Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - The Bullpen Report- v.2

That's more like it. Yesterday's game brought a win, and interesting developments in the bullpen. But, first off, let us praise Josh Towers, who hung in yesterday for the win after a tough first inning.

Josh Towers' career prior to 2005 was a tightrope walk. While he has had excellent control, he struck out under 5 batters per game, and was vulnerable to the longball. Opponents batted .309/.340/.521 off him over the last 3 years. His chances of making the pension fund were not looking especially good, but Towers obviously applied himself in the off-season and voila, 3 extra miles per hour on the heater. Suddenly, he's striking out an extra 3 batters per game, and his overall effectiveness has improved markedly.

Do not be deceived by his 4.61 ERA. He's pitching better than that, but his ERA has suffered from poorer than usual performance with runners on base (.290/.313/.710). As this has not been a problem over his career, there is every likelihood that his ERA will reflect his improved performance in striking out batters and consequently allowing fewer hits.

It is probably an oversimplification to say that mastering one of the three true outcomes will grant a pitcher a short stay in the majors, while two is the ticket to a long career. But, there is a grain of truth there. Josh Towers' career outlook has never been better.

The bullpen-yesterday

Vinny Chulk's ascent on the bullpen chart continues. He came on yesterday with a runner on first and 2 outs in the 7th with a 5-3 lead, and retired the 4 batters he faced, two by strikeout. After the Jays scored 2 more in the bottom of the eighth, Justin Speier came on to clean up in the ninth and got 2 outs, and then gave up 2 hits. Miguel Batista came on in the mother of all easy save opportunities, needing one out with the tying run in the on-deck circle. He converted but not before adding a few points to the collective blood pressure of Jay fans.

The bullpen-Apr. 15-28

Here is the chart of usage for Apr. 15-28. I begin with a recap of Apr 12-14 from the Bullpen Report v. 1.

April 15-April 28

(entrance inning/batters faced/opp. GPA)

date Batista  Speier   Frasor     League  Schoen      Chulk      Walker

Ap 12 8.0/4                       6.2/3   7.1/3
      .113                        .233    .150
Ap 13         7.2/2     7.0/4             7.1/4
	      .225      .466              .350
Ap 14 --------------------complete game----------------------


Ap 15                             6.0/11
				  .218
Ap 16 8.0/6
      .325
Ap 17         8.1/2                       7.0/4        6.0/4      3.0/12
              .000                        .000         .175       .218
Ap 18         8.0/3     5.2/7     3.0/12               7.0/5
	      .000      .443      .330                 .330
Ap 19 8.0/5
      .300
                                  W'side
Ap 20         8.0/5     7.0/3     5.0/12                          3.1/12  
	      .300      .000      .419                            .356
Ap 21 8.0/3                               7.0/5        6.0/4
      .233                                .242         .175
Ap 22         7.0/7     6.0/4             7.0/6        7.1/8
              .716      .175              .560         .356
Ap 23 8.0/8
      .263
Ap 24         8.0/4                                               6.0/8
              .363                                                .311
Ap 25-------------------day off----------------------------

Ap 26 8.0/3             7.0/2             7.0/1        6.0/4
      .000              .000              .700         .175
Ap 27                   7.2/2             8.0/4
                        .225              .175
Ap 28 8.2/2   8.0/4                                    6.2/4
      .350    .413                                     .000

John Gibbons seems to be making the required adjustments to make this a functional if not spectacular bullpen. Miguel Batista is the closer. Jason Frasor and Vinny Chulk take the high leverage 7th and 8th inning work. Scott Schoeneweis usually will come in to face 3 batters, at least 2 of whom are lefties. Justin Speier is in middle relief, at least for now. Pete Walker is the long man. During these past two weeks, which saw a fair degree of bullpen work especially in the Texas and Baltimore series, each of the relief crew got about the right amount of work. Only Matt Whiteside lacks a role.

Here were comments from the Bauxites over the past week. Yesterday's game thread also contained an interesting discussion about Speier's struggles. Whether it is simply a performance blip or an unwelcome indicator of further arm troubles remains to be seen. Gibbons' decision to place him temporarily in a lesser role is wise.

Posted by Mike Green on Friday, April 29 2005 @ 07:30 AM EDT.

