Bullpens Around the NL

by TheJay on Jun 9, 2008 10:16 AM CDT

Getting Yosted usually posts these but I figured I'd steal the idea and put in the pitch count and batters faced numbers, as well, since it's been requested. The Brewers now have the second-fewest relief innings pitched in the National League, but make up for it by throwing the most average pitches per inning and per batter. Getting rid of Turnbow's numbers (something that reminds me of the Cubs fans' pleas in the middle of last season to ignore Wade Miller's numbers when looking at the pitching staff) results in a bullpen that's a little better than league average (whatever that is) by ERA and a tiny bit worse by WHIP. The pitchers per plate appearance numbers go up a little, courtesy of Derrick's ability to get hit hard early in plate appearances where he doesn't issue walks. Finally, the Brewers and Rockies share the league lead (EDIT: er, duh, obviously I missed the Padres when I wrote that) for most pitchers used in relief, though Dave Bush's one appearance hardly makes him a reliever.

Maybe the next time the team feels the bullpen is overworked, they can tell their relievers not to walk and/or pitch around so many guys.

Team	GP	App	W	L	S	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	HBP	RA	ERA	WHIP	BF	Pit	P/PA	P/IP	# Relievers
San Diego Padres	65	182	11	15	14	230.0	230	117	107	17	93	177	3	4.58	4.19	1.40	989	3868	3.91	16.82	18
Florida Marlins	62	200	12	10	11	222.3	189	98	90	21	109	182	7	3.97	3.64	1.34	951	3818	4.01	17.17	11
Pittsburgh Pirates	63	183	14	6	14	220.0	220	101	97	21	98	154	8	4.13	3.97	1.45	965	3591	3.72	16.32	10
Chicago Cubs	64	194	12	9	23	216.3	186	84	75	23	74	199	12	3.49	3.12	1.20	905	3502	3.87	16.19	13
Washington Nationals	64	194	12	11	12	214.7	212	113	106	25	104	180	6	4.74	4.44	1.47	949	3696	3.89	17.22	13
Atlanta Braves	64	214	8	13	10	211.3	174	92	81	16	94	176	9	3.92	3.45	1.27	895	3469	3.88	16.41	12
Colorado Rockies	63	189	8	12	14	208.7	205	102	90	16	89	158	9	4.40	3.88	1.41	907	3586	3.95	17.19	14
San Francisco Giants	63	189	11	13	17	208.3	198	102	94	23	92	172	12	4.41	4.06	1.39	912	3553	3.90	17.05	12
Cincinnati Reds	64	196	9	7	12	208.0	196	97	88	26	91	186	8	4.20	3.81	1.38	909	3578	3.94	17.20	13
New York Mets	62	207	6	9	13	201.0	188	103	86	19	78	161	16	4.61	3.85	1.32	871	3283	3.77	16.33	11
Los Angeles Dodgers	63	164	14	6	9	200.7	178	71	64	16	72	184	9	3.18	2.87	1.25	848	3354	3.96	16.71	11
St. Louis Cardinals	65	196	8	12	22	196.3	195	89	84	19	85	141	8	4.08	3.85	1.43	853	3321	3.89	16.92	13
Houston Astros	64	191	13	10	18	195.0	191	93	85	29	74	159	5	4.29	3.92	1.36	844	3246	3.85	16.65	11
Philadelphia Phillies	65	174	17	7	19	192.0	163	59	55	10	87	151	4	2.77	2.58	1.30	806	3058	3.79	15.93	7
Milwaukee Brewers	63	176	13	11	22	191.3	174	89	86	20	103	169	5	4.19	4.05	1.45	837	3364	4.02	17.58	14
Arizona Diamondbacks	63	171	4	10	16	178.0	148	82	70	16	72	150	15	4.15	3.54	1.24	762	2848	3.74	16.00	10
NL Average	64	189	11	10	15	206.0	190	93	85	20	88	169	9	4.08	3.71	1.35	888	3446	3.88	16.73	12
Brewers (No Turnbow)	63	168	13	10	22	185.0	162	78	75	19	90	164	4	3.79	3.65	1.36	793	3194	4.03	17.26	13

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Comments

What's that last column?

