THE BULLPEN: CLUB CALLAWAY
Previously:
New York Mets: Mickey Callaway Reviving the Role of Fireman.
I recall a time when Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez was tiring, and manager Grady Little left him in during this particular game because he didn't trust his bullpen. Needless to say Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS goes into extra-innings, and the next thing you know ... the New York Yankees are heading to the World Series.
Hearing "bullpen by committee" always makes me think back to those 2003 Boston Red Sox. Entering that season, then general manager Theo Epstien said something to the effect they didn't need a closer - that bullpen by committee would work, and serve them well.
Executives lacking a legitimate closer tend to say stuff like that ...
Did he learn his lesson?
In January of 2004, Theo signs free agent reliever Keith Foulke, who went on to save 31 regular season games, and threw the final pitch in the Red Sox 2004 World Series clinching victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Mets have an MLB legitimate closer in Jeurys Familia. Therefore, this has everything to do with Mickey Callaway's and pitching coach Dave Eiland's plan to implement a closer by committee system - which is quite different than bullpen by committee. Unless you're the 1990 Cincinnati Reds featuring the Nasty Boys; Randy Meyers, Rod Dibble, and Norm Charlton; for me the term bullpen by committee is a nonstarter.
Coach Callaway, however, sounds intent on reviving the old-school role of fireman ... and I'm absolutely cool with that.
How many times have managers held their closer back because it wasn't the ninth inning? And how many potential victories have gone up in smoke as a result?
Of course, every situation is different and therefore such a scheme requires proper planning. But if game threatening conditions present themselves in the seventh/eighth innings, it would occasionally make sense to call upon your fireman. Why not let Jeurys Familia literally and figuratively save the game in the seventh/eighth if needed? If all goes well, the next reliever in line then faces a less dire situation in the ninth inning, preferably against a less imposing portion of the line-up.
I'm indeed agreeable with this thinking, I guess, because what qualifies these days as a save situation, a non-save situation, and the save rule itself (as presently written) is pure science fiction.
Under the old save qualifications, one needed enter with the tying or go-ahead run on base or at the plate; preserve the lead and finish the game; or pitch three full innings while preserving the lead. Today, all a closer must do in order to qualify for a save is simply finish the game and protect a three run lead. This is precisely Goose Gossage's gripe with today's closers - and quite frankly, I agree with him. Goose would routinely put out fires in the seventh or eighth inning, then still pitch the ninth. That also goes for Rollie Fingers as well as other top relievers of that era.
Alas, they were firemen.
We have Tony LaRussa to thank for much of today's bullpen dogma. Above and beyond any of his contemporaries, he's the one most responsible for inaugurating the age of strict relief specialization. He created the one inning/ninth inning role back when he managed the White Sox, then perfected it with the Oakland A's and (HOF) Dennis Eckersley. If you want to partly blame someone for the inane suggestions being floated around to speed up pace of play, he's your guy.
My point is Mickey Callaway's and Dave Eiland's idea is a refreshing break from the modern LaRussa model. As a fan, I know a save when I see one, regardless of the inning. I therefore am in lockstep with Coach Callaway regarding this matter.
As presently constructed, Mets bullpen success lies in the arms of Jeurys Familia, Anthony Swarzak, Jerry Blevins, and AJ Ramos. They will be joined by either Zack Wheeler or Jason Vargas - depending which of the two earns the fifth spot in the starting rotation.
Barring another veteran acquisition, the rest of the bullpen will otherwise be manned by farmed products still attempting to establish themselves - Hansel Robles included. This is where the redundancy of hiring Mickey Callaway and Dave Eiland comes into play. The pitching staff is in better hands due to the simple fact Dan Warthen is gone - no offense intended, but truth is truth. So I'm curious to see how Robles, Paul Sewald, and maybe Cory Oswalt, respond under their tutelage.
Next is the matter of over-taxation. Jerry Blevins is the lone left-hander in the bullpen, which could prove problematic. But there's also Sandy Alderson's information squad whom floated the idea of limiting certain starters to just two turns through the line-up. Metrics in fact indicate a starter's ERA skyrockets when facing line-ups a third time. This strategy potentially applies to Zack Wheeler, Steven Matz, and even Matt Harvey.
All I can say is let's just wait and see what happens.
THE PROBABLE SEVEN
Yet, the Brewers granted him his free agency. Money was likely an issue. Swarzak went from earning an average of $900,000 over the last three years, to signing a two-year $14 million dollar pact with the Mets.
He's strictly a fastball/slider pitcher. He threw his fastball 48.5 percent of the time clocking in at a career high 94.7 mph, and threw his slider at a rate of 51.5 percent, likewise clocking in at a career high 87.1 mph according to Fangraphs.
THE USUAL REINFORCEMENTS
Hearing "bullpen by committee" always makes me think back to those 2003 Boston Red Sox. Entering that season, then general manager Theo Epstien said something to the effect they didn't need a closer - that bullpen by committee would work, and serve them well.
