What to do about the bullpen?

[mancini79]

Last year the Angels used a club record amount of pitchers through the 40 man roster by June. It didn't work. It's darn near impossible to have 4 RP's that will be consistent for an entire season. If you have 2 pitchers that are consistent, then you are doing well and use those guys appropriate. The rest of the pen will be streaky or used for the scrub role. Throwing in a bunch a MiLB to fix the problem will not work. The sample size is too small so early in the minor league season.

[Bruce Nye]

Jeppy has to go.  I get ill when I see him trotting in.

 

Freese should be replaced by Green. He swings at out of the zone pitches all too often.

 

Bring up Jose Alvarez.

[nate]

Jeppy has to go.  I get ill when I see him trotting in.

 

Freese should be replaced by Green. He swings at out of the zone pitches all too often.

 

Bring up Jose Alvarez.

 

Jeppy, Kohn and soon Salas.

[Docwaukee]

Last year the Angels used a club record amount of pitchers through the 40 man roster by June. It didn't work. It's darn near impossible to have 4 RP's that will be consistent for an entire season. If you have 2 pitchers that are consistent, then you are doing well and use those guys appropriate. The rest of the pen will be streaky or used for the scrub role. Throwing in a bunch a MiLB to fix the problem will not work. The sample size is too small so early in the minor league season.

but don't you have to take into account how your team is built?  

 

it's got aging vets at the top of it's rotation and young guys with very little experience at the bottom.  It's a recipe for needing quality arms coming from the pen.  

 

On top of that, the real strength of this team is the offense - or at least it was supposed to be.  Granted, they haven't performed with RISP, but the bullpen has to give them a chance.  

 

To me, starting the year with the thought of having Frieri, Smith, DDLR, Burnett, and another situational lefty like Moran was actually ok.  You had backups in Kohn, Jepsen, Salas, Rasmus, and a couple others where you could potentially get a strong performance from at least one to bridge a gap.  Then you had a nice little collection of young guys on their way up who could be ready to contribute by mid to late season.  

 

All of that depth went away with basically 3 of your 5 top guys being injured.  So now, instead of needing one solid performance from your next tier, you are relying on all of them.  

 

Out of necessity, you are obligated at this point to see what some of those other guys can do.  Maybe we've got something with Kohn.  Maybe.  But Jepsen and Salas clearly aren't going to cut it.  Whatever was there for Salas in 2011 sure as hell isn't anymore.  And enough with trying to reinvent Jepsen every year as if he's suddenly going to turn a corner.  

 

Relievers can surprise from year to year.  You might get an aberration here and there.  But you have to find out.  

[Angel Oracle]

AO's new OCD target is Jeremy Berg. I guess it beats a foreign presence.

Maybe Berg is stalled out in the minors because his era is 8.10.

It's better than your OCD of criticizing other posters.

[Docwaukee]

It's better than your OCD of criticizing other posters.

let's call it an equally annoying tie.  

[MVTrout]

To answer the question...not a damn thing! This team is all hitting, no pitching and we all know what wins in the playoffs. Realistically, if this team can win 80-85 games we should all be thrilled. This is a 3rd place team, at best, in this tough division.

[Angel Oracle]

That's fair enough.

[ettin]

Isn't Joel Hanrahan throwing a bullpen later this week or the following? DFA Jepsen he's been done for a while.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

@JeffFletcherOCR: #Angels have some roster moves they are about to announce involving 2 new relievers. Presumably Dane De La Rosa will be involved.

@JeffFletcherOCR: #Angels Mike Scioscia said he was surprised to see De La Rosa's lack of velocity last night. DLR told Scioscia he felt fine. Stay tuned.

Edited April 13, 2014 by AngelsAndRamsFan

[fan_since79]

Just a guess, but DDLR will be shut down indefinitely, suffering from Sean Burnett Syndrome.

[Jay]

@JeffFletcherOCR: #Angels have some roster moves they are about to announce involving 2 new relievers. Presumably Dane De La Rosa will be involved.

Not surprised after last night's performance. That was ugg-lee.

[jshep]

So did they somehow miss that he was missing like 6-7 mph on his fastball before they activated him from the DL?

[Jay]

I would start by keeping a starter in who had only given up 3 hits instead of bringing in a pitcher worse than Jepsen to blow the game for him.

Weaver started off shaky, settled down and looked good for awhile, then in the 7th walked a guy and gave up back to back singles. That's usually when you pull your starter.

[Homebrewer]

Jepsen put on waivers. DDLR back on the DL. Lyons and someone else brought up????

Just a guess.

They need a couple fresh arms (warm bodies) just to get through the week.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

@JeffFletcherOCR: #Angels have LHP Jose Alvarez on the lineup card. Acquired for Romine. That's one move.

@brian_means: @JeffFletcherOCR also Herrera... Not familiar with him either

@JeffFletcherOCR: Alvarez most likely just adds long-man depth. Don't expect to see him facing a LH in the 7th inning. #Angels

Edited April 13, 2014 by AngelsAndRamsFan

[fan_since79]

So did they somehow miss that he was missing like 6-7 mph on his fastball before they activated him from the DL?

 

Did they even rehab him at Salt Lake?

Edited April 13, 2014 by fan_since79

[Jay]

Interesting

[The God of Runs]

Scioscia is the 95% of problem with the bullpen. A manager is supposed to put their players in a position to succeed. Had Scioscia put Smith in the game instead of Salas, nobody would have a problem with his decision. Because, putting Smith in the game in that situation was the correct move and probably the only correct move. Everyone knew that was the correct decision except the one who makes the decision.

[jshep]

Probably just DDLR back to the DL and someone with options left (Kohn, Salas, Shoemaker) swapped out for another arm.

 

Not getting hopes up for them finally kicking Jepsen(or Salas) to the curb for good.

[jshep]

 

Jeff Fletcher ‏@JeffFletcherOCR

If you look close at that lineup you may also see RHP Joslan Herrera on there. He's not on the 40 man, so that could explain delay. #Angels

 

 

So when given the choice of young relievers with some potential upside and a veteran with a decent enough track record in Brandon Lyon the Angels chose....the 33 year old career minor leaguer who just last year was pitching in the independent leagues.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

@JeffFletcherOCR: Yoslan Herrera was in the majors last in 2008 with Pirates #Angels

He's the piece!!

[Stradling]

Hmm. So who is being taken off the 40 man?

[HaloCory22]

DDDR and Shoemaker optioned to AAA.

[Glen]

Is Dipoto trying to get fired?

Edited April 13, 2014 by Glen