Bullpen Report: April 3, 2017
Welcome back to another season of the Bullpen Report here at RotoGraphs. As the second day of regular season games come to a close, we felt the need to catch up with you all, run the closer chart, provide some general thoughts about how we will proceed with the chart this season and provide a couple of tidbits of news and analysis from the handful of games already in the books.
With respect to the chart:
-This is as an item that we’re looking to overhaul in the coming weeks. While the chart in its current state serves a purpose, we’ll be looking to upgrade the aesthetics and opportunities to provide additional details. A new color (orange?) will be added for teams that appear to be utilizing “true” committees. We’ll also be altering the wording in the final column for each team — simply to reflect a noteworthy reliever that may not be active for one reason or another (disabled list, minors, paternity leave, suspension etc…). If you have a reasonable suggestion for any future modification of the chart please drop it in the comments and we may consider it. No promises.
-If by chance a team has more than one reliever that would normally have a place on this chart is not currently active, only the most fantasy-relevant arm will be listed in the final column.
Catching up on some old news:
-To the surprise of many, the Nationals officially named Blake Treinen their ninth-inning man, not Shawn Kelley or the trendy Koda Glover. Treinen notched his first save of the season this evening, making quick work (17 pitches) of the Marlins Giancarlo Stanton, Justin Bour and Marcell Ozuna.
–Cam Bedrosian currently carries the Angels’ closer tag and could very well run with it if he continues to pitch well and/or Huston Street’s injury issues continue. Street is currently on the 10-day disabled list, but has been medically cleared to resume baseball activities following a strained lat suffered early in March during the Cactus League. I’m still trying to get more shares of Bedrosian where possible at this time, for what it’s worth.
-Blue Jays’ closer Roberto Osuna is not expected be out beyond his stint on the 10-day disabled list due to a cervical spasm. In his stead, the Blue Jays will mix-and-match ninth-inning responsibilities between Jason Grilli and Joe Biagini. Own them in that order if need be.
Tonight’s Tid-Bits:
Up one run in the eighth-inning, the Rockies called Adam Ottavino to the bump to face the bottom of the Brewers’ order. Ottavino surrendered a pair of free passes but fanned the side in a scoreless frame. Greg Holland took the hill in the bottom half of the ninth to face the top of Milwaukee’s lineup (Villar/Thames/Braun). Holland issued a leadoff walk, but induced an Eric Thames lineout and a double play ball (thanks to Nolan Arenado) off the bat of Ryan Braun to earn his first save of the year and first save since the ‘15 season. He’s Colorado’s closer, it seems.
–Craig Kimbrel, Ken Giles, Santiago Casilla, Jeanmar Gomez and Cody Allen each earned their first saves of ‘17. Despite Gomez’s save for Philadelphia, their skipper is already going public about the right-hander’s short leash. Joaquin Benoit and trendy Hector Neris are the obvious names to keep tabs here. More on this situation tomorrow. For Oakland, Ryan Madson saw the eighth and Casilla took the ball in the ninth, so this could very well be an orange situation in Oakland in tomorrow’s edition of the BR.
Despite this evening’s brief effort, it’s good to be back folks. As always, if you have any questions, comments or bad jokes, leave them in the comments or share them with me on Twitter.
Closer Grid:
[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]
In addition to contributing to the RotoGraphs blog, you can find Alan at his own site, TheFantasyFix.com and follow his nonsense on Twitter @TheFantasyFix.
Blanton pitches for Washington, not LA. Mauricio Cabrera is on the DL. Come on – gotta get the easy stuff right.
Geez, got a regular Freddie Wilson here.
shut up
Yes, yes we do. Working out the Opening Day jitters here. These items have been corrected. Thanks!
I agree w amerikaner. For two years now this column has not been very good. Not sure why fangraphs can’t find someone who does this column regularly and keeps up to date with the basic info as two readers have already pointed out. Sorry, hard love here.
Maybe the writers play in other formats so that they don’t really have passion for closer monitoring. I love Rotographs, but there are better reliever resources out there. Even setting aside the mistakes that have been corrected, this initial chart has some dubious choices – most notably Edwards as the handcuff for the Cubs.
If that’s the case they shouldn’t be writing the column. There’s no shortage of sharp, aspiring fantasy baseball writers out there. Several people in the comments section of this very article are regularly better sources of information on bullpens.
I’ve been a critic myself, but I doubt this is so. A number of us do catch a thing here, and a thing there, but that doesn’t actually mean we’re up on all 30. I know I’ve never been.
Thanks for the feedback, Bill. But I don’t think it’s fair to call this column “not very good” for the past two years because I made a handful of mistakes on the first post of the season. We’re human. And this basic info consists of researching usage/success of 90+ relievers, managers/beat writers quotes etc.. on a nightly basis. It’s tough. You guys deserve better, so I will continue to work harder to make fewer mistakes. We do appreciate the community effort from those who know their teams the best — that’s what makes this place as good as it is. Thanks for reading.
