: Soriano will close



Though he went out of his way to use the words "Drew Storen" and "closer" together multiple times, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo left no doubt who will be handed the ball for the ninth inning come Opening Day: The guy he just gave $28 million.

"Suffice it to say, Raffy is here to pitch the ninth inning," Rizzo said while introducing Rafael Soriano Thursday afternoon at Nationals Park. "He has done it successfully everywhere he has been, and we expect him to continue that."

At the same time, Rizzo seemed to make it clear he intends to keep both Storen and Tyler Clippard and give manager Davey Johnson as many quality relievers as possible to pitch the late innings of close games. Storen, who dominated down the stretch last season until his blown save in Game 5 of the NLDS, will likely serve as Johnson's "B" closer.

"Drew Storen is a closer," Rizzo said. "He's going to be a closer. He's got closer stuff. He's got a closer mentality. By no means the signing of Rafael Soriano was based on one inning and one game at the end of the season."
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39 comments:

  1. Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_MeJanuary 17, 2013 7:36 PM

    "Drew Storen is a closer," Rizzo said.

    "John is my No. 5 starter." -- Davey Johnson.

    "I am not a crook." -- Richard M. Nixon.

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  2. pericJanuary 17, 2013 7:36 PM

    He did say he liked to teach and mentioned mentoring young pitchers in Atlanta and Tampa Bay but I don't think he said NY as the interpreter stated.

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  3. pericJanuary 17, 2013 7:37 PM

    "Iraq has WMD" - George W Bush

    "Read my lips no new taxes" - George HW Bush ...

    so?

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  4. MicheleSJanuary 17, 2013 7:41 PM

    Where does Rizzo get his sweaters?

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  5. natsfan1aJanuary 17, 2013 7:43 PM

    Oh, can I play, too? I did not have sex with...er, nevermind. :-)

    Thanks for the update, Mark. I've not yet watched the presser, which I did record, but interesting to read this item.

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  6. Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_MeJanuary 17, 2013 7:48 PM

    MicheleS said...

    Where does Rizzo get his sweaters?

    Usually, I'm with you on these sort of things. I loved the dark lavender V-neck he wears. But this grey-and-black striped number? Meh. Looks like he's on a 10-day call-up from old Lorton. This one does nothing for me. I'd guess, Target, $14.99, marked down from after-Christmas. I'll pass.

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  7. natsfan1aJanuary 17, 2013 7:51 PM

    In other news, there's this from Wagner at the Post (in a piece on the return of Bob and FP):

    "On-field reporter Kristina Akra's contract is also up and, according to a person familiar with the situation, she is expected to return."

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  8. The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes.January 17, 2013 8:01 PM

    Any truth to the rumor that Rizzo sent Storen a text saying "Your ninth inning has now been cancelled"?

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  9. The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes.January 17, 2013 8:02 PM

    MicheleS said...

    Where does Rizzo get his sweaters?

    I'm guessing Goodwill.

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  10. SonnyG10January 17, 2013 8:25 PM

    Dang, I missed the presser. Glad you folks are talking about it.

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  11. SonnyG10January 17, 2013 8:31 PM

    I just selected my four free tickets to a Nats ST game. I selected the March 11th game with the Braves. Now, if only I'll get to make the trip.

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  12. baseballswamiJanuary 17, 2013 8:34 PM

    Apparently Drew has settled prior to arb. And I am certain that Davey Johnson has said " Drew is my guy" - the kiss of death.

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  13. sm13January 17, 2013 8:34 PM

    "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" --Bill Clinton

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  14. NatsLadyJanuary 17, 2013 8:48 PM

    The Nationals have avoided arbitration with Drew Storen by reaching agreement on a one-year, $2.5MM contract, according to his representatives at CAA Sports (on Twitter). The contract also includes $1MM in performance bonuses.
    Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/01/nationals-avoid-arbitration-with-drew-storen.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#twWfYZa9m3FkGLuf.99

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  15. baseballswamiJanuary 17, 2013 8:49 PM

    At least his mistress was real.

