MLB Bullpen's

Is it me or does it seem like every teams bullpen sucks? I don't recall a year when they have been so bad. Also name a closer that when they come in you feel safe, with exception of Boston's and maybe Yankee's I can't name one.

I know here in Boston we can relax and enjoy when Papelbon comes in to close. he's a star pitcher in the making

Our closer here in St Louis (Isringhausen) usually gets the job done BUT you have no fingernails left and need tums by the end of the game

A-1,

Yes, Mo is ridiculously solid (lived my whole life in NY), but check out these guys other than Mo, Papelborn, Isringhausen and Jones...

-Jenks
-Gordon
-Wagner
-Ryan
-Turnbow
-Hoffman
-F-Rod


I'm sure some will argue for these names, too...
-Fuentes
-Baez
-Otsuka
-Cordero
-Nathan




Cappo

Half of those you named used to be real good but down they have tailed off a little. Or they're not dominating like they used to be

agree with you A-1. gordon and wagner just for a couple

Rivera has blown a few huge saves this year and already has 3 or 4 loses, Wagner has 3 blown saves, Gordon had a huge blown save against the Mets not long ago but otherwise he has been solid, Turnbow has been giving it up on a consistent basis lately, K-Rod had a huge blown save against the Twins earlier in the year and has been so-so, Todd Jones blew a huge save for me against the Twins a few weeks ago (Rodney was absolutely dominating as the closer), Jenks blew a huge save against the Royals a few weeks ago, Ryan just blew on against the White Sox's the other day but he has been ridiculously good. Hoffman, Fuentes and Papelbon are really the only names I can think of that haven't screwed me this year. It has been a pretty rough year for the closer this season.

A-1,

I explained some can argue for them...and some against them...here is my rationale for the closers I listed...

We already know about Mo and Papelporn...

As FairWarning stated, Detroit's bullpen is s-o-l-i-d. Jones has 16 saves already with about a 3 ERA. (He's also coming off a 40 save year.) In addition, Rodney could do the job for the Tigers, too...he has 6 saves on the year with a 3-1 record, averaging a K/inning, an ERA bordering 1 as well as opponent's hitting just .125 off him.

Jenks is also the real deal...esp. when you've got 280 pounds comin' at you with heat...14 saves with an ERA in the 3s...but even more impressive, 26 Ks in 21 1/3 innings...opponent's hitting just .238.

Gordon wanted to close...and he is definitely proving himself in Philly (as he did in Boston)...14 saves...an ERA close to 1.5...30 Ks in 22 innings...opponent's hitting just .177. Seeing him set-up (esp. when Joe T didn't overuse him earlier in the seasons) for Mo was an insane 1-2 punch...kinda what Joe wants with Farnsworth now...

Can't go wrong with the "other Sandman." Wagner is 3-0 with 11 saves...33Ks in 24 innings...opponent's hitting .200...also coming off of 38 save last year.

Ryan is in the same boat as Jenks...260 pounds = heat. Guy has an ERA under 1...11 saves...27Ks in 23 1/3 innings...opponent's hitting just .167. Coming off 36 saves last season.

Turnbow is Milwaukee's star for the next decade to come...this guy can throw...15 saves already with an ERA in the 3s...a K/inning...opponent's hitting .228...39 saves last season.

I don't even need to go about Hoffman...San Diego's Hall of Famer...9 saves with an ERA near 1.5...opponent's hitting .215. 43 saves in '05 and 41 in '04...445 for his career.

And the Venezuelan star F-Rod...this kid can throw heat for 180 pounds...those glasses really make a difference I guess...12 saves with an ERA in the 3s...a little more than a K/inning...opponent's hitting .241...45 saves last season.



And for the others...where I see potential (at least)...

The 230-pound Fuentes can throw...the Rockies don't utilize him as much as they should...11 saves with an ERA close to 1.25...opponent's hitting .147...31 saves last season.

The 230-pound Baez filling in for Gagne...not bad with 9 saves and an ERA near 2.5...41 saves in '05 and 30 in '04 (mind you, both with Tampa Bay).

Otsuka is something special in the making...never really utilized as a closer...but this guy throw...8 saves with an ERA near 2.25...opponent's hitting .207....he's averaging a K/inning in his MLB career.

Cordero just hasn't been given the chance this year...7 saves with an ERA in the mid-3s...opponent's hitting just .176...almost a K/inning...47 saves last season.

And you can't forget about Mr. Nathan...3-0 with 6 saves...an ERA close to 2...opponent's hitting .161...43 saves in '05 and 44 in '04...220 pounds of heat comin' in fast.



All these guys can throw...their supporting cast in the 'pen might not be of the same caliber...but I'll say this much...if I took ML on a team going into the 9th against one of these guys down 1-3 runs, I'm already looking for another "investment" to make it back...



Cappo

Makemakercolin,

I didn't list the BSs for these guys...but, there is a difference between blowing a 3 run lead in the 9th starting fresh...or getting thrown into the bottom of the 9th on the road after a top of the inning comeback and to get 3 outs with a 1 run lead against something like Ortiz-Ramirez-Nixon or Sheffield-Giambi-A-Rod...


Cappo

also don't know but seems overall scoring may be up this year