Who’s Next In Line For The Bullpen?
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, June 09, 2008 12:16 PM | Comments: 19
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It’s inevitable that somewhere down the line something won’t work with the bullpen, whether it’s a slump, an injury or some freakish things. We don’t want to necessarily think about it, but this is a marathon.
The Phils have used the same seven relievers all season (the only team in baseball to do so). It’s been said the Phillies are searching for another lefty reliever, and at some point, they’ll likely have to use at least one more. So the big question, of course, is what happens when the bullpen needs that reliever?
Here are the current in-house options for eighth reliever:
Josh Outman
Sitting in AA Reading, Outman was converted to the bullpen and has been somewhat successful there. He carries a 3.69 ERA and has a good K/BB ratio of 53/26. A lefty, Outman is on the short list of probables to fill that final lefty role, but no indication yet that he would be the guy.
Fabio Castro
The 5’7″ lefty was also moved to the bullpen in Reading, and he’s been having a tough time. He’s 4-0, but carries a 4.30 ERA in his 46 innings. His 47/27 K/BB ratio isn’t great, but it’s serviceable. One wonders if he can handle the jump to AAA, unlike last season, where he had a 4.01 ERA and a 47/33 K/BB ratio.
RJ Swindle
Owner of the second-best name in the Phils organization, Swindle is a slow-tossing lefty reminiscent of current Phils pitcher Jamie Moyer. He is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 14.2 innings. He has struck out 15 and walked four and lefties can’t hit him. He represents the kind of lefty reliever the Phils need, but for some reason he hasn’t been given a shot at the Majors.
James Happ
Happ, who was mowing down hitters in AA Reading, has had an interesting time keeping up with hitters in AAA Lehigh Valley. He’s mixed some rocky starts with some generally great starts, to a tune of a 3.86 ERA in 13 starts. The lefty starter might be first in line if a Phils starter hits the DL, but there is a possibility he could take Clay Condrey’s position as long man. Happ currently has 81 K and 30 BB at Lehigh Valley.
Steve Kline also sits as an option, but he’s been pretty rough (4.84 ERA, .286 AVG). Veteran lefty Stephen Randolph (acquired from Houston), has a 1.80 ERA in 10 games (15 innings). He could be an option if the Phils aren’t eager to bring up a young arm.
So who would you like to see with the club when something hits a fan?
Posts: 0 Phil
Swindle and Happ look like great choices. Happ especially because he can replace the horrid Condrey.
Posted: 12:39 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 OZ
this is a tough one – “if it ain’t broke…” – and I say that as it applies to the bullpen. not the entire team.
that said, i might give one of these minor league guys a call-up now, send Condrey to the south pole, and see what happens.
why not bring up a minor leaguer with some promise now, while it’s less pressure. ease him into some games where its already been decided. or if they feel like he’s the mentally tough type, throw him in the high-pressure inning & see what happens…
Posted: 12:42 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Swindle might be ok but one soft tosser per major league team is more than enough already. from that list? josh outman. elsewhere? john grabow.
saw a post from a seattle article suggesting that seattle, who is already done, should trade eric bedard to the phillies for adrien cardenas and probably two of brad harman, michael taylor or dominic brown.no mention of the phillies pitching prospects that we commonly reference, but im sure seattle would ask for one of them instead of one of the position players. probably three prospects, not your nost notable prospects though.
bedard would proabbly fare better in the national league anyway.
what do you guys think about that? you probably could get bedard on the cheap now without giving up the farm. hed do a better job than adam eaton, plus hes another starting lefty. itd be at least worth pat gillick doing his due dilligence for it.
Posted: 12:53 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Joe
I need this spelled out for me. Who has the best name in the Phillies organization? VICTORino?
Posted: 01:06 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
I actually didn’t say it, but Outman has the best name, IMO. I saw the Bedard rumors and will post something on them. Finally, I think Swindle deserves his shot. A soft-tosser like him would be nice to have with the quick fastball/curve approach of Romero as your A1.
Posted: 01:08 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
swindle really is a great name considering he has to swindle hitters to get them out.
