Of the many many many many many problems in 2015, surprisingly, the bullpen wasn't one. Well , ok, we're not saying it was some legion of doom lights out goodnight sweetheart type bullpen, but, it wasn't the blazing tire fire that we thought it might be in spring training.
While Jonathon meathead Papelbon was here he turned in maybe the best performance of his Phillies career (on the field; off the field, he still said and did all kinds of ignoramus things) going 17-17 in Save opportunities, and posting a sub 2 ERA. Ken Giles regressed, but only slightly and we knew that Giles wasn't going to best those 2014 numbers, that 0.788 WHIP and 12.6 SO9, Giles was good, dominant for stretches. Jeanmar Gomez had a six week stretch of scoreless appearances and Dalier Hinojoso was a small sample samurai in the final month of the season.
Overall the group posted a league average 69% save rate (which in real life is awful, 16 blown saves) and the league's second worst inherited runners score rate or IRS at 33%. The 25 and 23 win-loss mark is a bit misleading as the group didn't come into a whole lot of tie games or games with the lead. The ERA (3.81) is a bit misleading as well as the group also posted a 1.433 WHIP. Not good, but not completely horrific either.
We know, we know, we began this post by saying the bullpen wasn't a problem. There are three or four solid to spectacular pieces already on the team is what we're saying. The market's loaded and the Phillies have some real in house talent to boot.
The bullpen, out of all the issues facing the Phillies, could be the easiest (and quickest) to fix, is what we're saying.
There. We said it.
It's been said.
PEICES IN PLACE
Projected Closer: Ken Giles
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| "I'm so freakin' awesome I think I might freakin' EXPLODE!" |
The velocity on Kengo's fastball dipped and he had some early season control issues, but in 2015 Ken Giles was still gosh-darned NASTYYYYYYY-EEEE-EE-E! 2.13 FIP with a 11.2 SO9 rate. Ya know who's ya daddy when this dude takes the bump.
So, yeah, maybe he brings the 1.80 ERA and that wipeout slidepeice back to the closer's role in 2016. We're thinking, he's probably gonna be pretty good. Maybe a guy to have on your fantasy baseball team, if your into that kind of thing.
Projected 2016 line: 2.09 FIP/11.0 SO9. Saves 38 of 42 games, and pitches in 60+ to a 2.13 ERA
Projected 6th/7th inning guy: Jeanmar Gomez
Ok, so Gomez wasn't really a surprise. C'mon, two years with the zen master Ray Searage. A sinking fastball that can spill over into the mid-nineties. A career ERA arc that had steadily been dipping in the 3's. 60 innings with a 3.01 ERA was a little better than expected, but you can't call it surprising.
Gomez is 28 and though he had that mid-season stretch of brilliance, it was more likely just a stretch of really good pitching rather than an indicator of future performance. The league is constantly adjusting, and quite simply, there's probably not a whole lot of upside left to Gomez. What you see is what you get. Which isn't bad at all. The Phils are going to need arms like Gomez. Chad Durbiny Types.
So the Phils have one.
Projected 2016 line: Struggles early but then turns it on and ends up with a solid 3.25ish ERA over 65+ innings.
Next.
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| X-factor in 2016? |
Projected 6th/7th inning guy/ spot starter: Dalier Hinojosa
The other cuban pitcher Amaro aquired (snagged of waivers from Boston), Hinojosa features a fairly straight 94+ fastball that he likes to throw to either side of the plate and a late eighties cutter/slider that doesn't have great movement, but a pitch that has definite swing and miss potential.
Hinojosa posted so-so numbers in the Cuban League's and was so-so for Boston's AAA squad and then Phils AAA squad. None of that means anything really. Both of Hinojosa's stints in the minors were limited to less than 30 innings of work. In Cuba, Dalier was a starter and had a fastball that sat in the low 90's.
All of that said, the Cuban could be very good for the Phillies in 2016 as a mid innings reliever or spot starter. We project a solid to above average 90+ innings pitched with a couple of surprisingly good spot starts and an overall low 3ish ERA.
TO BE CONTINUED... (so, I have a day job that keeps me busy 60+ hours a week and because it's a restaurant, we are perpetually short-handed... which means I have to work more - I actually have to be at work right now - and have less time for awesome things like this blog). Well, bear with me dearest and truest fan of the Phillies.
I hope to complete the post by this weekend.
Subjects still to be discussed:
-Adam Morgan's possible transition to the bullpen.
-A look at the free agent market
-A look at some in-house minor league options
-What the Phillies bullpen might look like in 2016
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