Geren's Use of the Bullpen

by javaball on Jun 15, 2008 6:07 PM PDT

After seeing Bob Geren use Huston Street in non-save situations the last two days and again today for a save, I can not help but question his bullpen usage.

We have a very good bullpen, which ranks among the best in the AL in ERA. As Rich Harden commented yesterday, "There's really no weak link on our pitching staff. We have a lot of different choices, and they're all good."

That's why I'm befuddled as to why Geren keeps using Street in non-save situations, knowing that he is nursing an injured groin. On May 11 against Texas with a 6-run lead, and again on May 23 against Boston with a 5-run lead. Yes, Texas and Boston are good hitting teams, and yes we needed the win, but if you use your closer in those situations, what message are you sending to the rest of the bullpen, that they are not good enough to hold a 5-run lead?

I understand that pitchers need regular work to remain sharp. But the A's play many, many close games during the season, perhaps more than most other teams in the league, because their good pitching staff often keep them in the game. There is certainly no shortage of work, and no need to create extra workload for the closer.

Generally speaking, I think Geren has done a great job deploying the bullpen, and that also contributed to their success so far this year. However, I do have another grievance against him in the case of Joey Devine. Geren should have taken more care protecting the young pitcher.

He used him in high-stress situation (bases loaded nobody out) back on May 20 against the Rays, after he had already pitched the previous day. Devine struck out three of the four batters he faced (Had Emil Brown fielded the ball cleanly, it would had been a lot better). Then three days later, Geren sent Devine out for 2 innings against Boston. Devine had never pitched 2 innings since he joined the A's, but he did a great job, pitching two scoreless innings while striking out 2. Ironically, Devine became a victim of his own success. Geren ran him out again two days later against Boston, and that was the last time he pitched before going on the DL.

We have a lot of talented young players, and I sincerely hope Geren and the coaching staff do a great job managing the team.

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he abuses street the most

he does run embree and foulke out there like they have rubber arms, but they’re vets, and they’re use to the arm abuse.

the rest of the relievers are managed decently well, but i agree with street. even though street was warm yesterday, not pt in throwing another 15+ pitches. just use brown.

but seeing brown sit down yesterday and today again, makes me wonder?...is brown hurt?

by uclabruin on Jun 15, 2008 8:43 PM PDT reply actions

It's the A's, so probably.

by OldhamA on Jun 15, 2008 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Nah -- just worn out. He has a tough commute.

... The A’s made an unusual travel decision for their trip to Phoenix this week: The team’s charter left after Sunday’s game, even though the A’s are off today and usually would travel on the off day. So many of the team’s players live in Arizona during the offseason, however, the decision was made to leave early to give the Arizona residents the entire off day at home. Those who prefer have the option of flying commercial today. Reliever Andrew Brown, who has a new baby at home in the Bay Area, is taking that option. ... Brown, who bicycles to BART and takes BART to the Coliseum when the A’s play in Oakland, took BART to the games in San Francisco, too, then walked to AT&T Park.
- Susan Slusser

He has big feet, but a small (carbon) footprint.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Jun 16, 2008 8:09 AM PDT up reply actions

It's true Street just did a lot more work than he needed to in SF

But before today, the A’s had the longest stretch between save opportunities in 27 years. Using him for some non-save situations was fair.

by nevermoor on Jun 15, 2008 9:48 PM PDT reply actions

Forget the save situation

I would like to see our manager operate as if the save statistic didn’t exist. When the starter struggles to get outs or runs out of gas and the outcome of the game is on the line, put in the best available reliever and let him go until he ceases to be effective or reaches the limits of his endurance. Then bring in the next best available reliever.

I hate the foolish chase of dubious platoon advantages and letting the team’s eleventh best pitcher lose the game in the seventh inning because the manager wants to save his two best relievers for the eighth and ninth innings. I would rather see a reliever pitch two innings twice per week than face just a batter or two several times per week. It frustrates the hell out of me to see Geren cycle through half of the bullpen to get through the seventth and eighth innings. The platoon advantage isn’t important for the starter in innings one through six. Nor does it matter once Street enters the game in the ninth. Why is it important only in the seventh and eighth innings? Is this Geren’s opportunity to show us he’s managing?

Root for the Giants? Not even if they're playing al-Qaeda!

by Monday Fan on Jun 15, 2008 11:48 PM PDT reply actions

Look no further

we have 2 end of the game relivers in the DL
santiago catilla and joey devine are going to come back and street wont be used as often.

by Wreckonized on Jun 15, 2008 11:56 PM PDT reply actions

I do think any criticism of Geren's bullpen use

has to be tempered in light of the fact that any manager will look worse when his second and third best bullpen options are taken away – that has been the case for much of the season, and before that it was his #2 and #3 starters who were out. Given what he’s had to work with, I think he’s done an outstanding job. My biggest beef, probably all season, was bringing in Street on Saturday. But that’s one game out of 68.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jun 16, 2008 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions

We also don't know if Street asked to be tested on 3 straight days, to see how the injury

was healing.

by theblackpearl on Jun 16, 2008 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Get over the "save" or "non-save" situations...

The idea that you only bring in your closer, who should be your best reliever, in save situations, is just plain stupid. He’s just like any other reliever – he needs regular work and since he’s usually your best reliever, you want him out there for high leverage situations. On Saturday, Foulke had already thrown 22 pitches, and Street was already warmed up and ready to go. The heart of the lineup – Winn, Molina, Rowand, i.e. the only guys who can hit worth a damn in the Giants’ lineup, were due up. Even though we were up by 4, I’d rather have Street out there to shut the door then stretch out Foulke and maybe give them some momentum. I thought it made sense to use Street on back-to-back days there. Then on Sunday, since they had a day off on Monday, I guess Geren thought it should be okay to work him on 3 days straight… I wish Gaudin woulda been able to nail down the 7th, 8th, and 9th for the 3 inning save, so Foulke and Street could rest… but yea, everyone’s right, when Casilla and Devine come back, that should help with Foulke and Street getting overworked.

by C-Gon on Jun 16, 2008 2:02 PM PDT reply actions

Far from not being over the "save/non save" situations,

I feel managers use closers too often with THREE run leads. But to use your recovering-from-an-injury closer, on a second straight day, with a four-run lead against a light-hitting team, was not, IMO, necessary. Or a good idea. Actually, Ziggy would have been a perfect choice against that part of the order and he was available.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jun 16, 2008 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions