Bullpen in 2025: duck and cover

[Slateman]

Both of them are starters though. Not that I'm opposed to converting them, but they would need some time on the farm to come out of the pen.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Both of them are starters though. Not that I'm opposed to converting them, but they would need some time on the farm to come out of the pen.

yes. Maybe Alvarez could step in quickly as a multi-inning guy if you bring him in in a clean inning. That's the easiest way to convert a guy.

[Smithian]

Yes, who is Poche's replacement?

No clue. He is a middle inning arm. His replacement will either be coming in off the waiver wire or is a 28 year old career AAAA arm with some velocity who has had a good start in Rochester or in another AAA system and is available for a straight cash transaction.

Middle inning arms are red shirts. They're imminently replaceable and churnable. I'd be more worried if Finnegan was getting shelled.

[imref]

David Robertson is still out there.

[aspenbubba]

David Robertson is still out there.

Isn't Dylan Floro also?

[imref]

Isn't Dylan Floro also?

mlb.com shows him assigned to the A's AAA affiliate and currently on the 7 day injured list.

[welch]

David Robertson is still out there.

Yes. Made $10 million last season with the Rangers, who bought out his contract for $1.5 million after the season. He is floating, although he is 49 years old. Should have paid $10 million to sign Aroldis Chapman in the off-season.

[Natsinpwc]

Robertson is old.  But not 49.  He’s 40. 

[welch]

Robertson is old.  But not 49.  He’s 40. 

Typo.

Otherwise, Poche and Sims are worse than useless, So are a few others.                 

[IanRubbish]

Bullpen ERA of 6.92 isn't just the worst in the league, it's 63 points worse than the 2nd worst Rockies.

Also, a healthy lead in pitches per inning with 19.52 and BB/9 at 6.52.   

[aspenbubba]

It is a sh-t show of epic proportions. Read Zucks article today coupled with what we all have observed since OD.  The season is a punt because there is no apparent relief in the farm system and who do we trade for and who do we give up as the other 29 GM's smell blood in the water. Since I predicted 69 wins in the prediction thread I will not change it but I believe this team as presently constructed will not achieve that level by at least 5 games.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I missed the 5th. It sounds like Poche was not helped by his D. Comes in with 2d and 3d, 1 out, gets a pop that drops then a "sac fly" that would have been out 3, no damage, before he gives up the fatal hit. Could have been out of it with no runs rather than 3 and a 5-0 deficit. Rut then pitches 2 well before they push him, and Salazar comes back to earth and lets in the rest.

Frustrating as all hell. There needs to be a shake up, as much as psychology as performance.

[imref]

I missed the 5th. It sounds like Poche was not helped by his D. Comes in with 2d and 3d, 1 out, gets a pop that drops then a "sac fly" that would have been out 3, no damage, before he gives up the fatal hit. Could have been out of it with no runs rather than 3 and a 5-0 deficit. Rut then pitches 2 well before they push him, and Salazar comes back to earth and lets in the rest.

Frustrating as all hell. There needs to be a shake up, as much as psychology as performance.

we lost a game in which the other team committed four errors to our none. That's inexcusable.

[imref]

Marquis Grissom Jr. has pitched 4 innings in 4 games with 2 saves, 4H, 0BB, and 3Ks.

Might be time to give him a shot. He couldn't be any worse than Poche. Other than him, i'm not sure we have any other prospective relievers in our system who would be an improvement over Sims or Poche.  Law and Brzykcy should help, but both are hurt.

Anyone know what's going on with Tyler Stuart? He hasn't pitched yet this year.

[Smithian]

Time for Poche to go.

It's early in the season. Let's churn through some middle inning arms. It's not like we're trying to find late inning arms.

Again, this.

We have a closer. We have some decent pieces in the lineup. We have a disaster in the middle innings bullpen. The way you fix this is to try new arms.

[wj73]

Marquis Grissom Jr. has pitched 4 innings in 4 games with 2 saves, 4H, 0BB, and 3Ks.

