Might Braves Use Platoon Closers?

A tweet from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Dave O’Brien:

manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated Kimbrel/Venters closer arrangement is legit possibility, cited RSoriano/MGonzalez tandem in ’09.

Of course we love this, because we don’t think relievers (except maybe LOOGYs) should be locked into precise roles. And a Venters/Kimbrel combination, used flexibly, would be even more devastating than if Venters always got the eighth inning and Kimbrel always the ninth.

I just wouldn’t count on it happening for long. Mike Gonzalez, the lefty, did pick up 10 saves in ’09 (compared to 27 for righty Soriano), but nine of those came before the All-Star break. For whatever reasons, Bobby Cox went with Soriano in the second half.

Still, we can always hope.