Bullpen Roles

[nsacpi]

I think things are starting to shake out in the pen. I like the current group of eight. They complement each other pretty well and give Snit some good options. The key is being flexible with usage and roles. Here is how I see things going forward:

Co-closers: Viz and Minter--who gets to pitch the ninth should depend on matchups and rest

Other high leverage guys: Carle, Winkler, Freeman

Situational righty: Moylan

Long man: Biddle--not a situational lefty given reverse splits. Could see him getting some work in high leverage situations. Like what I have seen so far.

Long man/situational lefty: Fried

The key is to share the work so everyone stays sharp without being overworked. I like the group we currently have.

[bravesfanMatt]

managing it will be the key.

That core is fairly young too..

[Tapate50]

With the arms in the minors, we honest to goodness shouldn't have to shop in FA for a BP arm for 3 years.

[Enscheff]

I think things are starting to shake out in the pen. I like the current group of eight. They complement each other pretty well and give Snit some good options. The key is being flexible with usage and roles. Here is how I see things going forward:

Co-closers: Viz and Minter--who gets to pitch the ninth should depend on matchups and rest

Other high leverage guys: Carle, Winkler, Freeman

Situational righty: Moylan

Long man: Biddle--not a situational lefty given reverse splits. Could see him getting some work in high leverage situations. Like what I have seen so far.

Long man/situational lefty: Fried

The key is to share the work so everyone stays sharp without being overworked. I like the group we currently have.

Should be average-ish.

They will likely add an arm this off season, especially if Riley proves to be a cheap answer at 3B.

[50PoundHead]

I think things are starting to shake out in the pen. I like the current group of eight. They complement each other pretty well and give Snit some good options. The key is being flexible with usage and roles. Here is how I see things going forward:

Co-closers: Viz and Minter--who gets to pitch the ninth should depend on matchups and rest

Other high leverage guys: Carle, Winkler, Freeman

Situational righty: Moylan

Long man: Biddle--not a situational lefty given reverse splits. Could see him getting some work in high leverage situations. Like what I have seen so far.

Long man/situational lefty: Fried

The key is to share the work so everyone stays sharp without being overworked. I like the group we currently have.

A lot of people love Moylan (and I'll admit up front I'm not really one of them), but if we are going to be going through bullpen arms game-after-game, can we afford to have a guy as limited as he is?

[nsacpi]

Should be average-ish.

They will likely add an arm this off season, especially if Riley proves to be a cheap answer at 3B.

Could be adding at the deadline. There will be injuries/loss of form/etc with this group.

[Southcack77]

A lot of people love Moylan (and I'll admit up front I'm not really one of them), but if we are going to be going through bullpen arms game-after-game, can we afford to have a guy as limited as he is?

Yeah, I have no confidence there.

[nsacpi]

A lot of people love Moylan (and I'll admit up front I'm not really one of them), but if we are going to be going through bullpen arms game-after-game, can we afford to have a guy as limited as he is?

In an 8 man pen there should be room for a specialist. We really don't have a lefty specialist. Of our lefties, Minter and Freeman are high-leverage guys, Biddle is not a specialist given the reverse splits, and Fried is more a long man.

[Southcack77]

We have called up Chase Whitley. I forget who that is.

[GovClintonTyree]

I think things are starting to shake out in the pen. I like the current group of eight. They complement each other pretty well and give Snit some good options. The key is being flexible with usage and roles. Here is how I see things going forward:

Co-closers: Viz and Minter--who gets to pitch the ninth should depend on matchups and rest

Other high leverage guys: Carle, Winkler, Freeman

Situational righty: Moylan

Long man: Biddle--not a situational lefty given reverse splits. Could see him getting some work in high leverage situations. Like what I have seen so far.

Long man/situational lefty: Fried

The key is to share the work so everyone stays sharp without being overworked. I like the group we currently have.

Generally I agree. However, with the advent of shorter starts, the 10-day DL and teams' AAA team being close (certainly in our case, the Strippers are right up the road), I would request a friendly amendment to allow for and plan for a ten man bullpen with some rotation among, say, the bottom five.

[Heyward]

With the arms in the minors, we honest to goodness shouldn't have to shop in FA for a BP arm for 3 years.

I'm not against signing one this winter with the positional talent being cheap.

[nsacpi]

Generally I agree. However, with the advent of shorter starts, the 10-day DL and teams' AAA team being close (certainly in our case, the Strippers are right up the road), I would request a friendly amendment to allow for and plan for a ten man bullpen with some rotation among, say, the bottom five.

Yeah. The last guy or two will be on the shuttle to AAA. Especially after extra innings games or anything that puts an extra load on the pen.

[50PoundHead]

In an 8 man pen there should be room for a specialist. We really don't have a lefty specialist. Of our lefties, Minter and Freeman are high-leverage guys, Biddle is not a specialist given the reverse splits, and Fried is more a long man.

We can afford one provided we aren't going through 4 bullpen pitchers every night. If not, I think someone more "complete" than Moylan may be needed.

[CJC]

I think things are starting to shake out in the pen. I like the current group of eight. They complement each other pretty well and give Snit some good options. The key is being flexible with usage and roles. Here is how I see things going forward:

Co-closers: Viz and Minter--who gets to pitch the ninth should depend on matchups and rest

Other high leverage guys: Carle, Winkler, Freeman

Situational righty: Moylan

Long man: Biddle--not a situational lefty given reverse splits. Could see him getting some work in high leverage situations. Like what I have seen so far.

Long man/situational lefty: Fried

The key is to share the work so everyone stays sharp without being overworked. I like the group we currently have.

Minter: +
Viz: Avg
Carle: +
Winkler: +
Freeman: -
Moylan: -
Biddle: Avg
Fried: Avg/-

There is a LOT of room to improve. This is THE week spot of the team.

[Enscheff]

Minter: +
Viz: Avg
Carle: +
Winkler: +
Freeman: -
Moylan: -
Biddle: Avg
Fried: Avg/-

There is a LOT of room to improve. This is THE week spot of the team.

To be clear...

We are saying Freeman is now below average and Carle is above average based on 11 and 17 innings?

[Ozzie Swanson]

Personally, I think Freeman is an adequate lefty middle reliever who can be used in higher leverage situations if needed. His issue is Snitker aggressively overused him at the beginning of the year. Carle has been surprising though. I really like his stuff. Solid change up and he keeps the ball low in the zone.

[Southcack77]

Yeah. The last guy or two will be on the shuttle to AAA. Especially after extra innings games or anything that puts an extra load on the pen.

Practically though, the guys on the shuttle don’t tend to be very good.

I guess the Braves have more options to churn through though so maybe they can find that group of 10.

[nsacpi]

Practically though, the guys on the shuttle don’t tend to be very good.

I guess the Braves have more options to churn through though so maybe they can find that group of 10.

there are different gradations of not very good

[Braves1976]

We have called up Chase Whitley. I forget who that is.

He may get the long-man role. I wonder if Wisler is sent down or maybe Fried for Whitley. If Wisler isn't going to start again he could go down.

[Southcack77]

Per notorious DOB, Braves lead the majors in bullpen walks by a wide margin at 65.

21 teams have fewer than 40.