The Bullpen

[RIPEXPOS]

Figure this deserves it's own thread since it'll be a hot topic for this team all year.

 

To get it started, what do you guys think of Miguel Castro as closer? To be honest I thought the closer role was going to be a huge handicap, but Castro is making me a believer. It's been a while since we had a guy like him, a 20 year old pure pen type with nasty ass stuff. That 90 MPH cutter or whatever it was compliments his high 90s heat beautifully and he can be counted on to throw strikes.

[Laika]

It's his changeup at like 89mph.

 

I'd prefer Castro as a guy who can get more than 3 outs most nights. I want to see him pitch 80+ innings out of the pen if he's a reliever all year.

 

Hopefully he doesn't get cemented into a traditional "closer" gig in the 9th inning. If it's Pedroia-Ortiz-Hanley in the 7th inning I would want Castro coming out of that pen

[Stangstag]

Figure this deserves it's own thread since it'll be a hot topic for this team all year.

 

To get it started, what do you guys think of Miguel Castro as closer? To be honest I thought the closer role was going to be a huge handicap, but Castro is making me a believer. It's been a while since we had a guy like him, a 20 year old pure pen type with nasty ass stuff. That 90 MPH cutter or whatever it was compliments his high 90s heat beautifully and he can be counted on to throw strikes.

 

Really? After 1 save you are a "believer"?

[RIPEXPOS]

Either way, as long as he's comfortable and the highest leverage guy.

[RIPEXPOS]

Really? After 1 save you are a "believer"?

 

To be fair, I said "making me a believer".

 

And it's been all three games so far, and the preseason.

[flafson]

Right now we have 3 meh/long relivers in Hendricks, Redmond and Estrada. That worries me.

[Jimcanuck]

Right now we have 3 meh/long relivers in Hendricks, Redmond and Estrada. That worries me.

 

There are not many bullpens with better long relievers.

[ElNik2013]

Hopefully, "Gibby" stops using Castro for 4-pitch outings. That was ridiculous on Wednesday.

[flafson]

There are not many bullpens with better long relievers.

 

My point is, we have too many long relivers and too little guys for meaningful innings.

We essentially have 2 rookies as our high leverage guys and 2 of the better bullpen arms from a season ago as not being ready to pitch. So you essentially relay on the 2 rookies and Hynes to get the job done.

[RealAccountant]

I think that we really haven't seen enough of the bullpen and they have already blown 1 game

[ElNik2013]

My point is, we have too many long relivers and too little guys for meaningful innings.

We essentially have 2 rookies as our high leverage guys and 2 of the better bullpen arms from a season ago as not being ready to pitch. So you essentially relay on the 2 rookies and Hynes to get the job done.

 

 

 

Can we stop with teh "rookies" crap? Would you feel better if they had Heath Bell or some other "vetrin"?

 

Alright...

[RealAccountant]

Estrada is not just a long reliever and I thought we would have seen more of him by now

[ScientificReason]

My point is, we have too many long relivers and too little guys for meaningful innings.

We essentially have 2 rookies as our high leverage guys and 2 of the better bullpen arms from a season ago as not being ready to pitch. So you essentially relay on the 2 rookies and Hynes to get the job done.

 

AA is to blame for the current state of the bullpen, should have been addressed in the offseason.

[flafson]

AA is to blame for the current state of the bullpen, should have been addressed in the offseason.

 

It's not that bad to be honest, we are 1 piece away from being good. It just that now Loup and Cecil are struggling and everything falls on Osuna and Castro.

[Brownie19]

Estrada is not just a long reliever and I thought we would have seen more of him by now

 

For once - I agree with you. I don't put Estrada in the same discussion with Hendrick or Redmond

[ScientificReason]

It's not that bad to be honest, we are 1 piece away from being good. It just that now Loup and Cecil are struggling and everything falls on Osuna and Castro.

 

We'll see but loup was always shaky imo, prone to losing control and really bad outings. Cecil Is good I think but we are paper thin, one injury and it is looking pretty bad. The young guys look stellar but they are really young, barely out of single A. That's a lot to ask over a long season. Moves need to be made imo (Should have in the offseason, for once I agree with Zaun). This team is close to playoff caliber in a weakened division, AA needs to step up as do ownership.

[Angrioter]

1-Cecil - Stud

2-Castro - Multi-inning stud

3-Osuna - multi-inning stud

4-Hynes - Lefty who throw strikes

5-Loup - He used to throw strikes

 

 

This is a very good bullpen

[KingKat]

1-Cecil - Stud

2-Castro - Multi-inning stud

3-Osuna - multi-inning stud

4-Hynes - Lefty who throw strikes

5-Loup - He used to throw strikes

 

 

This is a very good bullpen

 

If Loup continues to struggle just swap him with Delabar who arguably should already be here.

