Bullpen Report: September 15, 2016
Tyler Thornburg has pretty much been nails since taking over the ninth-inning role for the Brewers following the trade deadline deals of both Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith. He’s accumulated the second-most WAR among qualified relievers over the last month (0.6 WAR) thanks in part to a pretty 0.00 ERA (2.71 FIP) and successfully converting five saves in six opportunities. Tonight, Thornburg needed four outs and 33 pitches (18 strikes – eight called, one swinging) to earn his 10th save of the season, but surrendered a hit and a couple of free passes along the way. All is green in Milwaukee for Thornburg.
Alex Colome surrendered a pair of hits in Baltimore tonight, but also fanned a pair of Orioles to seal his 33nd save of the season in a 7-6 victory for Tampa Bay. Colome needed just 13 pitches (10 strikes – one called, one swinging) to close out Baltimore. On the year, Colome is 33-of-35 in save opportunities with a 1.97 ERA (3.08 FIP) and a 11.8 K/BB in 60.1 frames on the hill. He owned a career best 15.8% SwStr%, 25.1% K-BB% and 51.8% GB% prior to Thursday’s action. Bradley Boxberger picked up the win on the Rays’ behalf — his fourth of the season.
Dellin Betances served up four earned runs on three hits and a walk to earn the blown save — his fifth of the season — and the loss — his sixth on the year — in a crucial loss to their chief rival Red Sox, 7-5. The Yankees’ right-hander is now 11-of-16 in save opportunities with a 2.83 ERA (1.71 FIP) and a 15.43 K/9 in 70 innings in ‘16. Despite the seven earned runs allowed in the past week or more, Betances will remain green in New York.
Quick Hitters: Patrick Corbin picked up his first save and second of his career tonight in a three-inning effort while striking out four. Jason Grilli (19), Joaquin Benoit (16), Tommy Layne (10), Danny Farquhar (4), Erasmo Ramirez (14), Alex Wimmers (1), Carlos Torres (15) and J.T. Chargois (2) notched holds on Thursday.
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.
This is nitpicky but Liberatore definitely should not be second for LAD anymore. You could make a case for Dayton or Baez, but not Lib.
In DET, Bruce Rondon should be ahead of at least one (and probably both) of the Wilsons.
MIA may be somewhat in flux behind Ramos. It may be too early to make the change in the chart, but I expect this weekend’s usage (if opportunities arise) to show David Phelps ahead of one or both of Rodney and Bearclaw.
Is there any insight about Oh’s availability? There haven’t been the opportunities recently to see who gets the call in St. Louis but maybe someone knows better than I do.
Oh is apparently available again as of yesterday:
https://twitter.com/LangoschMLB/status/776950806432063488
Betances clearly does not do well when pitching on a 3rd straight day. This one was on Girardi.
I agree on the 3rd day, especially with a 4 out save the other day. I also didn’t understand the usage at all. Betances didn’t start the inning last night so clearly he was hoping not to get him in there after 2 straight prior days. Then they get a guy on so they rush Betances up there. Either he’s available or he’s not, you can’t jerk around with him there. Most managers drive me nuts but Girardi is near the head of the pack in that regard.
Why is Kintzler still yellow? Just because people don’t believe he’s good enough to hold the job? It seems like you commonly graduate guys to green when they have no good competition, are used exactly like classic 9th inning guys and get 14 out of 16. I get why not being a great pitcher increases volatility, but by that logic does he stay yellow indefinitely?