ATLANTA -- Pitching coach Roger McDowell's strong reputation was not damaged as the Braves went through a significant portion of this season's final two months feeling the adverse effects of carrying a young starting rotation and a makeshift bullpen filled with first-year players and veteran castoffs.
But McDowell's standing as one of baseball's top pitching coaches has certainly been validated as Williams Perez, Matt Wisler and some of Atlanta's previously-maligned relievers have turned things around in impressive fashion over the past couple weeks. Following the lead Wisler had provided on Tuesday night, Perez concluded his rookie season with six scoreless innings in Wednesday night's 2-0 win over the Nationals.