So Much for the BLOWPEN

A friend just told me how happy he was that the Angels were in first place despite the bullpen's troubles. I decided to double check just how bad the bullpen was doing.

Answer? Not bad. Not bad at all. Actually, among the best in the majors.

This probably will not come as a surprise to those of you who had been paying attention to the long streak of scoreless relief pitching, but as of now, the Angels' bullpen ranks fourth in the majors with a 2.67 ERA. The starters also rank fourth with a 3.18 ERA. (Note that this statistic is misleading, as you are looking at the average between Weaver and Haren versus the rest. The Angels' starting pitching is very bimodal.)

The bottom line: I was all aboard the BULLPEN train from before the season started, but it might be time to reconsider the quality of our relievers.

Stats:
Relievers: http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/pitching/split/128
Starters: http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/pitching/split/127

about 1 year ago wspaniel 14 comments 1 recs |

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I really have to give credit for this to the Soth. 4 games in, our pen is blowing

chunks, and Mike brings the hammer down. We’re 11-3 since. I think it may have shocked the team as much as it shocked us since in general Scoscia’s a very deliberate manager, and it ranks as one of Sosh’s best managerial moves ever in my book.

#34 Forever
Plugging the upside since 2006.
Never give up, never surrender!

by TheOptimist on Apr 20, 2011 9:28 PM PDT reply actions

it iwll be the blowpen

as long as rodney is in there

I take it you don't have the DOV Secret Decoder Ring
You need to drink more ovaltine
-Quad Fin Rider

by DAD OF VLAD on Apr 20, 2011 9:29 PM PDT reply actions

It's a mirage

Look at the numbers that are more stable than earned runs: strikeouts, walks, and home runs. The Angels’ bullpen is among the worst in all those categories. You can’t strand every base runner all season long. The pain is coming if they don’t get their act together.

by Suboptimal on Apr 20, 2011 10:24 PM PDT reply actions

A little early to say this

Walden is closing, and he had one bad outing in his last game where he walked two and gave up a hit. In the 7.1 innings he pitched before that one, he had given up only 2 hits and 2 walks compared to 9 strikeouts. Downs is supposed to be the setup man, and he barely has pitched at all. He should be one of our most reliable relievers in terms of keeping men off base.

I admit that there are uncertainties with Takahashi, Rodney, and the demotions of Bulger and Kohn, but it only takes two or three dependable late-inning pitchers to succeed. If Downs gets healthy, I think we already have two of them.

by Brody on Apr 21, 2011 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions