Jose Contreras and the Kids: The Philadelphia Phillies Bullpen through 50 Games
This is the second article in a series of four that will detail the performances of the Philadelphia Phillies at certain points throughout the season. Ā The articles will be published at the 50-game, 100-game and 150-game mark. Ā The subjects covered will be the following:
1. Starting Rotation (You can find that article here:Ā http://bleacherreport.com/articles/712443-roy-halladay-and-the-aces-evaluating-their-performances-through-48-games)
2. Bullpen
3. Infield
4. Outfield
So let's take a look at how the Phillies bullpen have performed so far this season.
Kyle Kendrick: Long Relief
1 of 8
Stats
- Record: 2 GS, 14 GP, 3-3
- IP: 25.1
- SO/BB: 10/11
- ERA/WHIP: 3.20/1.38
Kyle has been unremarkable so far this season. Ā While he hasn't done anything amazing, he has done what the Phillies needed from him. Ā So far, he has made appearances in 14 games.Ā Twelve of those have been relief appearances, but two of them have been starts. Ā
In his most recent start of the year, he was horrible. Ā He allowed five earned runs on five hits, two home runs, in only three innings pitched. Ā His first start was much better. Ā He pitched five scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves and earned the win. Ā
Kendrick's relief appearances, while looking good on paper, have not all been good. Ā His ERA is currently at 3.20, but that statistic would only be good if he were a regular starter. Ā One of the most important roles for relief pitchers is how they perform with inherited runners. Ā That is one area where Kyle has been bad. Ā
He's going to have to fix that before the starters attack him in the locker room one day. Ā But what he has done is eat innings. Ā That is the role they need him in, and he has done well with that.
Grade: C
Jose Contreras: Old School
2 of 8
Stats
- Record: 10 GP, 0-0
- IP: 10
- SO/BB: 11/4
- ERA/WHIP: 0.00/0.80
- SV/SVO: 5/5
Jose Contreras has been outstanding this year. Ā He spent some time on the DL, but before and after that, he has given the Phillies nothing but near perfection. Ā
In his 10 innings pitched, he hasn't allowed a single earned run to score. Ā A big reason behind that has been the fact that only four batters have been able to get a hit against him. Ā In seven of his 10 games, he hasn't allowed a single hit.
Even though Contreras has worked for some of the season as a closer, he will most likely fall into the role of setup man since that position has been left open by Ryan Madson moving in to be the closer. Ā If he can continue at this pace for the rest of the season, he may have to put retirement off for another couple years.
Grade: A-
Danys Baez: Some Good, Mostly Bad
3 of 8
Stats
- Record: 19 GP, 1-2
- IP: 24.1
- SO/BB: 11/7
- ERA/WHIP: 3.33/1.27
I know that many fans right now are pretty high on Baez. Ā Sadly, his one great five-inning outing against the Reds does not make him a reliable pitcher. Ā Before his extra inning heroics, his ERA was steady at or above 4.00. Ā When we remove that one game, his stats look pretty horrible.
Stats w/out 5 IP against Reds
- Record: 18 GP, 1-2
- IP: 19.1
- SO/BB: 8/6
- ERA: 4.19
See, not very good. Ā His performance against the Reds does not suddenly absolve him of bad pitching throughout the season so far. Ā Maybe he will get better, but I doubt it. Ā
Grade: D
Antonio Bastardo: Young Gun
4 of 8
Stats
- Record: 20 GP, 3-0
- IP: 19
- SO/BB: 26/9
- ERA/WHIP: 1.42/1.00
- SV/HLD: 1/2
To start the season, Bastardo appeared in nine games without allowing a single ER. Ā In 11 appearances since then, he only allowed three. Ā He strikes out batters at an alarming rate and doesn't walk too many of them. Ā Forget scoring, teams are just concentrating on getting a hit against this filthy lefty.