Is it number of relievers used? Shouldn’t it drop to 13 for non-Turnbow if that is the case?

I ask because I’m suprised the Cubs have used 13 relief pitchers, as they still have 4 pitchers(Marmol, Woods, Howry and Lieber) in the top 30 of the NL in terms of innings pitched who have accounted for 63% of bullpen IP. The Brewers have only 1 in the top 40, Torres. Who are those other 9 pitchers, and can any of them help the Cub’s survive a DL stint from one or two of their top 4 bullpen arms?

by Getting Yosted on Jun 9, 2008 10:48 AM CDT reply actions

Marmol is getting abused

t-2nd in the whole MLB for innings pitched in relief with 40. He’s either gonna get hurt or become ineffective very soon.

Eyre + Wurtz are in the mix, but I don’t think I’d trust either in any high-leverage situations.

by Jordan M on Jun 9, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree.

It seems like every time I flip to the Cubs game on TV, Marmol is pitching. That has to catch up to him at some point. On a side note, it also seems like Zambrano pitches every 3rd day for the Cubs (even though I know it’s not true, it just seems that way)!

by oconnobe on Jun 9, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Does it though?

Don’t forget he’s a guy who pitched about 70 innings in about 3/4 of a season last year. It’d be unfortunate for everyone in the NL Central, but maybe he’s one of those rare guys who can throw 80-90+ innings year in and year out. Sure, he’s on pace for 101 innings this season, but if they maintain their lead in the division, they could probably start resting him more later on.

Maybe he will tire and struggle as the year goes on but I don’t know if you can count on that.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jun 9, 2008 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

It doesn't have to be Marmol that gets hurt

Woods has 34 innings in 33 games, which is on pace for about 87/84. If/when Woods gets hurt is Marmol gonna be able to pitch innings 7-9 every other day? Who steps into the late inning, high leverage role that Marmol is working now?

Much of this activity has been achieved in the easy portion of the Cubs schedule. What happens when they start playing varsity competition on a daily basis?

by Getting Yosted on Jun 9, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Well, yeah

I was commenting more on the thought that Marmol will break down because of how he’s used. I’m sure the Cubs will have to deal with an injury or ineffectiveness in their bullpen at some point, but I don’t know if you can say it’ll involve Marmol any more than anyone else in their pen.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jun 9, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I can't remember if it was you or Jeff

That pointed out Marmol pitched over 100 innings each of the last two seasons, when you combine his major and minor league starts/relief appearances. So I suspect Marmol might be able to keep up his end of the work load. If Woods makes it thru unscathed, I am expecting Satan to appear after the Cubs record their final out of the season to collect payment.

by Getting Yosted on Jun 9, 2008 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions

He pitched Winter ball as well.

by ol Pete on Jun 9, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Satan

I hear he’s caught up in other sports. :)

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jun 9, 2008 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Not to mention cycling

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jun 10, 2008 4:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Who is Woods?

by Rick B on Jun 9, 2008 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

It should’ve been 13 – I fixed it now.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jun 9, 2008 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Cubs relievers

Carmen Pignatiello was a lefty that lasted all of two games (2/3 IP). Neal Cotts and Scott Eyre have functioned as the pen’s lefties ever since Sean Marshall went away. Kevin Hart has had issues this year, I’m not sure who Jose Ascanio is, and ex-Brewer Chad Fox surfaced there in early May.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jun 9, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

ascanio

is the live arm the cubs got from atlanta for will ohman & omar infante (jacque jones + 3 million dollars).

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jun 9, 2008 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions

as i suspected

our bullpen is doing itself the most damage.

as you pointed out, we have the highest P/PA and P/IP (with or without Turnbow) in the league and tied for the second highest WHIP.

That spells for tiring ourselves out and will likely lead to a higher ERA and lead to more relievers being used (including more uncounted warmup pitches).

Good job with the table/research!:)

by PagsBrewCrew on Jun 9, 2008 5:27 PM CDT reply actions

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