2012 Bullpen

by Dbullsfan on Jan 23, 2012 1:53 AM EST

In the Fanshot that apparently got out of hand and is now closed, I brought up the point that I thought that the 2012 bullpen is the best going into the season that the Rays/Devil Rays have ever had. It was brought up that the 2010 was better. I was at work so I couldn't get back to it before it was closed but I decided to do some research and was surprised by my findings. The 2010 bullpen was a veteran group whereas the 2012 group has a couple youngsters (Gomes, Mcgee).

Using WAR values I compared the opening day bullpen in 2010 which consisted of Rafael Soriano, Grant Balfour, Dan Wheeler, Randy Choate, Lance Cormier, Mike Ekstrom, and Andy Sonnanstine and for this purpose I am putting the 2012 Bullpen of Kyle Farnsworth, Joel Peralta, Brandon Gomes, Jake Mcgee, JP Howell, Burke Badenhop, and Fernando Rodney.

in 2009 these were the WAR values of the 2010 Bullpen guys

Soriano- 1.8

Balfour- -.1

Wheeler- 1.0

Choate- 1.0

Cormier- .5

Ekstrom- -.4

Sonnanstine- .2.1

for a total of 1.7 WAR in 2009 from the pen guys

as for the 2012 guys here is what they did in 2011

Farnsworth-1.8

Peralta- 1.3

Gomes-.4

Mcgee-0

Howell-.9

Badenhop-.5

Rodney- .3

The 2012 group had a 3.4 WAR with Gomes and Mcgee spending part time in AAA and Howell coming off an injury and unlike the 2010 group none of the 2012 pen had a negative WAR the previous year.

Even with having more of a veteran group and with Gomes and Mcgee being rookies in 2011 the 2012 Pen actually has a higher career WAR with a 14.5 Career WAR compared to a 14.2 Career War from the 2010 group. The 2010 Group was led by Soriano and Wheeler whom combined for 13.4 of their total of 14.2, the two highest in the 2012 group (Farnsworth and Peralta) combined for just 8.3.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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While Soriano was a beast in 2010.....

I said after resigning Farny and Peralta, in a thread, that this year’s pen front to back will be the best we have ever had, even without a lockdown closer. Good Post.

by rickdr23 on Jan 23, 2012 2:36 AM EST reply actions

Howell has a plus WAR

for last year???

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by OneTonneBaby on Jan 23, 2012 5:02 AM EST reply actions

haha

"Did you guys hear that? I think the ball just hit the plane"-- Jeff Bagwell, while on the plane heading back to St. Louis after Pujols Game 5 homerun off Brad Lidge.

by rickdr23 on Jan 23, 2012 5:08 AM EST up reply actions

that was a mistake it was supposed to be a -.9

Follow @Dbullsfan

by Dbullsfan on Jan 23, 2012 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

As it stands now

It looks like lueke is heading to durham, which is unfortunate because I like his potential. Hopefully he can find a way to squeeze through the back door and explode onto the scene.

by BossmanJunior333 on Jan 23, 2012 5:08 AM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

He will be the first one up when inevitably someone goes down. Which I'm willing to bet is goggle man.

"Did you guys hear that? I think the ball just hit the plane"-- Jeff Bagwell, while on the plane heading back to St. Louis after Pujols Game 5 homerun off Brad Lidge.

by rickdr23 on Jan 23, 2012 5:09 AM EST up reply actions

Yessss

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by Hatfield on Jan 23, 2012 6:56 AM EST up reply actions

we are so deep with options, as we are still waiting on a trade

right now I think Davis would actually be in the pen over Rodney, which I think is an upgrade. The Rays usually don’t just eat money like that, which is why I’m shocked they still haven’t worked out a deal unless the patient saint Andrew is waiting for Oswalt and Jackson to land somewhere.

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by Dbullsfan on Jan 23, 2012 10:21 AM EST up reply actions

i think the argument is depth versus elite arms.

this bullpen seems deeper and it may look better going in than the 2010 BP did, but id be shocked if it was better. late and close games were a joy that year with 3 legitimate elite rps and a lethal loogy.

by rglass44 on Jan 23, 2012 10:46 AM EST reply actions

I think this is where AF might be wondering if it isn't better to hang onto Davis

if the market just isn’t there right now. I think Wade could be an elite reliever. If Farnsworth can pitch like 2011 again and you add Davis and Peralta with Mcgee as the loogy, I think the 2012 pen can be just as strong top end wise as the 2010 one. Than add Gomes, Badenhop, Howell and I just realized I didn’t even include Ramos, who may be on the outside looking in as well.

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by Dbullsfan on Jan 23, 2012 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

How accurate is WAR in terms of assessing a relievers' effectiveness?

I’d have to think that since most relievers have a small sample size over a year, that it might have an effect on that

by Cory Alexander on Jan 23, 2012 1:14 PM EST reply actions

Friedman did a great job putting together a solid pen (not a shock)

But considering it was game over if we were winning after the 6th in 2010, it’s going to take a whole lot to be better than that year.

Matt Moore. That is all.

by joeybw on Jan 23, 2012 1:22 PM EST reply actions

exactly. looking at the FG leaderboard for RPs that year we had 3 of the top 7 relievers per FIP.

that is incredible. bullpens are evaluated by how good the elite arms are, imo, not by how good they are in mop-up duty.

by rglass44 on Jan 23, 2012 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

absolutely the 2010 bullpen was amazing and hopefully this one can get close to it

but Benoit wasn’t even on the opening day roster and if I remember right was only going to be a 6th or maybe 7th inning match-up guy once he built up his arm-strength. I actually see a lot of similarities between what Benoit was in 2010 and what Wade Davis could be in 2012. Except Wade won’t need the few weeks in Durham, he can get used to pitching out of the pen in ST and be ready to go opening day.

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by Dbullsfan on Jan 23, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions