The Importance of Middle Relief: You Be the Judge

[Erick]

For those who don't visit marlinsbaseball.com, I have began writing articles on there again. I wish to be a future journalist, and Marlins baseball/the sport of baseball in general has become a hobby of mine to analyze, etc. over the years.

http://www.marlinsbaseball.com/page/...-the-judge-r13

That's the article, there. It's about the offseason trades the team has made thus far, and the importance being placed on the bullpen.

I'd appreciate any type of feedback, both positive and negative. Take the time to read it when you're bored and have a chance. Hope everyone enjoys it, and maybe forms a legit opinion about it (most probably already have a legit opinion on the topic, anyway).

[Ramp]

better off posting it here, link wise... I am not clicking that link

[Erick]

better off posting it here, link wise... I am not clicking that link

November 12th, 2010. The Marlins have traded left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller to the Boston Red Sox for left-handed pitcher Dustin Richardson.

Fast forward a day. The Marlins have traded centerfielder Cameron Maybin to the San Diego Padres for right-handed relievers Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica.

Andrew Miller. Cameron Maybin. Once top prospects acquired from the Detroit Tigers as the return for former franchise player Miguel Cabrera have now been traded for three relievers.

Fast forward some more. This is a busy start to the offseason. The Marlins are the talk of the baseball world. "Are they really trading potential for...RELIEVERS???" "Guys who don't even get saves? No way." "Everyone, laugh out loud at the Marlins front office for the Miguel Cabrera trade!"

Fair enough. Moving on. The Miguel Cabrera trade happened three offseasons ago. The past is the past, right? There is important business to take care of, "and his name is Dan Uggla!" Lets sign him! New era of Marlins baseball where we actually spend money on our All-Star players!

4 years, 48 million, the Marlins said.
Dan Uggla's response: 5 years, 71 million.

And that was the end of Dan Uggla.

November 16th, 2010. The Marlins have traded second baseman Dan Uggla to the division rival Atlanta Braves for super-utilityman Omar Infante.

Well, cool. Infante is versatile, and made the All-Star team last year. Cool points for him, everyone thinks. But seriously...there has to be more, right? Yes, of course. Uggla is an All-Star second baseman; of course there's more.
Who's the second player in the deal?

mlbtraderumors.com...checking...checking...AND HIS NAME IS...*exciting moment, there MUST be a top prospect coming back*...AND HIS NAME IS...MIKE DUNN!?!?!?!?

WHAT?

"Wow, the Marlins are a bunch of cheap [expletive]."
"That's it! I'm not spending a penny on the team, until Loria sells the team!"
"They should've given Uggla the 5 years! Spend a billion dollars on him, if you have to!"
"To a division rival????????????"
"Mike Dunn can't hit homeruns! What will Rich Waltz and Tommy Hutton say now?"

"Did they seriously get a RELIEVER? A guy who's proven to be nothing more than a lefty specialist?"
"Why??????????????"

The popular reactions to the Marlins offseason trades, thus far.

After a National League high 25 blown saves from the bullpen last year, the Marlins front office made it clear that the bullpen would be a priority this offseason; it is now clear that that comment was no joke.

The question now is whether or not such moves were worth it.

Relievers in baseball are often looked at as volatile creatures. Unless they're a rarity like Mariano Rivera, year-to-year consistency can often be difficult to find with relievers. In a perfect world, middle relievers are found at a cheap price, without having to give up any assets. Seriously, it's borderline laughable to trade Dan Uggla and get a middle reliever in return. Right?

Not quite.

There has been a change in the baseball world; that change is being seen in the way middle relievers are now being valued. Don't believe me? Ask the Detroit Tigers. Their first major signing of the offseason was signing 33-year-old Joaquin Benoit to a 3 year, 16.5 million dollar deal. The same guy who has a season high 105 innings in the big leagues (in 2003, when he was a part-time starter), and has a history of injury, as well (missed the '09 season, due to rotator cuff surgery).

That overpayment will now, more than likely, become a trend for middle relievers, around baseball. Guys like Scott Downs, J.J. Putz, Kerry Wood, etc. are probably considering themselves fortunate to become free agents at such a time.

Still think the Marlins moves were laughable? Think again.

Sure, trading potential quality everyday players for middle relievers is not ideal, but it's certainly a whole lot better than overspending for a player who's max is 60-70 innings per season. The Marlins have a budget in their payroll, and had a major problem to fix with their bullpen. Obviously everyone is allowed to criticize, but at some point even the critics have to ask themselves how they would've fixed the bullpen situation. The "see what sticks" approach of the past couple of offseasons clearly didn't work anymore; things have changed.

As major league front offices begin to notice that the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings are just as important, and often times more important, than the ninth; guys like Edward Mujica, Ryan Webb, and Mike Dunn become more valuable than ever, for a variety of reasons.

Mujica, who is arbritration eligible and likely to make around one million dollars in 2011, led all relievers with his K/BB ratio in 2010 (72 K's, 6 BB's in 69 innings).

Ryan Webb and Mike Dunn are probably more valuable in the sense that even if they struggle, they're allowed to go back to the minors to get things corrected because their money isn't guaranteed yet; they have options.

With that said, both Webb and Dunn have closer "stuff." Both with fastballs in the mid-90's, Webb's expertise is getting opposing hitters to hit the ball on the ground. Among relievers, he had the 5th best GB% in baseball last year, at 62.3%.

Dunn, who will be the focus of the bullpen being the return for Uggla, was once a guy the Yankees refused to include in a deal for 2009 AL All-Star outfielder Curtis Granderson; his stuff is that great. Thus far in his big league career, he's proven that he can dominate left-handed hitters, at the very least. In 2010, Dunn had a 16.76 K/9 against left-handed hitters with a 1.22 FIP. Assuming he keeps it up, he will prove to be valuable when the Marlins are in need of a late inning reliever to face the likes of Ryan Howard, Brian McCann, and all the very good left-handed hitters in the National League East, and National League, in general.

Has it been a questionable offseason? Yes. Can these types of moves cost a GM his job, if they don't pan out? Absolutely. However, don't be surprised if the middle relievers prove to be valuable for a Marlins team that has struggled with its bullpen the past couple of years. And don't be surprised if the Marlins end up being a better overall team because of it.

Even if their names aren't Dan Uggla.

[fauowls44]

better off posting it here, link wise... I am not clicking that link

Just wondering...what's with the hatred for other message board? I seem to have missed something...

[Bucklin12]

Just wondering...what's with the hatred for other message board? I seem to have missed something...

Which other? It's a long story.

[lou]

Just wondering...what's with the hatred for other message board? I seem to have missed something...

I think you may have just woke the beast

[Party]

Just wondering...what's with the hatred for other message board? I seem to have missed something...

The Truth shall set you free.