Evan Grant on the Rangers' middle relief

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 29, 2009 3:28 PM CDT

For those who are tired of reading about rumors, Evan Grant has a piece up at Inside Corner about the yeoman's work done by the Rangers middle relievers this year...

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From the ashes of Turnbow and Donnelly rose O'Day and Grilli

by oc on Jul 29, 2009 3:30 PM CDT reply actions

It does kind of demonstate the randomness of bullpens

You pick a random 4-5 guys out of a grab bag. 1 or 2 work out, and 3-4 don’t. You toss out the ones that suck and pick new guys, sometimes guys who were ignored, sometimes guys in AAA, sometimes guys other teams toss out.

What you don’t want to do is be put in a position where you have to toss out young kids who you don’t have a good read on (i.e., O’Day).

This is why filling a bullpen with NRI’s like Jennings, Turnbow and Donnelly is fine with me. When they fail, you toss them out. If they stick, then you win. High potential reward, almost zero long-term cost (assuming you can throw them out if/when necessary). And then you keep your eyes open for other teams’ O’Days.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jul 29, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

I had the flu way before having the flu was cool

by TagDon'tTweet on Jul 29, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Its best way to build a bullpen IMO

Make sure to have a couple of reliable arms and then fill out the rest of the bullpen on the cheap.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.

"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Jul 29, 2009 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Grab Bag

The grab bag approach can work because the Rangers have people like Moscoso, Strop, Madrigal, et al waiting for those retreads to fail.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 29, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep,

and it shows why giving up draft picks and money for a reliever is probably not worth it.

"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers

by DJCahill on Jul 29, 2009 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions

In that vein

I did a little MJH-inspired study on the origins of top relief pitchers back in April that provided some evidence to that effect: http://www.bbtia.com/home/2009/4/17/building-a-better-bullpen-the-right-way.html

Baseball Time in Arlington

by Joey Matschulat on Jul 29, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions

especially Juan Cruz now...

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 29, 2009 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Realistically

unless a guy is a big time closer, most likely they are going to be your typical up and down reliever.

Anyone who dominates for a few consecutive seasons is going to be made the closer, barring another stud in the bullpen.

by DJCahill on Jul 29, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions

or they will be 8th inning set up man

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY

by RangerMad on Jul 29, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Question about Transaction Oracle

Are they holding off on stuff until the deadline extravaganza on Friday (I presume AJM should know since he’s on the panel)? I keep checking to see what they think (maybe they never post something this quick; couldn’t say).

Remember Red, hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.

by WyoRanger on Jul 29, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions