Starters vs. Bullpen

[Chip R]

One thing to ponder with the bullpen in the shape that it is in is that if you think we do not have confidence in the bullpen, how do you think the starters feel like? And that could come back to bite them. For example, one of our starters has thrown a quality start. But he is at the point right now where he is getting tired. I am sure the pitching coach and manager ask him how he is feeling every inning and he is always going to say he feels fine. If he had a very good bullpen out there he might admit he is finished earlier than if he has the bullpen that is out there now. He is more liable to be dishonest about the condition he is in with a bad bullpen than he would with a good one. That could lead to him giving up runs or baserunners when he is too tired. It is probably not a big deal since pitchers have lied about their condition since they started playing the game. A manager and a pitching coach also are going to have to make a judgement to leave their pitcher in. It might be a Catch 22 situation for them. Leave the starter in and not only risk losing the game because he is tired but risk damaging his arm as well. But if you take him out too early you risk the Bomb Squad blowing the game for you. We have been fortunate so far that our starters have lasted at least 5 innings in most every game. I shudder to think what could happen if a starter is forced to leave the game early because of injury or ineffectiveness.

[Patrick Bateman]

The way the bullpen has looked sort of makes me long to have Danny Graves back. He often got rocked, but he offset that with an occasional good outing. On the other hand, this pen has been like clockwork with giving up runs.

You are missing the point.

Graves often pitched bably but usually got the job done.

Our bullpen has pitched poorly but has pitched well enough to ensure 4 victories.

Our bullpen is Graves at his best. And his worse.

[Superdude]

Has Coffey even pitched yet? With our bullpen, he should be pitching roughly half the relief innings in my opinion.

[BigREDSfaninKY]

In the 7th, 8th and 9th innings this week the Reds staff has given up 18 runs out of the 42 given up so far. That is 43 % of the runs allowed in the final 3 innings. It shouldn't be too much longer before guys like White and Hammond will be out of a job.:thumbdown

[MartyFan]

technically, by the rules of baseball stats, yes he did, but that wasn't all on him - Mike Burns pretty much blew it for him. Either Harang shouldn't have pitched the inning or should have been allowed to attempt to get out of his jam...neither happened.

Stats don't tell the whole story

THANK YOU!!! WOW!

Someone else thinking what I was thinking and writing during the game...I thought what a load of crap it was to pull him when he went out there for the 7th inning...let the guy work through it.

Thanks Matt!

[TeamBoone]

Aaron was close to 100 pitches when he started the 7th. I didn't think Narron would bring him back, so was surprised when he batted in the 6th.

In addition, he's still not 100% over that flu bug that he pitched with on OD... and despite that, he still had 10 Ks and 0 BB. I think he was tired in the 7th. Aaron Harang will only get better.

Krivsky is a smart man. One way or another, I think he'll do something about the BP... sooner rather than later, either via trade(s) or sending down the chaff and bringing up a few of the better, younger arms.

Thank God for the offense.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It has to hapapen before the Reds start playing the really big boys.

[wheels]

You are missing the point.

Graves often pitched bably but usually got the job done.

Our bullpen has pitched poorly but has pitched well enough to ensure 4 victories.

Our bullpen is Graves at his best. And his worse.

Eventaully, giving up that many runs will catch up to a team.

The Reds are on borrowed time.