A Little Help
April 11th, 2016
Early workhorse
The bad news: Rays starters have been knocked around like a punch-drunk boxer with one eye through six games.
The good news: The bullpen has held up.
Sunday’s loss to the Orioles continued a familiar, frustrating trend. Right-hander Jake Odorizzi was shoved around for four runs and nine hits in six innings, leading to another defeat to the last remaining unbeaten team in the majors.
Erasmo Ramirez was the lone bullpen arm to receive work at Baltimore’s frozen tundra, allowing one run and two hits in two innings. (The Trop may have its weaknesses, but don’t tell Joe that baseball should ever be played in 44-degree weather. No. Thank. You.)
Ramirez (one) and Ryan Webb (two) are the only relievers to have allowed runs this season. Ramirez has lifted the biggest load, pitching four innings in two appearances.
But can the bullpen receive a little help here? No starter has notched a win. All four have allowed at least three earned runs. Each one has been shaky at some time or another. Cripes.
Obviously, this is no formula for long-term success. The faster Rays starters are pulled from their tar pit, the better.
Your bullpen stats.
Player | W | L | ERA▲ | G | GS | SV | SVO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG | WHIP |
Cedeno | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.00 |
Colome | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .375 | 2.00 |
Eveland | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .222 | 0.86 |
Farquhar | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .143 | 1.00 |
Geltz | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | 0.60 |
Romero | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 0.00 |
Ramirez | 1 | 0 | 2.25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .231 | 0.75 |
Webb | 0 | 0 | 7.71 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .222 | 0.86 |
April 11th, 2016 at 6:45 pm
The common denominator, year after year, is Jim Hickey. He takes a new group of no name mercenaries who have no hope of big money contracts in this market and creates something that works.
They will not be named as a closer because that might excite their agent to ask for a raise.
They will not get a sniff of play off money or incentive bonuses.
They will be paid partially with sunshine, good fishing, year round golf and no state income tax.
There will be no gold watches given for players who spend their careers here even if they were to marry a broadcaster’s daughter.
Joe Rays Fan should have a contest for a suitable nickname and logo for the bullpen so they can get a suitable tattoo to show their new team mates in their new home cities.
I might suggest: Hickey’s Hillbillies or Free Agent Foreign Legion or Will Play For Cash.
Where’s Loney???