2019 Bullpen

[Expos]

I'm actually liking this bullpen, a lot.

There is potential. That's forsure.

(L) Sean Doolittle 
Trevor Rosenthal
Kyle Barraclough 
(L) Matt Grace 
Justin Miller
(L) Tony Sipp
Joe Ross

Vidal Nuno
Koda Glover
Jimmy Cordero
Henderson Alvarez
Scott Copeland
Aaron Barrett. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

There is potential. That's forsure.

(L) Sean Doolittle
Trevor Rosenthal
Kyle Barraclough
(L) Matt Grace
Justin Miller
(L) Tony Sipp
Wander Suero
Joe Ross

Vidal Nuno
Koda Glover
Jimmy Cordero
Henderson Alvarez
Scott Copeland
Aaron Barrett.

forgot someone

[Slateman]

I'm actually liking this bullpen, a lot.

I like it if its healthy. Not sure how I'm gonna feel when Doolittle and Sureo go on the DL, and Rosenthal turns into a pumpkin

[imref]

I'm not liking the bullpen, it's nowhere near as good as 2017, and arguably not as good as what we had going into 2018.  Everyone on that list has major questions and recent injury issues.  I'm hoping that Ross becomes a solid piece.

changing my post after taking another look at 2017.  Yeah, on paper this is better, or at least has the potential to be better, but there are a lot of question marks.

[dracnal]

It's a bullpen. The place where we fully expect people to blow out their arms, tear things, and surprise us with years that are exceptions to their career norms, both good and bad. Same story every year. I think we're set up better this year than many, and I think we'll be trading underperforming relievers for better relievers as early as May, and certainly at the deadline if we're anywhere in the mix still.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

It's a bullpen. The place where we fully expect people to blow out their arms, tear things, and surprise us with years that are exceptions to their career norms, both good and bad. Same story every year. I think we're set up better this year than many, and I think we'll be trading underperforming relievers for better relievers as early as May, and certainly at the deadline if we're anywhere in the mix still.

Exactly.  I think a big reason relievers have numbers that fluctuate so much year to year is the small sample size in innings and also that they aren't exposed to hitters multiple times through an order.  A reliever can find the right 2-pitch mix and dominate.  A starter will struggle a 2nd and 3rd time especially through without a 3rd pitch.  If a reliever gets a feel for a slider one year he didn't have before to pair with a heater, they can make a big leap.  Then again, when you throw a limited amount of innings, a spike in home run rate or BABIP or relievers following you not stranding inherited runners can make a big difference.  Just less chance to normalize.

[DCFan]

I like it if its healthy. Not sure how I'm gonna feel when Doolittle and Sureo go on the DL, and Rosenthal turns into a pumpkin

Finally a begrudging admission we need to sign Kimbrel.

[Slateman]

Finally a begrudging admission we need to sign Kimbrel.

No, not really. Kimbrel is just as likely to turn into a pumpkin, only you'd be paying him for 4-5 years.

It's an admission that they'll be in the trade market soon. I'd like to see them pick up Will Smith from SanFran. Even better if they can pair him with MadBum

[aBaltoNat]

No, not really. Kimbrel is just as likely to turn into a pumpkin, only you'd be paying him for 4-5 years.

It's an admission that they'll be in the trade market soon. I'd like to see them pick up Will Smith from SanFran. Even better if they can pair him with MadBum

I'd cream my pants if MadBum became a Nat.

[varoadking]

Pretty shaky...

[Squab]

1-2-3 inning of relief for Aaron Barrett, his first of the spring. Fastball was 92-93 mph.

https://twitter.com/MarkZuckerman/status/1107728086584446979

if he can throw/control 93 that might be good enough to make it back this year. I sure hope so!

[Expos]

Scott Copeland 8.2 IP, 11 strikeouts, .58 WHIP

Austen Williams 6.1 IP, 4 strikeouts, .32 WHIP

Do these guys get a look on the 25 man roster?

Who sits? They have been better than Vidal Nuno and Wander Suero. 

