The Pen

[notin]

The only thing lacking in the bullpen is a closer. But it appears that the approach this season has moved away from the traditional closer role. Don't know if this is by design or that the bullpen is seen as an area to keep salary costs down or a little of both.

 

It appears to be a more common strategy this season. I’m not sure if this is the case or just how it’s all playing out, but Seattle, Minnesota, and Philadelphia also don’t appear to have dedicated closers. Milwaukee probably wouldn’t either, but two of their 3 best bullpen arms have been injured...

[Bellhorn04]

The only thing lacking in the bullpen is a closer. But it appears that the approach this season has moved away from the traditional closer role. Don't know if this is by design or that the bullpen is seen as an area to keep salary costs down or a little of both.

 

Brasier seems to be the closer for the most part. But Cora is the flexible type as we have seen.

[mvp 78]

Brasier seems to be the closer for the most part. But Cora is the flexible type as we have seen.

 

The bullpen seems ok to me? It certainly doesn't look like an Achilles Heel that people wanted to paint it as (EVEN THOUGH WE ONLY GOT RID OF KIMBRELL AND DUMPED JOE KELLY WHO SUCKED BALLS IN THE REGULAR SEASON ALMOST EVERY YEAR).

[Bellhorn04]

The bullpen seems ok to me? It certainly doesn't look like an Achilles Heel that people wanted to paint it as (EVEN THOUGH WE ONLY GOT RID OF KIMBRELL AND DUMPED JOE KELLY WHO SUCKED BALLS IN THE REGULAR SEASON ALMOST EVERY YEAR).

 

'Abject dumpster fire' ring a bell?

[mvp 78]

'Abject dumpster fire' ring a bell?

 

I believe I have tinnitus from that damn bell.

[kenmeister]

Brasier seems to be the closer for the most part. But Cora is the flexible type as we have seen.

 

Indeed he's tied for 4th in the AL in the saves category. He also has a 1.59 ERA so far and a .88 WHIP. We have a special player here folks.

 

I'll even admit my off-season target Leclerc has a 7.88 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. Wow!

Edited April 22, 2019 by kenmeister

[SCM33]

Sure let's not use a guy with a 18K/9 in a close/late situation and use Brandon Workman instead, the most senior member of the pen.

 

Who do you suppose to run out there over Barnes?

 

Walden. Eovaldi when he’s back.

 

When did I advocate for Workman Mr. Strawman?

 

Workman can pack his s*** and gtfo as well.

[SCM33]

Brasier seems to be the closer for the most part. But Cora is the flexible type as we have seen.

 

Brasier is the closest thing we have to a closer.

[harmony]

Brasier seems to be the closer for the most part. But Cora is the flexible type as we have seen.

In my keeper fantasy league's final weekly draft late last September I exercised a speculative pick on Ryan Brasier, who has kept my team out of cellar in saves this year.

[Kimmi]

Outside of our BP possibly becoming ineffective due to being overworked early on, our BP has been and will be fine.

[FredLynn]

Outside of our BP possibly becoming ineffective due to being overworked early on, our BP has been and will be fine.

 

Fine? We currently rank TENTH out of the 15 AL teams in BP ERA. "Fine" is a stretch at this point. Maybe they will become fine, but they are not fine yet.

[moonslav59]

Fine? We currently rank TENTH out of the 15 AL teams in BP ERA. "Fine" is a stretch at this point. Maybe they will become fine, but they are not fine yet.

 

ERA is not a very good stat to use for RP'ers. They often come in with 1 or 2 outs already.

 

Here are some other Sox pen AL rankings:

 

2nd SIERA (3.54)

 

4th in xFIP (4.08)

 

4th WHIP (1.25)

 

2nd K/BB (3.06)

 

 

[mvp 78]

ERA is not a very good stat to use for RP'ers. They often come in with 1 or 2 outs already.

 

Here are some other Sox pen AL rankings:

 

2nd SIERA (3.54)

 

4th in xFIP (4.08)

 

4th WHIP (1.25)

 

2nd K/BB (3.06)

 

 

 

Dead.

[notin]

ERA is not a very good stat to use for RP'ers. They often come in with 1 or 2 outs already.

 

Here are some other Sox pen AL rankings:

 

2nd SIERA (3.54)

 

4th in xFIP (4.08)

 

4th WHIP (1.25)

 

2nd K/BB (3.06)

 

 

 

But ERA was created to be used on relief pitchers

[dgalehouse]

Games are decided by runs scored . ERA is important . It is the bottom line for a pitcher . The other things are all just contributing factors .

