David Bell And The Bullpen

[Ron Madden]

As much as finger-pointing fans want it to be, this isn't a 'David Bell thing', it's a MLB thing.

Tom Verducci (SI.com) wrote about it last week: Relief pitching has reached a tipping point in MLB.
As managers go to bullpens earlier and earlier, and as the use of openers grows, workload is catching up to bullpens.

ML relievers have a higher ERA (4.50) than starters (4.44) for the first time since 1969.

Bullpen innings pitched:

Reds: 283 (20th)..............ML average: 305.........NL average: 294

Times using relievers:

Reds 283 (T-10th).............ML average: 273............Braves: 306 (1st)

Times relievers pitched multiple innings:

Reds: 87 (T-7th)...............ML average: 77..............Orioles: 131 (1st)

Times relievers pitched on consecutive days:

Reds: 61 (6th)..................ML average: 50...............Rockies: 69 (1st)

As you can see, the Reds certainly have leaned heavily on their bullpen. But all ML teams are leaning on their pens.

Most innings pitched per game by starters:

Reds: 5.4 (T-11th)............ML average: 5.3..........Nationals: 5.9 (1st)

Most pitches per game by starters:

Reds: 91 (T-8th)................ML average: 88...........Nationals: 95 (1st)

https://700wlw.iheart.com/featured/l...-reds-bullpen/

This is a good and informative article about bullpen usage in 2019 MLB.

[JCM11]

You need a very good and deep bullpen in order to pull this off for an entire season. If this was going to be the strategy going into the 2019 season then we should have done more than add Zack Duke to the pen.

[Tom Servo]

You need a very good and deep bullpen in order to pull this off for an entire season. If this was going to be the strategy going into the 2019 season then we should have done more than add Zack Duke to the pen.

I'd agree with this. I think the plan is fine, but they needed another above average arm or two to pull it off well. I think losing Cody Reed to injury hurt, he was kind of a jack-of-all-trades you could use in pretty much any role (long relief, two inning stints, one inning, LOOGY, etc).

[Griffey012]

I'd agree with this. I think the plan is fine, but they needed another above average arm or two to pull it off well. I think losing Cody Reed to injury hurt, he was kind of a jack-of-all-trades you could use in pretty much any role (long relief, two inning stints, one inning, LOOGY, etc).

I agree, I definitely think we are missing Cody Reed right now. I wonder if any thought has been given to trying Santillan in a relief role. It doesn't have to be permanent.

[malcontent]

I don't think I've complained much at all about Bell's decisions on the pitching front. I think Cubs fans probably have a helluva lot more to complain about with Maddon.

But last night he should have had a Plan B, and he didn't. If Iglesias and Garrett had the night off, that still makes FIVE relievers not named Hernandez.

[Kc61]

I agree, I definitely think we are missing Cody Reed right now. I wonder if any thought has been given to trying Santillan in a relief role. It doesn't have to be permanent.

Santillan is at AA and went on DL around June 1 with a shoulder issue. Not sure of his status.

Just remember what Reds are up against. The Cubs had a closer problem and signed Kimbrel.

[Ron Madden]

Could they call up Lucas Sims and use him as a multiple innings reliever?

If there’s an injury to one of the starters Sims will be here to replace him, Sims is already stretched out to handle a starting role if needed.

[RED VAN HOT]

Other than by laboriously counting, are there any readily available stats on Reds relievers' ERA's on the second of two consecutive days of use?

[InsaneinthBrame]

Santillan is at AA and went on DL around June 1 with a shoulder issue. Not sure of his status.

Just remember what Reds are up against. The Cubs had a closer problem and signed Kimbrel.

Santillan pitched all of June not sure about the June 1 injury list. He has been awful in aa with a 4.85 era and that is a league with an average era in the 3.6 area. He looks like a future reliever. We have no pitching help in the minors that help near term. They just put Romano back as a starter the other night.

[Old school 1983]

Santillan pitched all of June not sure about the June 1 injury list. He has been awful in aa with a 4.85 era and that is a league with an average era in the 3.6 area. He looks like a future reliever. We have no pitching help in the minors that help near term. They just put Romano back as a starter the other night.

You do realize Santillian went on the DL...perhaps he wasn’t 100%

[Kc61]

Santillan pitched all of June not sure about the June 1 injury list. He has been awful in aa with a 4.85 era and that is a league with an average era in the 3.6 area. He looks like a future reliever. We have no pitching help in the minors that help near term. They just put Romano back as a starter the other night.

I regret if the June 1 date was incorrect, but Santillan is on the IL with a shoulder. He is not a current candidate to help the Reds’ bullpen. That was the context of the discussion, as I understood it.

[WrongVerb]

Is it me or does Bell seem to have taken some of the criticism to heart about pulling pitchers too soon?

[InsaneinthBrame]

You do realize Santillian went on the DL...perhaps he wasn’t 100%

Then he was hurt from day one he has struggled all year. And he has never been outstanding. He has always has stuff or potential but I still believe with his fastball combo he is destined for high leverage reliever. Right hand version of garrett

[GAC]

Is it me or does Bell seem to have taken some of the criticism to heart about pulling pitchers too soon?

To a degree. At least he is listening. He's learning too.

And in one particular situation he let a young pitcher put his own foot in his mouth.

[PuffyPig]

Is it me or does Bell seem to have taken some of the criticism to heart about pulling pitchers too soon?

I think it was about telling them to “put up or shut up”.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk