Bull Pen

[tomdalton22]

There has been a lot of talk about the starting pitching and the every day line up. I am worried about the bull pen. What are your thoughts about the current BP and how it will shake out?

 

[Rebbiv]

As of right now (7 in the pen):

1. Smyly or Porcello (whoever isn't the 5th starter)
2. Coke
3. Benoit
4. Dotel
5. Al Alburquerque
6. Marte
7. Villarreal
8. Rondon
9. Lobstein

Without health issues, I am comfortable with this group. At least 2 of these will not make the team out of Spring Training. Lobstein and ?

There are also the likes of Below, Crosby, Downs and Putkonen waiting in the wings. AA, Marte and Villarreal has all been lights out at various times the last 2 years.

Adding another reliever would do what?

 

[tigerfantroy]

I would say Lobstein and Rondon don't make it. Rondon could use more time in Toledo and obviously we lose Lobstein because he's Rule 5. Would also prefer to see Porcello in rotation and Smyly in bullpen. If we need Smyly in rotation during year he could be stretched out in no time. I saw Villarreal was shut down in winter ball but didn't see if it was serious or not. Who would be the closer here. My guess would be Dotel unless by some miracle Coke pitches like he did in playoffs.

 

[Mitchrapp]

If you think Lobstein can have value down the road, keep him. I'd hate to give him back.

 

[Mitchrapp]

And if Smyly is in the rotation, Lobstein could be the 2nd lefty in the pen.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

If Al A wasn't so injury prone, I'd give him the closer duties. He's a fireballer that was great when he could play. He throws strikes and strikes guys out. He's not a rook or newbie to the pen, so there's not as much worry about mental makeup. I'd like to start the year with Al as the closer (giving him plenty of rest days), then work in Rondon as sort of the backup closer - coming in on rest days and getting experience in case Al goes on IR again.

 

[Mitchrapp]

IMO, Al Al could be a perfect setup guy. I also think they're more important over a closer anyway. I'd still go BP by committee.

 

[mjsb2]

IMO, Al Al could be a perfect setup guy. I also think they're more important over a closer anyway. I'd still go BP by committee.

Agreed, I want Al Al coming in to shut down rallies with men on base with his strikeout rates.

 

[tomdalton22]

As of right now (7 in the pen):

1. Smyly or Porcello (whoever isn't the 5th starter)
2. Coke
3. Benoit
4. Dotel
5. Al Alburquerque
6. Marte
7. Villarreal
8. Rondon
9. Lobstein

Without health issues, I am comfortable with this group. At least 2 of these will not make the team out of Spring Training. Lobstein and ?

There are also the likes of Below, Crosby, Downs and Putkonen waiting in the wings. AA, Marte and Villarreal has all been lights out at various times the last 2 years.

Adding another reliever would do what?

I'm not bown away with any of those guys (although I don't know anything about Lobstein). Dotel is old, Coke is so up and down, Al Al seems to be injured a lot and Benoit seems to give up a HR every other game. Who knows....maybe they will surprise me.

 

[tigerfantroy]

Unless the reliever is named Mariano Rivera they are all up and down. That's why I hate spending too much money on closers. So the way our offseason is going we will probably sign Soriano for too much money and I will think it is stupid unless we win the World Series

 

[uofmpoweri]

Soriano passed up the $13.3 million qualifying offer from the Yankees so not only will he be over priced but he will cost the Tigers a draft pick. It sounds like a move that the Tigers like to make, but I hope that they don't.

I would rather have Bourn for less money.

 

[Mitchrapp]

DD gas turned down Soriano several times already.

 

[kalinecountry]

These FA's like Soriano, Bourn, Lohse, are in a pickle with the new CBA and the loss of the draft pick for signing team. Lohse hasn't had one offer from what was said on mlb xm today. Teams are valuing the pick, with the new slotting system in place.
They might have to tweak it by next year so teams don't lose the pick,

edit; Rob Manfred, MLB’s executive VP of labor relations, told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he’s not ready to say baseball’s collective bargaining agreement needs changes. While the CBA appears to have limited the market for certain players who declined qualifying offers, Manfred says it’s still early. “I’m not inclined to get into a discussion about changing an agreement when it hasn’t even operated for a full year.”As Rosenthal points out, draft pick compensation places an artificial burden on free agents.
from mlbtraderumors

Might see Soriano or Lohse sign for a one year,

wonder how it plays out.

 

[kalinecountry]

As for the bullpen, not that impressed.
might change if Rondon is the real deal at the back end, and gets the BB at about 3/3.5 per 9.

Villarreal was just shut down until spring training,

 

[@Stakesarehigh]

I think its a safe bet they don't spend soriano type money on another reliever

valverde was not very good the last third of the season last year so even a dotel/al/benoit closer committee is at the very least a wash from last year

 

[mhughes0021]

so has rondon been given the spot. I saw the mets were working out brian wilson.....is he worth giving a look comming off injury?

 

[Thumb]

Well Rondon has not even made the 25-man team yet.

And I'd pass on Wilson, if for no other reason that I don't think his personality is a fit for this team, let him go to NY.

 

[tomdalton22]

I started this thread on Jan 3rd....I know that it's still early in spring training but I'm even more concerned now.

 

[hellifino]

better put Porcello in the pen, or we're gonna be wore out by the all-star break.

 

[Rebbiv]

I started this thread on Jan 3rd....I know that it's still early in spring training but I'm even more concerned now.

The only person missing from last year is Valverde.

AA was hurt last year. Barring injuries, we have a full year of Smyly. Whether he relieves or starts, doesn't matter. Same with Porcello. I like both Marte and Villarreal.

You have Coke, Benoit and Dotel.

If Rondon was having a good spring, then I wouldn't mind see him close.

With Smyly throwing well and the comment made during the winter that Porcello could close, I think we just might see Porcello close.

I few years ago I did a study on closers. The difference between elite closers and average closers is only 1-2 saves a year. That is it. Certainly there could be an extreme, but otherwise it really isn't as great as many make it out to be.

Back in the day (prior to late 70s), there was such thing as a closer. Or at least the one inning specialty we see today. John Hiller would routinely have 3 inning saves. That is not the truth today.