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  16. The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes.January 17, 2013 8:51 PM

    Storen shouldn't be upset that he's not the closer any more. Now he can be the guy that Davey has warming up as soon as Soriano comes into the game, ready to replace Soriano the very second he starts getting in trouble. The closer-replacement. Right, Section222?

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  17. The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes.January 17, 2013 8:54 PM

    The contract also includes $1MM in performance bonuses.

    If those performance bonuses are based on games finished, Soriano had better keep his eye out for any Jeff Gillooly types roaming around in Viera.

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  18. NatsLadyJanuary 17, 2013 8:55 PM

    Amanda Comak ‏@acomak
    A potential $3.5 million haul in his 1st year of arbitration as a Super 2 player is a nice sum for Drew Storen.

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  19. The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes.January 17, 2013 8:56 PM

    At least his mistress was real.

    So not only are Storen and Clippard married to each other, one of them has a mistress too? Which one?

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  20. TcostantJanuary 17, 2013 8:58 PM

    The truth hurts, but Storen's meltdown is what caused this move. Rizzo is right, no doubt who gets the ball on the ninth.

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  21. GonatJanuary 17, 2013 9:04 PM

    http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121119&content_id=40356488&vkey=pr_mlb_network&c_id=mlb_network

    Where's Kilgore? Heidi Watney is on the MLB Network now.

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  22. baseballswamiJanuary 17, 2013 9:11 PM

    I was referring to Bill Clinton via sm13....but-hahaha.

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  23. baseballswamiJanuary 17, 2013 9:25 PM

    So on Drew's contract there are incentives for games finished. Does that mean official saves or just the pitcher of record when the last out is recorded? So if you get two outs in the ninth and someone else gets the third it's not a game finished and they don't have to pay him? Sounds a bit hazy to me.

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  24. natsfan1aJanuary 17, 2013 9:26 PM

    If it's on the interwebz, it must be real, right? ;-)

    baseballswami said...

    At least his mistress was real.
    January 17, 2013 8:49 PM

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  25. SteamerJanuary 17, 2013 9:26 PM

    Yep

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  26. SteamerJanuary 17, 2013 9:27 PM

    The last out recorded

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  27. NatsLadyJanuary 17, 2013 9:27 PM

    Not clear the incentives are games-finished. Could be innings pitched, or some other stat.

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  28. SteamerJanuary 17, 2013 9:34 PM

    I believe it's games finished

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  29. SteamerJanuary 17, 2013 9:36 PM

    That's how they get ya

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  30. SteamerJanuary 17, 2013 9:39 PM

    Yea it's games finished that will be tough to do to bad it's not appearances

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  31. baseballswamiJanuary 17, 2013 9:40 PM

    Sounds tricky- like maybe a Stanford guy should be a little more skeptical. Now if he had gone to another school, like maybe Notee Dame?

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  32. Faraz ShaikhJanuary 17, 2013 9:40 PM

    I still don't get how someone can be fooled that their GF died.

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  33. SteamerJanuary 17, 2013 9:44 PM

    Swami it is

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  34. Faraz ShaikhJanuary 17, 2013 9:49 PM

    Just saw that Storen will be making at least $2.5 and as much as $3.5 million in his first arbitration season. Isn't that a bit high?

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  35. SteamerJanuary 17, 2013 9:51 PM

    Not considering he was a closer

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  36. baseballswamiJanuary 17, 2013 9:53 PM

    So Jordan is feeling pretty optimistic about now I think. That whole pitcher of the month thing, and then the fierce relief appearance. Ka-Ching. Oh, and Desi , too. $$$$$$

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  37. DocJanuary 17, 2013 10:57 PM

    The NL East runs through Philadelphia---J. Rollins

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  38. SonnyG10January 17, 2013 11:32 PM

    Doc said...
    The NL East runs through Philadelphia---J. Rollins
    January 17, 2013 10:57 PM

    Without even slowing down, too! :)

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  39. TegwarJanuary 18, 2013 1:01 AM

    "Veni, vidi, vici"---Julius Caesar

    This will work for the Nat's too!

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