Derek
Table Setter
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- Jan 10, 2009
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Had fully intended on posting this along with the others, but I had to start grading tests as they rolled in.
Here's the projected bullpen:
Brad Hand
James Karinchak
Emmanuel Clase
Nick Wittgren
Oliver Perez
Adam Cimber
Hunter Wood
Adam Plutko
Also in the mix:
Jefry Rodriguez
James Hoyt
Phil Maton
Nick Sandlin
Jared Robinson
Kyle Nelson
Robert Broom
I'm a big fan of the last four guys on that list. I'm especially big on Kyle Nelson, who has been working as a multi-inning lefty reliever. With the new 3-batter rule, that's valuable as hell.
On a similar note, I don't expect Oliver Perez to last the year.
I am excited about the pen because despite their overall good year last season (fell apart late), a lot of us saw their demise coming due to the lack of great stuff. The additions of Karinchak and Clase help immensely in that regard, although neither is totally proven at the MLB level.
I'm also pretty jazzed about the bullpen. A full season of Karinchak + Clase should really give the pen some juice. I'd add Jefry to the pen full-time -- he was dominant in the first inning of his appearances last season, still dominant (though maybe less so) in the second inning ... and then he seemed to fall off a cliff once batters were seeing him for the second or third time. Hand/Clase/Karinchak/Jefry could really have the makings of a power pen.
Here's the projected bullpen:
Brad Hand
James Karinchak
Emmanuel Clase
Nick Wittgren
Oliver Perez
Adam Cimber
Hunter Wood
Adam Plutko
Also in the mix:
Jefry Rodriguez
James Hoyt
Phil Maton
Nick Sandlin
Jared Robinson
Kyle Nelson
Robert Broom
I'm a big fan of the last four guys on that list. I'm especially big on Kyle Nelson, who has been working as a multi-inning lefty reliever. With the new 3-batter rule, that's valuable as hell.
On a similar note, I don't expect Oliver Perez to last the year.
I am excited about the pen because despite their overall good year last season (fell apart late), a lot of us saw their demise coming due to the lack of great stuff. The additions of Karinchak and Clase help immensely in that regard, although neither is totally proven at the MLB level.