Bullpen Issues? A Look at all 30 Teams after Week 1.
For the past two seasons, there have been concerns about a couple of the most known and dominant closers in the game. Last season, it was New York Yankees’ stopper Mariano Rivera after he got off to a rough start. This season the troubles are in the other league, on the other coast as Trevor Hoffman, the man who enters to “Hell’s Bells,” has left without the lead, or a save, already twice in the early stages this season.
After week one of the MLB season, there have been several teams, including the Padres, that have already run into bullpen issues, particularly on Opening Day, so we decided to examine each of the 30 major league teams bullpen performances thus far and see which teams should really be concerned with their bullpen.
Our analysis:
Arizona Diamondbacks - Arizona has the 5th best bullpen ERA (1.93), but there are major concerns because all 4 runs that have scored have come off of new closer Brandon Lyon. After trading away Jose Valverde in the off-season, the pitch-to-contact pitcher was given the closer’s job, and he is blowing the opportunity along with two save opportunities. He picked up the win Sunday but only after blowing the save. Chad Qualls picked up the save Sunday. He or Tony Pena will take over the closer’s job in the near future.
Atlanta Braves - If you include Jeff Bennett’s 4 inning emergency start in place of Mike Hampton, the Braves relievers have thrown the most innings. Hampton’s game time scratch along with two extra inning games have taxed the bullpen early in the season. They have blown two saves and are 0-3. Manny Acosta and Peter Moylan, the two main set-up men, have appeared much more hittable than they were at the end of last season. Closer Rafael Soriano has struck out 5 in 4 innings but has walked 3 as well. Something that could grow into a major issue.
Baltimore Orioles - If it wasn’t for Greg Aquino giving up a meaningless 9th inning home run to Richie Sexson on Friday night, the O’s pen would be entirely unblemished. The late inning crew has been nearly perfect. Led by George Sherrill (3-3 in save opportunities) and Dennis Safarte (1-0 with 3 K in 2 IP), both of whom were acquired in off-season trades, Baltimore’s relief corps is 3-0 with a 0.89 ERA in 18.1 innings.
Boston Red Sox - Jonathan Papelbon gave up a run in Japan, but has been otherwise unhittable striking out 7 in 3.1 IP and converting both save attempts. Hideki Okajima has started off just as well as he pitched last season with a 1-0 record in 3 IP allowing only one hit. However, outside of Papelbon and Okajima there are concerns. Manny Delcarmen, Bryan Corey, and Kyle Snyder have combined to allow 11 runs already. Getting back to the friendly atmosphere of Fenway Park (well it’s friendly as long as you’re winning), should help the worn warriors of the road/air.
Chicago Cubs - Kerry Wood blew up on Opening Day, and everyone feared for the worst. Some fans probably wondered if it was possible for Ryan Dempster to return to the back end of the pen, but alas, Demspter proved himself a suitable starter and Wood has looked fine in 3 consecutive saves, including a pair on back-to-back days this weekend. Carlos Marmol’s stuff is ridiculous, but the major concern area for Cubbies’ fans should be Bob Howry, who has been an uber-reliable arm in the past. He’s given up 8 hits and 5 runs in 2.2 IP.
Chicago White Sox - Just as we predicted in our Chi Sox preview, Bobby Jenks has been solid; others have not. Octavio Dotel gave up 3 runs and took the loss Opening Day after the Sox rallied back to tie the game in the 8th inning. Mike McDougal gave up two runs the following game. However, Scott Linebrink looks rejuvenated with 3 K in 3 IP with only a single hit allowed. Boone Logan sports the same statline as Linebrink but also picked up a win.
Cincinnati Reds - The Reds have had 7 relievers pitch and 6 have given up runs. However, they still have the 4th-best ERA in the NL at 3.60 and are 2-0. The only reliever who hasn’t given up a run? Free agent off-season acquisition closer Francisco Cordero. He is 1-0 with a save, 2 K, and only one hit allowed in 3 IP. Still Reds’ fans should be concerned about the 3 HR the pen has already allowed. If that becomes a trend, the Reds are in for a long season.
Cleveland Indians - Indians’ fans have to be concerned about their bullpen. They are used to Joe Borowski being shaky but then ultimately still notching the save much as he has done this season (2 IP, 2 SV, 2 BB, 1 ER, 1 HR, 2 K), but Rafael Betancourt struggling in the 8th inning? That’s new territory. The righty was absolutely lights out last year. He was one of the top 5 relief pitchers in the game, but this season he has allowed 8 base runners in 2.1 IP and only K’d 1. They have guys that can fill in for him, but they need him to make the playoff push they are looking to make.
