5.20.2005

Kolb No Longer Closer for Braves
Normally when an All-Star closer loses his job in mid-May, some people might be surprised...This isn't one of those cases. Most people aren't surprised at all about the fall of Dan Kolb in Atlanta. Brewers fans (and SABRmetricians alike) were all concerned about his incredibly low K/9 rate last season.

More than his K/9 rate (which actually is 5.94/9 so far this season), it has been his inability to throw strikes (16 walks in 16.2 IP) that has been his downfall. Kolb has also allowed 18 hits as well, and his ERA is now at 6.48.

Could it be that Mike Maddux is a better pitching coach than Leo Mazzone? Well, it's possible that Maddux knew how to work with Kolb better than Mazzone, but I think any comparisons of Maddux to Mazzone might be a little premature.

I remember last season near the All-Star break marveling at how Kolb had allowed something like one extrabase hit and very few walks. That is OPS at it's finest. Low OBP and no Power against Kolb allowed him to dominate. If a guy who has problems striking hitters out like Kolb, the more walks he gives up and the more extrabase hits he yields will spell disaster.

9:17 AM