http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/653 Recent articles about Oscar Villarreal en-us Is a two game losing streak anything to fret over? A definitive maybe. Sun, 18 May 2008 09:48:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268250 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268250 The Braves offense is GREAT right now...I mean, we've scored 49 runs in the last 4 games and our line-up doesn't seem to have a weak point (barring last night's ankle sprain by Renteria). But my point is, offense isn't the problem...we can hit the ball, but apparently, so can our opponents b/c our pitchers are struggling... I don't like the fact that I can only feel good about 2 games out of every 5 when it comes to starting pitching. Whenever Smoltz or Hudson toe the rubber, I don't really worry because I know they can do their job consistently. The only concern when Hudson is pitching is the apparent hatred toward him by our bullpen...they LOVE to give away games that he pitches well in! Carlyle has done better of late with 5 wins and a no decision in his last 7 starts. James has even given some quality starts, he shut down the Giants and Cardinals, but didn't get a win out of either game. Our fifth spot in the rotation is now up for grabs since Jo-Jo couldn't hold it together, allowing 22 runs in 21.2 innings...gross! Smoltz and Hudson are still the only games I can relax for, but I think Carlyle and James are coming around. I think Villarreal could actually be a good fit for the 5th starter position. He got his nickname "the vulture" because he would come into tie games and steal other pitchers' wins. I've seen him go 3 innings in a game as well as pitch on consecutive nights quite a few times. I think he has the potential to do well as a starter and maybe win some games of his own! The bullpen = yikes! I'll go ahead and say that Peter Moylan is exempt fro this rant because he's only allowed 2 ER in his last 10 appearance, especially with his 4 strikeout, 2 inning gem last night. Other than that, the bullpen has been horribly inconsistent. I don't know much about Mahay or Dotel, but I hope they can help turn things around. Yates, Soriano, and Villarreal really need to figure things out...I mean, I was a big Rafael Soriano fan, but 10 runs in his last 10 appearances just doesn't cut it! I think they Braves should just go back to what worked...Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux, and Avery...hook that one up Schuerholz...! http://www.screamingsports.com/en/public/profile_readblog.aspx?b=983&u=1328 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:05:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/22426 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/22426 "NEW YORK -- A total of 106 players filed for salary arbitration Jan. 12 (x-free agent who accepted arbitration). Players and teams exchanged proposed salaries Tuesday if they couldn't come to agreement on a 2007 contract." For those who care...It's actually an interesting list if not just to see what specific players were making in 2006. Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:14:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/8593 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/8593 Here's a good article about the recent turnaround in the Braves' bullpen. Oscar Villarreal, Jorge Sosa, Macay McBride, Ken Ray, and Chad Paronto have combined for a 1.57 ERA in the past 10 games before Tuesday, during which the Braves were 6-4 (after losing 20 of their previous 23 games). Wed, 05 Jul 2006 17:01:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/497 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/497