Colorado Rockies - Manny Corpas was tagged by a Mark Reynolds two-run blast to blow the save opportunity Sunday. Then Stephen Drew added his own homer off of Micah Bowie to give the Diamonbacks the win in extra innings. Corpas has already given up 3 runs, while former closer Brian Fuentes hasn’t been scored on in 4 innings. If Corpas continues to struggle, look for him and Fuentes to possibly switch roles.
Detroit Tigers - The Tigers are 0-6 overall, and the bullpen is 0-3. They need flamethrowers Francisco Rodney and Joel Zumaya back…in a bad way. Todd Jones has done his job in the two innings he’s pitched, but having to rely on Jason Grilli and Yorman Bazardo is not what Detroit had in mind when they envisioned this season.
Florida Marlins - The Marlins are going to need some more arms in the pen. Not because they were that bad during the opening week, but because they’ve already had to throw 29 innings (4 more than the next highest, the Braves who had two extra inning games). Justin Miller and Ricky Nolasco have combined for 10 scoreless innings allowing only 5 hits, but Lee Gardner has given up 6 runs. Closer Kevin Gregg gave up 2 runs, but it was in a blowout and can possibly be attributed to a closer not being in a save situation.
Houston Astros - The big off-season acquisition, Jose Valverde, has been shaky throughout the first week. He snaked the win on Wednesday after giving up 3 hits and a run in a tied ballgame only for the ‘Stros to come back and beat Trevor Hoffman. He then got his first save Friday but only after giving up a home run. Besides Gary Geary, everyone in the pen has already allowed at least one run. It’s going to be a long year in the Lonestar State.
Kansas City Royals - Surprisingly, the Royals swept the Tigers to open the season, and it was thanks to their superior bullpen. They lead the league with an 11.6 K/9 and have a 1.06 ERA thanks to closer Joakim Soria’s 7 K (and 3 saves in 3 opps) in 4 IP. Brett Tomko did allow the Tigers to tie the game in the 8th inning on Opening Day but Leo Nunez and Soria combined for 3 shutout innings and the offense scored to give them the win.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - There were questions about Scot Shields coming into the season. He threw his first inning on Sunday allowing a hit while striking out one as well. K-Rod has been his normal dominant, but erratic self (3 IP, 3-3 in save opps, H, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 R). It’s the rest of the bullpen that has manager Mike Scoscia frustrated. The other 5 relievers who’ve pitched have combined to allow 12 runs in 12.2 IP.
Los Angeles Dodgers - The bullpen have been true firemen. Takashi Saito (1-0, 1-1 in save opps, 4 K, 0 H in 3 IP) and Jonathan Broxton (one hit in 2.1 IP) haven’t been touched, and the only two runs allowed came from starters Chad Billingsley and Esteban Loaiza in the rain interrupted 2-1 loss to San Francisco on Wednesday.
Milwaukee Brewers - Many questioned the addition of Eric Gagne as the closer in the off-season. Those people were screaming at the TV as they watched on Opening Day as he gave up a three-run shot to Kosuke Fukudome after the Brewers had stormed into the lead in the top half of the inning. Gagne settled in in his second outing recording a save without a smidge of trouble, but it seems each outing may be an adventure with him. Surprisingly, Guillermo Mota and Derrick Turnbow have only combined for 3 IP.
Minnesota Twins - The 7-8-9th inning combination of Matt Guerrier, Pat Neshak, and Joe Nathan has been superb. Nathan has converted all 3 chances. Neshak has 4 K and only allowed one hit in 3.1 IP. Juan Rincon was a question mark as to whether he could regain his middle relief dominance he displayed prior to last season. Early indicators point to no (2 IP, 3 H, BB, HBP, 3 ER, only 1 K).
New York Mets - A pinch hit grand slam by Kelly Johnson and a two-run blast by Mark Teixeira late in the last two games have inflated the Mets stats a bit. The runs from the two homers are the only runs allowed by Jorge Sosa and Aaron Heilman. Billy Wagner has only thrown one inning, but it was hitless. No need to panic or fret.
New York Yankees - Besides LaTroy Hawkins and his atrocious 8 hits and 7 ER allowed in 2 IP, the Yanks’ relief corps has been dominant. There are no questions around Rivera. He has 3 saves in as many chances and has only given up one hit while striking out 4. Then there is Joba Chamberlain and his electric stuff. He has thrown 4 innings, allowed only a single hit while striking out 4, and is 1-0. Farnsworth has allowed a run, but 4 K in 2.1 IP lead us to think, he may have gotten his dominant stuff back.
