Bullpen in 2025: duck and cover

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Tbh, I would rather have Lord in the Rochester rotation and Rutledge be the long guy in DC. With the added velocity, I am not ready to pull the plug on Lord as a starter. I suppose they could go the traditional route of feet wet as a reliever before moving back to starting if successful. I guess Herz and Ogasawara are probably spot starters ahead of him, so maybe it makes sense

[varoadking]

Ogasawara has shown me nothing...he shouldn't even have a roster spot...

[Natsinpwc]

Ogasawara has shown me nothing...he shouldn't even have a roster spot...

He’s the next Paolo Espino. Rochester needs one of those.

[imref]

Poche’s contract purchased. He makes the team.

[Natsinpwc]

Poche’s contract purchased. He makes the team.

Poche Spice?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Poche Spice?

good breaking ball so I guess he bends it like a Beckham

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/03/22/derek-law-nationals/

Law to miss opening day with "general soreness." MRI came back clean, may not need the full 15 days, but everyone wants to be cautious to ensure availability through the rest of the year.

Nusbaum says 5 locks for the bullpen with Law out: Finnegan, Lopez, Ferrer, Sims, and Poche (who was added to the 40 man). That leaves 4 relievers for 3 spots: Ribalta, Salazar, Lord, and Rutledge. Part of me likes all 4 more than Sims, but, if it is truly 4 into 3 slots, then I think it comes down to either keeping Lord stretched out as a starter in AAA or putting one of Ribalta or Salazar in high lev / closing in Rochester.

[Slateman]

Sims is useless. Cut him and take all 4 north

[nobleisthyname]

Yeah not sure why the like Sims so much.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Opening day bullpen is:

Finnegan
Ferrer (L)
Lopez
Poche (L)
Sims
Salazar
Ribalta
Lord

Brzykcy and Law start the year on the 15 day IL.

If you are curious about option status, Lord of course has 3, Ribalta and Ferrer 2, and Salazar 1. Brzykcy has 2, and Mason Thompson (60 day IL) has 1

[Smithian]

Lucas Sims is taking a flyer on a high upside, loooow downside arm. $3 million says we weren't his only suitors. I don't mind the signing unless he is getting shelled and they still march him out in high leverage moments.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Bullpen A, with the A standing for awful

[Smithian]

Not great!

[IanRubbish]

The first small step is to stop overdoing lefty/righty matchups.  With the new rules, it makes sense to focus more on workloads and who can be the most effective.  I get that Davey thinks lefty/righty matchups is what managing is all about, but considering the W-L of the last few years, probably time to learn something new. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The first small step is to stop overdoing lefty/righty matchups.  With the new rules, it makes sense to focus more on workloads and who can be the most effective.  I get that Davey thinks lefty/righty matchups is what managing is all about, but considering the W-L of the last few years, probably time to learn something new. 

I think the TV crew was shocked when he let Poche pitch to Bohm rather than bring in Salazar. The time he didn't go righty-righty.

[Slateman]

I don't think it matters when they're this bad.

[varoadking]

I think the TV crew was shocked when he let Poche pitch to Bohm rather than bring in Salazar. The time he didn't go righty-righty.

dave blows

[aspenbubba]

No matter how the rotation performs the bullpen, as presently constructed, will be a clusterf--k and prevent the team from winning more than 70  games. Rizzo should be fired if he was given the budget to improve the team by ownership. If not, Lerner's sell the team!! This is the first time I have called for Rizzo being fired and for a change in ownership.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yesterday, even Ferrer gave up a dinger and some baserunners after that. Otherwise, I was going to say I may have more faith in "Bullpen B" (Lord, Ribalta, Salazar) than in bullpen A. I've got some tolerance for giving Poche a few more bites because he has a record of past success, but let's not let Sims off the hook for immediately blowing Gore's start. I don't know why that guy is anything more than a AAAA arm. He's done nothing in the majors. To put him in in the 7th to protect a 1-0 lead is a crime.

[nobleisthyname]

Yesterday, even Ferrer gave up a dinger and some baserunners after that. Otherwise, I was going to say I may have more faith in "Bullpen B" (Lord, Ribalta, Salazar) than in bullpen A. I've got some tolerance for giving Poche a few more bites because he has a record of past success, but let's not let Sims off the hook for immediately blowing Gore's start. I don't know why that guy is anything more than a AAAA arm. He's done nothing in the majors. To put him in in the 7th to protect a 1-0 lead is a crime.

My feelings on Sims exactly. Smithian mentioned the fact he got $3M suggests other teams see potential in him too but if so potential is all that's there. He has zero track record of success. Even Robert Garcia, the previous stuff/potential darling, was good in 2023 at least. I really hope they cut bait with him quickly if he continues to struggle.

Overall though I feel like it's hard to overreact to just one game. I think you're right that Bullpen B might actually have the better arms though. I really only like Ferrer out of Bullpen A, though I think López has the potential to be solid.

Edit: I just looked up Sims Fangraphs page. He doesn't even have potential. He has a career 4.53 FIP as a reliever, 5.23 last season. Definitely a head scratcher.

[nobleisthyname]

Ok so the bullpen is as much of a disaster as everyone feared. Sims needs to be let go.

[IanRubbish]

Ok so the bullpen is as much of a disaster as everyone feared. Sims needs to be let go.

The manager needs to go, he can't manage them.

[imref]

6 IP, 11 H, 15 R, 14 ER, 11 BB, 9 K, 5 HR so far.

[PowerBoater69]

On honor of Colin Poche and his ballooning ERA, can we change the thread sub title from duck and cover to screwed the pooch?

[English Natsie]

Bullpen?  More like sheep-pen, so far...