This is the second installment of a look into the best MLB bullpens. Leave a comment about which team you think has the best bullpen. Let's jump right in and take a look at the pens.
FLORIDA MARLINS: 10 - 7 with 10 saves 3.15 ERA
Kevin Gregg is the closer and has picked up all 10 saves with a 2.39 ERA. His command hasn't been great and he doesn't strike out a ton of guys, but he doesn't give up many hits and has only surrendered 1 home run.
The strength of this pen lies in lefty Renyel Pinto and Doug Waechter. Doug Waechter? Yeah, the failed Rays starter has resurfaced a little further South and has turned his career around. In his 14 games, he's allowed just 24 base-runners in 26.2 IP while striking out 21. His 1.35 ERA is the same as Pinto's.
Renyel has allowed an alarming 21 walks in 33 innings, but has only allowed 18 hits. He's been a workhorse, appearing in just over half the team's games.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: 14 - 7 with 14 saves 2.81 ERA
Brad Lidge is back. He's pitched one inning each time out and allowed earned runs in 2 of his 22 games. His control hasn't been stellar with 11 walks, but he's also allowed only 11 hits while striking out 26.
JC Romero has continued his turnaround from a dreadful 2006 with a 1.33 ERA. He allows too many base-runners but only three runners have stomped on home plate against him.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Most surprising has been the work of Chad Durbin. His ERA stands at 1.89 despite allowing plenty of base-runners.
CHICAGO CUBS: 9 - 9 with 16 saves 3.15 ERA
In the Spring, Kerry Wood seized the closer role, but not without controversy. After allowing three runs on opening day, there were plenty of questions whether it was the right move. Since then, Wood has proved the closer role is perfect for him.
His 3.25 ERA is a little high, but much of that can be attributed to that first game. Wood's command has improved in short innings and he's picked up 12 saves, struck out 29 in 27.1 innings and walked only five.
But the reason this bullpen dominates is Carlos Marmol. He's simply been the most dominant reliever in baseball. Marmol has already thrown 33 innings in 26 games but he hasn't shown much wear. He's allowed just 14 hits and has struck out 47.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: 13 - 4 with 9 saves 2.95 ERA
Takashi Saito has nasty stuff and his numbers reflect that fact. Twenty-six strikeouts in 22.2 innings with only seven walks and 18 hits allowed. He only has eight saves, but has won three games.
Joe Beimel and Hong-Chih Kuo, both with three wins, are two lefties who have surprised with their dominance. Beimel's ERA of 1.13 has come as a situational guy, but Kuo has been the long guy who's kept his team in games the starter has left early. His 2.32 ERA is very good, but doesn't reflect how dominant he's been with 38 K's and only 9 walks in 31 innings.
Chan Ho Park hasn't been dominant and has allowed 43 base-runners in 30.1 innings, against only 13 strikeouts, but it's hard to argue with his 2.37 ERA.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: 3 - 9 with 14 saves 3.38 ERA
Brandon Lyon is an unlikely closer with his lack of eye-popping stuff. Yet, he's picked up 12 saves and sports a 1.64 ERA. His success comes from control as he's allowed only 2 walks in 22 innings.
The rest of the staff has been very consistent. None of Qualls, Pena, Cruz or Slaten has an ERA under 2.92, but none has over a 3.75 ERA either.
Neither Qualls nor Cruz has shown great control, but both have gotten plenty of strikeouts and tend to dominate.
Max Scherzer has thrown just three games in the pen so far, but has been simply lights out. In eight innings, he's allowed one walk, two hits and has struck out twelve.
So, there they are. Which team do you think has the best bullpen in the NL? Leave a comment and let us know!
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5 months ago
I'm a Cubs fan, but honestly, the Cubs bullpen is the best of this bunch. Not only has Marmol been lights out, but Michael Wuertz has emerged as a premium setup guy as well. As long as Wood stays healthy (whoa, is this 2003 again?), and as long as Howry can sustain even mild success, the Cubs' bullpen will be considered number one by October.
from 5 months ago
It's hard to disagree, because I think Piniella put the pieces in the right place. Some teams are still trying to sort out who goes where. Wood WAS the right choice at closer, contrary to most fans beliefs. Long guys like Wuertz, Lieber and Howry will keep them in most games. It's not always necessary, but most pens work better in October with a lefty. Cotts was just brought up, but we'll see. If he returns to resemble his old form, this pen could easily be #1 by October.
from 5 months ago
I'd say it's number one right now. I was at the game last night, and apart from that little bloop single that Derrek Lee couldn't grab, Cotts was excellent. Marmol went 1-2-3 (what else is new?), and then Wood struck out the side. The Cubs bullpen is probably the most dominant in the NL, possibly even the MLB.
5 months ago
The numbers say the Phillies have the best pen and it's tough to disagree. They lack depth and are getting surprising numbers from Durbin, who probably won't keep it up. I like the D'Backs pen best because of their depth. They can call on six guys and feel pretty confident they'll get hitters out. Of course, the Dodgers are deep too, especially if Proctor comes around, like Broxton has.
5 months ago
The Dodgers have a guy who throws 98mph that you didn't even mention. He looked very impressibe against the Cubs. The Cubs bullpen has perhaps the best guy of them all in Carlos Marmol, yet I'm still not sold on Wood as closer. 12 saves out of 16 attempts is a save percentage of only 69%, which would not be acceptable over a full season. Until the percentage improves, I don't know how anyone can say we have the best bullpen. Plus, we don't have a good lefthanded reliever in the pen.
from 5 months ago
Is Broxton the next Kyle Farnsworth? Throwing 98 is great, but you've got to get results and so far this year, he's had a few bad games screw up his stats. I think he'll succeed, but for this article, I put in the guys who had the number up to this point (and I didn't want to make it too long) I'm confident things will change and some of these pens will get better, some will get worse.
5 months ago
Although Brad Lidge has pitched great, the other members of the bullpen on the Phillies have given up too many hits and walks. Their collective ERA is low, but its only a matter of time before those base runners begin to cross home plate. Its just simple probability. Their bullpen is good, but clearly their WHIP shows it is not dominant.
from 5 months ago
Agreed. That's why I mentioned the D'Backs as my favorite, because they have guys that are dominating in different ways and their pen is deep. Probability certainly says things will change for the Phils if that many runners keep getting on base, but until now, their pen has gotten results.
5 months ago
I understand why you didn't mention Braxton, you can't mention everyone, I was only pointing out that he was throwing so good I was glad tos ee him leave the game, despite how impressive their closer is.
Good article.
from 5 months ago
Yeah, I think Broxton will be very solid here on out and will settle in as one of the better relievers. I DON'T think he'll be another Farnsworth, he's too nasty.
5 months ago
I will argue that the Cubs have the best 8th inning 9th inning punch in all of baseball. Carlos Marmol is as close to a guaranteed 2K's no runs 8th inning as there is, and then Woody is solid.
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