2021 Series #35 | A's @ Indians | Aug. 10-12, 2021

[Wham with the Right Hand]

After two games the A's bullpen line: 11.1 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run
For the Tribe bullpen: 7 innings, 10 hits, 5 earned runs.

That's the difference in the series. That and Jed Lowrie, who comes up with the game-winning hit in back-to-back games.

This game came down to two bad pitches - a hanging curve in the middle of the plate at the belt by Sandlin and another spinner dead center to Lowrie. Yeah, Lowrie is a great clutch hitter, but anybody in their lineup would have hit that one out.

In addition to another come from ahead loss we also lose Harold and Sandlin to injuries. Just a bad night all around.

But the most important thing for the long term was that Quantrill had another excellent start; in six innings he allowed three hits. Two were weak ground balls that Amed fumbled that should have been ruled errors. The third was a bloop to right filed off the end of the bat by Gomes. Quantrill totally dominated until he walked the leadoff hitter in the 7th and gave up the bloop to Gomes. Quantrill in his last seven starts is putting up Bieber-like numbers. This is potentially a huge positive development for the future.

 

[CDAV45]

After two games the A's bullpen line: 11.1 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run
For the Tribe bullpen: 7 innings, 10 hits, 5 earned runs.

That's the difference in the series. That and Jed Lowrie, who comes up with the game-winning hit in back-to-back games.

This game came down to two bad pitches - a hanging curve in the middle of the plate at the belt by Sandlin and another spinner dead center to Lowrie. Yeah, Lowrie is a great clutch hitter, but anybody in their lineup would have hit that one out.

In addition to another come from ahead loss we also lose Harold and Sandlin to injuries. Just a bad night all around.

But the most important thing for the long term was that Quantrill had another excellent start; in six innings he allowed three hits. Two were weak ground balls that Amed fumbled that should have been ruled errors. The third was a bloop to right filed off the end of the bat by Gomes. Quantrill totally dominated until he walked the leadoff hitter in the 7th and gave up the bloop to Gomes. Quantrill in his last seven starts is putting up Bieber-like numbers. This is potentially a huge positive development for the future.

Uhhh I agree that Cal threw an excellent game, but that was not a bloop off of Gomes' bat. That was a solid line drive the other way off of a slider that was 4" off the plate.

I missed the end of the game. What happened to Sandlin?

I forgot to ask if anyone could explain to me why Hedges was C tonight instead of Ramos?

 

[CATS44]

The problem is not the bullpen.

Our pen is 4th in baseball in ERA.
2nd in LOB%.
9th in fWAR.

The problem is that because of our devastated rotation and offensive woes, the pen is forced to pitch in high leverage situations almost every inning of every game...which tends to significantly magnify each and every mistake, and we are forced to use relievers that are not high leverage types way too often.

 

[DCTribefan]

The problem is not the bullpen.

Our pen is 4th in baseball in ERA.
2nd in LOB%.
9th in fWAR.

The problem is that because of our devastated rotation and offensive woes, the pen is forced to pitch in high leverage situations almost every inning of every game...which tends to significantly magnify each and every mistake, and we are forced to use relievers that are not high leverage types way too often.

Would like to see the bullpen numbers over the last 60 and 30 days as they got worn down. Expect it would not be such a rosy picture.

 

[CATS44]

Would like to see the bullpen numbers over the last 60 and 30 days as they got worn down. Expect it would not be such a rosy picture.

I'm sure its not, but that doesn't mean that our pen is a problem.

All it means is that the pen is suffering because of the problems.

 

[DCTribefan]

I'm sure its not, but that doesn't mean that our pen is a problem.

All it means is that the pen is suffering because of the problems.

Sorry but I think that’s a distinction without a difference.

 

[CATS44]

Since the break, the pen has been middle of the pack.

15th in fWAR
15th in ERA
11th in LOB%

 

[CATS44]

Sorry but I think that’s a distinction without a difference.

Our pen has had to cover for a rotation full of kids who aren't ready to be here and an offense among the worst in MLB.

If Biebs and Civale were our front two starters and the offense was generating runs at even a below average level, meaning that the relievers weren't facing high leverage situations every time they came into a game, do you really think the pen is a problem?

The pen is the strength of this team.

 

[DCTribefan]

Our pen has had to cover for a rotation full of kids who aren't ready to be here and an offense among the worst in MLB.

If Biebs and Civale were our front two starters and the offense was generating runs at even a below average level, meaning that the relievers weren't facing high leverage situations every time they came into a game, do you really think the pen is a problem?

The pen is the strength of this team.

I fully understand the bullpen is put into difficult, high leverage situations too frequently. That doesn’t make them a strength of the team.

 

[33Y0]

I fully understand the bullpen is put into difficult, high leverage situations too frequently. That doesn’t make them a strength of the team.

When you can't consistently get 6 innings from your starters... even the best of bullpens will falter. That doesn't mean that suddenly our 'pen is terrible, it's a down wind effect from a rotation that has been our biggest weakness.

 

[DCTribefan]

When you can't consistently get 6 innings from your starters... even the best of bullpens will falter. That doesn't mean that suddenly our 'pen is terrible, it's a down wind effect from a rotation that has been our biggest weakness.

Agree. It also doesn’t make it a team strength either. It’s an average bullpen at best.

 

[xmasbuck]

When you can't consistently get 6 innings from your starters... even the best of bullpens will falter. That doesn't mean that suddenly our 'pen is terrible, it's a down wind effect from a rotation that has been our biggest weakness.

Cleveland's bullpen has thrown the 17th most innings in the majors - it's a quality problem, not a quantity problem

 

[33Y0]

Our bullpen also has the 9th highest combine WAR (3.2). The only teams higher: Rays, Yankees, Mariners, White Sox, Padres, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Marlins. Outside of the Marlins, every one of those teams are playoff caliber teams.

 

[xmasbuck]

most of that WAR was achieved in April - Karinchak made 12 appearances and never gave up a run - Clase made 12 appearances in April and never gave up a run - shoot, Bryan Shaw made 10 appearances in April and gave up all of 1 run -- things have changed since April

 

[33Y0]

Indians relievers in the last 30 days...

• 73.6% LOB% (11th in MLB)
• 3.84 ERA (15th in MLB)
• 0.5 WAR (16th in MLB)
• .298 BABIP (19th in MLB)
• 41.8% Hard hit (2nd in MLB)

Indians starts in the last 30 days...

• 72.4% LOB% (15th in MLB)
• 4.99 ERA (20th in MLB)
• 0.8 WAR (23rd in MLB)
• .272 BABIP (8th in MLB)
• 39% Hard hit (14th in MLB)