This 25-year-old was once thought to be the future left-handed specialist but has become proficient at getting either. Ā His BAA is a low .167 for righties and an even lower .130 against left-handed batters. Ā
Antonio is the future of the seventh inning for Phillies.
Grade: A+
J.C. Romero: Left-Handed Specialist
5 of 8
Stats
- Record: 18 GP, 0-0
- IP: 12
- SO/BB: 7/8
- ERA/WHIP: 3.75/1.75
Simply put, Romero has failed to perform this year. Ā This has come as a result of his play, and some bad managing by Charlie. Ā J.C. has always been a pitcher to only be used against left-handed batter. Ā He has great deception against them because of his throwing motion. Ā Sadly, Charlie has opted to allow him to face 29 right-handed batters this year against only 17 lefties.
That being said, Romero has failed to perform against either. Ā Batters, both right-handed and left-handed, each have a .400 OBP against him. Ā If that were all hits, I could chalk that up to Charlie using him against righties, but his control is the main problem. Ā
He's walked eight hitters over only 12 IP and has hit another. Ā Not to mention the walk-a-thon performance he put on against the Reds. Ā Luckily, Brandon Phillips and his motor mouth bailed him out.
If J.C. hopes to be successful this season, he has to get his pitches under control. Ā Otherwise, he's just doing his best Chad Durbin impression.
Grade: D
Michael Stutes: Into the Fire
6 of 8
Stats
- Record: 14 GP, 0-0
- IP: 10
- SO/BB: 12/6
- ERA/WHIP: 2.53/1.31
If I had said his name before the season started, most people would have responded with "WHO?". Ā The funny thing is, I couldn't blame you. Ā
Now he has become a steady right-handed pitcher who we have confidence in. Ā He's averaging more than a strikeout per inning while making the opposing team swing the bat by only issuing six free passes so far.
If J.C. is the answer against lefties, Stutes is a right-handed batter's nightmare. Ā In 22 PA's, righties have hit a paltry .136 against him with seven strikeouts. Ā Even better, is the fact that those three hits they have against him have all been singles. Ā This young man has done an amazing job so far this year.
Look for Stutes to maintain his right-handed dominance out of the bullpen this year. Ā If J.C. can get on track against lefties, Stutes should put up some dominate numbers by the time the season is out.
Grade: B
Ryan Madson: The Closer
7 of 8
Stats
- Record: 23 GP, 2-1
- IP: 23
- SO/BB: 24/8
- ERA/WHIP: 1.96/1.13
- SV/SVO: 11/11
"He can't close." Ā "He's not mentally ready to be a closer." Ā "He'll never be more than a setup man."Ā
Well you can throw all that talk away. Ā Madson has been phenomenal this year. Ā Starting out as the setup man while Contreras closed, he was given his golden opportunity when Jose went down with an injury. Ā Since that time, he has been outstanding.
In 21 of his 23 appearances, he hasn't allowed a run.Ā Ten of those games he has held the opposing team without a hit. Ā His ability to miss bats is amazing as he is averaging more than a strikeout per inning while only giving up a free pass once every three games. Ā
Add to that the fact that he hasn't allowed a home run this year, and that the Phillies are undefeated when leading heading into the final inning, and you've got the closer of the future for the Phillies.
Grade: A+
Conclusion
8 of 8
Grades
- Kyle Kendrick: C
- Jose Contreras: A-
- Danys Baez: D
- Antonio Bastardo: A+
- J.C. Romero: D
- Michael Stutes: B
- Ryan Madson: A+
When you look at the most important parts of a bullpen, that being the seventh, eighth and ninth inning men, the Phillies have been excellent. Ā Bastardo, Contreras and Madson have been lights out for the majority of the year. Ā The rest of the bullpen has been less consistent and could hurt them as the season goes on. Ā
That being said, the Phillies bullpen has been the least used bullpen in the MLB. Ā Most of the time, only the setup man and closer are needed because of how deep the starters go. Ā If they can maintain that pace, the least used bullpen could become the best bullpen when the season is over. Ā
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