And we have 6 legit starters IMO. Sanchez, Strasburg, Ross and Hellickson have been great. Scherzer will be his same old self. Henderson Alvarez has also pitched well. Erik Fedde has been terrible.

[Slateman]

Scott Copeland 8.2 IP, 11 strikeouts, .58 WHIP

Austen Williams 6.1 IP, 4 strikeouts, .32 WHIP

Do these guys get a look on the 25 man roster?

Who sits? They have been better than Vidal Nuno and Wander Suero. 

And we have 6 legit starters IMO. Sanchez, Strasburg, Ross and Hellickson have been great. Scherzer will be his same old self. Henderson Alvarez has also pitched well. Erik Fedde has been terrible.

Anyone with an option that didnt pitch well last season is going down to the minors

[Elvir Ovcina]

Scott Copeland 8.2 IP, 11 strikeouts, .58 WHIP

Austen Williams 6.1 IP, 4 strikeouts, .32 WHIP

Do these guys get a look on the 25 man roster?

Who sits? They have been better than Vidal Nuno and Wander Suero. 

And we have 6 legit starters IMO. Sanchez, Strasburg, Ross and Hellickson have been great. Scherzer will be his same old self. Henderson Alvarez has also pitched well. Erik Fedde has been terrible.

Nuno will go now that Sipp is on board.  Fedde, Williams, and Suero have options (as does Ross, although he's more likely to stick). 

Copeland and Alvarez are the tough calls.  Copeland's a classic AAAA guy, but his spring makes me wonder if someone else might claim him.  If Alvarez is healthy, you have to find a way to keep him.   He was a heck of a pitcher before he got hurt, and he put up a sub-4 ERA in the Mexican League last season - which is actually really good for that league.

[Expos]

(L) Sean Doolittle
Trevor Rosenthal
Kyle Barraclough
(L) Matt Grace
Justin Miller
(L) Tony Sipp
Wander Suero / Austen Williams
Jeremy Hellickson (for 2 weeks)

Minors:

Henderson Alvarez- Starter
Joe Ross- Starter

(L) Vidal Nuno
Scott Copeland
Jimmy Cordero
Aaron Barrett

Koda Glover - IR

I like it. Lots of experience. 3 deadly lefties. Rosenthal and Barraclough have experience closing and we have alot of depth.

[varoadking]

https://www.federalbaseball.com/2019/3/27/18283431/washington-nationals-bullpen-probably-isnt-as-good-as-it-seems

[DCFan]

https://www.federalbaseball.com/2019/3/27/18283431/washington-nationals-bullpen-probably-isnt-as-good-as-it-seems

Precisely! We really need Kimbrel and it will be apparent shortly.

[Trea Burner]

Lol. This trash they call the bullpen.

Annual nats tradition.

[Slateman]

Precisely! We really need Kimbrel and it will be apparent shortly.

Is Kimbrel going to pitch the 7th? Is he going to teach Robles to hit the cutoff? Teach Rendon and Turner to apply tags?

[GburgNatsFan]

Chances are better that he would simply revert to the mean and become an overpriced, mediocre bullpen arm.

Is Kimbrel going to pitch the 7th? Is he going to teach Robles to hit the cutoff? Teach Rendon and Turner to apply tags?

[Trea Burner]

What did the trash bullpen do today?

10-12 blown games for the season might be generous. They already have 2 in the first 3 games lol.

[Slateman]

Bigger issue: Neither the primary setup pitcher, nor the closer can pitch on consecutive days.

That's a major problem.

[Trea Burner]

Bigger issue: Neither the primary setup pitcher, nor the closer can pitch on consecutive days.

That's a major problem.

Trea saves the day, but this is not going to be sustainable.

2 of the 3 games the pen has imploded.

[UMDNats]

The bullpen was an enormous risk already and looks horrible so far. I expect Barraclough to be fine (mid 3 ERA) but banking on Rosenthal being elite looks to be a horrible mistake.

[Nick the Pig]

The bullpen was an enormous risk already

Yeah.  With Doo getting too weak....