Last year, he didn't have so many bags of garbage in the bullpen. Playing for the long run and October is misguided when you are in 3 place treading .500.
That being said, the hitting and the offense needs to start getting more consistent and find ways t get runs in. Last year, they could bludgeon teams with Home Runs, single and double them to death or force defenses into mistakes with their base running -- steals and hit and run. They are not putting pressure on defenses.