2019 Bullpen

[Greg_SRT]

Veteran Reliever who has previous closer experience on a minor league deal is pretty low risk.

[Duke of Earl]

And when exactly will he be available? He hasn't played yet this Spring.

[Slateman]

At this point, what does it matter? Maybe we get lucky, like with Holland.

[aBaltoNat]

At this point, what does it matter? Maybe we get lucky, like with Holland.

Yeah, there is no risk here. Only upside.

[expos1994]

This is a pretty weak response to a glaring problem with this team. How can they not assemble a halfway decent bullpen with how much money this team spends on its roster? It baffles me that this problem persists year after year. They haven't had a good bullpen since Clippard left. What a wasted roster full of talent all because they refused to invest in relief pitching. It's very frustrating as a fan.

[Slateman]

This is a pretty weak response to a glaring problem with this team. How can they not assemble a halfway decent bullpen with how much money this team spends on its roster? It baffles me that this problem persists year after year. They haven't had a good bullpen since Clippard left. What a wasted roster full of talent all because they refused to invest in relief pitching. It's very frustrating as a fan.

They invested. Who was predicting the one would be this bad? No one.

[imref]

They invested. Who was predicting the one would be this bad? No one.

exactly.

[UMDNats]

Yeah I can't really say they didn't try (Barraclough was traded for and Rosenthal was given almost $10 million), it's just been worst-case scenario for every pitcher.

[DPMOmaha]

And when exactly will he be available? He hasn't played yet this Spring.

He was at least in spring training with Toronto.

[Slateman]

He was at least in spring training with Toronto.

Yea they dropped him because he lost 4-6 mph on his fastball, allegedly

[imref]

Zuck reports the deal with Norris is close, that it's a minor league deal, and that he'll report to extended Spring Training to work himself back into game shape.  This seems like a zero risk deal for the Nats.

[DPMOmaha]

Yea they dropped him because he lost 4-6 mph on his fastball, allegedly

Sure, but it's not like he'd be starting from zero in his prep.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Not to be a ridiculous optimist, but I'd say within a week we may see Doo as fine, Barraclough as a reliable 8th inning guy, and Suero as the 7th inning horse or as a stopper, Sipp a productive match up guy, and the rest more or less low leverage. 

[Slateman]

Not to be a ridiculous optimist, but I'd say within a week we may see Doo as fine, Barraclough as a reliable 8th inning guy, and Suero as the 7th inning horse or as a stopper, Sipp a productive match up guy, and the rest more or less low leverage. 

I'm waiting for the other cleat to drop on Barraclough

[varoadking]

That is why the numbers on Harper’s WAR last year were misleading.

Or maybe it was because of plays like that...

[Natsinpwc]

Or maybe it was because of plays like that...

Ah.  Timing is everything.

[Slateman]

That is why the numbers on Harper’s WAR last year were misleading. Not a great defensive player but not as bad as they made him out. For every day players just look at their offensive WAR. The eye test is just as good as any stats for defense.

Harper has been garbage defensively for 4+seasons.

[imref]

Aaron Barrett so far at Harrisburg in 3 appearances: 3 IP, 0H, 0ER, 3Ks, 0BB, 1 SV, would be nice if he makes an impact this year.

[Slateman]

Aaron Barrett so far at Harrisburg in 3 appearances: 3 IP, 0H, 0ER, 3Ks, 0BB, 1 SV, would be nice if he makes an impact this year.

I just want to see him in the big leagues again

[Jeff in Gaithersburg]

Veteran Reliever who has previous closer experience on a minor league deal is pretty low risk.

Agreed there's little risk involved, but given his career trajectory I'm not getting my hopes up that he's the answer. Nothing to lose at this point though.

[spidernat]

I just want to see him in the big leagues again

As long as it's for another team.

[Elvir Ovcina]

Hopefully last night didn't just get the offense on track.  That was a very useful game to win for many reasons, but signs of life out of the pen are a major one.  4 innings of 2 hits and no walks from Ross and Grace played a big role.

[Slateman]

Hopefully last night didn't just get the offense on track.  That was a very useful game to win for many reasons, but signs of life out of the pen are a major one.  4 innings of 2 hits and no walks from Ross and Grace played a big role.

Momentum is the next day's starting pitcher

[expos1994]

They invested. Who was predicting the one would be this bad? No one.

I was. I said before the season started that this bullpen looks weak on paper. Many of the same faces from last year's awful pen. As for Rosenthal.. I'm not too surprised he's faltered. Maybe not to this extent, but I did not expect much from him.

[Slateman]

I was. I said before the season started that this bullpen looks weak on paper. Many of the same faces from last year's awful pen. As for Rosenthal.. I'm not too surprised he's faltered. Maybe not to this extent, but I did not expect much from him.

Last year's pen was 15th in ERA last season and all of the people that returned had decent seasons. It was far from "awful"