[notin]

Games are decided by runs scored . ERA is important . It is the bottom line for a pitcher . The other things are all just contributing factors .

 

It ERA isn’t runs. It’s “earned runs,” which can be vastly different if your defense sucks...

[dgalehouse]

It ERA isn’t runs. It’s “earned runs,” which can be vastly different if your defense sucks...

 

True .

[Bellhorn04]

Games are decided by runs scored . ERA is important . It is the bottom line for a pitcher . The other things are all just contributing factors .

 

ERA is a little sketchy for relievers, because they pitch a lot of part innings and there are inherited runners and so on and so forth.

[notin]

ERA is a little sketchy for relievers, because they pitch a lot of part innings and there are inherited runners and so on and so forth.

 

 

And in many cases, their earned runs score on hits given up by the next guy...

[SCM33]

Bullpen of shitbums strikes again.

[Bellhorn04]

This game was definitely an ominous one for the 2019 bullpen.

[dgalehouse]

The pen didn't exactly help their ERA today . Or any of the myriad other stats either .

[SCM33]

I love it when people debate me on such easy things to debate. Bullpen sucks and it’s not even close to being a fair argument.

 

They were below average to bad last year. They subtracted pieces, added an injured Thornburg and a re-tread and people around here think they will be ok???

 

We are approaching the time period where they are screwed. We have no pieces to trade, and no room to add salary. This season is approaching a dangerous area where we can’t recover, when you factor in the other elements.

[notin]

I love it when people debate me on such easy things to debate. Bullpen sucks and it’s not even close to being a fair argument.

 

They were below average to bad last year. They subtracted pieces, added an injured Thornburg and a re-tread and people around here think they will be ok???

 

We are approaching the time period where they are screwed. We have no pieces to trade, and no room to add salary. This season is approaching a dangerous area where we can’t recover, when you factor in the other elements.

 

 

No doubt DD’s complacency this off-season was an issue.

 

But then, his past has always been building bullpens closer-down with a lot of experimentation, guesswork, and frugality. He’s had successes that way, but also a fair amount of failures, notably with Detroit...

[TylerD]

I love it when people debate me on such easy things to debate. Bullpen sucks and it’s not even close to being a fair argument.

 

They were below average to bad last year. They subtracted pieces, added an injured Thornburg and a re-tread and people around here think they will be ok???

 

We are approaching the time period where they are screwed. We have no pieces to trade, and no room to add salary. This season is approaching a dangerous area where we can’t recover, when you factor in the other elements.

Agreed with this completely. As I said earlier in the game day thread it's unfortunate because the offense is off to a very slow start as well. The season is still young, but as you said.... We lost a couple more series back to back we will need a HUGE winning streak to get back in it and hopes of other teams losing in the process.

[moonslav59]

Agreed with this completely. As I said earlier in the game day thread it's unfortunate because the offense is off to a very slow start as well. The season is still young, but as you said.... We lost a couple more series back to back we will need a HUGE winning streak to get back in it and hopes of other teams losing in the process.

 

You agree the pen was "below average" last year?

 

Hmmm....

[Kimmi]

Fine? We currently rank TENTH out of the 15 AL teams in BP ERA. "Fine" is a stretch at this point. Maybe they will become fine, but they are not fine yet.

 

IMO, part of the problem is that Cora has had to use the BP way to much, and not in the manner in which he'd like to use it.

 

When the starters aren't doing their jobs, the relievers have a harder time doing theirs.

 

This team has some problems. To date, the rotation and the offense have been bigger problems than the pen.

[TylerD]

You agree the pen was "below average" last year?

 

Hmmm....

 

They were solid in the postseason, but yes the bullpen over all is not good..... At all.... It was covered up by a very strong starting rotation and offense.

[Thunder]

The good thing about our bullpen today is that it caused me to leg press a new personal best of 400 lbs. They made me so angry I went to the gym and reached new heights

[moonslav59]

They were solid in the postseason, but yes the bullpen over all is not good..... At all.... It was covered up by a very strong starting rotation and offense.

 

You talked about how our starters didn't go deep, last year.

 

Just about every stat and metric has us 8th to 12th out of 30 teams in 2018.

 

Not even close to below average.