Bullpen Report, Week 12

I know bad raps can make a career… I mean Shaq made his secondary career off of them, but Joel Peralta is really getting one.  Everyone loves change, and the whole shiny new toy factor associated with bullpens, but I’m here to learn you something about guys that have been drafted, dropped, and then added and dropped twice over this year.  The Tampa Bay bullpen, and starters for that matter, are just bad this year. But, in the last 30 days, Peralta has lowered his ERA by 3-and-half runs.  That’s not exactly easy, especially on a team 15-plus games below .500. Also, he has more K’s, same ERA, and more Holds than the now more-coveted  Jake McGee during the last 30 days. Better pitcher all year, McGee, better lately? Peralta (but he burned us, so we give him the finger).  Just me giving my two cents.  I mean fluctuation, and “oooh that guy looks good in macrame shorts” are a blinding factor for rostering fringe bullpen guys.  Stick around for some cool bullet points shaped like baseballs… neat.

• The ATL bullpen in front of Kimbrel is looking like a shiny new penny, thanks to Shae Simmons.  Over the past 14 games, or two weeks, for you shorthand peeps, he has 5 holds to pace the league.  It’s always nice to be the guy who valet’s a Ferrari.
• Just in case you wanted to know, Mark Melancon is the bee’s pajamas or whatever that expression is when it comes to NSVH, which in case you were wondering, who is at the top, with 20.
• I like the retread starters, some leagues, it helps more than others.  Dustin McGowan has found a home as the power swing guy in the Blue Jays pen since being demoted.  In 12 appearances he has 6 Holds, 1 Save and a K/9 rate higher than his SP rate.  He also has allowed zero inherited runners to score which is mucho important.
• In a rare feat of justice, the Cubs have led the league in Holds since the last post 2 weeks ago, with 14.  That they arguable the worst team in baseball and to accomplish this is like the day I progressed from velcro to laced sneakers.