MIAMI - Reliever Billy Koch knows all about the player he is replacing with the Marlins.
Chad Fox got a new start with Florida late last season after struggling with the Red Sox. Then he helped the Marlins win the World Series.
Koch wants to do the same.
The Marlins acquired Koch from the White Sox late Thursday in exchange for minor-league infielder Wilson Valdez. The White Sox also agreed to pick up a large portion of the remaining $3.7-million owed to Koch this season.
"With a fresh start, I hope it'll work out good," Koch said Friday before the Marlins played the Rangers. "I know the whole Fox story and how he came over here and had a great year for them. I'm hoping that's what it'll be: fresh start, new faces, new team, new city. I'm looking forward to getting out there."
Koch recorded 144 saves between 1999 and 2002 for Toronto and Oakland, but he had much less success in two seasons with the White Sox.
He was 5-5 with a 5.77 ERA and 11 saves last season. He had a 5.40 ERA with three blown saves in 11 opportunities this season, numbers that eventually cost him the closer's job. He allowed 24 hits and 15 runs in 23 innings and had started getting booed at home every time his name was called.
"I kept giving up runs," he said. "It was, for sure, a rough road and a very rocky one. I enjoyed my time there, but not as much as I could have if I would have pitched well. This is a real positive move for me and my family, and the Marlins hopefully."
Koch wasn't very effective in his debut with the Marlins on Friday. He allowed two hits and a run in one inning.
Nonetheless, Florida outfielder Jeff Conine figures the move could pay dividends.
"A guy with an arm like that, if you get him in a situation where there's not the pressure of closing and if he starts throwing right, it could be a seven-inning game for us," Conine said. "That would be big."
The Marlins have been in need of bullpen help since Fox went on the disabled list with an elbow injury in April. Nate Bump and Tommy Phelps failed to fill the void and were demoted to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Now Koch, 29, who lives in Safety Harbor, will take over the setup role for closer Armando Benitez.
He expects the change of scenery might be all he needs to turn things around, just like Fox did.
"My mechanics were ridiculously out of whack last year," Koch said. "I found them this year and pitched well in stints, then lost command of the strike zone. It wound up really hurting me, putting guys on base.
"But I'm looking forward to getting out there and hitting the glove. I think all that's behind me. I'm ready to go out there and perform."
