In Defense of Molitor's Monday Bullpen Usage

[yarnivek1972]

I stand by my opinion that failing to use the two relievers brought up specicifically because the entire bullpen was gassed, and then watching those gassed relievers give up a TD and a FG, should have been grounds for immediate dismissal.

 

Still should be.

 

Santana gave them seven and averted a crisis. Molitor then created a new one.

The failure was that Molitor failed to understand or failed to care that the bullpen was gassed. He shouldn't be asking them. Of course they are going to say they are good. He should KNOW they aren't based on their usage.

[ashbury]

The failure was that Molitor failed to understand or failed to care that the bullpen was gassed. He shouldn't be asking them. Of course they are going to say they are good. He should KNOW they aren't based on their usage.

Yeah, I could be persuaded Molitor heard what he wanted to hear during the pre-game period. And every profession has its yes-men...

[Richie the Rally Goat]

That's where Rucinski and Wheeler come into play. They're fresh, the rest of your pen isn't. A 6 run lead with 6 outs remaining to get is a tailor made situation for emergency call ups. Use them and spare your taxed bullpen. If those guys fail and the win is important to you, it's not for me in this case, then you bring in the Pressly's of the world. They should be your last options, not your first.

 

This isn't hindsight for me. I've been less worried about the outcome than I am the process. Molitor simply left himself fewer options for the next game again. He was in the same situation for a second game needlessly. He didn't get three of his "best" relievers rest that they needed. My priorities heading into Monday's game were preserve the bullpen first, win the game second. Wheeler and/or Rucinski may have gotten shelled and they lose anyway, but I'm okay with that because I preserved the core of my bullpen and I can go after normally Tuesday.

agreed, sometimes it's ok to punt one game if it means having ability to win 2 or more of the following games. With an over taxed bullpen you're shot for as long as they are

[The Wise One]

 

I don't agree. RPs used to throw 100 pitches all the time. 

 

Look, I don't love how Molitor manages, and yes, some RPs have been over used (not for the year, but in games in a row or close to in a row)......but 100 innings is not horrible usage.

 

As for this game, if you don't trust someone with a 6 run lead, then he shouldn't be on the roster. The bigger issue for me is that it would appear the FO and the manager still are not on the same page.

Scott Proctor was the last reliever to pitch over a hundred innings. That was over 10 years ago. Into the high 90s and some semblance of effectiveness were Betance, and Belisle when he was with the Rockies. Long man Swarzak got to 96 as well as several other pitcher who accumulated less than 1 war. High leveraged relievers pitching 100 innings went the way of the every fourth day starter 

[Linus]

Either choice is defensible as any of them should have been able to get 6 outs with a 6 run lead. The problem is that the bullpen sucks.