Offseason Discussion - The Bullpen and How it Will Suck

[FishFanInPA]

Ugh Matt Capps was putrid. Worse then Lindstrom. There was a stretch that seemed like he blew a bunch of saves in a row.

[Jay]

The bullpen won't be any worse then it has been over the past 4 years and I am excited to see RVH if he fails to lock up a rotation spot. Him and Miller are the two starters I see excelling in the bullpen rather than the rotation.
I don't understand why every source says we are looking for bullpen help because once this season starts, there will be to many pitchers for the roster spot and someone who has talent is probably going to end up DFA. The only help needed is a proven solid late innings guy but this is the marlins and they won't want to pay one.

[AdamRavs]

Marlins always have a knack for finding washed up or oft injured closers and they end up having good seasons and parlaying that into a good deal with someone else.. Capps would be a good signing I believe

[m26555]

6:26pm: The Washington Nationals are one of Capps' finalists, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson (via Twitter). Of all the interested teams, Washington should provide one of the clearest paths to a closing role for Capps.

If that's the case (closing being Capps' top priority), then I would guess that we're a finalist if we're willing to pay the price. Just my two cents.

[Ramp]

He'll get way too much for us to even consider him

[Metes]

You gotta think he's at least due for $3 mil

[m26555]

The Marlins continue to scour the free agent market for a closer, however Jose Valverde is too expensive and they aren't expected to bring back Kevin Gregg.

MLBTR

Well, at least it doesn't look like we're content having Nunez close out games.

[nny]

Know who'd be awesome closing out games?

Kiko Calero

[m26555]

Agreed; should have done it last year.

[Jay]

The fascination with a set closer still amazes me. Relief pitching should be based on which pitcher matches up best in the current situation not designating innings for certain players

[Beef]

The fascination with a set closer still amazes me. Relief pitching should be based on which pitcher matches up best in the current situation not designating innings for certain players

Perhaps. But at the same time, we hear and read so much about guy A doesn't have the mental makeup to get the last three outs of a game. So if something like that is true, perhaps it shouldn't be based on matchups. Also, both of these lines of thinking mainly exist so when a team doesn't close out 100% of games in which they lead late, the manager can be blamed for whatever he does

[Metes]

I think the designation matters in terms of preparation. Bullpen guys are all about routine.

As a position, I think closer is overrated, because half the closers in the league will perform just as well as your setup man or next best reliever.

But I think it's also important to have a guy that's designated as the closer, who knows when they're coming in, how to get mentally set for that, and is sure that their job is to come in and pitch one shutdown inning.

[Fish and Chips]

Designated Closer will rack up saves, whether they are bad at it, or good at it. And that increase that player's trade value.

[m26555]

The fascination with a set closer still amazes me. Relief pitching should be based on which pitcher matches up best in the current situation not designating innings for certain players

Except not everyone can just come in and close out a game. As Beef pointed out; there is certainly a mental aspect involved. We saw that last year with Lindstrom and Nunez. Both were fine as middle relievers, but they just couldn't get the job done in the ninth.

[Beef]

That is not enough information for me to pin their shittiness on a mental side of things