Bullpen Report

Another week, another 2 temporary save mongers  join the closing fray.  Luke Gregerson and Rex Brothers, of Emmett Otter fame, took over for Street and Betancourt respectfully.  Gregerson has been one of the the best relievers over the last 5 years, and should be a prime target in another month or so at the deadline for teams desperate for bullpen help.  Brothers is in a different situation, he is the heir apparent.  Closing situations are about as funny as my mail going to Chris Perez’s house. Speaking of which, he should be back very shortly and Vinnie really did a Tazawa in his role there, garnering zero saves.  Also coming back this week will be Jim Henderson, who will take his role back without any questions asked.  That sorta sounds like strong arming, but maybe that’s just me.  So enjoy the week to come and don’t be shy. Not you, the other guy, about asking questions.

Hector Ambriz  and Travis Blackley – Combined have 18 holds for the ever-curious Astros.  In a funny world when you look at their 18 holds and compare it to say the entire teams of the Cubs, and the Indians, and the Blue Jays, and the Phillies, oh, and btw, another, and the Mariners – they have more than those entire teams.  Hooray for useless stats.  Just to make things worse they are 5th overall in team total for Holds. records be damned, they sure make Kenny Rogers proud.

Jake McGee – After an atrocious start where he gave up 15 ER in his first 12 innings pitched, he has been unscored upon, lowering his ERA from 11.53 to 6.33, in his last 10 appearances, notching 10 K’s in 8 innings.  For stat sake, he has 5 Holds in the last 3 weeks and is very much looking like a re-rosterable chap.

Jesse Crain – For all the attention that Mark Melancon is getting, Jesse goes unappreciated by stat heads.  His stats mimick or outdo most of Melancon’s on stuff that we can’t really see over the last month.  I think it’s because of the name Jesse personally.  Think long and hard about this: who is the last Jesse you trusted, I mean really trusted? Ventura? Bo and Luke’s uncle? The leader of the Rainbow Coalition?  I think it’s BS and I am writing Hawk Harrelson to get him to be more vocal and more of a homer.

Jared Burton – I don’t know why he really doesn’t use his real first name, because it’s pretty bad ass.  Go check it out. I am going to name my first born button fly, just cause it sounds awesome and I can do whatever I want to make my kid’s life miserable.  Has been stout the past 10 days garnering 5 holds and even an off-day save.  I wish Minnesota was a better team so the world could see how good Perkins and this denim rough SOB really are.

Have a gander at the Holds leaders this year with some added accoutrement stats that I put some Old Bay seasoning on.