The Bullpen Report- v.2 | 28 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Pistol - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 08:59 AM EDT (#114219) #

NAME	        IP	ERA	WHIP	K/9	BB/9   HR/9
Pete Walker	9.0	1.00	1.78	7.0	5.0	0.0
M. Batista	10.0	2.70	1.60	2.7	2.7	0.0
Vinnie Chulk	11.2	3.09	0.86	6.9	1.6	0.8
Jason Frasor	7.1	4.91	1.50	8.6	3.8	1.3
Justin Speier	8.1	6.48	1.56	4.3	2.2	3.3
B. League	9.1	6.75	1.82	7.7	4.0	2.0
S. Schoeneweis	7.0	7.71	2.71	7.7	9.0	0.0
M. Whiteside	2.0	18.00	2.50	9.0	9.0	4.5

Total	       64.7	4.87	1.65	6.4	3.9     1.1

* Overall, with the exception of Chulk, the bullpen is giving up a lot of baserunners.

* Batista isn't getting many strikeouts.

* Schoeneweis is averaging less than a half inning a game. Perhaps Justin Miller would work better as a LOOGY type (in place of Whiteside) and SS could work longer stints.

Mike Green - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 09:11 AM EDT (#114222) #

Thanks, Pistol. Thomas will be measuring effectiveness of the bullpen in an upcoming article. My own view is that this is a bullpen of modest but noticeable talent, and that if they are placed in the right roles, they will ultimately be fine.

I would also prefer if the team went with a 6 man bullpen, and used the extra roster spot on a bat. If bullpen help is needed due to injury or ineffectiveness, there are a number of good options in Syracuse-Miller, Lundberg, Nannini, Arnold and Burnside.

Ryan C - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 10:44 AM EDT (#114230) #

Yeah I wonder about the Whiteside thing too. Im not just sure what his role or function or value to the team is at this point. Although Im not sure that the team would make much use of another bat either. Reed and McDonald see plenty of time and Gibbons isnt shy about using them but Menechino seems to barely get any time as it is. If they did bring up Crozier, when would he play? Is his bat even any better than anyone on the team? I know that Whiteside isnt a very efficient use of that 25th roster spot, but Im not sure how else to use it better either. Maybe they could sign someone exclusively to put in as a base stealer late in close games, at least that's something that the team seems to be lacking.

Anyway, the only other comment I have is that Id like to see Frasor used more. He was their most effective reliever last season and has been great so far this year. Other than that I think the bullpen, including the way it's been managed thus far, has been a very pleasant surprise.

uglyone - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 10:57 AM EDT (#114232) #

I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I'm really not worried about this bullpen at all. I'm confident in all of Batista, Speier, Frasor, Chulk, and Schoeneweis being average to above average pen pitchers...with a couple of them having the potential to be much better than that. With Walker/Whiteseide/Miller...plus all the kids down in AAA, the other slots should be average to above average as well.

I've liked this pen from day one, and I still do.

Jordan - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 11:05 AM EDT (#114234) #

I'll say this much -- if we're arguing over the utility of last man in the bullpen, the Jays must have otherwise done a pretty good job of roster construction. While I agree Whiteside should be dropped in favour of another bat (or in favour of an effective reliever), it's nice to have a problem that small.

Sister - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 11:15 AM EDT (#114238) #

I am also confused by the presence of Whiteside in the bullpen and would much prefer a 6 man pen. Recognizing that Gibbons rarely uses Menechino, I would still like to see an extra bat on the bench -- preferably one that can pop a much needed pinch hit 3-run homerun (i.e. Crozier, Griffin)

Dunny - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 11:38 AM EDT (#114240) #

Whiteside also confuses me...

Has anyone thought about the possibility of the Jays trading Cattalanotto for one more bullpen arm, designating Whiteside and getting John Ford up here?

I would imagine JFG could play LF as well as Cat and I just don't think Cat fits on a team that already has Johnson and Rios. I have a feeling Cattalanotto is going to hit a very empty .300 and god knows the Jays could use a guy who atleast has a chance at hitting a home run.

cdelgado6 - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 11:41 AM EDT (#114241) #

I think what has helped mask the pen's shortcomings is that we've actually gotten decent starting pitching. I would rather have another lefty helping Schoenweiss and not have Whiteside, but who?
Of course, I'd also like CSI to actually have more 1-2-3 innings when he comes into close but that ain't happening.

Gerry - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 12:01 PM EDT (#114249) #

I keep seeing posts about calling up Gross, Crozier or Griffin and I have to weigh in. The two biggest jumps in baseball are from High A to AA, and from the minors to the majors. Gabe Gross and Eric Crozier both struggled last year against major league pitching. You could say make an argument Alex Rios has had a hard time adjusting to the major leagues.

