After yesterday’s bullpen implosion on the part of Brett Tomko, and to a lesser extent, Phil Coke and Dave Robertson, Fangraphs noted that the Yankees bullpen had just concluded a stretch of 20 consecutive scoreless innings. While there are those that continue to clamor for the Yankees to move Joba Chamberlain to the bullpen, the reality of the situation is that the Yankees bullpen has really become an asset in recent weeks. Prior to the season, we noted that the Yankees had excellent bullpen depth, so that if anyone faltered, they could be easily replaced. The season has played out in exactly that fashion, with relievers such as Jose Veras, Jon Albaladejo, Edwar Ramirez, and Damaso Marte currently out of the mix, while others have slid seamlessly into their place. Here are the impressive bullpen numbers for those currently in the pen. Brett Tomko is the weakest link, and is unlikely to survive out there much longer:
Brian Bruney: 10.1 IP, 12.19 K/9, .48 WHIP, 2.61 ERA
Phil Hughes: 8.2 IP, 12.46 K/9, .81 WHIP, 2.08 ERA
Clownhouse dvdrip
Dave Robertson: 14.2 IP, 14.11 K/9, 1.23 WHIP, 1.84 ERA
Religulous divx
Hunger movies Alfredo Aceves:31 IP, 7.84 K/9, 1.00 WHIP, 2.32 ERA
Phil Coke: 29.2 IP, 6.67 K/9, 1.08 WHIP, 3.64 ERA
Brett Tomko:14.1 IP, 5.65 K/9, 1.47 WHIP, 6.28 ERA
Mariano Rivera: 27.2 IP, 10.73 K/9, 1.08 WHIP, 3.25 ERA
I know that many of these are small samples, but those numbers are excellent. Outside of Tomko, the highest WHIP is 1.23, and the highest ERA is 3.64. The Yankees have the makings of an excellent bullpen, no matter what the talking heads try to tell you.
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12 Responses to The Improved Bullpen
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TIQ IQ
I agree, I really like how the bullpen is shaping up. Still I strongly feel that Tomko must go. I don’t see how he is an asset in any way shape or form and I felt this way even before yesterdays meltdown. Why not give his slot to a young guy to give him experience pitching against big league hitters? Had that been the case yesterday, could have resulted in a W. Certainly couldn’t have done any worse.
“Why not give his slot to a young guy to give him experience pitching against big league hitters?”
Your candidates are:
-Mark Melancon
-Jon Albaladejo
-Edwar Ramirez
. . .in something resembling that order. I’m not totally opposed to that, especially in Melancon’s case. But Tomko has been more good than bad, as I detailed this morning.
Just as I could never get too worked up over what Melky was hitting as the #9 hitter, I can’t get too worked up about the last man in the bullpen one way or the other. They could keep Tomko or DFA him and I won’t worry about it either way.
However, if you think he’s the reason why were 4-8 in the past 12 games, then you’re looking in the wrong place. Again, Tomko doesn’t make that much difference either way.
Never suggested he was the reason for the 4-8 stretch, but if he’s “the last guy” out of the bullpen or the mop up guy, what was he doing in the game yesterday when the Yankees were leading? Maybe I should be arguing more about how Girardi was using him than knocking Tomko. I would have liked to have seen Hughes in there where they pitched Tomko yesterday, or put in Robertson earlier. IMHO, if they’re going to keep him on the roster, I don’t want to see him in a game where the Yankees have a lead, or if it is close and late. Sure, CC leaving early was unexpected and Girardi had to improvise, just don’t like the way he improvised. I’d rather see Melancon up and send Tomko on his way. He’s a journeyman for a reason. Much like Farnsworth.
“but if he’s “the last guy” out of the bullpen or the mop up guy, what was he doing in the game yesterday when the Yankees were leading?”
It was the 5th inning of a game where the starter was taken out in the 2nd. If you can’t use him there, he shouldn’t be on the roster. He simply had a bad day, and of his 11 appearances only 2 of them have been bad.
“If you can’t use him there, he shouldn’t be on the roster.”
Exactly!
I’d also like to add that we saw Hughes start the 8th over the weekend, and I think that is a significant development. I think they are easing him into a setup role, letting his start innings for now and they will bring him in with men on base sometime in the future. By all accounts, Hughes loves the new role and 100% OK with it.
I think they need to use him a lot more. If they are going to use him for 3 innings a week, he needs to go down and start. If they could get him 5 a week, I would be more amenable to keeping him up, even if I disagree with it.
Perfectly said.
agrred thats why i cant unestand why in a rubber game of a series wth an off day tomororow the WORST member of the bullben by far is in the game -they surely could have gotten 5 innings after ace without having to go to the only member of the bullpen that strugled of late .hughes pitched only 11 pitches the day before both aj and andy went 7 innigs so the bullpen should of been well rested-i pin this on joe
Bruney was not available according to Joe, and Coke only for a few batters probably after 3 games in 4 nights. So they had D-Rob, Tomko, and maybe Hughes to get them 4 innings. I bet the plan was Tomko for 2, and then Coke and Robertson for 2 depending on matchups, so as to not Hughes unless they took the lead. Makes sense to me. If you want to blame anyone, blame the GM for having Tomko on the roster, but that was a normal spot to use him.
why was bruney not avalibable is he still injured????
He pitched Friday and warmed on Staurday, so they did not want to use him coming off the injury.