The bullpen has seemingly been a strength with a 3.44 ERA over the last 30, but they’ve put up less sexy peripherals along with that ERA. They were actually the second-worst bullpen in the National League over the last month by FIP-based metrics due to having the worst strikeout rate and the second-worst walk rate in baseball during that period.
Jordan Hicks has been great, but he has also contributed to the walk problem with eight walks in 12 games. And everyone behind him has lost the plate, too. Only Tyson Ross has a good walk rate, and he’s struck out four batters in 13 innings. [Reply]
Whether the Braves or Phillies or both make the PO's - nobody from the East will contend very well in the playoffs - there's a fuckton of talent this year and teams are really fucking good. Our division just sucks. [Reply]
I said it a couple of weeks ago - the bullpen, even when it's getting outs, is constantly behind in the count. Hicks and Hudson are the worst about it, Norris was getting more and more wobbly. Last night it looked like Leone was making a concerted effort to just fire strikes with a big lead but suddenly he couldn't throw a strike that wasn't a BP fastball.
Brebbia pitched poorly enough to get cut, IMO. Weaver just cannot throw strikes without guiding his pitches and so he can either have good stuff or good command but hasn't been able to demonstrate both (that was Tui's biggest issue). Martinez has been a godsend out there but we all know how he will occasionally just lose the thread.
If they can't start throwing strikes, especially strike 1, they're going to be lucky to back into the playoffs. I don't think it will impact them in a WC game because I think you'll see Shildt try to ride his SP and Martinez for as many innings as possible in that game. But if they manage to get past it, I just don't see how they can win a short series with a bullpen that just cannot get ahead of hitters. [Reply]
Adams is hitting below the Mendoza line since July, he has shown no power. Why is he starting over Munoz who can hit and has power?
He wasn’t starting over Munoz. He had a rough first 25 or so at bats, but given regular at bats the last two seasons he is going big fly about every 15 at bats. You don’t set that on the bench while Jedd and Wong are hurt. Garcia is the one expendable thanks to Munoz. [Reply]
