The Bullpen

[mtangelsfan]

Ok positive posters.  Make me feel better about this bullpen.  With three young starters, I feel the pen is going to be pretty taxed to begin with.  I just dont see this pen being good enough.

 

 

[fan_since79]

We've got to get DDLR and Burnett back.

 

I think Burnett could be an asset if he stays healthy. He had some really good seasons before coming here.

Edited April 1, 2014 by fan_since79

[Glen]

We can't count on getting Burnett back. He's still not even throwing hard and he hasn't pitched competitively in a year. Frustrating to even think about.

Hopefully we can develop some bullpen arms, because we don't have much luck signing them.

[DMVol]

We survived in 09 with Fuentes and crew but, basically since KRod left and Shields retired, we've sucked donkey balls....last night wasn't encouraging....the old formula, good starting pitching, lock down pen, good defense and enough offense, really hasn't worked since 09.....

[Chuck]

DDLR, Berg, Lyon and two extremely talented relievers in Morin/Alvarez on the horizon. 

[Tyler]

The ability to make a trade.

[mtangelsfan]

Why weren't Berg and Lyon there to start with if they are so good?

[The God of Runs]

If the offense performs the way we know they can, the bullpen will be okay. Just need one of the clowns after Hamilton to step up.

[fan_since79]

Why weren't Berg and Lyon there to start with if they are so good?

They'll be here sooner rather than later if things continue like this.

[stormngt]

Can't agree more. Five years of Blowpen is enough

We survived in 09 with Fuentes and crew but, basically since KRod left and Shields retired, we've sucked donkey balls....last night wasn't encouraging....the old formula, good starting pitching, lock down pen, good defense and enough offense, really hasn't worked since 09.....

[TobiasFunke]

Why weren't Berg and Lyon there to start with if they are so good?

Because Sosh doesn't have a hard on for those two like he does with Jepsypoo and the other losers

[Mark68]

Salas wasn't that bad last night. He inherited a runner at third with one out. Most of the time, that runner gets home no matter what.

 

Kohn actually looked good.

 

Jeppy....should have been in Salt Lake.

[gotbeer]

I think it's a philosophical problem the Angels have.  

 

If the Angels were up one run, or even tied.   You would have seen Smith and Frieri.

 

But it seems the last few years, if you were down 1 run, it would be anyone but the top relievers.  It's almost like they think, hey we are down anyways.  One run, 7 runs, what's the difference we were down.  And they treat the one run as if the relievers hold then it's a bonus because they didn't have to use one of their top relievers.  

 

It's like instead of putting your best in, to keep it one run to give your offense a chance.  They are saying put whatever relievers in and IF they hold, great your offense has a chance.

[jangel7]

I would have liked to see them start the 7th with Salas. Then follow with Smith and Frieri and see what would have happened.

[Jason]

For those that believe DDLR and Burnett are going to shore up this pen are a little delusional. I don't feel confident with any pitcher returning from injury, especially average ones. As for Jepsen, they should just cut ties and hope he can make it some place else as he will not help this org.

[mtangelsfan]

Because Sosh doesn't have a hard on for those two like he does with Jepsypoo and the other losers

 

I thought Dipoto made the roster decisions.

[Chuck]

Why weren't Berg and Lyon there to start with if they are so good?

 

Because the Angels wanted to give Jeppy another chance. They said his stuff looked a lot better in ST. We saw that in ST and the first two batters last night. 

 

Now, here's another thing that I found out this morning in talking to a couple hardcore, statistically minded M's fans. 

 

The book on Smoak was that you can get him out on fastballs on the inner half. That he struggled at turning on fastballs inside and pulling them. 

 

This spring he worked with Cano and their batting instructor to start turning on pitches inside. The result for the Angels wasn't pretty. 

[jshep]

The hard on this organization has for Jepsen and it's insistence on giving him more chances is baffling.

He's proven that he's bad. He can't throw strikes. His stuff honestly isn't even that good.

He throws a really fast straight fastball. That's it. That's his skillset.

[Homebrewer]

Because the Angels wanted to give Jeppy another chance. They said his stuff looked a lot better in ST. We saw that in ST and the first two batters last night. 

 

Now, here's another thing that I found out this morning in talking to a couple hardcore, statistically minded M's fans. 

 

The book on Smoak was that you can get him out on fastballs on the inner half. That he struggled at turning on fastballs inside and pulling them. 

 

This spring he worked with Cano and their batting instructor to start turning on pitches inside. The result for the Angels wasn't pretty. 

This is still no excuse for the two previous batter that he f'n walked. Guess they cant hit out if you don't throw em strikes.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Homebrewer

[robblin17]

The hard on this organization has for Jepsen and it's insistence on giving him more chances is baffling.

He's proven that he's bad. He can't throw strikes. His stuff honestly isn't even that good.

He throws a really fast straight fastball. That's it. That's his skillset.

 

He is Scioscia's boy. Bottom line. There is absolutely no other logical explanation. 

[Glen]

The hard on this organization has for Jepsen and it's insistence on giving him more chances is baffling.

He's proven that he's bad. He can't throw strikes. His stuff honestly isn't even that good.

He throws a really fast straight fastball. That's it. That's his skillset.

 

 

Six seasons, a career 4.53 ERA and 1.47 WHIP.  He ain't gonna turn it around, at least with us.  Let him go somewhere else.

[fan_since79]

Jepsen is much more effective against RH hitters. Why he was brought in to face a left-handed Seattle lineup is a mystery to me.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=jepseke01&year=Career&t=p#plato

[bloodbrother]

Said the same thing as Sosh just continued to leave him in. Thought for sure that Cano was going to take him deep but it was the next lefty who did the damage.

 

This guy has been on the team seemingly forever now, so Sosh should already know his strength's/weaknesses.

[Ludwig Von Mises]

Jepsen is much more effective against RH hitters. Why he was brought in to face a left-handed Seattle lineup is a mystery to me.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=jepseke01&year=Career&t=p#plato

It was nice to have a bullpen pitcher like Shields who was equally effective against both  lefties and righties. Guys like KRod and Donnelly had slightly more splits but were still very effective against both. This is a great asset against opposing managers because it takes away their pinch hitter option.

Jepsen has proven to be utterly innefective against LH batters. He's the worst option in the pen against them. The Showalter Method isn't ideal and makes the game a pain to watch, but it's better than sticking Jepsen out there against a string of lefties. With a rested pen and an off day on thursday go ahead and use some pitchers. Also, if Frieri wasn't in the strict closer role, he could have been considered because he absolutely dominates lefty batters.

 

If you want to win more than your share of close games a potent offense and a lockdown pen are the recipes for success. See 2002.

[stormngt]

I think it's a philosophical problem the Angels have.  

 

If the Angels were up one run, or even tied.   You would have seen Smith and Frieri.

 

But it seems the last few years, if you were down 1 run, it would be anyone but the top relievers.  It's almost like they think, hey we are down anyways.  One run, 7 runs, what's the difference we were down.  And they treat the one run as if the relievers hold then it's a bonus because they didn't have to use one of their top relievers.  

 

It's like instead of putting your best in, to keep it one run to give your offense a chance.  They are saying put whatever relievers in and IF they hold, great your offense has a chance.

It might be because tomorrow and Wed the team might be in the lead, thus we need them to preserve the win.  You can't pitch every pitcher every night.