Bullpen Report: August 4, 2016
Newly acquired Jeremy Jeffress took the bump for the Rangers in the seventh inning today to face the Orioles’ 6-7-8 hitters, Pedro Alvarez, Matt Wieters and Jonathan Schoop. The former Brewers’ closer surrendered a pair of hits in his first appearance for Texas, but escaped unscathed to earn the hold. Matt Bush locked down the eighth inning for his 13th hold of the season before giving way to Sam Dyson. Like Jeffress, Dyson allowed a single to Pedro Alvarez, but induced a couple of worm burners and a fly out to notch his 23rd save of the season in 25 chances. Despite just a 6.39 K/9, Sam Dyson owns an elite ground ball rate (61.3% GB%) that ranks among the top ten of (qualified) relievers and top five among current qualified closers. The right-hander now owns a 2.34 ERA (3.54 FIP) in 49.1 innings pitched. Like Jon Daniels mentioned, Dyson will keep his ninth inning role despite the acquisition of Milwaukee’s closer (27-of-28 in save chances, 2.17 ERA and a 3.16 FIP). If you need the roster space you’re sending Jeffress packing (if you haven’t done so already), but I’m holding my shares for a couple more weeks. Green.
The Athletics called on Ryan Madson to get them out of a one out bases loaded jam of a tie game in the bottom of the eighth against the Angels. Madson did just that, inducing a Yunel Escobar pop up to second base followed by a Kole Calhoun fly out to center to leave the bases full of Halos. Madson trotted back out for the ninth and gave up a one out single to Andrelton Simmons, but with some help from a fielder’s choice and a caught stealing of Ji-Man Choi was able to keep the game deadlocked at six runs a piece. Madson finished his night recording five outs on 23 pitches (13 strikes – three called, one swinging) while allowing just one hit in a winning effort. Ryan Dull — a popular name as of late around here — allowed one hit and fanned one in an 18-pitch (13 strikes – two called, three swinging) effort to pick up his second save of the season.
The Indians paid an arm, a leg and another arm for Yankees’ reliever Andrew Miller just shy of the trade deadline this week. Interestingly, Terry Francona summonsed the new Indians’ southpaw to the bump with two outs in the sixth-inning with no one on base to face right-hander Byron Buxton up two runs. Miller fanned Buxton, then returned in the top of the seventh to face the top of the Twins’ order — Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer and Max Kepler — who’ve absolutely scorched the Indians this series. Miller whiffed Mauer and Kepler to end his outing securing four outs (three strikeouts) on 18 pitches. After the game Francona noted that his intentions are not to use Miller that early in the game, but he needed to keep the red hot Twins off the board to give his team a chance. It worked.
Quick hitters: July didn’t go exactly as planned for White Sox closer David Robertson (8 ER) but he’s doing everything in his power to finish the month off strong — including an eight pitch effort today to pick up his 26th save of the season. Robertson is now 26-of-30 in save opportunities with a 4.06 ERA (4.08 FIP). Roberto Osuna surrendered a free pass but fanned the Astros half of the ninth to record his 24th save of the year on 22 pitches (13 strikes – four called, two swinging). Jeurys Familia worked through the Yankees’ 5-6-7 hitters in a 14-pitch outing (11 strikes – three called, two swinging) en route to his 38th save of ‘16. Kenley Jansen (32), Alex Colome (26), Santiago Casilla (25) and Jim Johnson (7) also shook hands tonight.
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.
Where would logan ondrusek be on baltimore’s bullpen depth chart, 6th in line for saves, behind givens and worley or further back?
What an odd question
“Green” in Oakland? What am I missing?
I think it’s worth trying to parse Francona’s comments a bit:
And though Miller’s role is not yet defined, Francona did say after the game he doesn’t foresee using Miller in that situation very often.
“I’d prefer not to use him that early, and that won’t happen a lot,” Francona said. “This is a little bit of a unique situation. Cody [Allen], [Bryan] Shaw and Miller were probably going to finish the game.”
To me, it sounds like neither Miller nor Allen is officially the closer.
Brad Boxberger has been pitching the 8th since his return, he should replace Erasmo Ramirez on the grid.
Benoit typically pitches the 7th with Cecil used as a LOOGY
Several quick notes:
1. Steve Cishek was put on the DL yesterday with a possibly season-ending torn labrum in his left hip.
2. Adam Liberatore was put on the DL 2 days ago with left elbow inflammation.
3. I doubt David Phelps will be entering the game in the 7th any time soon since he’s starting for the Marlins today.
4. As I noted yesterday, Edubray Ramos has been getting more high leverage situations than David Hernandez lately.
5. Is Randall Delgado really the best bet behind Barrett? He has 0 holds this season, while Hudson has 15 (although he’s been awful lately), Chafin has 6, Burgos has 2, and Loewen, Curtis, and Marshall all have 1.
I just noticed it’s Adam Libatore on the chart, haha.
DBacks fan here – it’s really a coin flip after Barrett and even Barrett is hardly a sure thing. I didn’t think it would be possible to have a less settled bullpen than Cincy, but the Dbacks are threatening it after the ZIegler and Clippard trades. Most of the guys in the pen every night have been on and off the AAA shuttle all season.
I was a little surprised that Delgado has zero holds but it’s not totally surprising as he has been the mop-up guy. Since he’s a former starter, a lot of his appearances have been when the starter couldn’t go deep in the game and they needed a little length – 16 of his 48 appearances have been over 1 IP. As you might imagine, those tend to be games where the DBacks were losing and you can’t get a hold if you’re behind. The DBacks are 10-38 in games Delgado pitches in. He hasn’t pitched well but he hasn’t pitched THAT badly. He has had only 2 hold opportunities and blew both of them. He’s only entered 8 games the DBacks were leading and 6 of those were not hold situations. A full 20 of his 48 appearances have been either the 6th inning or earlier or extra innings.
You’re right that he’s a terrible choice but I don’t know who’s a better choice – Chafin is on the DL so it can’t be him and every other reliever (including Barrett for that matter) has BB issues or HR issues or, in far too many cases, both.
Like I said – the late innings are a coin flip these days in the desert. . .
Thanks for the insight, Anon! Yeah, it seemed to me that Delgado was more of a longman out of the bullpen. Also whoops about Chafin, I didn’t realize that! Their best RP in the bullpen besides Barrett is actually Hudson, but I get why they don’t trust him right now. Over the past month, Adam Loewen, Enrique Burgos, and Zac Curtis are the only pitchers who have gotten holds for the Dbacks (one apiece), and Curtis was optioned down to AA, so it seems like Loewen and Burgos are the best bets to set up for Barrett in some order to me.
#freeRyanDull
Gotta think that closer spot’s Ottavino’s within the week.