Batman and Robin. Siegfried and Roy. Siskel and Ebert.

Colome and Ramirez.

Like any quality duo, Alex Colome and Erasmo Ramirez pack a powerful punch. And like manager Kevin Cash, Joe doesn’t have a whole lot of faith in many other names within the Rays’ bullpen..

The numbers back up Colome and Ramirez as one of the most effective bullpen duos in the majors.

Ramirez was the Rays’ early season MVP before sliding in recent weeks. Still, he’s an everyday machine and has posted a 7-4 record with a quality 3.19 ERA in 42 1/3 innings. Colome has taken a giant step forward in his career, going 16-for-16 on save chances this season. His 1.04 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 26 innings has helped keep the Rays afloat with holes in Tampa Bay’s bullpen plan elsewhere.

When glancing at relievers’ numbers throughout the majors, this one-two attack is rare. Perhaps only Baltimore’s bullpen combination of Brad Brach (0.88 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings) and Zach Britton (1.07 ERA with 18 saves) is better.

Where would the Rays be without this dynamic pair? Joe shudders to think. We’ve already seen would-be-impact arms fall by the wayside.

(Steve Geltz and Brad Boxberger, anyone?)

Joe is a little worried about how Colome and Ramirez will hold up later in the year. Cash leans on both because he doesn’t have many other options now. Boxberger’s return was supposed to help ease the pressure, but his aborted comeback fires a wrench into that vision.

You can press on the gas pedal day after day after day, but at what point does the tank run dry?

For now, be thankful Colome and Ramirez have emerged as one of the most dependable bullpen duos around.