Bullpens

by John Amato on Aug 6, 2006 3:46 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

This explains a lot doesn't it?

So why is it so hard to build a great bullpen?

The simple answer is because relievers, more than any other specific type of player, are alarmingly inconsistent from year to year.

Indeed, a glance at a list of the top 25 relievers in the majors last season, based on opponents' batting average (a better gauge of a reliever's effectiveness than ERA), shows how fleeting bullpen success can be. Only four pitchers from that list are in the top 25 again this season (through Thursday's games).

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no glory

middle reliever is the worst position in baseball -- you typically work twice as many games as a starter, yet there's no glory or recognition to be had at all. the best you can do is get a "hold", a stat most fans have probably never even heard of. on the other hand, today's starters are only expected to pitch six innings once every five days -- and in spite of only doing two-thirds of the job, they are the ones that get the W. as the article notes, most middle relievers are starters who lost their job, and are either trying to get that job back or aspiring to be closers. no one really wants to be a "great" middle reliever. heck, should they become a "great" middle reliever, they're going to be put back in the starting rotation or moved to closer!

"90% of the game is half mental." - Yogi

by lee on Aug 6, 2006 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

I think it was Kruk

on ESPN who made the point that they've got "Touch em all" for the homers and "Web gems" for the fielding plays, but there's no glory/coverage of the middle relievers who can be so crucial to a victory.

by Yankee Fanne on Aug 6, 2006 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

yea

relievers usually hav only 1 or 2 good pitches and can dazzle over the length of a season...after a while hitters begin to adjust with more ABs...most reliever r guys who just couldn't make it as a starter...a good middle reliver is so hard to come by, especially one who is consistent yr to yr...teams end up giving big money to guy the hav a yr with a sub 3 ERA who turn out bustd...plus their is the confidence issue with relievers....when they given a homerun or sumtin, they get taken out, only to ponder if it will happen again...alot of relievers tend to collapse after giving up a lead in a key game...this is why a good closer is wanted so badly...a signing of reliever who doesnt produce can hurt a team greatly

by wilson6590 on Aug 7, 2006 12:06 AM EDT reply actions

or amphetimines

While there are a few players who seem to have gotten off the steroid bus and stayed off (Beltre), most of these players have the money to get something undetectable like HGH or the next clear.
I would blame the greenies more than the steroids.

Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio.

by jscape2000 on Aug 7, 2006 11:36 AM EDT reply actions

This is the first year

amphetimines carry the same penalty as steroids.

Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio.

by jscape2000 on Aug 7, 2006 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

fatigue

yea now all the relievers (and other players) that needed amphetimines to keep up there stamina will breakdown more quickly and there numbers will decline...it was weird if wat i thought seemed to happen was true, once they started testing for steriods alot of picture seemed to come out of no where and put up good numbers and now that they test for amphetimines hav declined agian, like jarod washburn,joe blanton, jake peavy, matt morris, russ ortiz, jon garland, Livan hernandez, and carlos silva to name a few...not sayin they all took amphetimines or steriod or wat not but its an odd coincidence

by wilson6590 on Aug 8, 2006 4:22 PM EDT reply actions