Enough is Enough…
Posted by deckacards on June 26, 2008
Our bullpen is just not getting it done. I see fans clamoring for an impact bat or a starting pitcher like C.C. Sabathia, but clearly those fans are not watching the games. Our bullpen is simply irrelevant to opposing hitters. Let’s review our pitching staff in the bullpen:
Jason Isringhausen - Ironically, the only trustworthy piece of the puzzle we have left in key situations.
Ryan Franklin - He’s been good most days, but he’s pitching out of his role and it cannot continue. He loves to challenge hitters, but he has to learn you cannot challenge ALL hitters the same way in the ninth inning. For example, challenging Sheff is just plain ridiculous. Franklin needs to get back to his setup spot…quickly…
Kyle McClellan - Overused in critical situations for such a young player. TLR is making him carry too large a burden for a guy who skipped Triple A ball.
Chris Perez - Good, but still not quite ready. He has the stuff, but very little confidence in anything but his fastball. At this level, you can’t rely on a pitcher like that. Fastballs can and will be timed.
Russ Springer - Good, but much too limited. His age is showing, and everyone knows it. He’s clearly not our first or second choice to enter a game in a critical situation, and veterans who can’t be trusted in game-on-the-line situations are simply expendable.
Mitchell Boggs - Been okay, but the reality is that this kid is a stop-gap. He’s not ready to be here on a long-term basis, and it shows.
Ron Villone - This guy throws meat - if he hits the plate at all. He might be effective if used as a lefty specialist, but TLR’s trust in him and the rest of our bullpen’s ineffectiveness is making him a liability as well. If he doesn’t walk the park, he’ll serve it up on a platter.
Mike Parisi - If this kid ever pitches for St. Louis again this year, I will personally drive to Busch Stadium and slap the stupid outta’ him. FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD!!!! Throw the damn ball down the middle! GAH!
If Johnny Mo doesn’t do SOMETHING to fix our bullpen issues, he is an idiot. We cannot continue on like this. This is not simply overuse or injuries…this is utter irrelevance on the mound. And by irrelevance, I mean they suck.
June 27, 2008 at 12:50 am
Pretty much agree on a lot of your analysis, to put an edge on things. You forgot Randy Flores, but then again, uh, who did I say you forgot? I knew it a minute ago. Uhhh … hang on … oh, I guess it wasn’t that important.
June 27, 2008 at 2:15 pm
hehe…Well, I actually considered including him, but at the time of the post, he was/is on the DL…so he’s not an option in our current bullpen configuration.
Thanks!
July 1, 2008 at 1:24 am
Flores is flirting with a DFA. Villone may be next in line.. Maybe Mulder can have success as a LOOGY?
Boggs looks good as a starter but he should move to the pen when Wainwright returns, thus making our pen better.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Mark Worrell get another shot either. He’s pretty nasty against righties.
July 2, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Worrell could be extremely effective in a one or two batter situation…especially if you use him to split an inning or two with your resident lefty…problem is, if we don’t figure out how to stretch our starters and use our bullpen more efficiently, we will never be able to use Worrell and a lefty that way without considering one of them an innings eater.
Mulder looked good his first time out…but his value is still in the rotation if at all possible…especially with Wellemeyer’s recent struggles.