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Always be fearful of guys who were released and then picked up during the season. Almost always, the reasons they were released follow them to their new team. So, is there enough pen depth of guys truly better than the recycled outsiders once injuries hit? We shall see.
Now we’re done. Honestly, it looks like Bill capped the payroll before Mo got done.
My thinking is there will be trades between now and opening day. More or less payroll neutral. The pen will probably get some attention.
Watching prospects pitch and develop is what baseball is all about. Watching bums that Mo brought in last year is not exciting. Somewhere along the way veteran pitchers usually revert back to their career stats.
‘Ode to Lance Lynn’, sung to the tune of New Riders of the Purple Sage’s ‘One too Many Stories’
That’s one too many fast balls you’ve thrown
One too many games out on the road
My love for you couldn’t pull the load
’cause that’s one too many fast balls you’ve thrownSo, is there enough pen depth of guys truly better than the recycled outsiders once injuries hit? We shall see.
Theoretically, less pen depth would be needed with a more dependable rotation.
A dependable rotation covers 6 IP over a season. We can’t just devalue the pen and sweep the 7th-9th innings under the rug. To borrow your term Bling, the 7th-9th innings are “when it matters”.
A dependable rotation could also provide additional meaningful IP this season, to the bullpen. Is the pen prepared for a better rotation?
Helsley, GG and JoJo threw 53 LevHi.
Hicks, VerH, Stratton and Cabrera threw 53 LevHiPallante threw 19 LevHi. He was pushed into 5 save opps and had 5 BS. Over 68 reliever IP he allowed a 1.559 WHIP, 10.1 H/9 and a 1.43 K/BB. A high ball in play guy, with a limited K/BB, is not typically suited for LevHi.
Pallante needs a wipe out pitch vs rhb’s. That matchup was ugly last season. He does get lhb’s out, which is an eye catching split, but so does the current pen, which could be loaded with lefties.
The role of a ground ball loogey, short on K skills, with the 3 batter rule, has enough risk to avoid LevHi at this time.
Dang, got sidetracked.“We shall see”
Well said 🙂I think with the depth they traded for at the deadline, we are going to see several minor league “starters” transition to the major league bullpen if injuries arise.
Right now we have a full bullpen, albeit with a lot of uncertainty, and we are looking 6-7 deep on the ML rotation and 7 deep on the AAA rotation. Something will have to give.
Hopefully some depth will come from
Fernandez, Robertson, and O’Brien along with some of the possibly converted July pickups.Helsley (hope he stays healthy)
Gallegos (hopefully his slider is back)
Kittredge
Liberatore
Romero
Pallante (Shakey)
Fernandez (untested)
Robertson (untested)
King (marginal)I don’t consider that a “full” bullpen. A bit scary, really.
A dependable rotation could also provide additional meaningful IP this season,
I am a little startled to realize I had not thought about it those terms. The better rotation generating more “meaningful” innings for the pen. I guess the leverage contingent is Helsley, Kittledge, Gallegos and presumably Romero. Not exactly slam dunks, but, I think it has as much of a chance as relying on an unreliable Hicks, for example, like last year. Behind that its dicey as far as who can move into a leverage role if necessary. But there is a month until pitchers and catchers report and further still until opening day.
Yes, my thought is that Thompson will be stretched out at Memphis to start the season. The question might be whether one or two of the following might step up – Fernandez, Robertson,
O’Brien, Rom, Kloffenstein, Robberse, or Roby. Maybe even Granillo if he has a great ST.I have the same top four.
CL Helsley
CL Gallegos
SU Kitt
SU JoJo
I’m already encountering concerns.Will we get 50 IP from Kitt?
Will JoJo be less productive as he transitions to higher leverage? It’s common to struggle first.If we get the best case from those four with leads, I like us as buyers.
Would like to see Neris or Maton added. Neris, at 34 years old may take a shorter term contract. Maton is 30 and been in the Cards sights for some time. Either would cap it off.
bccran
Participant
Helsley (hope he stays healthy)
Gallegos (hopefully his slider is back)
Kittredge
Liberatore
Romero
Pallante (Shakey)
Fernandez (untested)
Robertson (untested)
King (marginal)I don’t consider that a “full” bullpen. A bit scary, really.
It’s full in the sense of having 8 guys – there’s your 8-9.
My point is that they won’t be digging around with the minor league invite types.
I don’t see them dropping Fernandez (rule V guy). I don’t see them starting Robertson at Memphis since they traded O’Neill for him. King pitched well last year for us so I assume he is locked in. Pallante has his spot. I also like Riley O’Brien as the first guy up.
We could greatly use a good FA reliever of course, but it’s looking less likely now.
I like O’Brien too. But I believe Fernandez, Robertson and even King need to earn their spots. Fernandez and Robertson have no significant MLB experience. King had a decent stint with the Cards, but he was blah before that.
Like you guys vote on prospects, I’d vote King as #5 to make the pen.
His Super2 salary is near minimum, and he has one option remaining, so he could be demoted.
His career 145 reliever IP, with an ERA and FIP under 4.00, warrant him above unproven.
I like the video I’ve seen on O’Briens’ pitches.
“King had a decent stint with the Cards, but he was very blah before that.”
Extremely important point, and also a fact. 9 Save Opps, 9 BS.
The blah is typically a minors guy trying to transition to be mlb, and we have a sizeable collection of pitchers to fill this role.
Pallante is also trying to get past this transition stage, and fill a later inning role. I’d prefer King or Pallante didn’t have to backfill an 8th inning role.
We also have JoJo’s 36 IP sample from last season, whom I and others are counting on to fill a late inning role, that was proceeded by 36 IP of blah while he established himself.
The blah innings are real, and it’s not hard to point at them, or expect them.
“We shall see”
All things being equal I think King will have the upper hand making the 26 man roster since he is on an arbitration salary.
One less pen competitor, but a 40-man spot cleared for someone else, perhaps.
The #STLCards have transferred RHP James Naile to the KIA Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization in exchange for cash considerations, per the club.
Naile, a native of Cape Girardeau, Mo., has spent the winter working out with STL pitchers Sonny Gray & Steven Matz.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) January 19, 2024
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