Oakland Athletics - There are major concerns in Oakland as closer and potential major trade bait Huston Street. Street has given up 5 runs in 3.2 IP, including a home run in each of his three appearances. On a good note, Keith Foulke appears to be primed for a good season in his comeback season (5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 6 K), and Santiago Casilla has been as good as they come (5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K).
Philadelphia Phillies - The return of Brad Lidge has been needed since Opening Day and Tom Gordon’s latest edition of being blown up by an inferior team. Combined with Ryan Madson and Clay Condrey, Gordon has contributed to 12 runs allowed. Lidge didn’t allow a hit in his return Sunday, which is definitely needed to complement J.C. Romero, who hasn’t been scored upon thus far.
Pittsburgh Pirates - The Pirates had two extra inning games in their series with Atlanta with Pittsburgh winning both. However, they blew a five run lead in the 9th inning to let the Braves back in one of the games (a 2-out routine fly ball lost in the lights didn’t help either). They’ve been worked a lot and have allowed 17 runs, which doesn’t bode well. The most cause for worry is the 9 runs closer Matt Capps and main set-up man Damaso Marte have allowed in 4 combined innings.
San Diego Padres - There is trouble in Qualcomm land (now Petco Park…yea, yea), and it centers around the cornerstone of the Padres’ bullpen for the last decade and a half, Trevor Hoffman. In four appearances, Hoffman has looked stellar twice and abysmal twice. He has two saves, a blown save, and now two losses after blowing a tied game Sunday. There is no need to rush into a panic, but Hoffman could finally be on the decline after being one of the games best for a long, long time. If Hoffman’s struggles continue, Cla Meredith and Heath Bell have been fabulous in the set-up roles.
San Francisco Giants - Like the rest of their team, the Giants’ bullpen has been atrocious, especially Brad Hennessey and his 12 hits and 8 ER allowed in 3 IP. Closer Brian Wilson converted his only chance with 1.1 IP of hitless relief.
Seattle Mariners - The Mariners bullpen is currently in disarray (7.98 ERA, 1-2, 2 blown saves in 14.2 IP). After never blowing an 8th inning lead last year, they have already blown two the first week and have racked up two losses in the process. J.J. Putz is on the DL with inflammation in his rib cage. George Sherrill is wearing a Baltimore uniform. Mark Lowe blew his first save chance today. Eric O’Flaherty and Cha Seung Baek have combined to give up 8 runs in 4.1 IP. Only starter Miguel Batista has been able to nail down a save without Putz. Brandon Morrow could be the short-term solution, but something needs to be done.
St. Louis Cardinals - Key set-up man Russ Springer is now on the DL with nerve irritation after he gave up three consecutive hits on Friday night and had to be removed. Closer Jason Isringhausen has been lights out (3-3 in save opps, 4 K in 4 IP), but one-time playoff heroine Anthony Reyes now can’t even nail down a save when they give Izzy a night off. Reyes had to be saved by Randy Flores Saturday after he gave up two runs in the 9th with a 3-run lead.
Tampa Bay (no longer Devil) Rays - The Rays have the second least used pen thanks to great starting pitching thus far. (They even got a great start from Edwin Jackson.) Troy Percival did his job in the one opportunity he’s gotten. Al Reyes got blown up by Baltimore costing the Rays a game they should have won, but Dan Wheeler has begun earning his contract with 4 innings without allowing a hit. Logically, Wheeler should move up the totem pole to the 8th inning, but this team loves to defy logic (ala Evan Longoria).
Texas Rangers - David Nippert allowed 6 runs with Texas up 11-0 Friday night. Kazuo Fukumori gave up 3 runs in his first outing, but only needed 9 pitches for an inning Friday night. Joaquin Benoit had one rough outing due to a couple of unearned runs, but closer C.J. Wilson has been solid allowing only one hit in 2 IP (1-1 in save opps).
Toronto Blue Jays - The Jays bullpen has been one of the best bullpens in the league. They have been nearly lights out and that’s even without closer B.J. Ryan, who is still on the DL. The Jays lead the majors with an 0.69 ERA and Jeremy Accardo has converted all 3 save opportunities. The only run came off Brian Wolfe by the Yankees on two bunts and a bloop hit by Bobby Abreu. However, that run did cost the Jays a game to a division foe.
Washington Nationals - The bullpen was a major contributing factor to the Nationals starting the season 3-0. They won twice in the 9th inning and another 1-0. On Opening Night, they supplied four innings allowing only one hit and an unearned run. The main concern is closer Chad Cordero as he is on the 15-day DL with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. Huge righty Jon Rauch has been great filling in, even though the unearned run on Opening Day cost him a save. Other than him 5 of the 6 relievers used have allowed runs.
Shotgun Spratling
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