Crozier needs to a full year of AAA, again. He has not started very strongly in 2005 and his strikeout rate is too high, he needs to find a consistent swing that can handle advanced breaking balls that he will see in the major leagues.

Griffin is hitting .300 for a month after hitting about .235 last year, and he also strikes out a lot. Griffin also needs a full year of AAA.

Gross has still not found his groove this year at AAA, but with two and a half months of major league expereince he could be called up at any time. I think the Jays would like to call him when he is hot, not now.

uglyone - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 12:14 PM EDT (#114253) #

With Menechino barely playing as is....what's the need for another bench bat?

We know why Whiteside is here....he was warming up in the first inning yesterday when Towers was getting hammered.

Mike Green - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 12:19 PM EDT (#114254) #

I would not suggest Gross for the 25th man role. He needs a full shot, and as Gerry points out, ideally when he is back in the groove.

Now, if Calvin Pickering or another minor league veteran hitter can be had for a bucket of balls, that would be a plan instead of Whiteside.

Gitz - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 12:46 PM EDT (#114258) #

Where, exactly, is Pickering going to play?

Mike Green - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 12:55 PM EDT (#114259) #

In the 50s Yankee fashion or in the Earl Weaver tradition, he's your 25th man. He comes out to pinch-hit for Ken Huckaby or John McDonald or Russ Adams when you need a late homer. Once in a while, he DHs to keep him fresh. He's Jim Leyritz or Bob Cerv or...He would probably get 100-150 ABs.

Pepper Moffatt - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 12:59 PM EDT (#114260) #

He's got the size to be the next Gates Brown, at least.

Sister - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 01:08 PM EDT (#114261) #

Whiteside warming up in the first inning as Towers was getting hammered is fine and dandy, but isn't that Walker's job already? How many long-relief guys does one bullpen need.

I would rather have the big stick off the bench -- even if he only gets 150 abs.

With regards to JFG vs. Crozier vs. Babe Gross. My reason for pointing on JFG or Crozier as callups is because I think they are already falling out of the propsect and into the suspect/career minor leaguer/AAAA type guys (perhaps its a little too early to make this claim). I would rather see these two called up (or Mottola) and let Gabe play regularly at AAA.

Mike Green - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 01:12 PM EDT (#114262) #

Pickering's nickname has got to be Hobbes. The world is indeed a bleak place when you can't get a real shot.

Gitz - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 01:16 PM EDT (#114263) #

I find no value in acquiring Pickering to be the 25th man. If you get him, give him 500 at-bats and let him play himself out of the job.

BCMike - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 01:21 PM EDT (#114264) #

what's the need for another bench bat?

With the way Gibbons has been agressively platooning & pinch-hitting Johnson and Catallanato, I would like to have another bat who can also play some outfield when needed. When you are burning an OF in the 7th innning it would be nice to have some insurance on the bench. For instance say Cat comes in during the 7th, then later on in the game there is a key situation against a tough lefty. It would be nice to have an option on the bench.

I think another option on the bench is more valuable than an arm in the pen who can't even eat innings. I can understand the extra arm if A) you have a couple series against tough offences like the Yanks and Sox, and B) the extra arm is capable of eating a lot of innings. Currently you can make a case for A (NY & BAL), but not for B.

John Northey - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 01:43 PM EDT (#114271) #

To me the ideal 25th man would be a catcher who isn't that good defensively but has some pop in his bat. That way you can run for Zaun late, or bring in Huck defensively without fear of running out of catchers. Sadly I don't think the Jays have anyone in the minors who can fill this role in the majors right now. If Quiroz comes back healthy then he can be the backup and put Huck as the 25th (Huck brought in for whoever starts late in the game purely for defense, whoever didn't start is the emergency catcher that game). Another option would be a speed demon who is a good outfielder, to run for the catchers and other slow players.

Magpie - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 01:45 PM EDT (#114272) #

Towers has always been a very interesting and very unusual pitcher. Pitchers who give up lots of hits but never walk anybody are not uncommon, but these are typically groundball pitchers like Paul Quantrill - guys who never give up home runs either. You have to string together four or five singles and doubles to score a few runs. Which happens from time to time, but seldom enough to make them valuable.

But Towers doesn't pitch like that. He doesn't throw sinkers on the outside corner. It dawned on me just last week - Towers pitches exactly like Catfish Hunter used to, like Robin Roberts. He challenges everybody, and he's absolutely committed to throwing what has often been called "the best pitch in baseball" - strike one.

