I was just perusing the MLB statistics page over at ESPN, and noticed some fascinating numbers regarding the Yankee bullpen. Remember, the overall numbers are hindered by the poor performances of players no longer on the roster, making the totals even more fascinating.
The Yankees bullpen is 2nd in MLB in WHIP and K/9, at 1.26 and 8.56 respectively. It is first in K/BB at 2.47, 2nd in BAA against at .233, and first in OBPA (.309). However, it is last in home runs at 58 (leading to a 20th in SLG at .406), which is expected from a team that strikes out plenty of guys, had some bad pitching in April, and plays in a park conducive to long balls. Those factors have lead the Yankee bullpen to have a 4.14 ERA, good for 18th in baseball. That being said, the drastic improvement since April and the stellar peripherals suggest that this is now one of the best bullpens in baseball.
On an individual level, the Yankees have two players in the top 15 in ERA for relievers with at least 20 IP (Hughes, Rivera), 3 in the top 15 of K/BB (Rivera is 1st, Hughes, Aceves), and two in the top 10 for K/9 (Robertson, Hughes). In WHIP, they have 2 in the top 10 (Hughes, Rivera) and 3 in the top 25 (Aceves), and have 2 in the top 10 for OBPA (Hughes, Rivera), 1 in the top 10 for BAA and SLGA (Hughes), and two in the top 20 for OPS (Hughes, RIvera). The obvious conclusion is that the Yankee bullpen is quite excellent, and that Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera are leading the charge. Go take a look at Hughes’ numbers as a reliever and his rank among the games’ elite firemen. They are mindblowing.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
11 Responses to The Numbers On The Yankees Bullpen
Leave a Reply
TIQ IQ
great post.
I was wondering if there’s a way to run the numbers with the yankee bullpen as it is currently comprised to know what we can expect from this relief group?
Since June the Yankees bull pen leads the AL in saves, ERA, strike outs and WHIP and as a team the Yankees lead the majors in strike outs. We have the best bull pen in baseball how it is comprised right now.
I think that is a perfectly reasonable statement. When a guy like Bruney is your last short reliever off the bench, that is a really good pen.
Anyone want to take a chance on trading a nobody for Billy Wagner? I know the guy can still pitch and if he is your lefty specialist and Coke is the main lefty you could have a killer lefty combo out of the pen.
Damn, I like it when a plan comes together.
A team takes a good starter and puts him in the BP…Phil is what one gets.
I am waiting for the call …”Phil to the BP as Mo’s replacement”! There have been a few imputations (yes, I do mean crime) already but, not as much as I thought there would be.
This is one hell of a good BP, top to bottom.
I wouldn’t be oppose to Hughes being groomed to close at all! HE doesn’t have the velocity to his fastball or movement to dominate AL line ups.
To me, the real surprise this year has been Robertson, whose stuff is much better than the initial reports from his minor league stint suggested. His K/9 ratio is exceptional and even better than his pure velocity would lead one to expect.
I’ve always liked his curve and his makeup, but I just didn’t think he had enough fastball. But for whatever reason, his fastball seems to play up. It comes in at 92 and guys swing at it like its 98. Must have some late life to it, that’s tough to pick up on TV at real speed.
I had heard he had a great cutter, but I’ve yet to see him throw it. They must have scrapped it when he was called up.
He showed the ability last year to be something special, both him and Coke really proved that they deserved a shot at the pen this year and both really have stepped up.
Robertson is one of the guys I called the “Kiddie Korp” in spring training. He, Coke, Brett, Cervelli, Melancon and Phil were the Kiddie Korp I suggested would help the team sometime this year, I had no idea that Pena would shine as much as he has this year.
Yes, his fastball jumps a bit as it comes into the hitting zone…his curve is nasty when it is on.
No, Phil is not going to go into the pen, he is a starter!
The versatility of our pen is one reason it’ so good… You have a guy like Ace who is basically everything from a set up guy, a one inning guy, or even another starter out of the pen who can go 3 or 4 scoreless. Hughes is a set up man who can give you two perfect innings and guys like Robertson, Coke, Bruney are great one inning or specialty guys and Gaudin can give you length or specialty depending on the need and team he’s facing at the time. There is almost no situation the pen can’t handle except for one that would call for two lefties… Just think where this team would be right now with a healthy and effective Nady, Wang and Marte…