Bullpen Report: April 5, 2016
• As expected, the Astros looked towards Luke Gregerson with their first save chance of the year and he rewarded the team with a clean save, throwing a perfect inning along with a strikeout against the Yankees. Ken Giles threw in the eighth allowing a solo shot to Didi Gregorious but otherwise looked effective, striking out two. Giles’ velocity (96.4 mph) was in line with last season and I would expect him and Gregerson to comprise a darn effective end of game tandem moving forward.
• The Yankees should also have a nice little bullpen this year but Dellin Betances struggled in the eighth inning tonight, giving up three runs. All three runs were unearned but the error was on Betances himself. Either way, he wasn’t effective walking two batters and hitting someone as well. Betances is unlikely to see many saves opportunities in New York but he should be remain among the best non-save relievers this season. Of some deep interest is the fantastically named Johnny Barbato who hit 96.6 mph on his fastball and struck out three batters in an inning and a third. The 23 year old throws hard and a consistently supported a K/9 greater than nine throughout his career in the minors and could be someone to watch in the already deep Yankees pen.
• Rough night for Francisco Rodriguez who allowed four hits and three runs to score against Miami en route to his first blown save of the year. Tigers fans might have some residual Joe Nathan taste in their mouth after seeing an older closer struggle but K-Rod should have a long leash in Detroit. Shane Greene ended up with the save closing the game in the 11th inning but he’s still expected to be a 5th starter/long man and not sniff any more saves.
• Quick Hits: Jeurys Familia only needed 10 pitches for a perfect ninth and his first save of the year. Alex Colome threw two scoreless and received the win. We still have him as first in line in Tampa and he should receive some save chances as Brad Boxberger remains on the DL. Santiago Casilla isn’t the most stable of closers but he threw a perfect frame for his first save after Romo set him up with a perfect eighth of his own.
Closer Grid:
[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]
When he's not focusing on every team's bullpen situation, Ben can be found blogging at Ben's Baseball Bias and on Twitter @BensBias
Axford and Madson are mistakenly switched again, I see.
Do you think Erasmo Ramirez might figure into the Rays late relief plans until they consistently need a fifth starter? They are talking about keeping him in the pen for a while, almost as if they want him there until Boxberger returns. I think it might take longer than that for Boxberger to return, but still find their plans for Eraser interesting.
Erasmo was warming in the bottom of the 8th tonight when the Rays were down by one run, but took a seat again when Forsythe hit his 2 run blast to give the Rays the lead heading into the 9th. Colome, who was already in the game, stayed in the game with the 1 run lead. That suggests to me that the Rays prefer Colome pitching late in close games with the lead.
Pretty sure it was Barbato that had the hit batsman, not Betances, as he was lifted after the Valbuena single.
Any concern with Doolittle? Shaky start coming off the injury.
It’s the first week of the season! We need chatter and hand-wringing on the comments sections! Come on people.
Yeah but it’s Doolittle. “Injury concerns” is pretty much the default state with him.
Ben – any chance we could get an article on the top non-closing relief pitchers?
looking for help to bolster my Ks and ratios with guys like Betances and Strickland.
TB: Farquharr has 1 too many r’s at the end. I don’t think he’s 2nd chair.. I think it’s Cedeno or Geltz depending on matchups.
You might want to red light the Texas closer situation, and move Dyson to second chair. Kela started the 7th today, Dyson worked the 8th, and Tolleson blew up in the 9th in a big way. The Rangers have already said they may play match ups in the 9th. Even before today’s meltdown, Banister had said he may play match ups in the 9th. And as Evan Grant noted in the Dallas Morning Star after today’s game:
— Start your controversies: In his last four regular-season appearances for the Rangers, RHP Shawn Tolleson has allowed nine hits and eight runs and retired just six batters. Presented with a one-run lead, Tolleson allowed five consecutive hits in the ninth, punctuated by Robinson Cano’s two-run homer. During last year’s AL Division Series, manager Jeff Banister turned to Sam Dyson to save games. That possibility will loom over the closer situation every time Tolleson struggles.