Check Swings

One bad outing does not a failed closer make. Indeed, Curt Schilling gave up a game-losing homerun to Alex Rodriguez, but let’s use some restraint before we send this portion of his career to the gallows. First, he has not seen big league action since April 23rd and has pitched scarcely few innings to anyone since then. Forgive him for not having his best stuff in his first inning back from the DL; it’s hardly a unique case. Furthermore, I don’t buy the argument about a closer’s temperament, seeing as Schilling is one of the more tenacious pitchers in the game with a powerful pitch arsenal to match. If Eric Gagne, Joe Nathan, Dustin Hermanson, Eddie Guardado, Jason Isringhausen, John Smotlz and Mariano Rivera can go from middling starter to dominant closer, there’s no reason, with time and commitment, Schilling can’t do the same. Even if it’s just for one pennant race.

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Color me ambivalent about the Joe Kennedy trade. A guy with an ERA over seven in any stadium makes me apprehensive, and his third most similar player for his career so far is Darrell “Suitcase” May. I’m most bothered by the fact that, for me, Kennedy is eternally linked to Kyle Lohse. They both came up mid-season in 2001, began with two blazing starts, then slowly faded back to league average or worse. Ever since, each has seemed something of an enigma yet to fulfill his potential. I suppose he’ll take the rotation spot occupied by Kirk Saarloos and his 2.55 K/9, which can’t be a bad thing. More ominous is the thought that Kennedy will become the resident 12-to-6 slinging lefty after Barry Zito’s departure, perhaps at the trade deadline. We’ll have to wait to see how that one develops.

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I’m at least a little disappointed by the Nationals’ acquisition of Preston Wilson. It seems like the trade is proof of Jim Bowden’s hyperactivity more than anything else, as Marlon Byrd and currently injured Ryan Church have been reasonably productive as a LF platoon. Moving Wilkerson to first as a stopgap for Nick Johnson’s healing heel is a clever utilization of versatility, and results in the always fun leadoff first-baseman. I’m worried, though, that Church will never get a chance to prove his value now that he’s possibly the 5th outfielder. After a good-not-great minor league career and a house afire couple of months under the giant Tony Armas Jr. mural in leftfield, it’s unclear what the Nats have. With Byrd settling somewhere between his strong 2003 and abysmal 2004, giving Church some ABs with Byrd as the only insurance isn’t a terribly risky gamble. My main fear, that the team spent their trade capital on a CF instead of a SS or RP, is probably unfounded given Bowden’s attention span. They’ve already brought disgraced Yankee Mike Stanton on board to help ease the reentry process for Joey Eischen, and will probably move on several more players before the break.