Angel Oracle

They have ONE starter (Paxton), one former star starter (Felix) and a menagerie otherwise in the rotation. Diaz, Pazos, and Colome is an excellent 1-2-3 in the pen. Where would the Halos be with that, and the M's be with our pen?

What is it though in the past 44 games (19-25 record)? 171 runs in past 44 games (3.89 runs per game, terrible) after 103 runs in first 16 games (6.44 runs per game, unsustainable)

At the plate, yes; he's John McDonald II.

Gonna make it harder to use a slump buster.

Cold's OPS since May 1?

One thing for sure, they won't be drafted a 3rd round quality guy with the 17th pick and then celebrating like they found the next Johnny Bench.

The Caps' 1-1-3 neutral zone trap is playing havoc with the GK's offense in the past two games.

Like Dip*ssy’s 3rd season here? That ended with a Royal flame out.

How are we supposed to be contenders with the shakiest BY FAR bullpen of ANY contender???? NO decent or close lead is safe!!!!

Head of the umps, Country Bumpkin Joe West, has made the umps worse than ever.

These relievers neither have the confidence nor the command.

Yep Marte probably prevented a sweep. His rose bloom has gone buh bye. He’s back to looking like 2017 Marte.

Check the Miller as closer comment. He is struggling this season, although possibly injury related. He does turn 34 next May. The others are all some 3-4 years younger.

None of these relievers has confidence. It’s a joke.

This rotation deserved a sweep! Zero earned runs in 19 innings! When was the last time that happened for a 3 game series? Okay Billy, you have the starters. You know what to do after 2018.

WORST BULLPEN IN MLB!!!!!!!!!! GAME OVER!!!! SERIES OVER!!!!

That would be encouraging. But, Middleton is not ready to be anything over a #3-#5 reliever yet for a true post-season team, as long as his heat is still too straight.

Wind must have been blowing out that day. Shibe Park, iirc, was not a big hitters park.

Middleton won’t be ready until about the 2019 ASB. Familia/Kimbrel/Miller, one of them would solve the closer issue. Allen seems to be starting his decline already. Herrera would actually be a perfect 8th inning option. Can Anderson or Parker be trusted as the 3rd guy? And I don’t care that the closer + Herrera would cost about $30 million/year for 2-3 years. They free up $25 million alone from Kinsler, Valbuena, and Johnson. Imagine how many more close games the Halos would win. And in the meantime, that gives them 2-3 years to develop their own GOOD relievers. Remember that good pitching and defense are required for success. They have good defense and starting pitching. Now they need a good bullpen.

And Grienke while decent enough wasn’t enough to make it to October baseball, and cost them Segura. This team needs more than one excellent closer. It needs two other solid setup men, a RF, for Cozart to hit better, and for Pujols and Upton to hit more consistently. There is a reason they are 18-25 over the past 43 games.

Middleton hurt, but is one guy and we still don’t know his true forecast as his heat tends to be too straight. Wood was AT BEST a middle of the road reliever, with his inconsistent command.

Eppler needs to address the bullpen this off-season, without trading Adell or Canning. No ifs and buts about it.

Have to hope for the very next level down then, if Adell or Canning is required in exchange. Who else besides Herrera is in that very next level down from Hand? Do they throw money at FA Kimbrel?

It’s not fire him now with me, and hasn’t been. They simply will need a new voice from 2019 forward to work with the many young prospects making their way up here soon. Might as well start after Sosh’s contract concludes in September.

After last night, I think the rental idea needs to take a back seat. This team looks like a non-post-season team. No spark!