I wrote this in a Cubs News & Notes blog yesterday but figured it’s worth it’s own headline seeing that the bullpen is actually really fucking good.
And here I am releasing shows titled “The Bullpen Blows” and other miscellaneous nuggets.
Turns out the last 6 weeks it’s actually been the best in MLB and nobody really saw that coming.
Some thoughts and observations and we understand this development:
- The following players have an ERA under 2.50
- Brad Keller
- Caleb Thielbar
- Daniel Palencia
- Drew Pomeranz (0.00)
- Chris Flexen (0.00)
- Since May 7th, pitchers that have thrown at least 5 innings have combined to throw 51 innings and given up 2 ER
- I repeat, since May 7th, pitchers with at least 5 innings have a combined 0.33 ERA
- Ryan Pressly has not surrendered an earned run since blowing up in extra innings against the San Francisco Giants on May 6th
- And probably most important is that I think the group can easily get better with a couple of basic trades in a few weeks. Like this has been a nice run and guys are stepping up, but we can easily add depth to the group. We can add swing and miss stuff. We can get another filthy righty and a durable lefty. There’s so much opportunity and we have so many prospects to unload
The common thing to do here is list relievers that I would like the Cubs to acquire and here’s my simple answer.
The best ones available.
I think that list changes frequently and there’s a lot of time into the trade deadline to make those determinations. And it’s absolutely shitty for me not to name anyone at this time. But please just try understand where I’m coming from first in saying that I would rather describe what the ideal relievers look like.
- Mason Miller
- Someone with high swing-and-miss rates both in chase and whiff without giving away an absurd walk rate. That’s the combination of stuff that’s more important than ERA or batting average against to me. I want filthy stuff and filthy secondary that can get strikeouts with runners in scoring position in big moments.
- Righty or lefty
- Preferably old or older or with playoff experience. Not mandatory but I don’t want to see a reclamation project
- I only need 2 pitches but I absolutely hate 4 for a late inning mix. Give me 3 max and one of them better fall off a table in that case
- Get a couple relievers. Don’t just load up on one closer and hope that’s enough. Give me a smorgasbord
And then finally – I like this bullpen group a lot. That’s important to say because I’m talking about taking away some jobs down the stretch. But overall right now it’s been such a pleasure to see the group come together in May after all the complaining.
To that, credit Tommy Hottovy for being a solid pitching coach and not just a guy in a uniform handing out spreadsheets. Sumbitch knows how to work with a staff and it’s showing again as the season progresses.
That said I have a cuthtroat attitude about this being a World Series caliber roster and that means not taking any chances with the bullpen. It’s been sensational lately and I want to see Jed Hoyer do everything in his power to ensure it’s sensational later. Does that make sense? Because I want to win a World Series and this is at the top of my mind.
Go Cubs.