What / when was the Nats best bullpen? Best Set-up & closer?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm a big Hunter Harvey fan and think Finnegan has mostly done his job pretty well this year even if some systems view him as a bit lucky.  I was kind of ready to start a thread on the best closer/ set up pairs the Nats have had, but in poking back through the records, I began to recognize that there have been a lot of years where the back end was not stable and that there were years where the overall quality of the bullpen stood out.

My initial rankings would have slotted Finegan / Harvey 2024 behind Doo/Hudson 2019, but then I started to poke around a bit on 2016, 2017, and 2014.

In 2016, Melancon was terrific, but he was short-time and I'm not sure who was his set up guy. Treinen? (Ignore Papelbonehead's time closing).

2017 was eventually Doo and Ryan Madson, plus Brandon Kintzler and Matt Albers. Treinen had an off year and was sent in the package for Doo and Madson.

Of course, with 2016-17, the bullpen overall was weak enough and the closers so shaky that we had to trade some decent young talent to bolster them, so I would say I'd probably slot those bullpens behind this one.  With the focus at the start on Finny and Harvey, we haven't mentioned Floro's season at all. Also, I/M/O, Garcia and Law have been mostly effective, giving the Nats multiple options to get to Harvey and Finny. JBarnes has been crushed a couple of times recently has been effective a lot more often than not. You have to get to the 7th and 8th guys, Weems and Rainey, to find guys who should only be used late and behind.

In terms of overall quality, I don't think any bullpen approaches 2014:
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&lg=all&type=8&month=0&ind=0&team=24&stats=rel&startdate=&enddate=&qual=20&season1=2014&season=2014
Most of 2014, Clippard and Storen set up for Soriano, plus you have peak Stammen, a young Aaron Barrett, plus Det and Jerry Blevins as lefties and a long guy.

I suppose 2012 also had Clip and Save, and 2010 should not be ignored with Matt Capps, Storen, Clippard, Sean Burnett, plus guys like Doug Slaten and Joel Peralta. 2010 I'd probably slot ahead of our current pen but behind 2014.

I'm not sure which particular bullpen from 2005-09 would be the best. 2005 overperformed, but that's a good thing, with The Chief, Gary Majewski, Luis Ayala, and other pieces. 2007 was surprisingly good, too, with Rauch setting up The Chief, z still effective Luis Ayala, and Saul Rivera. The '07 team made Manny Acta look like a genius, which is hard.

I'm probably skipping some bullpens, but I'd be curious what others think about the best lockdown setup and closer, the best late innings "bullpen A" combo of relievers, and the best overall bullpens. 2005 forward.

[Slateman]

2017 had the best tandem in Madson and Doolittle. Probably had the best overall team. Its achilles heel was a terrible postseason manager.

By WAR and ERA, the 2014 bullpen was the best

[Senatorswin]

I think hands down the best bullpen was 2005. If we had that bullpen this year we would be knocking on the wild card door.

Chad Cordero was 5th in Cy Young and 14th in MVP. He was lights out when they went I think 51-30 the first half. Was great in the second half too until September.

Chad Cordero - ERA 1.82 Saves - 47.

They also had on that team Gary Majewski who had a 2.93 ERA and 80 holds. I would say he was the main setup guy.

They had Luis Ayala who had an ERA of 2.66 and 75 holds.

Jon Ruach had an ERA 3.60 with 24 holds.

Joey Eischen (They'll just have to suck on it and like it) ERA 3.22 holds 34.

Mike Stanton - Part of the season with Nats. With Nats ERA 3.58 holds 31.

Hector Carrasco - ERA 2.04 Holds 59.

[Smithian]

I wanted to say 2019 but the look at the numbers in hindsight are not great. 2017 Nats with Madson and Doolittle was the most comfortable I ever felt with a bullpen.

During Drew Storen's "good" days, those bullpens with him and Clippard had some good runs. I actually remember really loving the back end with them and Matt Capps! But thankfully for the Nats the Twins fell in love with Matt Capps and the Nats got Ramos.

It feels like for a long time Rizzo felt like he could just go and find a bullpen at the deadline. Worked most years. Melancon trade, Madson and Doolittle, Daniel Hudson. Just try to forget the Papelbon experience.

I'll go with 2017. With the Melancon experience very good for a short sting.

[imref]

If Weems could get his stuff together this could be an all time great bullpen

[GataNats]

Finny is much better than Harvey.  A top 5 closer.   Harvey is the overrated one that is an injury magnet

[Count Walewski]

Chad Cordero is the first person I think of when I think "Washington Nationals closer" and I didn't even live in the DC area or follow the Nats when he pitched. None of the Nationals closers since had the same aura around them.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So let's see ...

So far, there's 2005, which featured The Chief and Tex as the primary closer/ setup, with a lot of well-performing talent surrounding them.

There's 2010, featuring a very good year from Matt Capps and the emerging duo of Storen and Clippard to get to Capps.

I/M/O, 2014 was incredibly deep and soild, with Soriano mostly effective, Storen taking over the closing role again I think at the end, Clippard at his finest, Stammen picking up the inning plus "bullpen A" middle work, solid lefties Blevins and Det, plus Aaron Barrett when he was a stud.

Of the two mid-season repair jobs, probably 2017 Doo / Madson perhaps edges 2016 Melancon and a good Treinen. I/M/O, these were thin bullpens that needed the patch jobs so do not rank with 2014 or 2010. 

Ignoring the playoffs, Doo and Hudson were very effective in 2019 and could flip between closer and setup. Again, I don't think the quality was there around them, which kind of explains the use of starters in the playoffs. Rodney was I think the 3rd arm in the pen, and he was on his last legs.

Then we get to Finnegan and Harvey, with Law, Floro, Garcia, and JBarnes. I/M/O, the best since 2014. I'm not going to get into the debate of Finny vs. Harvey. It's sort of like who your favorite Beatle was, John or Paul, with Floro as George Harrison and Law as Ringo. Call Garcia Eric Clapton and JBarnes Billy Preston   Doo is probably George Martin. 

[imref]

seems like a wee bit of stretch to compare harvey and finnegan to the Beatles. Maybe the Ruttles?

[Natsinpwc]

seems like a wee bit of stretch to compare harvey and finnegan to the Beatles. Maybe the Ruttles?

Dave Clark Five? Two?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yabut you know "Who is your favorite Beatle?" was a thing.

I happen to think Harvey is probably one of the top 10 relievers the Nats have had. Multiple years of high quality. There's Doo, Clippard, The Chief ... I would put Hudson in there because of the multiple years. Maybe Stammen, probably regular season Storen. Then Harvey in that batch.

[imref]

I look forward to Lorne Michaels offering $500 for Harvey and Finnegan to show up on SNL next season.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I look forward to Lorne Michaels offering $500 for Harvey and Finnegan to show up on SNL next season.

not to each. If Harvey, Finnegan, Floro, and Law all show, it's $500. If just one shows, then it's $125 unless they do the live opening.

[imref]

not to each. If Harvey, Finnegan, Floro, and Law all show, it's $500. If just one shows, then it's $125 unless they do the live opening.

They can give less to Law if they want.