Linebrink ready to step up if needed
11/18/2005
Nobody has a deeper appreciation for Trevor Hoffman, the person and the performer, than Scott Linebrink, his faithful sidekick in the Padres' bullpen the past three seasons.
Should Hoffman leave San Diego as a free agent after 12 seasons as a closer with few peers, Linebrink is the most likely heir apparent. Fellow setup man Akinori Otsuka, with closing experience in Japan, is another possibility to take the reins, perhaps in tandem with Linebrink.
"If the opportunity ever came along," Linebrink said, "it is something I would really appreciate and be honored by it. But I'm not going to dwell on it. I'm not going to try to overanalyze this. A lot of people are going to try to make this a big thing, but pitching is pitching to me. Keep it simple as possible. That's what works for me."
Like everybody else with a rooting interest, Linebrink is following the Hoffman negotiations closely, wondering if his buddy will be back.
If he's asked to assume the ninth-inning role, Linebrink, a tough-minded Texan with dominant stuff, feels he's ready, able and willing to handle the job.
At the same time, he's the first to admit nobody is truly qualified to replace a man who could succeed Lee Smith late in the 2006 season as Major League Baseball's all-time king of saves. With 436, Hoffman needs 43 saves to supplant Smith.
"If the situation were to come up, I would follow him," Linebrink said by phone from the Lone Star State. "But I'm not looking to replace him. He has done what he's done, and he's a Hall of Famer as far as I'm concerned. I'm not going to try to fill Hoffy's shoes.
"If the opportunity would come, I would take it and do the best I could with it. I've learned so much from him. I'll take what I know from him, but ultimately, it comes down to me.
"As much as I appreciate Trevor's attitude, the way he goes about playing the game, I'm a completely different pitcher than he is."
At 29, Linebrink is a power pitcher in the 95-97 mph range with a splitter and changeup to keep hitters off balance. Hoffman, 38, uses his 88-89 mph fastball and breaking pitches as complements to his wicked changeup, which continues to paralyze hitters.
"There was a game early this season when Trevor gave up a leadoff double, buckled down and got the next three hitters to finish the job," Linebrink said. "I went up to him and told him how much I appreciate the job he does.
"He said, 'I think the job you do is sometimes tougher than my job.'"
Linebrink appeared in 73 games in 2005, working 73 2/3 innings with an 8-1 record and 1.83 ERA, fifth among National League relievers. He struck out 70 and walked 23, holding hitters to a .197 batting average with runners in scoring position.
Closing the season with 23 consecutive appearances (24 innings) without allowing an earned run, Linebrink nailed down his first career save on the final weekend against the Dodgers.
Hoffman, in 60 games covering 57 2/3 innings, was 1-6 with a 2.97 ERA, producing 43 saves in 46 chances, including 38 in a row. He struck out 54 and walked 12.
It turned out to be one of general manager Kevin Towers' most inspired moves when Linebrink was claimed off waivers on May 29, 2003, after getting released by his home state Astros.
An immediate hit in San Diego, Linebrink was 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 43 appearances in '03, followed by a 7-3 record and 2.14 ERA in 73 games in '04.
While Hoffman could go a week without appearing in a game, Linebrink would not be comfortable with that kind of inactivity. He'd probably be lobbying manager Bruce Bochy to get him in a game even if there was no save involved.
"Boch really took care of Hoffy," Linebrink said. "He went stretches of seven, eight games without throwing. I don't like any more than three days off. I like that regular work."
Having pitched alongside Billy Wagner in Houston as well as Hoffman, Linebrink understands the special circumstances a closer deals with but doesn't feel the transition from the eighth to ninth is necessarily as daunting as some believe.
"It's something where you look at the natural progression of relief pitching," he said. "I've gone from the mop-up role to seventh inning, eighth inning. The only thing left is the ninth inning.
"A lot of times as a closer, you're going to start with a fresh inning, rather than coming in with men on base. But there's pressure in any situation late in the game, three runs or less. The one thing that's different with pitching the ninth inning is you don't have that safety net under you."
From Wagner in Houston, Linebrink learned never to show up opponents and to be as economical as possible.
"One thing I took from Billy is that even if you have electric stuff, try to get it done with as few pitches as you can," Linebrink said. "Go out and do your job and get off the field -- with less than 15 pitches. Don't do anything to rile up the other team."
Linebrink thinks the team's deals for center fielder Mike Cameron (pending medical clearance) and third baseman Vinny Castilla should improve the overall defense, and he feels a change of scenery should be beneficial for both Xavier Nady, slated to be sent to the Mets for Cameron, and for starter Brian Lawrence, shipped to the Nationals for Castilla.
"I think it's good for 'X' to go to a place where there are no preconceived notions about what he can and can't do," Linebrink said. "If he gets a chance to play every day, it could be the best thing for his career. I don't look forward to facing him, but I wish him the best. Same for B-Law. I think Washington will be a good to pitch for him.
"Cameron is a great center fielder and a good guy, from everything I hear. Vinny Castilla, I think, is a great fit for our ballpark. Besides being an unbelievable third baseman, he has the potential to hit 20 to 25 home runs. He's a fastball hitter, pretty much a dead-pull hitter, and I think he can do some damage in our ballpark."
In the meantime, Linebrink will keep busy moving into a new home and keeping tabs on his good buddy Hoffman, who holds the keys to his immediate future with the Padres.
"If he does leave, and that's a role they want me to fill," Linebrink said, "I'll give it everything I've got."
Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/
Nobody has a deeper appreciation for Trevor Hoffman, the person and the performer, than Scott Linebrink, his faithful sidekick in the Padres' bullpen the past three seasons.
Should Hoffman leave San Diego as a free agent after 12 seasons as a closer with few peers, Linebrink is the most likely heir apparent. Fellow setup man Akinori Otsuka, with closing experience in Japan, is another possibility to take the reins, perhaps in tandem with Linebrink.
"If the opportunity ever came along," Linebrink said, "it is something I would really appreciate and be honored by it. But I'm not going to dwell on it. I'm not going to try to overanalyze this. A lot of people are going to try to make this a big thing, but pitching is pitching to me. Keep it simple as possible. That's what works for me."
Like everybody else with a rooting interest, Linebrink is following the Hoffman negotiations closely, wondering if his buddy will be back.
If he's asked to assume the ninth-inning role, Linebrink, a tough-minded Texan with dominant stuff, feels he's ready, able and willing to handle the job.
At the same time, he's the first to admit nobody is truly qualified to replace a man who could succeed Lee Smith late in the 2006 season as Major League Baseball's all-time king of saves. With 436, Hoffman needs 43 saves to supplant Smith.
"If the situation were to come up, I would follow him," Linebrink said by phone from the Lone Star State. "But I'm not looking to replace him. He has done what he's done, and he's a Hall of Famer as far as I'm concerned. I'm not going to try to fill Hoffy's shoes.
"If the opportunity would come, I would take it and do the best I could with it. I've learned so much from him. I'll take what I know from him, but ultimately, it comes down to me.
"As much as I appreciate Trevor's attitude, the way he goes about playing the game, I'm a completely different pitcher than he is."
At 29, Linebrink is a power pitcher in the 95-97 mph range with a splitter and changeup to keep hitters off balance. Hoffman, 38, uses his 88-89 mph fastball and breaking pitches as complements to his wicked changeup, which continues to paralyze hitters.
"There was a game early this season when Trevor gave up a leadoff double, buckled down and got the next three hitters to finish the job," Linebrink said. "I went up to him and told him how much I appreciate the job he does.
"He said, 'I think the job you do is sometimes tougher than my job.'"
Linebrink appeared in 73 games in 2005, working 73 2/3 innings with an 8-1 record and 1.83 ERA, fifth among National League relievers. He struck out 70 and walked 23, holding hitters to a .197 batting average with runners in scoring position.
Closing the season with 23 consecutive appearances (24 innings) without allowing an earned run, Linebrink nailed down his first career save on the final weekend against the Dodgers.
Hoffman, in 60 games covering 57 2/3 innings, was 1-6 with a 2.97 ERA, producing 43 saves in 46 chances, including 38 in a row. He struck out 54 and walked 12.
It turned out to be one of general manager Kevin Towers' most inspired moves when Linebrink was claimed off waivers on May 29, 2003, after getting released by his home state Astros.
An immediate hit in San Diego, Linebrink was 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 43 appearances in '03, followed by a 7-3 record and 2.14 ERA in 73 games in '04.
While Hoffman could go a week without appearing in a game, Linebrink would not be comfortable with that kind of inactivity. He'd probably be lobbying manager Bruce Bochy to get him in a game even if there was no save involved.
"Boch really took care of Hoffy," Linebrink said. "He went stretches of seven, eight games without throwing. I don't like any more than three days off. I like that regular work."
Having pitched alongside Billy Wagner in Houston as well as Hoffman, Linebrink understands the special circumstances a closer deals with but doesn't feel the transition from the eighth to ninth is necessarily as daunting as some believe.
"It's something where you look at the natural progression of relief pitching," he said. "I've gone from the mop-up role to seventh inning, eighth inning. The only thing left is the ninth inning.
"A lot of times as a closer, you're going to start with a fresh inning, rather than coming in with men on base. But there's pressure in any situation late in the game, three runs or less. The one thing that's different with pitching the ninth inning is you don't have that safety net under you."
From Wagner in Houston, Linebrink learned never to show up opponents and to be as economical as possible.
"One thing I took from Billy is that even if you have electric stuff, try to get it done with as few pitches as you can," Linebrink said. "Go out and do your job and get off the field -- with less than 15 pitches. Don't do anything to rile up the other team."
Linebrink thinks the team's deals for center fielder Mike Cameron (pending medical clearance) and third baseman Vinny Castilla should improve the overall defense, and he feels a change of scenery should be beneficial for both Xavier Nady, slated to be sent to the Mets for Cameron, and for starter Brian Lawrence, shipped to the Nationals for Castilla.
"I think it's good for 'X' to go to a place where there are no preconceived notions about what he can and can't do," Linebrink said. "If he gets a chance to play every day, it could be the best thing for his career. I don't look forward to facing him, but I wish him the best. Same for B-Law. I think Washington will be a good to pitch for him.
"Cameron is a great center fielder and a good guy, from everything I hear. Vinny Castilla, I think, is a great fit for our ballpark. Besides being an unbelievable third baseman, he has the potential to hit 20 to 25 home runs. He's a fastball hitter, pretty much a dead-pull hitter, and I think he can do some damage in our ballpark."
In the meantime, Linebrink will keep busy moving into a new home and keeping tabs on his good buddy Hoffman, who holds the keys to his immediate future with the Padres.
"If he does leave, and that's a role they want me to fill," Linebrink said, "I'll give it everything I've got."
Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/
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