Bullpen - the strength of 2023?

[catocony]

Weems came up from AAA, pitched in both games of a doubleheader, and gave up zero runs 2 1/3rd innings over the two appearances.  So, no?

[welch]

Weems came up from AAA, pitched in both games of a doubleheader, and gave up zero runs 2 1/3rd innings over the two appearances.  So, no?

I remember Weems being terrible last season. That's why I don't trust him. But he is a keeper until he self-destructs...

[Senatorswin]

Today was the first time ever Hunter Harvey pitched 3 straight days.

[imref]

I remember Weems being terrible last season. That's why I don't trust him. But he is a keeper until he self-destructs...

Weems got lit up tonight in Rochester.

[Slateman]

Pen is a bit of a struggle bus right now.

[rileyn]

That sucked.

[welch]

Over-worked?

Skip the A-pen and B-pen. Mix them. Use Machado, Ward, Harris more often. Stop killing Finnegan, Thompson, Harvey, Edwards, Jr. And Erasmo.

[Slateman]

Over-worked?

Skip the A-pen and B-pen. Mix them. Use Machado, Ward, Harris more often. Stop killing Finnegan, Thompson, Harvey, Edwards, Jr. And Erasmo.

So you're okay with losing games because they didnt use the "A-pen?" Cus thats what is going to happen. Yea, Davey gas rode them hard, but the team was no longer on pace to lose 100+ games.

Nats play the Mets, Dodgers, and Padres this month. Plenty of time to rest the A-pen

[Five Banners]

So you're okay with losing games because they didnt use the "A-pen?" Cus thats what is going to happen. Yea, Davey gas rode them hard, but the team was no longer on pace to lose 100+ games.

Nats play the Mets, Dodgers, and Padres this month. Plenty of time to rest the A-pen

They’re already losing those games with the arguable overuse. Plus, you don’t want to blow out people and risk injuries unnecessarily.

[Slateman]

They’re already losing those games with the arguable overuse. Plus, you don’t want to blow out people and risk injuries unnecessarily.

They werent: https://twitter.com/MarkZuckerman/status/1654200502224146453?s=20

Davey managed aggressively, got some nice starts, and had the team playing .500 ball. If he doesnt do that, then the team rolls over and stops playing

[Slateman]

This makes Bryan and Hunter Harvey the ninth father-son duo to record MLB saves

[JCA-CrystalCity]

that's how it is supposed to work

[Senatorswin]

Harvey was nasty tonight.

[blue911]

Harvey was nasty tonight.

His old man was really nasty.

[rileyn]

Is our organizational pitching so barren that we have to keep running 30 year old Machado out there?  Good Lord.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

They love the velo, but he is just like beating  the house in blackjack. Slightly odds against your success

[JCA-CrystalCity]

harvey first 9th inning save chance was 5/7 and he converted. he next pitched in the 9th on 5/12, getting work in a game we were down 1.  he blew a real save chance in Miami on 5/16 (dinger for 3 runs, i think), got a save his next chance 5/21 vs detroit, then blew up last night. 2 for 4 in the 9th. 

he also has 9 holds, a blown hold win, and a blown hold  team win.

the dude is clearly the best reliever in the pen by things like whip and fip. edwards has a better era, but that is extremely fluky. there's no question which reliever should be pitching in the toughest hitter, highest leverage situations.

[Senatorswin]

Kyle Finnegan is second to only Josh Hader in percentage of save success vs opportunities. Harvey has some nasty stuff most of the time but he's inexperienced. Yesterday Martinez used Finnegan in the 8th and Hunter in the 9th because of matchups. I have no real problem with that, but this is the third year Finnegan has been saving games vs Hunter not having a save before this year. If Martinez wants to have Harvey close in spots okay but I wouldn't put him in the closer role when Finnegan has been successful at it and you can ease Harvey into the role.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

if I were to criticize Martinez last night, then I'd say that Harvey had faced cronenworth-soto-bogaerts the night before, so he was pushing it a bit going back to him for the same stretch of the order. finnegan would have been a different look.

[Slateman]

Well maybe if Finnegan could keep his ERA under 4 he would keep the closer job

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Well maybe if Finnegan could keep his ERA under 4 he would keep the closer job

well, to be fair, his era problems are mostly due to 2 cruddy appearances - 4/4 Rays and 5/6 @ AZ. he's given up 1 earned run over 18 appearances since, and his walk and k rate since 4/7 is in his career range.

 https://www.fangraphs.com/players/kyle-finnegan/15009/game-log?position=P&season=&gds=2023-04-07&gde=2023-05-25&type=0

[Senatorswin]

well, to be fair, his era problems are mostly due to 2 cruddy appearances - 4/4 Rays and 5/6 @ AZ. he's given up 1 earned run over 18 appearances since, and his walk and k rate since 4/7 is in his career range.

 https://www.fangraphs.com/players/kyle-finnegan/15009/game-log?position=P&season=&gds=2023-04-07&gde=2023-05-25&type=0

Yep.

[Slateman]

well, to be fair, his era problems are mostly due to 2 cruddy appearances - 4/4 Rays and 5/6 @ AZ. he's given up 1 earned run over 18 appearances since, and his walk and k rate since 4/7 is in his career range.

 https://www.fangraphs.com/players/kyle-finnegan/15009/game-log?position=P&season=&gds=2023-04-07&gde=2023-05-25&type=0

He's has a 4.25 ERA over the 9th inning in his career. Comparing him to Josh Hader is laughable. One is elite. The other isnt even good. FInnegan has a 5.53 FIP and 5.83 XERA. If anything, Finnegan has gotten absurdly lucky this season.

Again, the season is not about winning, its about developing. The only reason Finnegan should be given any closing chances is to build trade value.

[Senatorswin]

He's has a 4.25 ERA over the 9th inning in his career. Comparing him to Josh Hader is laughable. One is elite. The other isnt even good.

Again, the season is not about winning, its about developing. The only reason Finnegan should be given any closing chances is to build trade value.

He is 10 out of 12 save chances this year. He has been the only effective reliever in save situations. The stats show with the starting pitching the Nats are getting if they weren't near the top in blowing leads they would be in the thick of things. If you want to trade him show he is an effective closer. I said this year his save percentage is second to only Hader. That's a fact. I didn't say he was as good as Hader.

[Slateman]

Honestly, I'd rather let younger, more promising relievers have a shot. Finnegan's value is pretty much set. No one is going to pick him up as a closer. Time to see who else can develop.