Postseason NEWS/RUMORS/INJURIES Thread

He'd be named MVP of the NLCS against us.

 

careful... :klansman::kkk2:

 

check out ryu's lid
classic

 

Looking at Andrew Friedman's options for reinventing Dodgers' bullpen
by Steve Dilbeck | Los Angeles Times -- 10 hours ago


Andrew Miller had a combined 2.02 ERA in 73 games for the Red Sox and Orioles last year.

Still having trouble watching this World Series and not thinking, “The Dodgers have a better team!”

Except, of course, for that one little area. That bane of their 2014 existence — the bullpen.

Forget for a moment that Adrian Gonzalez, Juan Uribe and Dee Gordon combined to hit .160 in the division series, or that twice Clayton Kershaw hit the wall or that Yasiel Puig suddenly considered a foul tip a major victory. The bullpen failed, much as it had throughout the year.

So now what to do? Remaking the bullpen would seem high on new kinda-General Manager Andrew Friedman’s to-do list, though it may not be reconstructed as dramatically as some might hope.

Brandon League, Brian Wilson and J.P. Howell are all under contract next season, and presumably, headed back to your friendly bullpen. And safe to say, Kenley Jansen’s not going anywhere.

So if they carry seven relievers that leaves only three openings. Also back under team control are Pedro Baez, Carlos Frias and Scott Elbert – who all made the postseason roster. And then there’s Paco Rodriguez, Jose Dominguez and Yimi Garcia.

Chris Perez, Jamey Wright and Paul Maholm may be on the way out, but otherwise that’s the group that combined to finish the 2014 season with a 3.80 ERA and 1.31 WHIP.

Friedman could trade for bullpen help, though you don’t typically see a lot of middle relievers getting moved. The easiest fix is to sign arms, and there are several interesting ones available.

The biggest name may be Andrew Miller, the 6-7 left-hander who had a combined 2.02 ERA in 73 games for the Red Sox and Orioles last year. But Miller could get a three- or four-year deal, which may not be where Friedman wants to go for a player who turns 30 next May.

David Robertson can become a free agent, though the Yankees are expected to give him a qualifying offer. Teams are not going to be eager to sacrifice a No. 1 pick for a middle reliever.

The Dodgers know Luke Gregerson well. The right-hander has a career 2.75 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, and is coming off a terrific year with the A’s (2.12, 1.01).

Pat Neshek reinvented himself last season with the Cardinals. Zach Duke seems to have found a home in the bullpen. Koji Uehara was highly effective for Boston last year (26 saves, 2.52, 0.92) but turns 40 in April. They could take fliers on Jesse Crain or Luke Hochevar returning from injury. There’s even ex-Angel phenom Francisco Rodriguez, who turned himself back into a closer (44 saves) with the Brewers last year.

So there are options, some decidedly less exciting than others and most all over the age of 30.

Watching how Friedman attacks his bullpen problem will, at least, be interesting, and at most, telling for his future plans.

 

totally agree
give him the start of spring to show he's got "it" back
and, if not... send him packing
the guy's act has grown tiresome

 

can't argue with you tbh
just hate to throw him out if he somehow, miraculously, suddenly rediscovered his magic
how 'bout a week?

 

Throwing the same, slow fastball in the playoffs after saying he was saving his fastball would be enough for me to kick his bullshitting ass to the curb.