Might be time to give him a shot. He couldn't be any worse than Poche. Other than him, i'm not sure we have any other prospective relievers in our system who would be an improvement over Sims or Poche.  Law and Brzykcy should help, but both are hurt.

Anyone know what's going on with Tyler Stuart? He hasn't pitched yet this year.

I saw Grissom close out a game in Harrisburg last week. He impressed me. He works quickly and efficiently, and gets the job done.

[welch]

I like the idea of Grissom, but he's at Harrisburg. Is he ready for the majors?

[imref]

Zach Brzykcy starting a rehab assignment in Fredricksburg.

[Slateman]

I like the idea of Grissom, but he's at Harrisburg. Is he ready for the majors?

I think they should give him more time

[imref]

I like the idea of Grissom, but he's at Harrisburg. Is he ready for the majors?

i don't know. He was very effective in 27 games at Harrisburg last year (31 innings) and has been good so far in a handful of appearances this year. I'm not sure he'd be any worse than Poche or Sims. Big issue is that he only threw 53 innings last year so he'd be on a tight leash.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Philosophically, I'd love to have about 10 or so arms in the system that we could move in and out. I get that the best bullpens often take a cast off and teach a new pitch or change his mix to get a stud, and I'm not against that, but I would want 4-5 pre-arb system products in an 8 man pen, with a studs at closer and primary set up. Maybe I'm greedy, but that how Houston and TB have done it.

[Slateman]

I know why they did it, but I'd really like to see them limit the multi inning outings for relievers. If Rutledge doesn't get sent out for a third inning on Monday, he's gone 5 innings of relief giving up 1 run, 4 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts. That's pretty solid.

I just think you need to find out if these guys can handle a MLB workload. Rutledge, Henry, and Ferrer are the future A bullpen. While going more than three outs is nice, it shouldn't be their primary role. Their stuff is simply too good.

I'd like to see Henry either take over Ferrer's role as 8th inning guy, or use him in Poche's role of getting out lefties. I don't know where he sits post-TOC, but before, his changeup was really really good.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I suppose the least wordy way of responding to Slate's post would be "+1" or , but I think that's spot on.

There may occasionally be times Ferrer will need to go more than 3 outs, but they should be as rare as a closer coming in in the 8th.

As for Henry, he has stopper stuff as long as that arm holds out. That's especially true if there's a base open when he comes in because I'm still nervous about walks. But there's no way on G-d's Green Earth that guy should that guy be used for more than 3 outs, and I pretty much would say he should not come back out after getting the last out of whatever inning he finishes until maybe latter in the year.

Rutledge I'm a bit more OK with going up to 2 innings. I want to feed him a ton of success, and I'd like to see him go flat out and not at a starter/ long man pace. Also, I'd like to save looks at him by hitters and not have them face him 2x in a series.

I'm maybe too optimistic, but I think there's a decent shot at coming out of this year with a lot of good bullpen pieces from our system being in place.

[Smithian]

I know why they did it, but I'd really like to see them limit the multi inning outings for relievers. If Rutledge doesn't get sent out for a third inning on Monday, he's gone 5 innings of relief giving up 1 run, 4 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts. That's pretty solid.

I just think you need to find out if these guys can handle a MLB workload. Rutledge, Henry, and Ferrer are the future A bullpen. While going more than three outs is nice, it shouldn't be their primary role. Their stuff is simply too good.

I'd like to see Henry either take over Ferrer's role as 8th inning guy, or use him in Poche's role of getting out lefties. I don't know where he sits post-TOC, but before, his changeup was really really good.

I agree on Ferrer and Henry. But someone has to be a long guy, and Rutledge to me makes most sense on this roster.

Now, would I complain if they signed a 32 year old to play mop up? No. But there is still value in guys who can throw multiple competitive innings and Rutledge may be that guy.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Bzrykcy has started his rehab and Soroka is throwing a sim game today, so there may soon be some new options for the bullpen (Brzykcy, Lord if Soroka is back).