Bull Pen

[tomdalton22]

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.

Porcello may be better suited as a relief pitcher. It seems like he doesn't have the stamina to be a starter.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Closer by committee bubs.

 

[Rebbiv]

Porcello may be better suited as a relief pitcher. It seems like he doesn't have the stamina to be a starter.

Do you even get the fact that he has performed as a league average starter or slightly below over the 4 years? Why would you want him anywhere except closing? You would destroy any of his value if was just a "relief pitcher".

 

[tomdalton22]

Do you even get the fact that he has performed as a league average starter or slightly below over the 4 years? Why would you want him anywhere except closing? You would destroy any of his value if was just a "relief pitcher".

I meant closer...I would trust him to close more than any of the current relief pitchers.

 

[spockmaster]

Do you even get the fact that he has performed as a league average starter or slightly below over the 4 years? Why would you want him anywhere except closing? You would destroy any of his value if was just a "relief pitcher".

I would probably be ok with him as a closer/high-leverage relief pitcher. he has consistently shown that while he can put up close to league-average numbers as a starter, his stamina as one leaves a lot to be desired, seeing that he often seems to fall apart around 5 innings or 75 pitches. if he was a closer, he could probably dial up his fastball speed and just focus on that, his sinker, and maybe his curve or change-up (i honestly dont remember which is better). if his curve continues to work as well as i think it has been this spring after ditching his slider (if i read that correctly somewhere today), that would be a pretty good arsenal for a closer. just a thought. id rather use him as a closer than give him away in a trade (i.e., not get enough back or get (a) player(s) back we dont need).




tl;dr - porcello as closer maybe?, and i like using parentheses.