bullpen overworked?

by RangerMad on May 15, 2010 8:41 AM CDT

From Fraley...

+ For the eighth time this season, Rangers' manager Ron Washington used the bullpen for five-plus innings. That is the most five-plus-innings games for a bullpen in the American League. Kansas City, last in the AL Central, has done it seven times. The Los Angeles Angels, whose manager MIke Scioscia fiercely protects his bullpen, and the New York Yankees have done it only once.

The Rangers lead the American League in bullpen innings with 120, which translates into a 540-innings pace for a full season. Bullpens get into the burned-out zone once they go past about 475 innings.

I am sure some of those games mentioned by Fraley were of the extra innings variety. But, his point stands: the bullpen is overworked. Harden, Feldman and to some degree Ron's small ball desires are taxing the pen. Harrrison got alot of grief around LSB but at least he was near lg avg in IP/GS.

...............................IP.........GS...... IP/GS..... Pit/GS

*C.J. Wilson........... 48.2...... 7........... 7.0......... 108

Colby Lewis............ 45.2...... 7............ 6.5........ 108

League Average ....................................6.0......... 99

*Derek Holland...........6.0.......1.............6.0.........103

*Matt Harrison.......... 34.0..... 6........... 5.7......... 104

Scott Feldman............ 37.0..... 7........... 5.3.......... 99

Rich Harden............... 38.1..... 8............ 4.8.......... 95

Tommy Hunter('09).....112.......19...........5.9..........91

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/05/two-ominous-items-from-the-ran.html

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Think

maybe they’d call up Moscoso instead of Scheppers because Moscoso can go a lot of innings and he last pitched on Wed. so he should be ready to go soon? Plus, Scheppers is being stretched out going 2 IP his last few outings but he’s also walking 2 guys every outing. Maybe he’s not ready yet.

Troy McClure: "Don’t kid yourself, Jimmy! If a cow ever got the chance, he’d eat you and everyone you care about!"

by stupidsexyflanders on May 15, 2010 9:25 AM CDT reply actions

God, none of us needed Fraley to tell us this.

But, yes, it’s true. They’re sure as hell going to be burned out well before they reach 475 innings, though. I think they probably already are. This has been the single most disappointing thing to me this season, and a large part of the blame can be put on a pitcher I really like (Feldman), and a newcomer I was very suspicious of (Harden).

613photo

You can't rollerskate in a buffalo herd. -- Roger Miller

by Black Francis on May 15, 2010 9:38 AM CDT reply actions

I'm sure this will be brought up in the AM thread, but Feldman needs to justify that contract today.

"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz

"Baseball's all that's real" - JB

by Ryin A on May 15, 2010 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions

heh

brought up by you. It was like a flash backwards reading this

"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST

by jam0152 on May 15, 2010 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Bullpen overuse

it doesn’t bother me when those innings are going onto disposable arms like Nippert and Mathis. They’re replaceable, and they’ve been the recipient of most of the team’s long innings.

But my worry is that the team has been relying on the back of the bullpen guys in almost every win. Feliz, Oliver, and O’Day (incidentally the three best bullpen guys) have pitched too much, not to mention Frankie and Ray. They’ve all been in around half the team’s games. Those arms aren’t as easily replaceable. Oliver is old, Feliz is young, Ray has injury concerns, Frankie may already be broken.

Anyway, I think the problem isn’t really the starters but the offense. The starters can go 6 or 7 innings every night giving the team a chance to win, but the offense hasn’t been reliably putting teams away so that the end game can be pitched by 2nd tier players. Pretty much every game the Rangers win (and quite a few that they’ve lost) has had to stress the back of the bullpen

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on May 15, 2010 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions