What to do about the bullpen?

[RedTeamGo!]

Was Andrew Chafin picked up by anyone? Should we consider him?

Currently a FA. I wonder if it was clear he was donezo down at AAA and he opted out instead of getting cut.

[Kc61]

With Ferguson, Chafin would be the Reds fourth lefty reliever. Unwise to do that.

[Tom Servo]

I feel embarrassed as a longtime Ashcraft skeptic that I actually started believing he’d taken a genuine step forward in April. He’s still essentially the same generic long relief arm he’s always been just moonlighting as a high leverage reliever.

[kaldaniels]

I feel embarrassed as a longtime Ashcraft skeptic that I actually started believing he’d taken a genuine step forward in April. He’s still essentially the same generic long relief arm he’s always been just moonlighting as a high leverage reliever.

I really thought he was gonna be the guy coming into last year. But soon after the season started it was apparent he just doesn’t have that dawg in him unfortunately.

[Sea Ray]

From Charlie Goldsmith's most recent column:

Since April 26, over a span that lasts 21 games, the Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen has an 8.14 ERA, is allowing an OPS of .968 to opposing hitters and is walking 6.47 batters per nine innings.

In the dugout on Tuesday afternoon, pitching coach Derek Johnson sat down and discussed what he’s seeing.

How do you convince a staff to throw more strikes when they do, they give up numbers like this? They're getting pounded when they throw more strikes. Tough to say "have confidence in your stuff" if you're giving up an OPS of nearly a thousand.

I know we're on RZ so I'll nip this in the bud now: I'm fully aware that walks do have an impact on OPS. My point still stands

[Red Raindog]

Moll and Ashcraft are fine. Don't let recency bias lump them in with dudes that have always had control problems

While I want to agree with you on Ashcraft I think he’s more problem than solution


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[Kc61]

Ashcraft highest walk rate before 2026 was 3.44. This year it’s. 6.17.

Brock Burke’s all time high walk rate was 4.24. This year it’s 5.73.

Moll is at his highest walk rate 5.21, though lifetime 4.33, pretty high.

Phillips is a high walk pitcher, but this year 9.12 per nine innings.

May 7.56 walks/9, Franco 6.75.

The only Reds relievers with good walk rates are Antone, Johnson and Pagan, none of whom have been particularly effective.

[Kingspoint]

Ashcraft highest walk rate before 2026 was 3.44. This year it’s. 6.17.

Brock Burke’s all time high walk rate was 4.24. This year it’s 5.73.

Moll is at his highest walk rate 5.21, though he was high last year too in only 18 relief innings for Reds.

Phillips is a high walk pitcher, but this year 9.12 per nine innings.

May 7.56 walks/9, Franco 6.75.

The only Reds relievers with good walk rates are Antone, Johnson and Pagan, none of whom have been particularly effective.

Makes me believe there's something bigger going on...pitch calling?

[Kc61]

Makes me believe there's something bigger going on...pitch calling?

What’s interesting is Reds have used 8 starters this year and only two have walk rates above 4.23. The two bad walk rates are Lodolo at 5.4 and Williamson at 6.4.

So this is very much a bullpen epidemic, not the whole pitching staff.

Only thing Reds can do is get rid of some of the offenders. I don’t understand how Connor Phillips remains in the bigs with a walk rate near 10. I’d note that some of the high walk guys, namely Mey and Franco, have good walk rates at AAA this year.

[redsfan9988]

Ashcraft is absolutely awful. The terrible walk-rate is a new wrinkle, but the real problem has always been that he’s just way too hittable. This year, he’s giving up 90+ exit velo but somehow has a .259 BABip - well below league average and even further below his personal career average.

If he’s going to walk people at this rate, he’s in for some trouble once the batted ball stats normalize. This isn’t an MLB player. If you can deal him something - do it. He’ll be out of the league in 18 months.

[Alien Overlord]

Connor Phillips has the 3rd most walks in the NL. Everyone else in the top-10 has pitched at least 42 innings this year. Connor has pitched 25.2 innings.

Phillips is on pace for 90 walks…. As a reliever. No one in the NL had more than 73 last year.

Crazy! I read that he was successfully using Botox injections in his neck and shoulder to manage Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I wonder if he's still having issues or taking them?

[Kc61]

Ashcraft is absolutely awful. The terrible walk-rate is a new wrinkle, but the real problem has always been that he’s just way too hittable. This year, he’s giving up 90+ exit velo but somehow has a .259 BABip - well below league average and even further below his personal career average.

If he’s going to walk people at this rate, he’s in for some trouble once the batted ball stats normalize. This isn’t an MLB player. If you can deal him something - do it. He’ll be out of the league in 18 months.

Ashcraft has a lifetime WHIP of 1.42. So he’s allowed 1.42 baserunners per inning via hits and walks. He got there both as a starter and reliever. That number is high.

[goreds2]

One walk in three innings tonight.

[klw]

At the top of the 7th, Phillies one radio broadcaster said to the other "The good news is that there is activity in the Reds bullpen."

[redsfan9988]

At the top of the 7th, Phillies one radio broadcaster said to the other "The good news is that there is activity in the Reds bullpen."

2 things:

A. That’s hilarious. Good for that guy.

B. Hahaha losers we won anyway