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2020 Bullpen Discussion

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Sounds more like you're just making it up, as most people proclaiming any intel into the "feelings" of players they don't know often do.

In any event, the market for Hand is likely nil after running out of gas late last season, given their financial investment, they'd basically be giving him away for nothing meaningful in return.

The fact they haven't suggests they feel like he's not quite as finished as you baselessly proclaim him to be.

So I'll probably wait and see.
I don't think he's finished as a player. I just think he's finished as a Cleveland Indian.
 
@mrWalrus

I'm genuinely curious where you're getting that he "soured" on this team. This is the first time I've heard anything remotely along those lines.
 
I haven’t heard of Hand having any issues with anyone in the organization or the organization itself. So @mrWalrus unless ya get us some info (aka a link) about this, then no one on here will believe what you are saying.

Also since Naquin is likely starting the season on the 60 day DL, it’s possible a NRI bullpen arm can make the roster since I believe it’s really only Arroyo, Wood and Plutko who are out of options, I do not believe anyone else on the roster is so we are likely keeping the current 40 man roster unless someone does really bad this spring.
 
Okay my take on the bullpen: Outside of Closer, Hand nothing is 100% set in stone so I will go over The different groups of guys.

Very high probability of being on the roster: O. Perez, Cimber, Wittgren

To me these guys, it’s their spot to lose at the current moment. To start the spring I have these guys on the 26 man roster, but Perez is older and didn’t do as hot last season against right handers. While Cimber is the same boat boat on the opposite side, didn’t do so great against left handers. With the new rules in place, both of them will have to show more than they did last season about getting both sides of the plate out. Perez should be fine as long as his age doesn’t catch up to him. Cimber I am not 100% confident about so if he doesn’t finish the season on the roster then no surprise there. Wittgren needs to repeat last season but he has the most job security at the moment behind Hand in the bullpen in my mind.

Good probability of being in the bullpen: Wood, Plutko, Clase and Karinchak

we all know about Clase and Karinchak, they aren’t 100% sure bets but if they have a good spring their talent is too great to keep off the roster. Wood and Plutko are out of options, so they to me are guys who on paper have a spot, but could lose it to one of the up and coming arms. Plutko I think will start in the pen, but get starts and whatnot now and again.

Then we have a bunch of guys who are vying for the last spot at least

on the roster: Hoyt, Maton

Invites from the minors: Cam Hill, Henry Martinez, Robert Broom, Kyle Nelson, Nick Sandlin, Jared Robinson, Kyle Dowdy, Danny Young, Anthony Gose, Dalbert Siri (maybe Tanner Tully as well)

Starters who could get into the bullpen, Jefry Rodriguez, Scott Moss, Logan Allen, Eli Morgan, Adam Scott, Sam Hentges.

To me that group of starters, willl stay starters for the start of the season. Injuries and inning limits could eventually put someone in the bullpen especially guys like Moss since we do lack lefties.

Out of the rest, Nelson I think could make it out of spring in the open spot since he is a lefty.

My personal projection of the bullpen, 8 guys

RHP
Wittgren, Cimber, Clase, Karinchak, Wood and Plutko

LHP
Perez, Hand
 
Sportscoach - a lot of the bullpen setup will be dependent on how the rotation shakes out.
Beyond Clevinger & Bieber, the other spots while not up for grabs the spots are adjustable.
There are 6 other starters with previous time in the majors on the 40 man roster for those 3 spots.

IF he is still with the organization, until I see Plutko down in the pen I think he remains in the rotation
 
Sportscoach - a lot of the bullpen setup will be dependent on how the rotation shakes out.
Beyond Clevinger & Bieber, the other spots while not up for grabs the spots are adjustable.
There are 6 other starters with previous time in the majors on the 40 man roster for those 3 spots.

IF he is still with the organization, until I see Plutko down in the pen I think he remains in the rotation

I really don’t see Plutko out pitching the better talent for the last rotation spot and he is out of options but I don’t think the organization wants to lose him either (otherwise they would have cut/traded him already). Also that was just an opinion and a lot of people have Plutko into the bullpen mostly because of the depth at starting pitching and he is out of options.
 
Is anyone a fan of the 3 batter rule?
 
Is anyone a fan of the 3 batter rule?
Not really a fan of it, but I am a supporter of it. The rule impacts strategy & forces a change. People will adapt. It has happened before & will happen again.
We have to give this rule a chance before ripping it to shreds and calling for it to end..

Sorta like the addition of the DH way back when.....
 
Is anyone a fan of the 3 batter rule?
I think it is stupid, and directly hurts some people financially. Think about all the lefty specialists out there, this will end up costing them millions in compensation.
 
Should speed things along as well.
 
I think it is stupid, and directly hurts some people financially. Think about all the lefty specialists out there, this will end up costing them millions in compensation.

I looked at a number of changes in average game stats over the past 20 years.

Pitchers per MLB game is up over 20% in the last 20 years, from 3.56 to 4.41.

The next highest change is Pitches per PA, which is only up 5% in the last 20 years, from 3.74 to 3.93

The 3 batter rule will affect the least amount of people to reduce the length of a game.

I look forward to seeing how it affect other aspects of the game, such as lead changes, # of extra inning games, etc.

Most importantly, I would like to see the Goose egg (scoreless full relief inning) as an official stat.
 
Is anyone a fan of the 3 batter rule?

No but now teams have to factor that in, which will put specialists out of a job. Guys like Cimber could be out of a job by the end of the season because they couldn’t be effective against the opposite side. I get what they are trying to do, but it’s not going to cut down time enough to legitimately make a difference to speed up the game. Though it should end up creating more tension/drama/runs but that’s about it. I don’t personally like it since I am old school traditionalist when it comes to baseball
 

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