Posted: 01:13 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Gavin
Randolph is a guy they need to give a god look at. he has great stuff. his trouble was command. he seems to have found that.
They need to leave Castro as a starter. Havent they tried to move him to the pen 2 or 3 times and he always picthes worse than he did as a starter?
Happ would be my next option.
Posted: 01:18 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
ISn’t Bedard having a bad year, or is he having a bad year because he’s playing for a bad team? Isn’t he injury prone? Do we really need 3 lefty starters? I think we’d be fine with 2. I’d prefer a righty.
Posted: 01:21 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Id prefer a righty too but they could get bedard without having to give up all of their great pitching prospects. someone like aj burnett would require more back in return which i dont think the phililes would do. when moyer retires at the end of the season, which will be my guess, carrasco will take his place in the rotation. bedard is 404 with a 4.26 era on a terrible team that doesnt provide run support.
Posted: 01:24 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I still really want Sheets, but the Brewers picked it up which sucks. I doubt they’ll let him go unless they’re at .500 or under .500 by the trade deadline. Imagine getting Bedard and Sheets? haha I really think if they get this amazing #1 or #2 starter that they should send Kendrick back to the minors and let him get more experience down there. He’s still a little shaky. I know everyone is an Eaton hater, but the guy has been really successful as a 5th starter, and he is making $8,000,000 a year, so it would make more sense to send the kid making $3,800,000 a year down to the minors instead of the guy making 25 times that amount. There’s also the idea of sending Myers back to the bullpen, but he’s finally come around, and is a good pitcher, I’d rather keep him in the rotation. They are just some thoughts.
Posted: 01:42 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
My plan would be this: You do that trade for bedard which isnt that bad. then you can flip eaton, who finally has trade value, for a solid lefty reliever who is experienced. then youre pitching its very solid. eatons having a nice year, yes, but if you get a chance to escape from this bad contract then you take it before eaton implodes again.
Posted: 01:53 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike W.
I am eagerly awaiting Bastardo’s arrival when Eaton collapses. Bastardo pitched 6.1 innings of no-hit ball in his last start. As for the pen, I think it should and will be Randolph.
Posted: 02:02 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
Next in line for the bullpen will be Adam Eaton, because the Phils are about to snag Bedard.
Posted: 02:25 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Bruce
Hmm-m… it’s odd that we talk about a need for another reliever (some desiring a lefty) for a bullpen that is ranked NUMBER ONE in ERA in the majors (2.58). Ok, for insurance purposes what team wouldn’t like the idea of an extra pitcher (chuckle). I did a little research regarding innings pitched by the bullpen for this season. Phillies’ bullpen is ranked 19th in the majors with 192 innings (ML average is 198 and NL average
is 206). One reason for Phillies’ bullpen pitching fewer innings is that the team’s starting rotation is among the leaders in quality starts and ranked first in innings pitched (190+) in the NL. My impression from those statistics is the Phillies’ bullpen has been judiciously used and not overworked. That will certainly will help for the remainder of a long season.
Posted: 02:26 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
they need another reliever of value because they are overworking romero-gordon-lidge.
Posted: 02:28 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Shoot, if the Phils were to trade for Bedard, I’d forget flipping Eaton. I’d move Moyer to the bullpen as the LOOGY they so desperately want.
Also, Bruce, the point of the post is to show that even though the Phils have the best bullpen in baseball, and one that is worked around the average, they’ll at some point need reinforcements. Every team does.
Posted: 02:34 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Agreed with reinforcements. Its totally unreal to have a team go all year without changes to the bullpen AND the rotation? thats insane. has that ever happened before?
Posted: 02:37 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
Yeah Bruce, what’s your problem? Always going against the grain.
Posted: 03:02 PM on June 9, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
MOYER IN THE BULLPEN!?!?!?!?!?! Are you insane? Dude, that guy is an innings eater for his age, he gets quality starts, and he is a big game pitcher. I want him for the playoffs.
Posted: 03:08 PM on June 9, 2008