Bullpen Report, Week 16

Ahh, I remember the Midway, it was fun it was like an air show but instead of crashes there were bullets.  I was just informed by Jay that statement is both wrong and wrong.  Moving on as graceful as Martha Graham.  So  I was actually thankful for a few days off, unhappy I didn’t make the all-star team, but I’m told that poor vocabulary and lack of knowledge of the home row keys are not determining stats that merit all-stardom.  Holds are fun, I don’t care what you say, if that makes me a loser for rooting for a fake stat, then I’m a loser.  This guys help your team though even if you don’t play in a Holds or NSVH league.  I am being serious.  I am the Will I am Tell of the loogy business.  Let’s check out my four up and four down for the closers in the second half, and stay around after that for some set-up news and blues.

Closers I Like For Second Half:

1. Aroldis Chapman

2. Cody Allen

3. Joe Nathan

4. Jonathan Papelbon

Closers I Dislike For Second Half:

1. Huston Street

2. Koji Uehara

3. Zach Britton

4. Jenrry Mejia

• Hot teams breed lots of children….and by children I mean Holds.  Darren O’Day seems to have pulled together his best Angela Basset.  Over the last 14 days, he is the thoroughbred in holds with 6.  Boasting 10 consecutive underscored upon appearances yielding only 4 hits and a 15/2 K/BB rate.
• Jordan Walden has looked nice lately.  I mean, if he had a tailored suit and a red carpet to lay out as Kimbrel, like a valet, he would get a raise.  Four Holds in the last 10 games and a decent K rate too boot somewhere north of 13, which I hear is still unlucky except for strikeouts.
• J.P. Howell has been the glue in the backend of the Dodgers pen. Kenley and the Beard get all the notice, but Howell is quietly getting it done.  Why so quiet because he isn’t a K dominant reliever.  That’s unfortunate because his IR scored rate is sick and 19 Holds on the year is pretty rad.
• For those looking for a reboot on Holds, look at Brett Cecil, even though the Jays pen is so messy.  He just returned from the DL, and someone needs to step up.  Brett, see that guy over there rooting for you,  it’s not me but it is the whole province of Ontario crammed into one person.