Danger: Bullpen

by gondeee on Apr 4, 2008 10:06 AM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

Reliever	Appearances	Innings Pitched
Jeff Bennett	3	6.0
Blaine Boyer	2	4.0
Manny Acosta	3	3.0
Will Ohman	4	2.1
Peter Moylan	3	2.0
Chris Resop	5	2.0
Rafael Soriano	2	2.0
Royce Ring	3	1.0
Total	25	22.1

We've played four games, and our bullpen has made 25 appearances! Including the oddity of Chris Resop who has 5 appearances in only four games after appearing twice in last night's game while playing left field for one batter. None of this is a good sign for a part of our team that is supposed to be a strength. Keep in mind that while some of these appearances are for one batter, they still have to warm up in the bullpen, then again on the mound -- that's a lot of back to back wear and tear this early in the season.

Add to all this the fact that we are carrying eight relievers (instead of the usual seven), and tonight we'll likely have nine relievers in the bullpen and the numbers above sort of boggle the mind. For comparison, the Atlanta starters have made three appearances (I'm not counting Bennett as a starter, even though he made a start) totaling 17.1 innings. It hurts that two out of the four games we've played are for extra innings, but that just further underscores the importance of the starters going deep into games this weekend (and the offense scoring plenty of early runs to put us ahead and keep us ahead).

Admirably, Royce Ring earns the "perfect award" for having appeared in three games to face one batter in each game and having struck out all three batters he's faced -- that's a good LOOGY.

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Your wish may be granted...

The weather service in Atlanta just put up a Tornado watch for the area until 10pm ET.

by OntheGo on Apr 4, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rick Roll the Mets

Off topic, but I find it funny. Just type the above phrase into Google.

by godawgs on Apr 4, 2008 4:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bobby is probably regretting ...

Going nuts during the Jurrjens game with the 'pen now. There's no reason to warm up three guys to pitch one inning. If he saves Moylan there, we don't have to pull that stunt last night and Moylan might not have given up the game-winner. That kind of crap catches up to Bobby every time and now we're compromised for the Mets series.

by SomeYahoo on Apr 4, 2008 5:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I haven't been really fond of Bobby's handling of the bullpen so far. I mean, I get wanting the matchups, let's not burn through three guys in an inning just to get them.

On the other hand, putting Resop into left field for one out on Thursday made the whole game worthwhile.

Section 435 - A Braves blog. From the upper deck at Turner Field.

by 6stringbeliever on Apr 4, 2008 10:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

seems like every year we rebuild the bullpen, but the same results continue year after year. i'm ready for the day when the braves won't be a team-on-a-budget anymore, and we can go out and spend some money on some quality pitchers. then we must hope they don't figure out a way to injure every possible part of their bodies over and over again.

by skipcaray on Apr 4, 2008 10:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You may..

...be waiting for a very long time when the Braves wont be a team on a budget. So I wouldn't go holding your breath.

Two Teams, Two Coasts - One Obsession

by RainDelay on Apr 5, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stockman

Can't understand why this guy is not up with Braves. I know he had arm problems, but had a very good spring and has never failed on the mound in Atlanta. Sometimes Bobby just doesn't care for certain guys, and sticks with others for too long. I hope he is the first one up if someone in the pen goes down to injury.

by bravos on Apr 4, 2008 11:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs