This Bullpen Is Worth Every Penny

[Frobby]

Go ahead and criticize the Orioles for overpaying for some of the new bullpen guys if you want. Overall, in the big picture, they are worth every penny.

You can't buy what we have right now: peace of mind. The Orioles get the lead, it's past the 5th inning, and you just have the feeling the game is over. Perlozzo has so many weapons it's almost embarassing.

I was little nervous in that first week about Danys Baez. In his very first outing he got the results but looked shaky, similar to many outings LaTroy Hawkins had last year. And then in his third outing he had that terrible meltdown that set the table for ray to blow the save. But more recently he has been lights out. My favorite stat: including today, he has had four outings (in 8 appearances) where he knocked off the 8th inning in less than 10 pitches. Come in, throw strikes, inning over. Very nice.

Ray is not the high priced part of the pen but he also has looked great ever since the NY meltdown. For those who were complaining about his declining peripherals in the 2nd half last year, how does 10 K's vs. 1 BB in 8.2 IP grab you?

All in all I could not be happier with the state of the pen. It hasn't looked this good top to bottom since 1997.

[The Azman]

AGREED!! How many times would the bullpens of 2004-2006 blown this type of game?

Worth Every Penny....

[Chollie Eckman]

My personal favorite is Parrish.

http://www.gotwavs.com/0028375953/MP...Men/truth1.mp3

[SilentJames]

Shhhhhh. don't tell Sapper.

[hoosiers]

Let's hope the good bp stuff holds.

I was pleased with the Baez signing at the time and I like it now. He's a bit overpaid, and perhaps the $ could have lured a different FA, but we do appear to have an embarrassment of riches in the bp - especially with a healthy Parrish.

We are really closing the door on guys.

[charliec107]

I think the bullpen is looking great right now. I can pretty much only look at stats since I don't get MASN at college, but I am pleased with what I see. I feel safer with the lead this year than in the past few seasons.

[SilentJames]

We just have to prepare ourselves for when the pen DOES struggle this year.

And it will, every pen struggles from time to time. The only difference is for how long?

[srh523]

We just have to prepare ourselves for when the pen DOES struggle this year.

And it will, every pen struggles from time to time. The only difference is for how long?

Well we could do this by making the bench worth every penny too. House and Knott both kill lefties and both have proven it already this year. No reason House cant be on the bench also. Have Huff and Gibbons sit vs. lefties.
I love this pen but you are right they are bound to struggle at some point so lets get the team ready for that!

[Moose Milligan]

I don't want to be one of the "small sample size" chanters....

It's still a looooooooong season.

So far...couldn't be happier.

[mweb]

First off, lets not get too excited just yet, like Moose says, small sample size. With that said, the pen is obviously improved, and I am excited about it, but I said the same thing before the season started.

Secondly, no one on here as been a bigger proponent of improving the pen than me, so was/am happy with the improvement of the pen. It's making a huge difference and likely will continue to do so, I think many underestimate the impact of relief pitchers.

However, I do think there is good reason to be critical of the cost of the pen. Baez may have a good season, he may even be good throughout his contract, but that contract was absurd! Just as good, if not better relievers could have easily been found for much less. I would guess that Baez himself could have been had for less.

[srh523]

First off, lets not get too excited just yet, like Moose says, small sample size. With that said, the pen is obviously improved, and I am excited about it, but I said the same thing before the season started.

Secondly, no one on here as been a bigger proponent of improving the pen than me, so was/am happy with the improvement of the pen. It's making a huge difference and likely will continue to do so, I think many underestimate the impact of relief pitchers.

However, I do think there is good reason to be critical of the cost of the pen. Baez may have a good season, he may even be good throughout his contract, but that contract was absurd! Just as good, if not better relievers could have easily been found for much less. I would guess that Baez himself could have been had for less.

Well it is only money and it didnt stop us from signing any other players because of payroll concerns.

So 15 games into the season when does a small sample size stop becoming a small sample size?

[Pedro Cerrano]

Well it is only money and it didnt stop us from signing any other players because of payroll concerns.

So 15 games into the season when does a small sample size stop becoming a small sample size?

I've always just sort of arbitrarily pegged Memorial Day as a good time to gauge success/failure.

Although remember how we were looking on Memorial Day of 2005...

[srh523]

I've always just sort of arbitrarily pegged Memorial Day as a good time to gauge success/failure.

Although remember how we were looking on Memorial Day of 2005...

Well it has been 50 innings that they have pitched to about a 3.00 ERA that is counting giving up 2 Grand Slams.

[El Gordo]

First off, lets not get too excited just yet, like Moose says, small sample size. With that said, the pen is obviously improved, and I am excited about it, but I said the same thing before the season started.

Secondly, no one on here as been a bigger proponent of improving the pen than me, so was/am happy with the improvement of the pen. It's making a huge difference and likely will continue to do so, I think many underestimate the impact of relief pitchers.

However, I do think there is good reason to be critical of the cost of the pen. Baez may have a good season, he may even be good throughout his contract, but that contract was absurd! Just as good, if not better relievers could have easily been found for much less. I would guess that Baez himself could have been had for less.

If Baez pitches well though the terms of his contract and enables us to trade Ray for a much needed bat, his contract will not be nearly as absurd as B.J. Ryans.

[mweb]

Well it is only money and it didnt stop us from signing any other players because of payroll concerns.

So 15 games into the season when does a small sample size stop becoming a small sample size?

At least 30-40 games into the season for the bullpen.

And you don't know if it stoped us from doing anything else or if it will stop us in the future. If payroll wasn't an issue for PA, I wouldn't care that much, but it is.