I’ve been a very regular reader of this column for a couple of years, and I think its been excellent, and an invaluable resource for finding saves/emerging saves. It’s the first week, of course there are some issues while the writers get their bearings. Honestly, 2 games into the year, how important is it really who handcuffs Wade Davis in one of the most secure bullpens in the league? Furthermore, how strong is your evidence really that it ISN’T Edwards? If Davis goes on the DL tomorrow and Edwards gets the save on Thursday you’re going to feel pretty silly, but instead you took a low-risk pot shot at the writer who puts in work that I, and most fans certainly can’t do by criticizing the decision to put Edwards first in line when everyone knows Davis isn’t close to losing his job.
I’ve been extremely successful the last two years at finding the guys who are about to get saves, and it is entirely because I read this column. It’s leaps and bounds better than the depth charts feature for bullpens on my CBS fantasy site, which is barely better than worthless. If someone knows something better I’d love to see it, but I think the authors of bullpen report are to be commended for their excellent work. I would just like to see it come out once or twice during spring training so I could use it for draft preparation.
Now that fangraphs requires logins to post comments we should be able to delete our comments when we respond to the wrong post.
Have to think Hoover is higher in the pecking order in AZ than Wilhelmsen.
Might be helpful to add a column for long men that hold some fantasy value. Guys that could put up 75-85 IP over the season with good rates (Brad Hand, Mychael Givens, Chris Devenski, etc). There might be some overlap with setup roles (Miller, Betances), but that doesn’t seem like a problem. With more clubs utilizing a relief ace that can go 1-2 IP in a game, this would be a reflection of the changing MLB bullpen.
If so I think that would be better served with a separate table for a sometimes separate audience.
There used to be a separate column for middle relievers, not sure if that’s a thing or not this season. Will look into it.
Appreciate the idea.
Maybe kela worth a spot in the dl/minors column for Texas? The underlying skills last year were good w/r/t velo, sw/str%, etc and his spring was good. I could see him jumping back into the picture if they all get past whatever this discipline issue is
FWIW (maybe not much), Bedrosian was told they are using a closer by committee until Street returns.
Yeah, exactly. Managers always say this, and very occasionally they even mean it. Given which, I’d vote a red Bedrosian, as opposed to this yellow one or an orange committee.
Good call. Saw that this morning as well.
Edwards Jr. + Koji over Rondon in Chicago (NL)?
Yeah, if I was speculating on Cubs saves in the event of a Davis injury, I’d take Rondon, Koji, Strop, and maybe even Montgomery ahead of Edwards.
And in ATL, I’m pretty sure that Vizcaino would slot above “Jose Rmairez”
Yes, Viz over Ramirez. That was my intention. Fixing, thanks!
we all appreciate the respect shown to local pronunciation of ramirez, though
I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but don’t forget how much the Cubs trusted Carl Edwards in the playoffs and really leaned on him in high leverage situations.
did you hear about the guy who lost his left arm and left leg in a car crash? he’s all right now…
One thing that really needs to be addressed here is Holds and Save/Holds leagues. Half the leagues I’m in count Holds and there’s really no attention paid to them on the site. It seems necessary to me, but others can weigh in.
I would also love it if there were a color for the exciting/electric arms to keep an eye on. Wouldn’t have to be every team, but the Edwin Diazes (before getting the job) and Carter Capps of the world are worth keeping track one.
Again, there used to be a dedicated column for that. Will talk to the team about this.
Don’t the guys you’ve got at #2 and #3 almost always get the holds anyway? Can’t someone in a S/H league pretty accurately interpret the chart that way if they want to in the vast majority of cases.
Grilli then Biangini in the text, opposite in the chart…likely doesnt matter but hoping for clarification as a Grilli owner in a deep league.
The skipper mentioned them Grilli/Biagini, but also mentioned mix-and-match. This should be an “orange” (committee) type situation for the next handful of days until Osuna is reinstated. (and if I can figure out the orange, I’m working on it.)
So are those colors orange or red? If orange, then Philly probably ought to be red instead. Still Jeanmar so far as is knowable, but one more blowup and somebody else gets the baton.
Colors above are supposed to be red, but they definitely look orange-ish. Will chat with the team about procedure moving forward as to not create any more confusion.
For what it’s worth, I expect Soria to be the next man up in KC…and would’ve said that before Strahm’s nightmare outing yesterday as well.
I also expect Glover to be next for the Nats given he was strongly considered for the job out of the gate and the widely reported health concerns the team has about Kelley. Splitting hairs there because no one really knows what’s going on in Dusty’s head.
That may be the case this year. Last year I thought Soria was the next man up, but after Davis went down it was Herrera. I wonder if Soria may get leapfrogged again this year. He didn’t really dominate last year as it was, so we’ll see if anything changed soon enough.
Yeah it was a bit cloudier last year. Soria with the closing experience but Herrera the better pitcher at the time. This year I think it’s clearer as Strahm’s future is more likely in the rotation. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him sent down to get stretched out sooner rather than later.
My twitter page isn’t a “closer monitor”, but I will be monitoring the difference in a closer’s numbers when they come into a game in non-save situations. Last season it seemed their cumulative ERA jumped about two runs when there wasn’t a save on the line. Maybe it’s a psyche thing, I don’t know…but I’ll be tracking it on a daily basis at @SaveSituations, although it won’t be very useful for fantasy purposes. Teams with a closer-by-committee won’t be monitored until they appoint a definite guy. I just created the page today so follows will be appreciated.