Bullpen Report: May 2, 2017
• Even a 12.60 ERA and taking the day to become a U.S. citizen can’t keep Fernando Rodney from the ninth inning. J.J. Hoover pitched the seventh and Jorge de la Rosa pitched the eighth, with each allowing a hit and a walk but getting a scoreless inning nonetheless, setting the table for Rodney with a three-run lead.
Rodney, with citizenship in hand pitched a perfect inning for his seventh save. Archie Bradley’s previous usage was of the one inning variety so I thought he might be next in line in the desert, but it looks like Hoover and de la Rosa are setting up. This situation is still red as Rodney’s ERA/FIP/xFIP line still stands at 11.45/5.00/4.30 and if a change were to be made Bradley could still be in play but I’ve put de la Rosa back on the grid in his place. A small congrats to Rodney’s 268th career save and a bigger congrats on what probably was a very, very special day for him.
I'm officially a US citizen 🇺🇸 God bless America & Thank you for the opportunity.
Hijo de Republica Dominicana 🇩🇴 🏹 #Flecha pic.twitter.com/ZyF3xtpDH9— Fernando Rodney (@F_Rodney56) May 2, 2017
• Zach Britton was recalled from the DL and threw a scoreless ninth inning in a non-save situation down by three runs to the Red Sox. Britton was a bit rusty, allowing a hit and a walk but he threw 13 pitches and was throwing 95+ mph so the important thing is he seems healthy. Britton immediately moves back to his familiar role in the with Brad Brach and Darren O’Day moving down a slot.
• Craig Kimbrel got the call for an easy three-run cushioned save and he pitched a perfect frame with one strikeout against the Orioles for his ninth closed door this season. Kimbrel’s ERA and walk rate ballooned last year to career highs but he’s looking like his younger bad self so far in 2017. It’s only been 12.1 innings pitched but his fastball is at 98 mph, his 20% swinging strike rate is a career high and it’s led to a K% of 47%, near his career high as well. Maybe most importantly Kimbrel’s control has been pristine with a 4.8% BB% also representing a career best. Kimbrel will probably have a bad outing at some point, even the best do, but he’s looking second to none in the early going, which isn’t something I expected after 2016.
• With Seung Hwan Oh likely unavailable after getting into some trouble in 25 pitches last night across two innings, the Cardinals went to Trevor Rosenthal for the save. He converted his third opportunity, striking out two in the process. In 8.1 innings Rosie has 17 strikeouts against two walks and although he’s the best pitcher in the Cardinals pen, Oh’s job is still fairly secure. However, with Rosie dominating hitters in the eighth, Oh can’t afford to go through the type of rough patch he had to start the season.
• Speaking of set up men that are better than the team’s closers, Justin Wilson struck out two in a scoreless eighth for his sixth hold. Francisco Rodriguez came on and got his seventh save, pitching around a hit and a walk with one strikeout.
• Quick Hits: Alex Colome is most likely a reader of the Bullpen Report because after pleading for him to strike out more batters he went out and K’d three for his seventh save. Jim Johnson recorded one-out for his fifth save after Matt Wisler messed up what started as a six run lead for the Braves against the Mets. Jason Grilli gave up a homer to Aaron Judge which on it’s own is excusable but he’s been struggling a lot of late and has left the grid with Joe Smith replacing him in the Blue Jays pen.
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
Hector Neris showing up down 5 runs in the 8th inning means he’s probably done as the primary closer?
dunno good question. any quote from phi manager on matter? assume the opposite will occur. even if benoit gets the next opportunity, his 1st stint only lasted 2 appearances.
Benoit makes more sense for them on a few levels. No arbitration costs to worry about. He’s been a capable high-leverage reliever for years. And even if Neris is better, they prob get more value out of him using him in important innings earlier in the game, where he can go 1-2 innings and tackle the tough lineup spots, not just sit in the pen and wait for them to have a lead in the 9th.
“Manager Pete Mackanin said Neris would not have been used to close out Tuesday’s game had a save chance arisen, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.
Mackanin said he eventually wants to get Neris back into a save opportunity, but first wants him to right himself in a setup role. Neris, who blew a save Saturday, tossed a scoreless eighth inning in a loss to the Cubs on Tuesday. Neris remains the most likely guy in the Phillies’ pen to secure the closing role, but Joaquin Benoit would have been the choice to close Tuesday had there been a need.”
http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-hector-neris-would-have-been-bypassed-for-save-chance-tuesday/
Saw a quote that manager wants him to get himself back on track in other roles for the moment, so Benoit seems to be the guy right now. Can’t miss this type of thing on bullpen report!
solid community imput on this. a retrospective:4/10 benoit gets named closer “officially”. Mackanin says he prefers neris in 8th inning role. 4/17 benoit bliws 2nd opportunity after converting 1. 4/20 neris gets save & Mackanin says its nice to have 2 guys and wont name a closer “officially” this time and proceeds with neris exclusively till now. id want neris as most ppl seam to agree long-term. just gonna piece out on this particular situation.