Matt Lindstrom Eyeing Closer Role
With the departure of Joe Borowski to Cleveland, the Florida Marlins closer role is up for grabs. A good closer can help with saves, ERA, WHIP and SO in league play. Especially one that is a sleeper and can be had in the later rounds of the draft. Matt Lindstrom could fit the bill, but will have to prove himself in training camp against a handful of other pitchers. But not all of them can light up the radar gun at 102 mph like Lindstrom can. The Marlins closer role will have to be monitored throughout spring training.
From CBS SportLine.com:
Matt Lindstrom is a candidate to replace closer Joe Borowski, who had 36 saves in 2006 before signing as a free agent with Cleveland. Other possibilities as camp begins include Henry Owens, who came to Florida with Lindstrom in the Mets trade, Taylor Tankersley, Kevin Gregg and Ricky Nolasco, a starter much of last season. "There are a lot of options," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. A fastball clocked last fall at 102 mph makes the rookie right-hander Lindstrom a strong candidate. Missionary work in 1999-2001 and a stress fracture in Lindstrom's upper arm in 2005 slowed his progress, and at 27 he's still trying to break into the big leagues. He pitched last season for Class A and Double-A, two Mets affiliates, and was traded to Florida in November.
One Florida official said Lindstrom could throw a marshmallow through a battleship. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he has a closer's physique, but he's not staking a claim to the job. "I'm concerned about making the team first," he said. "I think slowly but surely I could develop into a closer." Lindstrom complements his fastball with a slider he throws in the 80s. Command wasn't a problem last year, when he walked 21 and struck out 70 in 58 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.37, but he has been told his best pitch is too straight. "They say I need to get more movement on my fastball," he said. "But it doesn't have much time to move when I throw a good one." Consider him a sleeper to close even in mixed leagues at this point.
