tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122736168771714314.post8393905078800415030..comments2024-01-24T11:33:11.129-05:00Comments on Mike's Mets: Building a Better BullpenMike Steffanoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08573922415294713184noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122736168771714314.post-67139181779464288492021-01-19T08:48:27.211-05:002021-01-19T08:48:27.211-05:00Yes, I agree with you that it is a difficult job t...Yes, I agree with you that it is a difficult job that not everyone can do effectively and that track record does matter. That is why I am not particularly worried about Diaz. I truly believe he will end up as one of the better ones for his career. <br /><br />The issue I have is the predictability. Familia had a pretty good track record through his first years with the Mets and the half year with the A's. While he never had the pinpoint control you might want, that aspect seems to have disappeared. Perhaps the bullpen was affected more by Ramos than even the starters? (Before we get into the season, I'm going to just blame all pitching woes on Ramos :-).<br /><br />There is an interesting intersection between your point of a different philosphy of developing pitchers and my thought on how much a catcher affects the pitching. The catcher's focus is on game plan, working with the starters to develop the best strategy for attacking today's game. Maybe that different philosophy involves developing 'relief catchers' that work very closely with the bullpen staff and actually come in as defensive replacements when the pen is called upon??<br />Just a little out of the box rambling.Remember1969https://www.blogger.com/profile/15660882100057748796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122736168771714314.post-64156082443961859462021-01-18T22:12:14.984-05:002021-01-18T22:12:14.984-05:00Well, I think the biggest problem with Colorado...Well, I think the biggest problem with Colorado's bullpen was pitching in that ballpark. I think a guy having a track record of success in the bullpen matters. It's a hard job, coming into a game with little margin for error. You have to be able to come in and throw QUALITY strikes. I wonder sometimes if a different philosophy of developing relievers isn't called for, at least for the Mets.<br /><br />Great commentMike Steffanoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08573922415294713184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122736168771714314.post-87743165537584465322021-01-18T20:49:54.539-05:002021-01-18T20:49:54.539-05:00Relief pitchers and bullpens are very hard to pred...Relief pitchers and bullpens are very hard to predict. There seem a lot more lightning flashes that are great for a year or two than there are sustained careers. I mean is Liam Hendriks the next coming of Mariano Rivera or is he today's wonder pitcher that figured out a couple things at age 30 and had a couple good years? <br /><br />I keep thinking about the bullpen Colorado built a couple years ago when they brought in Wade Davis, Bryan Shaw, and Jake McGee. It was a lights out, shut-em-down staff that threw to a 4.13, 5.93, and 6.49 ERA, respectively, all with over 60 games. <br /><br />I think the ChiSox will regret that signing of Hendriks, and I hope the Mets do not overspend for Hand.<br /><br />Another thought I have about relievers is how they are used. Are they set up for success or set up for failure? I may have stated this before (I think I did a version of it on a post somewhere earlier this offseason), but take Familia for example. It just seems like he is much more inclined to give up a walk if he is brought in in the middle of an inning that already has some issues going on. I think he was most effective when he started an inning and he had a little pressure to protect the lead (save situation). It seems like he didn't have the same concentration when he was brought on with a big (4+ run) lead, or even if they were down a couple runs. Someday I may try to disect or do a deep dive into his stats from his good and poor years. <br /><br />The other thing I don't understand is the whole development and promotion of players. It seems that players need to be named Jared Kelenec to be thought worthy to have a major league spot. Why not fill the back end of the bullpen with a Drew Smith or Daniel Zamora and use them in a way that will allow them to succeed? That is probably stating things that are not easy, but how do we fans know that buying a Brad Hand for $10M per year is better than letting Zamora develop for $0.6M per year? <br /><br />Tampa is a very interesting case study here. They have a full pen of pitchers I had never heard of. Were they all #1 draft picks? I doubt it. I suspect they gave them a role and allowed them to succeed. <br /><br />But yea, having a good bullpen is key to playing deep into October, but it is also a crapshoot to build one. The big name this year (Bryan Shaw?) may be pedestrian next. But maybe not (Josh Hader).<br />A lot of guys seem to just show up as great one year rather than be developed (Hendriks).<br /><br />Enough for now .. Remember1969https://www.blogger.com/profile/15660882100057748796noreply@blogger.com