2018 Tribe bullpen discussion

[Derek]

Brad Hand
Cody Allen
Adam Cimber
Oliver Perez
Neil Ramirez
Zach McAllister
Dan Otero
Andrew Miller



Unit rankings
28th in fWAR
30th in winning %
26th in ERA
28th in FIP
18th in xFIP


Definitely the weakest unit on the Tribe by far to this point. However, the additions of Hand/Cimber, emergence of Perez, and return of Miller could make this unit a strength by season's end.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

If everyone is healthy and right going into the postseason, this is the strongest our bullpen has ever been.

Allen/Miller/Hand are studs. They can each go more than an inning, and pitch at any point towards the end of a game.

Perez is your lefty specialist, Cimber is your righty specialist. Then it's just generic bullpen arms from there on out. I think Ramirez earned his spot, and Otero/ZMac are on the outside looking in come playoff time.

 

[Derek]

If everyone is healthy and right going into the postseason, this is the strongest our bullpen has ever been.

Allen/Miller/Hand are studs. They can each go more than an inning, and pitch at any point towards the end of a game.

Perez is your lefty specialist, Cimber is your righty specialist. Then it's just generic bullpen arms from there on out. I think Ramirez earned his spot, and Otero/ZMac are on the outside looking in come playoff time.

Really depends on how many hitters they go with, they have stuck with 13 in the regular season, but went to 14 in the postseason last year, although there were some with questionable health heading into October last year.

I guess I'm saying I could see ZMac or Otero sneaking onto the playoff roster as mop up men in games where we don't want or need to run our stallions into the ground.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Really depends on how many hitters they go with, they have stuck with 13 in the regular season, but went to 14 in the postseason last year, although there were some with questionable health heading into October last year.

I guess I'm saying I could see ZMac or Otero sneaking onto the playoff roster as mop up men in games where we don't want or need to run our stallions into the ground.

I could easily see one of them as well.

But... if you have Bieber in the pen, don't you use him for mop up duty if needed? Get Cimber some playoff experience?

 

[Derek]

I could easily see one of them as well.

But... if you have Bieber in the pen, don't you use him for mop up duty if needed? Get Cimber some playoff experience?

I'm just thinking along the lines of if by chance we end up in a early inning shootout where neither starter is clicking for whatever reason, I'd rather have Bieber fresh to go give me 4-5.

In a blowout, I'd rather throw out guys like ZMac and Otero that I know I won't use if the game is close.

I know there are more off days in the playoffs, which helps with pitcher rest, but fatigue can still catch up to you rather quickly. Shouldn't be an issue with our starters since we should be 4 deep this year, but with bullpen arms, we saw it with Miller in 2016. It'll sneak up on you, and I just want to make sure we don't end up wasting useful guys in low-leverage situations.

 

[Real Deal]

Was there any Tito comments on why he stuck with Hand instead of opting for Cody? Is this going to be a closer by committee approach? Fantasy team problems

 

[Derek]

Was there any Tito comments on why he stuck with Hand instead of opting for Cody? Is this going to be a closer by committee approach? Fantasy team problems

Twins lineup is loaded with lefties

 

[Real Deal]

Twins lineup is loaded with lefties

Ahh, so just a matchup game from here on out

 

[Derek]

Ahh, so just a matchup game from here on out

That’s what they’ve shown so far. If you notice, Hand went through Mauer and Rosario each of the past two games.

 

[CBBI]

I don’t see any reason to put Otero or McAllister on the playoff roster.

Hell, one of them is likely getting DFAd in the next week when Miller returns.

There’s a zero percent chance either one of them would pitch in a close game and I don’t see the need to have a guy on the roster strictly for mop up purposes.

I’d just use Bieber as the emergency long man/mop up man.

4 man rotation
Bauer-Kluber-Carrasco-Clevinger

7 man pen
High leverage guys: Hand, Miller, Allen
LOOGY: Perez
ROOGY: Cimber
Low leverage/mop up: Ramirez
Long man/mop up: Bieber

Should suffice.

 

[sportscoach]

I am not as high on Ramirez as some of you guys are, but thats mostly because he has been bad of late. Also his FIP and HR per 9 are a lot higher than I would like as well. I know he had a nice stretch when everyone else seemed to struggle, but his last 6 innings/5 outings, 6 ERs and 4 walks. He doesn't have a good track record either as well, so if he shows up like he pitched as a rookie/that 17 inning stretch again, I'll gladly take him on the playoff roster, but if he trends towards his career numbers I don't want him.

Looks like to me, our main 4, Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Clev are going to be starting games in the playoffs. barring injuries that will be a tough starting four to beat.

Allen, Miller, Hand of course are locks if healthy.

The last spots are all still open, but I don't doubt Perez and Cimber are on the roster.

We will have a long man Falling between Bieber and Tomlin

(likely Bieber, but experience is important and I have a hunch Bieber is going to struggle down the stretch. Future wise he will be fine for us, but will he make the adjustments he needs to?)

Then we have McAllister, Otero, Ramirez, Bieber/Tomlin all competing for the last spot. I feel we are going with 11 arms at least for round one of the playoffs. Right now it would be Ramirez, but part of me wouldn't be surprised if its Bieber and Tomlin to finalize the playoff spot.

I will be me and go with my hunch of guys bullpen will be:

Allen, Miller, Hand, Perez, Cimber, Bieber and Tomlin.

 

[Kevalier]

Allen, Miller, Hand, Perez, Cimber, Bieber and Tomlin.

 

[Real Deal]

Tomlin making the playoff roster lol

Lmao, sportscoach does have some wild takes though lol. He said last year Jay Bruce probably won't even make the playoff roster, I remember fighting him about that one.

 

[sportscoach]

Tomlin making the playoff roster lol

Lmao, sportscoach does have some wild takes though lol. He said last year Jay Bruce probably won't even make the playoff roster, I remember fighting him about that one.

I did say he might not, if he doesn't perform, which he ended up doing fairly well luckily!

And come on, we all cannot agree on the same thing all the time so I like throwing in some wrenches. I just feel that if Tomlin comes back strong, it will be hard to keep him off the playoff roster.

 

[Cassity14]

I did say he might not, if he doesn't perform, which he ended up doing fairly well luckily!

And come on, we all cannot agree on the same thing all the time so I like throwing in some wrenches. I just feel that if Tomlin comes back strong, it will be hard to keep him off the playoff roster.

"Strong" Tomlin isn't good enough to warrant a spot on the posteason roster.

He is who he is. Everyone knows it. He blows.