Bullpen issues are the main storyline with the Blue Jays, though, looking at things written about other teams, it seems to be a league-wide issue.
I saw this on twitter yesterday:
The Yankees are near the top of the list. I hope after this series, I hope they are higher up on the list.
I figured the Jays would be higher up on the list. Apparently, the definition of a meltdown is a -0.06 WPA, which, to me, is too dependent on the score. But then it is fair
in a way that….well who cares if you give up four runs in a game that is already lost. For me, a reliever blowout inning is any inning, or outing, where the reliever gives up more than one run. Now one run can be too much to give up, if the game is tied, but, for me, that’s not a blowout.
Of course, if you are pitching and leave two guys on base and the next guy lets those runs score, those runs are credited to you, there should be a way to share the ‘credit’.
Let’s look at our bullpen:
- Jeff Hoffman: 50 games. 8 games with 2 or more earned. 15 games with a negative WPA. Inherited runners 10, 8 scored. Walk rate 8.0%. Strikeout rate 31.3%
Jeff rarely comes in with guys on base, but then few closers do. Generally, they get to start the ninth. But when he has, it has gone badly.
- Yariel Rodríguez: 58 games. 5 games with 2 or more earned. 4 games with a negative WPA. 34 inherited runners, 4 scored. Walk rate 10.8%. Strikeout rate 22.8%.
He’s been excellent in a lot of ways. Some of the reason there were fewer negative WPA games is that he’s been in several games that were decided before he game into it.
- Brendon Little: 67 games, 5 games with 2 or more earned. 14 games with a negative WPA. 32 inherited runs, 8 scored. Walk rate 15.1%. Strikeout rate 31.8%.
I’d imagine he has had a lot of runners he handed off to other pitchers. He has a 15.1% walk rate, but a 31.8% strikeout rate.
- Mason Fluharty: 51 games. 7 games with 2 or more earned. 9 games with a negative WPA. 27 inherited runs, 7 scored. 12.1% walk rate. 24.2% strikeout rate.
I hope they bring him up soon.
- Braydon Fisher: 41 games, 5 games with 2 or more earned. 8 games with a negative WPA. 26 inherited runs, 8 scored. Walk rate 7.5%. Strikeout rate 31.8%.
He had the 5 games with 2 earned, no games with 1 earned or more than 2 earned. He’s been terrific, but he’s in the minors at the moment.
- Chad Green: 45 games, 6 games with 2 or more earned. 6 games with a negative WPA. 18 inherited runs, 6 scored. Walk rate 6.7%. Strikeout 18.4%.
Gone now. I figured someone would pick him up.
- Tommy Nance: 21 game. 1 game with 2 or more earned. 3 games with a negative WPA. 12 inherited runs, 4 scored. 5.4% walk rate. 27.2% strikeout rate.
- Louis Varland: With the Jays, 15 games. 2 with 2 or more earned. 5 with a negative WPA. 10 inherited runs, 6 scored. 7.8% walk rate. 26.6% strikeout rate.
He hasn’t been good with inherited runners.
- Seranthony Domínguez: With the Jays, 16 games, 2 games with 2 or more earned. 1 game with a negative WPA. 9 inherited runners, 2 scored. 14.1% walk rate. 30.3% K rate.
- Justin Bruihl: 14 games. 2 games with 2 or more earned. 3 games with a negative WPA. 5 inherited runs, 3 scored. 11.3% walk rate. 25.8% strikeout.
I’m getting the feeling that Trey Yesavage is likely to be called up, if he has a couple more good outings out of the pen in Buffalo and if our relief pitchers don’t improve. Well, forget the second part, we’ll see him if he continues to pitch well.
I don’t know what the team can do to fix the pen. They brought in some good arms. They are going to have to trust those arms and hope they figure things out.
