http://goo.gl/lgogF 2013 MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves Should Use Jordan Walden As Setup Man With the elbow issues that landed Jonny Venters on the disabled list, the Atlanta Braves are now looking to Eric O'Flaherty to set up for Craig Kimbrel. Despite the success O'Flaherty has had the last few seasons with Atlanta, newly-acquired reliever — and former closer — Jordan Walden is better suited to fill that opening. O'Flaherty is one of the best relievers in baseball, having put up an ERA of 0.98 in 2011 and a 1.73 in 2012. 2011 was without a doubt one of the best seasons ever for a relief pitcher. He pitched 73.2 innings, had a 4-to-1 K/BB ratio and batters hit .219 against him. He didn't drop off much last year considering how nearly unrepeatable his numbers were in 2011. What makes me think O'Flaherty is too good to be true is his FIP for both of those years was almost 2 runs higher than his ERA — same goes with his SIERA, a stat I favor that encompasses just about everything a pitcher is responsible for. Additionally his FIP in 2010 was over a run higher than his ERA (3.33 vs. 2.45). O'Flaherty is still a great asset to Atlanta's bullpen but I believe that Jordan Walden would be better suited to set up. The former Anaheim Angels closer has a career 3.08 ERA with his FIP being nearly a half a run lower. In fact, every season Walden's FIP has been at least that much lower than his ERA. His career SIERA is 2.91, which is much lower than O'Flaherty. More importantly, Walden is a strikeout pitcher. He averages just above 10 strikeouts per nine innings but he does have some control issues; Walden's BB/9 rate sits right at 4.00. Another knock on Walden is his velocity has decreased every season since 2010 — 98.7 to 97.5, then a 96.3 MPH fastball. I personally believe this is nothing to worry about because even if that trend continues, he'll still be throwing around 95 and that isn't a fastball to turn your nose up at. Walden's experience in closing games coupled with the tools he has as a reliever makes him a better choice than the flashy pitch-to-contact O'Flaherty to setup for one of the games best in Kimbrel. -- "I don't really feel like I know a whole lot about anything, but I know a few things about baseball." -- Greg Maddux --

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