2019 Bullpen

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I wondered how unusual it is to have large-scale bullpen turnover.

FWIW, here's Boston's 2018 OD bullpen: Craig Kimbrel, Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree, Joe Kelly, Carson Smith, Bobby Poyner, Marcus Walden. Of those, only Kimbrel, Barnes, & Joe Kelly were on the playoff roster.

For the Dodgers: OD: Scott Alexander (L), Pedro Báez (R), JT Chargois (R), Tony Cingrani (L), Josh Fields (R), Wilmer Font (R), Kenley Jansen (R), Ross Stripling (R).  Of those, only Jansen, Alexander, and Baez were on the NLDS roster.

hembree, and Walden and i think Poyner were not released.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Rainey, Suero, Doolittle, Hudson, and Rodney all have > 9 K/9.  Add Strickland and drop Doo, and they all have fastballs > 94 (doo is at 93.6).

[Expos]

All new pen. Same result. What the f*ck is going on here??

[Slateman]

All new pen. Same result. What the f*ck is going on here??

What, you mean adding mundane talent instead of quality, back of the bullpen arms didnt fix the pen?!?

[djbaseball13]

I was at the game tonight and saw the Nats bring in 5 relievers.  All except Guerra had over 9 K/9, a few were closer to 12+ K/9, and all of them were throwing in the high 90s.  I realize Suero and Rainey are unreliable, and Rodney is on borrowed time, but somehow, if it is going to be nausea when our bullpen comes in, I think I enjoy it more when the gas is from guys who throw gas than from nibble junk ballers.

Hitters these days can crush fastballs. Notice how even Rodney is throwing a lot of junk. He used to throw nothing but gas and it worked for him. I am hoping we use Rainey more in key situations.  (Even though they are not closers) He should be talking to Scherzer and Strasburg as much as possible.

[Natsinpwc]

Hitters these days can crush fastballs. Notice how even Rodney is throwing a lot of junk. He used to throw nothing but gas and it worked for him. I am hoping we use Rainey more in key situations.  (Even though they are not closers) He should be talking to Scherzer and Strasburg as much as possible.

Still need to throw fastballs. The trick is locating them up and in or up and away. Most relievers still throw fastballs primarily.

[Slateman]

Hitters these days can crush fastballs. Notice how even Rodney is throwing a lot of junk. He used to throw nothing but gas and it worked for him. I am hoping we use Rainey more in key situations.  (Even though they are not closers) He should be talking to Scherzer and Strasburg as much as possible.

Rodney has always thrown "junk"

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Rodney has always thrown "junk"

the change works off his fastball, of course.

[djbaseball13]

Rodney has always thrown "junk"

Rodney has changed his approach. yes, he occasionally mixed in some off speed stuff, but not as often. Now he's nibbling, and throwing lots of junk. His fastball is now his change-up! I'm glad that he's able to give us some 'relief", but I feel like we are pushing our luck if we rely on Rodney too much. It's like dating a woman who has been divorced 3 times, you should be hesitant to commit

[Slateman]

Rodney has changed his approach. yes, he occasionally mixed in some off speed stuff, but not as often. Now he's nibbling, and throwing lots of junk. His fastball is now his change-up! I'm glad that he's able to give us some 'relief", but I feel like we are pushing our luck if we rely on Rodney too much. It's like dating a woman who has been divorced 3 times, you should be hesitant to commit

https://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfx.aspx?playerid=494&position=P&pitch=all

Actually,  no. He throws a greater percentage of fastballs the last two years than in the previous 10. Rodney has always thrown a lot of changeups. It's what hes know for.

[djbaseball13]

https://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfx.aspx?playerid=494&position=P&pitch=all

Actually,  no. He throws a greater percentage of fastballs the last two years than in the previous 10. Rodney has always thrown a lot of changeups. It's what hes know for.

ok, you got me. I remember him to be more intimidating and dominating with the Rays & Tigers.

[bluestreak]

“For now, probably stuff-wise, I’m not ready to be at the back end of a game,” Doolittle said Sunday. “But I still think I can help the team. Keep guys like [Daniel Hudson] and [Hunter Strickland] and [Fernando Rodney] … I can keep those guys fresh. I can help get them the ball. I can match up against lefties, with an eye on hopefully getting back into one of those roles in the back end of a game at some point here in the next couple weeks.”

https://beta.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/09/01/sean-doolittle-is-great-teammate-nationals-need-him-be-great-closer-too/%3foutputType=amp

[Slateman]

freak

[spidernat]

giving himself an excuse, he's been around FP too long 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Team first. Also basically blessing them not letting him hit his opt out.

[aspenbubba]

Also in another thread I mentioned that I think  Doo has the yips. I am skeptical if he is back given the hard hit balls in the 9th. This is a very average ‘pen that will not take us very far past the WC.

[shoeshineboy]

FWIW, Doo did not look good on Sunday. For a guy that relies on exclusively fast balls, his lost velocity is a real problem. Decent hitting teams will feast on his stuff if they simply wait for him to get behind in the count and not chase the high ones. His schtick doesn't work throwing 91.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

FWIW, Doo did not look good on Sunday. For a guy that relies on exclusively fast balls, his lost velocity is a real problem. Decent hitting teams will feast on his stuff if they simply wait for him to get behind in the count and not chase the high ones. His schtick doesn't work throwing 91.

I think the idea of using him as a lefty specialist for a little while as he builds back makes a lot of sense.  Hudson can do the closing, or even Rodney, depending on whether the better hitters are up in the 8th or the 9th.   Hudson doesn't have his ego tied to closing.

[Slateman]

Hudson doesnt seem to have the mentality or the stuff either.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Well, I don't expect Rivera to Wetteland, or Gordon to Rivera.

[shoeshineboy]

I think the idea of using him as a lefty specialist for a little while as he builds back makes a lot of sense.  Hudson can do the closing, or even Rodney, depending on whether the better hitters are up in the 8th or the 9th.   Hudson doesn't have his ego tied to closing.

Yeah, that would make sense. I still fear he is being rushed back. Whether he closes or is an 8th inning guy, he needs to be effective. We need him to be useful in the playoffs. And right now he looks like he is throwing BP. Hoping a little was that he wasn't amped up, but it isn't looking good.

[Slateman]

I know we're all excited about the comeback, but the pen is not fixed.

Elias throws batting practice to left handed hitters.

I know that Hudson dialed up a double play ball that Turner brain farted on, but you cant give up that homer.

This pen really needs Doolittle to return to form as closer

[Baseball is Life]

I know we're all excited about the comeback, but the pen is not fixed.

Elias throws batting practice to left handed hitters.

I know that Hudson dialed up a double play ball that Turner brain farted on, but you cant give up that homer.

This pen really needs Doolittle to return to form as closer

Yeah, thanks for the reminder.

[tenken627]

I know he had a bad game last outing against Miami, but I think Strickland might have a better closer mentality than anyone on the roster outside of Doo and Rodney.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Davey talked about Elias and lefties last night and more or less said he wasn't using his full pitch arsenal to lefties and they are working on that with him.  Work in progress.  IIRC, he said Elias has decent breaking stuff but is not using against lefties, but I may have that backwards.