It's just that Towers' stuff, in the past, was never quite good enough to get away with this approach consistently. But he's missing more bats this year, which is really a very good sign.

I was wondering if the classical Hunter, Palmer, Roberts approach would still work in the modern game. They were never afraid of the solo HR, but always tried to stay away from a hitter's power zone with men on base. It seems to me now that the best hitters no longer have specific power zones - they can take outside pitches over the opposite field fence. Makes it tricky if you're committed to challenging everybody...

Mike Green - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 02:15 PM EDT (#114278) #

Nicely said, Magpie. I was thinking Fergie Jenkins, but they're all of the same type.

Pitching in this ballpark and in this time, it probably would be best to compromise on the principle of challenging hitters all the time. Nibbling a bit against the David Ortizes of the world with 2 runners on is not cowardice, it's good sense. It is much easier to learn this lesson than to add 3 mph to the fastball.

mistermike - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 02:41 PM EDT (#114282) #

Keeping Whiteside around makes some sense. The Jays don't have the most reliable starting rotation. Whiteside (the 25th man) comes in handy in blowouts, meaning that the useful setup guys (Speier, Frasor, etc) don't need to be wasted in a blowout.

The only other logical use of the 25th man, as others have suggested, would be a pinch runner. But I can't see that guy being used much more that mop-up guy Whiteside.

Stellers Jay - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 04:06 PM EDT (#114299) #

"Keeping Whiteside around makes some sense. The Jays don't have the most reliable starting rotation. Whiteside (the 25th man) comes in handy in blowouts, meaning that the useful setup guys (Speier, Frasor, etc) don't need to be wasted in a blowout."

Whiteside makes zero sense as the 25th man. The only time this 7th man is of any use at all is in a blowout. Whiteside himself cannot be reasonably asked to eat 4 innings in a blowout game. He has pitched 402 innings in his major league career over the span of 284 games. He's a short reliever by nature and he has no role on this team and is a waste of a roster sport right now. He's pitched once in 8 games and got shelled by the Yankees. If the Jays insist on carrying a "12th pitcher" a second loogy in Burnside or a legitimate long-man like Miller or Glynn makes much more sense and already are in-house options. Personally, the extra bat makes much more sense. They way Gibbons has used his bench this year, I assure you that if there were an extra bat on the bench he would have been used more than once in the last week.

Magpie - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 04:14 PM EDT (#114302) #

I think Whiteside is a placeholder. The Jays don't really have any AAA vets that you would feel comfortable with at the end of the bench. All the position players at Syracuse are younger guys whom the organization wants playing rather than sitting.

There are some pitchers who might make more sense - Glynn, Miller, Downs. But Downs and Glynn have been getting hammered by AAA hitters, and I'm not sure they think Miller knows how to pitch out of the bullpen.

Stellers Jay - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 04:58 PM EDT (#114305) #

"I think Whiteside is a placeholder".

I know he's a placeholder there's no other reasonable purpose for him on the team. But, I still think there has got to be a better use of this "placeholder" than pitching 2 innings every 8 days. There has to be a more effecient use of the roster spot than that.

Ryan C - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 05:22 PM EDT (#114310) #

There has to be a more effecient use of the roster spot than that.

True, but it's not just about using your roster efficiently, you also want to use your players efficiently. Putting Justin Miller in the 25th man spot might be better for the team, but is it better for Justin Miller?

Stellers Jay - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 05:35 PM EDT (#114311) #

"Putting Justin Miller in the 25th man spot might be better for the team, but is it better for Justin Miller?"

Ryan C, That's a good point. However, Justin Miller is not a grade A prospect we're talking about protecting. He's 27 years old and he's been passed through waivers twice in the last year. If he can help this team right now, you have to use him. The Bluejays are in the business of winning baseball games not protecting the long-term interests of 27 year old pitchers.

R Billie - Friday, April 29 2005 @ 06:08 PM EDT (#114313) #

I think Miller has a higher ceiling than long man but he could probably fill that role competently. It's usually a good idea to have two guys capable of decent multi-inning stints out of the pen and Walker and Miller would be a decent combo.

If they do think Miller can be a starter then he should be a consistent member of the Syracuse rotation. Glynn and Miller and Baker have been shuffled around a lot while Downs has held on to his starting job despite being shelled in April.

The Bullpen Report- v.2 | 28 comments | Create New Account

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