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Guys like Lincoln, Delabar, Rogers and Santos worry me and I'm a little concerned about
CJ's arm troubles.

We kind of lack big names in the bullpen I suppose... but these guys are low-maintenance guys who can crank up the heat and be intimidating presences on the mound so it may not be as bad as it seems on paper.

I'm very concerned and think that it's a major issue that's been glossed over because of the offseason we've had. I like Janssen but believe he's more suitable in the set up role and I can't place any trust in Santos for the time being. Just too much of an issue with that shoulder last year to have any faith coming into camp. I think we'll survive the issues like we have in the past, but it'll be something that needs to be shored up in season.

I'm hoping we have a couple of surprises and someone at the back end of the rotation has a career year. We could use an Orioles-like year from the bullpen.

Santoki wrote:I'm very concerned and think that it's a major issue that's been glossed over because of the offseason we've had. I like Janssen but believe he's more suitable in the set up role and I can't place any trust in Santos at the time. I think we'll survive the issues like we have in the past, but it'll be something that needs to be shored up in season.

I'm hoping we have a couple of surprises and someone at the back end of the rotation has a career year. We could use an Orioles-like year from the bullpen.

The Baltimore bullpen was amazing, I think they had one of the best seasons in MLB history. With our powerful lineup and great starting pitching, all we need is an average season from them.

Gibby wrote:

Santoki wrote:I'm very concerned and think that it's a major issue that's been glossed over because of the offseason we've had. I like Janssen but believe he's more suitable in the set up role and I can't place any trust in Santos at the time. I think we'll survive the issues like we have in the past, but it'll be something that needs to be shored up in season.

I'm hoping we have a couple of surprises and someone at the back end of the rotation has a career year. We could use an Orioles-like year from the bullpen.

The Baltimore bullpen was amazing, I think they had one of the best seasons in MLB history. With our powerful lineup and great starting pitching, all we need is an average season from them.

Of course. That's why I said I'm hoping for a season like that lol. I do think we'll have to improve from last season though. We can't languish in the bottom half of the AL - especially with blown saves. The Angels I think blew more games than we did and they went into last season with about the same expectations we have this year.

One reason I am not worried:

Fatsisco Blowdero

My biggest worry.

Waylon Mercy wrote:Guys like Lincoln, Delabar, Rogers and Santos worry me and I'm a little concerned about
CJ's arm troubles.

Lincoln is likely headed for Buffalo to stay stretched out as a starter for depth. Janssen is the only troubling one for me right now

Farrell and Cordero are gone, Santos is hopefully healthy. Still got Janssen and Oliver. Lots of other good arms like Delabar and Lincoln (probably starting in AAA), Rogers, etc to roll the dice on. I`m sure one of them will have a good season. I`m not too worried about it. I`d be a lot more worried if we spent real resources upgrading the bullpen rather than doing what we did. The bullpen is pretty much a crap`s shoot no matter what you try to prepare for, so the fact that we have a lot of good options and a manager that will hopefully use them better makes me satisfied.

I'm not really concerned. As a group they lack experience, but there are a lot of quality arms that should excel in their respective roles (e.g. Cecil has been dominant against lefties). If Janssen and Oliver keep doing their thing, and a couple of the other five prove to be reliable options, they'll be just fine. I think there's a very good chance of that happening.

Skin Blues wrote:The bullpen is pretty much a crap`s shoot no matter what you try to prepare for, so the fact that we have a lot of good options and a manager that will hopefully use them better makes me satisfied.

This.

Every team should be reasonably worried about their bullpen before each season begins and it's no different with us. There are a lot of options on this team though, so as easily as it could all go to hell, it could also end up being a strength.

One guy i'd like to see finally figure it out and force the team's hand is Jeremy Jeffress... He has massive potential as a backend option with his arm.

the starting rotation should give the bullpen more quality starts, so the bullpen should be able to handle their workload.

We have roughly ten different guys who can lay claim to having been competent big league relievers in recent times, and who possess good stuff and a modicum of control. That's all you can ask for, really.

Not really worried about it.

Relievers are up and down year to year a lot of the time. You can't really expect a BP full of consistant relievers. We have quite a few pretty good relievers that can put up a good year.

Plus our BP has a ton of help this year in that we have a lot of quality starting pitching that eat up tons of innings. In the past we have had tons of guys like Drabek, Hutch, Morrow, etc... who strained the BP a ton because they could go out of a game super early. With the current group we aren't likely to be needing 20+ innings of BP over a 4 game series ever.

Hopefully our starters are consistent and we don`t have to rely on our bullpen too much, but we`ll see.

I wouldn't be too worried with Jansen, Oliver, Santos, Happ in there combined with how late in games most of our starters will typically pitch. I would only be worried if we had someone named Fransisco Cordero still in there.

This is the best bullpen they've had in years since BJ, Downs, and Janssen. So no.

Randle McMurphy wrote:This is the best bullpen they've had in years since BJ, Downs, and Janssen. So no.

I'm not too worried either. gone are the days of robert coello, igarashi, david pauley, blowdero etc. also add farrell to the mix there. with this rotation and the likely possibility of a starter going 7 strong on any given night and logical pen management by gibby, I don't forsee the pen being a liability and costing us games.

Yeah, the 'logical pen management' is a biggie, as well, because with good depth comes options...but those options are only beneficial if the manager in charge isn't liable to swallow his own tongue when reaching for the 'pen phone.

I would say if healthy, our BP has just about as good a shot as any.

The only real potential problem imo is health. Delabar's arm is held together with bubble gum and string. Santos, and Jansen both have had recent problems. If a couple of those guys go down, all of a sudden we are looking pretty mediocre in the pen.