Life after Burnett

[arch stanton]

As this season has progressed we've seen a lot of relievers come and go and it's second week of June and no reliable lefty has emerged.

 

I think we have an adequate stable of one inning guys and Jepsen seems to enjoy being the righty who handles runners inherited from the starter but he really needs a lefty counterpart and we could use a multi-inning guy. Since Shoemaker looks acceptable in the rotation can Santiago fill those two roles with one arm? Or do we need to go looking for another lefty? 

[xboom28x]

No because the Angels need to keep Santiago stretched out in case of an injury to someone in the rotation.

[Second Base]

Michael Roth is the answer in this situation. Need to keep Santiago stretched out as a starter? Promote Roth as the lefty specialist. Need Santiago in the bullpen? Fine, keep Roth stretched out in AA and use him in case of injury.

The way he's pitched this year since being dropped off the 40-man has earned him a spot back on the roster and in contention to fill a pivotal role for this ball club.

[nate]

In order to have life after Burnett dontt you have to have life with Burnett first?

[Docwaukee]

We need a closer or an additional high leverage reliever.  It concerns me that they have left DDLR in the minors this long so I'm not sure he's the answer.   Kohn is good against lefties.  Hopefully he can find his form.  Smith has been a bit shaky and Jepsen seems to be getting better and better, but we've been there before.

[arch stanton]

In order to have life after Burnett dontt you have to have life with Burnett first?

They waited him out and brought him up to be the loogy. Now they won't wait anymore so what direction do they go?

[Docwaukee]

Our pen in general is still the biggest problem for this team going forward.  

 

Jepsen has been great, but it's just so hard to trust him.  

Smith and Frieri have been shaky to not very good and those are supposedly your best two.  

Morin and Bedrosian have promise and need more innings.  

Rasmus was big the other night, but I just don't fee like he has the stuff to be anything more than the first guy out. 

Salas isn't the answer.  Also a first guy out low leverage type.  

 

You have to ask yourself who is capable of pitching in high leverage situations at this point.  Every guy in the pen has either a problem with walks, hrs or both.  

 

Overall, they are 3rd in baseball in bb/9, and 2nd in hr/9 from the pen.  Their bullpen era is 5th worst.  

 

After a discussion with xboom yesterday, I realized something.  Even though I have disagreed with a few of the moves made by MS, he is in the fairly untenable position of having very little flexibility with the pen. 

 

Runners on base?  Can't use Salas

Tough power hitting lefty?  probably shouldn't use Jep or Frieri and I don't have a reliable lefty 

Tough situation?  Probably shouldn't put too much pressure on the rookies

I hope Smith has it today because if not, then what?

 

Rasmus? Santiago? Alvarez? Sisk? DDLR?  

marginal stuff, erratic, untested, ditto, maybe hurt

 

There is no margin for error.  One wrong decision or one move that pushes the margins of what any player is capable of and badness.  

[arch stanton]

Unless there's someone out there looking to give one up I don't see much choice but to give both Sisk and Santiago a shot at getting lefties out with inherited runners on. That alone might be worth a couple wins down the road. It's high leverage but it's limited scope.

[Halo4life714]

Question for you guys? Who do you see ultimately being the closer down the stretch into September? Bedrock?? I believe once he gets more innings under his belt he will be the guy. Just my opinion

[xboom28x]

Question for you guys? Who do you see ultimately being the closer down the stretch into September? Bedrock?? I believe once he gets more innings under his belt he will be the guy. Just my opinion

 

Barring injury or trade for a closer, it will be Frieri

[Second Base]

If Frieri's in form, he should absolutely be the closer.  The man is untouchable when he's locating on the outer half and low in the zone.  But by the end of the year, I feel that our three-headed monster of Morin, Bedorisan and Alvarez may have entrenched themselves in the 7-8-9 inning roles. 

 

The only thing I know for sure, the last person on the planet I trust with a lead in that bullpen is Kevin Jepsen, and yet Mike Scioscia has walked right into that trap.  I'm all for second chances, but 74th chances is excessive when you have Morin and Bedrosian around. 

[xboom28x]

If Frieri's in form, he should absolutely be the closer.  The man is untouchable when he's locating on the outer half and low in the zone.  But by the end of the year, I feel that our three-headed monster of Morin, Bedorisan and Alvarez may have entrenched themselves in the 7-8-9 inning roles. 

 

The only thing I know for sure, the last person on the planet I trust with a lead in that bullpen is Kevin Jepsen, and yet Mike Scioscia has walked right into that trap.  I'm all for second chances, but 74th chances is excessive when you have Morin and Bedrosian around. 

 

I will bet any amount you want that the Angels, barring injury, won't have 3 rookies pitching the 7-8-9 inning roles by the end of the year.

[Hollyw00d]

Unless there's someone out there looking to give one up I don't see much choice but to give both Sisk and Santiago a shot at getting lefties out with inherited runners on. That alone might be worth a couple wins down the road. It's high leverage but it's limited scope.

Santiago is a starter, not a reliever. I don't think they're going to go that route. He's more of a "future" guy than a right now guy. He's still a work in progress, who has a lot of promise, and I'm thinking they dont want to mess that up for this season. Unless someone goes down

[ten ocho recon scout]

Santiago isnt doing very well in aaa is he?

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

Santiago isnt doing very well in aaa is he?

Nope. He's doing terrible.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=santia001hec

[Hollyw00d]

Sample size

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

Sample size

Is this in response to my comment? I never said it was a large sample size. He asked how he was doing in the minors and I answered his question with Santiago's stats.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Yeah,to clarify im not saying I think hes a bust. Just that last I checked he looked worse down there than he did up here

[Hubs]

They should acquire a lefty from a team who is out of contention this season, but not give up too much.

 

Jason Lane was designated for assignment for the Padres the other day and that could be a flier. He pitched really well in two games for them, but his numbers the last season and a half in AAA aren't too inspiring. Still, I like the comeback story…yes he's the same former OF from the Astros who once had a 1.000+ OPS season.

 

Maybe they can use him as a reliever and emergency back up OF as you know he can still field.

 

The Rays have Jake McGee, but he's better against righties. There will be other options that won't cost a ton, come July.