Braves Bullpen: The Anger Maker

To say I'm PO'd would be an understatement of epic proportions.

Yes, this is hasty.

Yes, the game is not over.

But COME ON!!!

The group I have most adamantly defended this offseason has just made me look like an idiot.

Today, the Braves' bullpen allowed 8 earned runs in the seventh inning in a game versus the Phillies (including 4 bases-loaded walks).

I hereby rebuke EVERYTHING I have said about this core until further notice.

There is NO EXCUSE for this kind of performance, especially against an offense that your starting group has absolutely dominated in three games.

Javy Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens, and Derek Lowe have all been phenomenal against the champs.

Then, suddenly, and inexplicably, (Eric O'Flaherty- I thing this is the correct spelling, from here on out EOF-is excused because he was somewhat effective) Peter Moylan, Blaine Boyer, and Campillo (although he did get them out of it) laid big fat goose eggs in the seventh.

How?

How?

HOW?

INEXCUSABLE!!!

Which brings me to another point-Bobby.

Hey, man, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

EOF had two batters on, yes, but you don't need to burn out your entire pen in a single inning.

I'm sure if given the time, based on Tuesday night, could have gotten Werth and Ibanez.

Instead of keeping EOF in to get these two, Cox throws Moylan, Boyer, and Jorge into the fire.

Why?

It makes ZERO sense, you don't need to limit yourself to two or three relievers in an increasingly close game.

BULLCRAP (although a certain expletive may have been better).

Maybe Tim Timmons is squeezing the 'pen a bit, but you have to be throwing pretty bad to walk that many guys (although he seemed to make that zone a little tighter as the inning dragged on).

Guess who just came in?

Bobby's Golden Boy Jeff Bennet.

Great, just great.