Atlanta Braves Bullpen Woes in One Graphic
Thus far, Atlanta Braves relievers have thrown the 8th most innings (82.2) in the majors with the 7th-highest ERA (4.35) and 7th-worst Left-on-base percentage.
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Those numbers are bad enough, but the stat that really irks manager Fredi Gonzalez is this one: the relief corps has the third highest walk rate in the majors (currently 4.46 per 9 innings). This is the one controllable thing that he clearly feels is the gatehouse leading to big innings
That’s why – even with a 5-run lead in the 9th inning with 2 outs yesterday, Fredi G opted to remove Michael Kohn from the game after a 4-pitch walk.
It has been a nemesis that has practically lead to a shuttle service for pitchers going back and forth between Gwinnett County and Atlanta during April and early May.
How much so? Check out this graphic below: every official transaction involving a pitcher during the first 5 weeks of the baseball season:
Braves Bullpen Transactions. Source: atlantabraves.com; credit: TomahawkTake.com
(Click on the graphic for the monster-sized version)
Twenty-nine transactions in 34 days. Some aren’t major (Boggs, Jones) impact transactions, but it’s clear than most involve the major league bullpen. Fredi is going through bullpen arms faster than Darth Vader goes through Generals.
Here’s The Rub
Fredi’s leash is short. No doubt. And you have to wonder if that knowledge isn’t eating at the pitchers.
Witness Ian Thomas:
- AA in 2015: 3.0 innings, no walks
- AAA in 2015: 3.1 innings, no walks
- Majors: walked second, third, and fourth hitters faced – plus a wild pitch.
While I can understand it – and Juan Jaime pretty well set the tone early on with 4 walks and 4 outs recorded this year – the “no margin for error” attitude could be back-firing a bit as well. After all, which is better: walk a hitter with a base open or groove one that could be hit hard for fear that you might be sent down tomorrow?
Maybe the answer is “neither is better”. Witness John Cornely:
- AAA in 2015: 10.2 innings, 2 walks, 0.84 ERA.
- Majors: after sitting for 5 days – 1.0 inning, 1 walk, 3 hits (incl. HR), 4 earned runs. Back to AAA.
Whatever the answer, that’s a lot of add-ons to the 40-man roster (which is now full again) in search of relievers who can throw strikes.
Fredi is still looking.
For comparison purposes:
- Chasen Shreve: 4 walks (2.70 ERA) in 10.0 innings for the Yankees
- David Carpenter: 3 walks (2.79 ERA) in 9.2 innings for the Yankees
- Jordan Walden: 4 walks (0.87 ERA) in 10.1 innings for the Cardinals
- Anthony Varvaro: released by the Red Sox; claimed by the Cubs.