2018-07-09: Brewers (Anderson) at Marlins (Urena) 6:10 PM CDT [Brewers lose, 4-3 in 10 innings]

[tmwiese55]

If there is anything to re-examine in the bullpen it's the Knebel in a traditional closer role. he has just been quite shaky, often behind in the count, too many walks. Still one of our top guys but we did so well without a tradition closer role use mentality that I'd be fine getting back to that. Consider them all same level and use based on circumstance and matchups.

 

I'd have thought about setting up the double play at the end just like they did to us. But I guess Knebel doesn't seem to be a ground ball guy and that hitter sucks, so I think it's probably right to go for the strikeout.

 

Said this from the moment Knebel got the 'closer' role back. This team did so well managing the bullpen situationally in late innings when Knebel was out. Why they would go back to defined roles like that is baffling.

 

17 games over .500 is proof that the current bullpen usage is working.

 

certainly is working but can always try to work better. I've hated traditional closer roles for years (the math just doesn't support it) and was hoping what we were doing without Knebel would lead to that philosophy going forward, like we kind of accidentally stumbled into it due to injury.

 

That said, I do like the aspect that came from of it that rather than making Jeffress traditional closer (like would have been done in past years) that they've allowed him to keep being swiss army knife for when you need your best guy. So, since they're bought into not using their best reliever as traditional closer, then why have anyone designated like that role at all. especially one that hasn't quite been himself since he came back.

 

Note that in this game it wouldn't have mattered, Knebel was your next guy up there no matter what so it's not just picking on Knebel for this. Just an overall baseball strategy discussion.

[Bulldogboy]

If there is anything to re-examine in the bullpen it's the Knebel in a traditional closer role. he has just been quite shaky, often behind in the count, too many walks. Still one of our top guys but we did so well without a tradition closer role use mentality that I'd be fine getting back to that. Consider them all same level and use based on circumstance and matchups.

 

I'd have thought about setting up the double play at the end just like they did to us. But I guess Knebel doesn't seem to be a ground ball guy and that hitter sucks, so I think it's probably right to go for the strikeout.

You can't walk the bases loaded when the guy can't throw strikes. Tough.

[Bulldogboy]

If Brewers don't play Nottingham tomorrow I will be pissed. He looks way better than Kratz.

[NievesNoNO]

It sucks to lose one that you feel like is locked up, but that's how good this bullpen has been. Hasn't been too often where they lose a lead late. Just have to throw this one out and get them tomorrow. Yes, cliche I know but I'll take the Brewers problems over just about all the other teams in the NL.

[adambr2]

If there is anything to re-examine in the bullpen it's the Knebel in a traditional closer role. he has just been quite shaky, often behind in the count, too many walks. Still one of our top guys but we did so well without a tradition closer role use mentality that I'd be fine getting back to that. Consider them all same level and use based on circumstance and matchups.

 

I'd have thought about setting up the double play at the end just like they did to us. But I guess Knebel doesn't seem to be a ground ball guy and that hitter sucks, so I think it's probably right to go for the strikeout.

 

Said this from the moment Knebel got the 'closer' role back. This team did so well managing the bullpen situationally in late innings when Knebel was out. Why they would go back to defined roles like that is baffling.

 

17 games over .500 is proof that the current bullpen usage is working.

 

No. That is not proof of that whatsoever. How does team record correlate to performance of a certain area of the team in any way? That's like saying, "We're 17 over. 500, so change nothing."

 

For a truer result, compare the bullpen performance in the time Knebel was out versus post-Knebel injury when they abandoned situational roles.

[xisxisxis]

17 games over .500 is proof that the current bullpen usage is working.

 

No it does not prove anything. Not mathematical or logical. Proof would be taking the same players and changing the bullpen usage over the same time frame and having the team reach less than 17 games over 0.500. Since that is impossible to do, you can't prove anything from being 17 games over 0.500.

 

You can attempt to answer the question by simulating millions of games where you change the bullpen usage at each time then play the remainder of the game based on averages and weighted outcomes then look at the stretch of games to see how the outcomes changed... You would probably need some heavy computing time and a fairly sophisticated algorithm to handle the game outcomes. Probably on the order of what JPL or astronomy uses to process images for our galaxy... I'd hate to have them process our little study and miss the planet killing asteroid heading our way, but then bruce willis probably is too old and ben affleck too fat to save the planet, so maybe knowing the answer to our baseball simulation might be more important before the end of the world...

[AKCheesehead]

please stop blaming the umps its the lack of hitting in the clutch 2-3 no out come on cant't score deserves a loss

 

I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you on that one. Not saying the Brewers shouldn't have overcome and won-they should have, they squandered opportunities, and they made mistakes. However, there is no getting around the fact that the blown call on a very obvious strike 3 (2.9" in from edge) before the Castro home run gave Miami a run. Called correctly, the Crew wins it in 9.

[SomewhereInTime]

There is no chance I would IBB a guy with an OPS of like .400. If he gets a ball through, he gets a ball through, good for him.

[Pugger]

 

Nobody said that. What gets exhausting is the blind squirrel routine where the guy is criticized for every flaw on the field. It's his bullpen use, his batting order, his roster decisions. Never mind the winning percentage, that's the players. The bad stuff is Counsell.

 

His bullpen use is my main beef with CC. Counsell will give Kneble work every few days but not Hader?

[Pugger]

Anyone who doesn't think this team needs Machado is crazy. If Jesus wasn't putting up an Albert Pujols in his prime first half it would be curtains.Brett Phillip's and Luis Ortiz and something else to make it happen.

 

Yes, Machado would be great but will his price be too high?

[Pugger]

All the fans left except the three guys wearing neon green that I can’t unsee...

 

The pathetic attendance at Marlins Park yesterday was normal. For some reason they cannot get people to go to those games. I think there were more people at the Green Bay Bullfrogs' game than in Miami last night.

[Pugger]

Knebel getting squeezed big time.

 

That ump left a lot to be desired. Hader also got squeezed.

[Pugger]

Couple of those pitches looked like strikes to Maybin but when you’re wild you tend to not get those calls.

 

Sigh.

 

Come on let’s get outta this

 

I've never understood this. Even if a pitcher is wild shouldn't a strike still be a strike no matter what the other pitches have been before that one??

[tmwiese55]

So what is a manager to do after the ASB break when all pitchers have had 4-6 days of rest? clearly they all are rusty and will just give up HRs like crazy.

[adambr2]

Couple of those pitches looked like strikes to Maybin but when you’re wild you tend to not get those calls.

 

Sigh.

 

Come on let’s get outta this

 

I've never understood this. Even if a pitcher is wild shouldn't a strike still be a strike no matter what the other pitches have been before that one??

 

One would think. Another not so lovely thing about the 'human element.'

[trwi7]

Couple of those pitches looked like strikes to Maybin but when you’re wild you tend to not get those calls.

 

Sigh.

 

Come on let’s get outta this

 

I've never understood this. Even if a pitcher is wild shouldn't a strike still be a strike no matter what the other pitches have been before that one??

 

It's not an excuse but it happens a lot and I understand why it does. An umpire sees where the catcher sets up his glove and while he doesn't completely focus on that area, that's where a lot of his focus is that the pitch will be around there so when a pitch is two feet away from where the glove is set up, it's hard to track that ball over the plate and make the right call. That's the one thing I will give umpires a break about.