The #1 Bullpen in Baseball

Very early in the season, I predicted that the Dodgers would have a TOP 5 BULLPEN. Well, they currently are now #5 in ERA in all of MLB. I have always used ERA as a metric, although I know there are many others. Some of you want to use other metrics to “disprove” that they are #5. I say “Whatever!” I have always thought about combining a number of metrics, such as BA, OPS, WHIP, ERA, inherited runners scored, and others into one metric, but I’m too busy. Perhaps our resident, sage CPA can do that. 😉 You know who you are, Jeff!

However, I am not going to stop there. Barring injury, I believe that the Dodgers will have the best bullpen in baseball… and that will be a tough pill for many of you to swallow who have lamented, moaned, groaned, bitched, complained, castigated, maligned, and obsessed about the Dodgers’ bullpen. This season may have taken years off of your life because of your wild imaginings. How silly is that?

Of course, the media (bloggers and fish hacks alike) buy into this demented thinking. Every blog that I know of and every fish hack who writes for one of the fish wraps knows that negativity gets them more pay-per-clicks on the blogs and more readers on the fish wraps. I (we) do not make any money from what we write. If you do not like what we say, go somewhere else. I will speak for myself, but I do not do this for the money, and I can tell you that Jeff (AC) , Harold (DC), 2D2 (Rob), and Bear (Michael) do not do this for the money. At LADT, the Boss is an SOB and the pay is bad!

We do this because we love baseball and the Dodgers. I do not write what you want to hear. I write what I want to say… and Jeff, Harold, Michael, and Rob may not always agree. That’s fine. OK. No problem. There are no rules as to what you can write. However, I have heard all season that Andrew Friedman does not know how to build a bullpen (and of course, you do). I call BS! This has been a crazy season. There have been more injuries than ever… EVER! What has caused it? I have my suspicions, but the science will follow. I suspect that some of the injuries are related to the COVID-19 vaccine, which by the way, I urge everyone to get. Of course, some consider that preposterous and have essentially told me to shut up.

Some obtuse-narrow-minded sycophants disagree… as is their prerogative. They believe that can’t be true. You must be an idiot, moron, dumbass, derelict, or worse to even think that… or so I have been told. It is a fact that vaccination injection site adverse reactions are usually mild and transient, however, it is well documented in the medical field that that there can be difficulties. Subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis may occur, leading to shoulder dysfunction and ongoing pain. How often this has happened is unclear. But, it does happen.

What is clear is that the vaccine, by nature, revs up your immune system and that can cause inflammation, which could lead to soft tissue injuries. This should not stop anyone from getting vaccinated but I do believe that the spate of injuries we have seen this year is somewhat related to the vaccine. People respond differently to the vaccine. I was sick for four days. Others, do not miss a beat. Upon injection with the Moderna Vaccine, my brother immediately developed a metallic taste, which has yet to go away. I have talked to people who have had flu-like aches and pains for weeks, but most people are fine.

However, back to the bullpen. The bullpen problems started when Dustin May went down (I doubt his TJ was caused by the vaccine) and it was a trickle-down effect. Jimmy Nelson has been on the IL multiple times and is fresh back from it as we speak. The Dodgers have had Corey Knebel on the IL for over half the season and he is due back imminently. Mitch White, Alex Vesia, and Phil Bickford have stepped up and possibly secured playoff roster spots.

Some relievers have shown they are not ready but have flashes of dominance, such as Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta. Others are showing progress, including The Bazooka. Joe Kelly is looking dominant (finally) after surgery to remove a cyst from his shoulder. Clayton Kershaw will allegedly be back later this week, which will further “lengthen” the bullpen, and Danny Duffy will be back later in the month. As I mentioned, Corey Knebel’s return is right around the corner.

Of course, you can look at the records of each reliever, but it is all about when you “peak” and it appears to me that the stars are aligning just in time for the playoffs. Here is what I believe the pitching staff looks like for the playoffs:

STARTERS:

1. Buehler
2. Kershaw (L)
3. Sherzer
4. Urias (L)

RELIEVERS:

1. Gonsolin
2. Duffy (L)
3. Nelson
4. Knebel
5. Treinen
6. Price (L)
7. Bickford
8. Gonzalez (L)
9. Jansen

Like many of you, I do not trust Kenley Jansen to close in a one-run game, but Duffy, Kelly, Nelson, Treinen, and Knebel also have experience, I think that this pitching staff has the makings of a terrifying bullpen and starting rotation to any playoff team. That list does not include The Bazooka, Alex Vesia, Scott Alexander, and Mitch White… all of whom could play a role as well. I considered the possibility that Tony Catman could be gone for the year and also that Julio Urias could go to the bullpen as a “super-reliever.” Both possibilities are on the table. However, I am very happy with this bullpen… especially if those damn injuries can wane.

Trevor Bauer Saga

Here is some interesting reading on the Trevor Bauer situation, which may give you some more insight: https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2021/7/30/22600011/why-trevor-bauer-keeps-delaying

He may or may not be done and if he is not, what will the Dodgers and his teammates say? To be continued… I do not have an opinion because I do not have enough information.

The OKC Dodgers were the only Dodger minor league team to play last night and they beat Round Rock 9-3. They did it with just 5 hits and 3 BB. Souza, Jr. hit a Grand Slam and Sheldon Noisy his a 3-Run HR. Sheldon is playing a lot of SS. Ryan Pepiot went 5 innings in his AAA debut, allowing 2 hits and 2 runs . He walked 3 and struck out 7. He still has some growing to do… in the control department.

I Look Down on No One…