Earlier today, while offering his own ALCS predictions, Steve noted the following regarding the upcoming showdown between the Yankees and the Angels:
I think this series comes down to a battle of the bullpens, and the Yanks win that handily.
Steve is right on with his assessment. If the Yankees can maneuver through the likes of John Lackey, Jared Weaver, and Scott Kazmir (and possibly Joe Saunders), then they’ll face an LA bullpen that has been exposed as a team weakness throughout the regular season.
In ‘09, the Angel bullpen has sported a 4.27 FIP, which is actually better than the Yankees’ mark of 4.33. However, looking beyond FIP, there are some flaws nesting within the Angel ‘pen. For instance, while the Yankees’ relief corps has walked 3.46 batters per nine innings — the second lowest BB/9 in the AL — LA’s relievers have walked 3.85 per nine, the 5th highest in the league. In addition, the Angels’ bullpen has put up relatively weak strikeout numbers when compared to the rest of the AL. With a K/9 of 7.41 — the 6th lowest in the league — the Angel bullpen isn’t as imposing when compared to previous years (the Yankees 8.44 K/9 is the best in the AL).
Essentially, the Yankees won’t be facing Scot Shields, Kelvim Escobar, and K-Rod this ALCS. That was a pretty tough group. Instead, they’ll have to deal with Bulger, Palmer and Fuentes, which could end up being a good thing.
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8 Responses to LA's biggest weakness?
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Yes, the Angels have a weak bullpen. No, I don’t think that is what the series will come down to. If you’re talking about hitting, starting pitching, and relief pitching, the first two are far more important.
If the Yankees starting pitchers and hitters do their jobs, the bullpen’s job won’t be that important.
It all comes down to starting pitching, not relief pitching.
You’re missing the point. Both teams have good starters, and both can score runs. The difference between the two is one has an outstanding bullpen (that has been ever better since earlier this year) and the other has a sub par bullpen.
Starters don’t go 9 anymore, and haven’t for a long time. Bullpens will be a factor, and if you add in home field they will be a bigger factor in games where we get those last ABs at home, where the Yanks had the best home record in Baseball.
Exactly. Thanks for that, Steve. It’s not really a matter of “get to the bullpen, do damage there.” It’s just that both teams are good and one team is noticeably stronger in one area — relief pitching — than the other.
The only real difference in the Angels bull pen now than in the season is that now they have Ervin Santana waiting to be called on which gives them another arm with some blow you away stuff coming from it so it is slightly stronger. I agree though for the Yankees to win they have to negate Lackey, Weaver and Kazmir and get to the bull pens before the 8th inning… If we allow there starters to log 7+ IP like they did against Boston we could be in trouble.
I think a big advantage for us is the fact that they have Fuentes closing and while he is good he also can’t get anything by out hitters and therefore he is one of the more hittable closers in baseball and he is the most hittable closer left in the playoffs.
The FIP stat is somewhat deceptive, b/c the Yanks have a completely different pen from what they started the season with in April and May. If you look at their numbers since July, you’ll see the Yankees FIP is significantly better than the Angels. Interestingly, though, in September/October, they’re both very, very good (2nd/3rd respectively in the A.L.).
I think both teams have solid bullpen, with the edge going to the Yankees. However, any chance you guys on the blog can write-up a post about the absence of Phil Hughes off speed stuff. He got lucky to escape both outings in the ALDS with minimal damage (I’m pretty sure he gave up 5 hits in 2 innings). I’ll be the first one to admit, Hughes has a powerful 95 mph fastball with good late movement, but these guys are major league hitters and if you throw them a fastball all the time, the will time it up and hit it hard. So basically, I am asking– why the heck doesn’t Phil Hughes mix in his breaking ball more!? Even in 0-2, 1-2, and 2-2 counts he just about always comes with the fastball.
I’m not sure why, but River Ave Blues just did a post on it. Go check them out, the link is in our sidebar.
Well the hit he gave up was on the knuckle curve so you could say if they can’t hit the fastball why take the risk of throwing off speed. I have been saying he needs to mix in the curve for a while but as soon as he does it gets hit, so I guess just go with what has worked, it is the first time he has had life on his fastball ever so let him throw it.