[ElNik2013]

If Loup continues to struggle just swap him with Delabar who arguably should already be here.

 

 

 

Loup needs to be used as a loogy, he struggles against rhb. Maybe Delabar for Hynes and a long-reliever for a position player.

 

 

I'm actually interested to see what Hendriks can do as a reliever.

[bendera3]

I'd really like to see Castro and Osuna pitch more than just one inning if they are doing well. Both of them are starting pitchers and they have good stuff. Why limit them to 1 inning if they are doing well?

 

Let Cecil close and don't limit the young guys from keeping it rolling if they are doing well.

[HERPDERP]

My few observations:

 

I like Castro. I think he's the real deal. He is hitting his spots and getting hitters to flail at his offspeed pitches that tail away from the zone.

 

Osuna I'm not convinced as much, and I've felt this way since ST. His control is no where near as pinpoint as Castro, and he's been getting away with mistakes since the start of ST.

 

I don't know how long it'll be until Osuna gets shelled but I'm not comfortable with him. I still think he needs more seasoning in the minors.

 

Cecil - I think Cecil can still be good. His breaking ball is still there. His velocity is/wasn't there, but once you get him some more reps and pitching in warm weather I think he will return to his usual self. I don't think he'll see another save until Castro is unavailable for a save game.

 

Loup - Going back to his outing in Montreal, Loup has been terrible. Control is spotty. I'm not sure if he will be as reliable as the past two seasons.

[Angrioter]

Loup needs to be used as a loogy, he struggles against rhb. Maybe Delabar for Hynes and a long-reliever for a position player.

 

 

I'm actually interested to see what Hendriks can do as a reliever.

 

Loup FIP

Vs L 3.09

Vs R 3.48

 

edit: Hynes is f***ing awesome

[Angrioter]

I'd really like to see Castro and Osuna pitch more than just one inning if they are doing well. Both of them are starting pitchers and they have good stuff. Why limit them to 1 inning if they are doing well?

 

Let Cecil close and don't limit the young guys from keeping it rolling if they are doing well.

 

If you uses Castro-Osuna multi innings, then, they can't pitch in consecutive days.

[jays76]

Loup needs to be used as a loogy, he struggles against rhb. Maybe Delabar for Hynes and a long-reliever for a position player.

 

 

I'm actually interested to see what Hendriks can do as a reliever.

 

Hendriks is mediocre and redundant in the pen right now. Ideally if he had options he'd be in the minors and Delabar would be up here.

 

Exact same scenario for Tolleson if he had options, he should be in the minors and Goins should be up here backing up the infield. Can't wait for Saunders to return so the Tollie in LF as the current 4th OF experiment will end..

[HERPDERP]

I'm confident Delabar will be back up...possibly before May even starts.

 

We all said the same of him last September and he didn't even get a call.

 

Delabar is on this team's shitlist for some reason.

[Angrioter]

Hendriks is mediocre and redundant in the pen right now. Ideally if he had options he'd be in the minors and Delabar would be up here.

 

Exact same scenario for Tolleson if he had options, he should be in the minors and Goins should be up here backing up the infield. Can't wait for Saunders to return so the Tollie in LF as the current 4th OF experiment will end..

 

Saunders return is bad news right now. Pillar is playing a good baseball; maybe he could steal some playing time from Pompey

[Angrioter]

Alternate their multi inning outings...

 

Osuna can go multiple innings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

 

Castro can go on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays...

 

Sundays are reserved for complete game shutouts and no hitters and blow outs where you can use Redmond and Estrada.

 

Thanks, Dave Stewart!!

[KingKat]

Hendriks is mediocre and redundant in the pen right now. Ideally if he had options he'd be in the minors and Delabar would be up here.

 

Exact same scenario for Tolleson if he had options, he should be in the minors and Goins should be up here backing up the infield. Can't wait for Saunders to return so the Tollie in LF as the current 4th OF experiment will end..

 

I think the team recognizes that it will be hard to justify keeping Tolleson on the team all season and that at that at some point, he will have to be let go, options be damned. Goins getting some time in the outfield this spring suggests that he is being groomed to take over the super-utility role in a post Tolleson world.

[Angrioter]

Your donkey says hi. She prefers me.

 

Don't mess with my loved ones. f***er!!

[Angrioter]