Executives lacking a legitimate closer tend to say stuff like that ...
Did he learn his lesson?
In January of 2004, Theo signs free agent reliever Keith Foulke, who went on to save 31 regular season games, and threw the final pitch in the Red Sox 2004 World Series clinching victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Mets have an MLB legitimate closer in Jeurys Familia. Therefore, this has everything to do with Mickey Callaway's and pitching coach Dave Eiland's plan to implement a closer by committee system - which is quite different than bullpen by committee. Unless you're the 1990 Cincinnati Reds featuring the Nasty Boys; Randy Meyers, Rod Dibble, and Norm Charlton; for me the term bullpen by committee is a nonstarter.
Coach Callaway, however, sounds intent on reviving the old-school role of fireman ... and I'm absolutely cool with that.
How many times have managers held their closer back because it wasn't the ninth inning? And how many potential victories have gone up in smoke as a result?
Of course, every situation is different and therefore such a scheme requires proper planning. But if game threatening conditions present themselves in the seventh/eighth innings, it would occasionally make sense to call upon your fireman. Why not let Jeurys Familia literally and figuratively save the game in the seventh/eighth if needed? If all goes well, the next reliever in line then faces a less dire situation in the ninth inning, preferably against a less imposing portion of the line-up.
I'm indeed agreeable with this thinking, I guess, because what qualifies these days as a save situation, a non-save situation, and the save rule itself (as presently written) is pure science fiction.
Under the old save qualifications, one needed enter with the tying or go-ahead run on base or at the plate; preserve the lead and finish the game; or pitch three full innings while preserving the lead. Today, all a closer must do in order to qualify for a save is simply finish the game and protect a three run lead. This is precisely Goose Gossage's gripe with today's closers - and quite frankly, I agree with him. Goose would routinely put out fires in the seventh or eighth inning, then still pitch the ninth. That also goes for Rollie Fingers as well as other top relievers of that era.
Alas, they were firemen.
We have Tony LaRussa to thank for much of today's bullpen dogma. Above and beyond any of his contemporaries, he's the one most responsible for inaugurating the age of strict relief specialization. He created the one inning/ninth inning role back when he managed the White Sox, then perfected it with the Oakland A's and (HOF) Dennis Eckersley. If you want to partly blame someone for the inane suggestions being floated around to speed up pace of play, he's your guy.
My point is Mickey Callaway's and Dave Eiland's idea is a refreshing break from the modern LaRussa model. As a fan, I know a save when I see one, regardless of the inning. I therefore am in lockstep with Coach Callaway regarding this matter.
As presently constructed, Mets bullpen success lies in the arms of Jeurys Familia, Anthony Swarzak, Jerry Blevins, and AJ Ramos. They will be joined by either Zack Wheeler or Jason Vargas - depending which of the two earns the fifth spot in the starting rotation.
Barring another veteran acquisition, the rest of the bullpen will otherwise be manned by farmed products still attempting to establish themselves - Hansel Robles included. This is where the redundancy of hiring Mickey Callaway and Dave Eiland comes into play. The pitching staff is in better hands due to the simple fact Dan Warthen is gone - no offense intended, but truth is truth. So I'm curious to see how Robles, Paul Sewald, and maybe Cory Oswalt, respond under their tutelage.
Next is the matter of over-taxation. Jerry Blevins is the lone left-hander in the bullpen, which could prove problematic. But there's also Sandy Alderson's information squad whom floated the idea of limiting certain starters to just two turns through the line-up. Metrics in fact indicate a starter's ERA skyrockets when facing line-ups a third time. This strategy potentially applies to Zack Wheeler, Steven Matz, and even Matt Harvey.
All I can say is let's just wait and see what happens.
THE PROBABLE SEVEN
- JEURYS FAMILIA
- ANTHONY SWARZAK
Yet, the Brewers granted him his free agency. Money was likely an issue. Swarzak went from earning an average of $900,000 over the last three years, to signing a two-year $14 million dollar pact with the Mets.
He's strictly a fastball/slider pitcher. He threw his fastball 48.5 percent of the time clocking in at a career high 94.7 mph, and threw his slider at a rate of 51.5 percent, likewise clocking in at a career high 87.1 mph according to Fangraphs.
- JERRY BLEVINS
- AJ RAMOS
- HANSEL ROBLES
- PAUL SEWALD
- CORY OSWALT
THE USUAL REINFORCEMENTS
- Seth Lugo
- Robert Gsellman
- Rafael Montero
ACQUISITIONS
- Twenty-three year old Jamie Callahan was acquired from the Red Sox in the Addison Reed deal. He owns a 4.71 ERA in 384 innings pitched over six minor league seasons.
- Twenty-four year old Jacob Rhame was acquired from the Dodgers in the Curtis Granderson deal. He owns a 3.07 ERA in 261 innings pitched over five minor league seasons.
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