Addressing the Bullpen

This ball feels like grass.

            In 2011 the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series, in part because of the fantastic performance of their bullpen in the postseason. But it wasn’t always like that. Here was their opening day bullpen:

CL RHP Ryan Franklin

SU RHP Jason Motte   

SU RHP Mitchell Boggs

MID LHP Trever Miller 

MID RHP Bryan Augenstein

MID LHP Brian Tallet 

LR RHP Miguel Batista

            This is what it was in the World Series:

CL RHP Jason Motte

SU RHP Octavio Dotel

SU LHP Marc Rzepczynski 

MID RHP Fernando Salas 

MID LHP Arthur Rhodes 

MID RHP Mitchell Boggs

MID RHP Lance Lynn 

LR RHP Jake Westbrook

            Jason Motte and Mitchell Boggs are the only hold overs from the beginning of the season. Remember when Ryan Franklin was the closer! He had a ridiculous chin thing! I miss him… Anywho, the Cardinals completely rebuilt their bullpen during the season. Octavio Dotel was lights out even though he was pitching on his 46^th team of his career. Arthur Rhodes pitched for them even though he had obligations to his great grand children. The point is, these guys weren’t glamorous or even top notch relievers in baseball, yet the Cardinals still were able to find these guys who greatly helped their postseason.

            The reason I bring this up, is that the Giants are in no way worst shape them the Cardinal bullpen was last year. As much as yesterday’s game hurt, it’s important not to overreact. The Giants bullpen is not that bad, not even close. Not one reliever has an ERA over 4.00. Santiago Casilla, George Kontos, Sergio Romo and Jeremy Affeldt all have ERA’s below 3. Brad Penny has only given up 1 hit the entire season! Frieri-esque!

So the situation is not dire. However, Romo is the only reliever with more than 11 inning pitched with a FIP below 3.04. Hensley and Casilla’s FIP are in the mid 4’s. The two have been lucky this year and that luck is starting to go the other way in recent appearences. It’s obvious something needs to be done to improve the unit, starting up top with the closer Casilla.

Most managers define the closer as the best and most durable reliever.  Assuming Bochy is not subscribed to Sabermetric Digest, he’s going to use his relievers in specific roles. A closer in his eyes is probably the best reliever that can deal with the most high leverage situation the best. That man should be Sergio Romo. Except in the Giants eyes, Romo is not durable and his elbow problems limited him to 40 innings last season. But why does that limit his role as a closer? If he can’t go one day just don’t use him. Yet on the days he can go, use him in those high leverage situations because the man has a 0.71 ERA this season, the third best in baseball for pitchers with at least 20 innings.

Oh here’s something. He has the best K/BB with at least 200 innings pitched in baseball history. History! We’re talking dinosaurs, Neanderthals, the dudes from Ice Age, everything! Use him as the closer on the days he can go and if he can’t, use somebody else. Why would that be bad?

Sabean’s shown he can address the bullpen if needed, when he acquired Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez in 2010. That type of move is needed again, preferably for a right handed reliever. As the Cardinals showed last year, it can be done, and bullpens can improve without getting relievers that will cost your club Adrian Gonzalez. The fear with Sabean of course, is that’s what’s going to happen.

The Giants need a closer and Casilla’s peripheral stats show that his ERA might be assaulted by a FIP monster any day now. I give you another edition of “Giants War Room” conversations.

Bruce Bochy: Well, I don’t like the way Santy’s (Santiago Casilla) throwing the ball lately and he knows that.

Brian Sabean: Guys we need a closer. 

Random fat computer dude: What about Romo? 

Everybody stares at the fat dude. Then they stare at each other.  

Sabean: Larry, finish him.

Larry Baer: Guards come.  

Fat Computer dude needs 5 guys to carry his weight, and he is thrown out of a window. 

Sabean: Anyways any suggestions. 

Bochy: Well, I kind of like this Brett Myers guy from Houston. The guy just looks like a closer.  

Sabean: What makes you say that?  

Bochy: He has facial hair. 

Sabean: Crap, that’s good. 

Larry Baer: Guys can we get ice cream? 

Sabean: Who should we give up. Him? 

Larry Baer: I like the gummy bears hehehe! 

Bochy: Well, I think it’s time. 

Sabean: Guards, release him. 

Brandon Belt is pushed into the room. His hands are tied behind his back and his mouth his ducktaped. He hasn’t shaved since 2010. 

 Belt: I just want to see my family! 

 Sabean: Brandon you are heading to Houston. We won’t be seeing each other again. 

 Larry Baer: ICE CREAM TIME!