2021-04-16: Pirates (Brubaker) at Brewers (Houser) [Brewers lose, 6-1 -- Bullpen struggles continue]

[adambr2]

Rasmussen got his ERA under 15 today. So there's that.

[Bulldogboy]

I was listening to a Dodgers show/Pod and they were laughing at how a team like the Brewers who want to compete basically gave away Knebel for a bucket of balls. They said why let the rich get richer if you are trying to beat them?? Good question.

[wallus]

I was listening to a Dodgers show/Pod and they were laughing at how a team like the Brewers who want to compete basically gave away Knebel for a bucket of balls. They said why let the rich get richer if you are trying to beat them?? Good question.

 

5 million dollars, not hard to figure out.

[adambr2]

I have no problem with the team taking a shot on a Ray Black. But the expectations for him were just unrealistic.

 

Yeah, some guys just need a different voice. But most guys who spend 6 years with an organization known for developing pitching and still can't figure it out just are who they are and are not going to become shutdown pieces of an MLB bullpen.

[Bulldogboy]

I was listening to a Dodgers show/Pod and they were laughing at how a team like the Brewers who want to compete basically gave away Knebel for a bucket of balls. They said why let the rich get richer if you are trying to beat them?? Good question.

 

5 million dollars, not hard to figure out.

They gave Bradley 12 so...

[yourout]

I agree with you guys on Taylor. He needs to get a bigger look.

[wallus]

I was listening to a Dodgers show/Pod and they were laughing at how a team like the Brewers who want to compete basically gave away Knebel for a bucket of balls. They said why let the rich get richer if you are trying to beat them?? Good question.

 

5 million dollars, not hard to figure out.

They gave Bradley 12 so...

 

I am guessing this topic wouldn't be so prominent if Devin was pitching like last year. I am assuming the Brewers expected a better start from him.

 

Not to mention they had to make the call on Knebel before they had any idea if there would be fans allowed.

[Simba2020]

This bullpen was still a question mark even assuming a 2020 Williams. Without him, it's bordering on a disaster.

[adambr2]

I think the Bradley point is legitimate. They were aware Cain was returning and still had Garcia, Yelich, and Taylor. They obviously felt they could skimp on the pen and so far it just hasn't worked out at all. I can't really understand letting guys like Hand and Knebel fall by the wayside when you're willing to pony up 12M for an unnecessary luxury.

 

I can understand the skeptic approach to Knebel this season but Knebel or no Knebel I was hoping they would make a bigger investment in the pen and they just kind of ignored it and loaded up on guys who are just guys.

 

Any trade of Hader and we would bar none be looking at the worst bullpen in baseball. Our second best arm pen arm currently is either JP Feyereisen or a guy we just added after opening day to the 40. That's not good.

 

We desperately need Williams to come back to form but regardless we still need help.

[folly412]

I think injuries are to be expected (Wahl, Topa, File was probably projected up at some point and now looks like 2022). The bullpen struggles are due to the greater than expected regression with the best RP last year struggling to keep a roster spot and the second best RP already having lost his spot.

 

 

I think many of us were asking for even more bullpen help this off season. We have seen it too many times. You can't have enough pen arms especially ones with some experience. What's Jeffress up to?? Miscalculation for sure it appears.

 

I think Stearns realized it after the fact with the return for Arcia. Bickford also had a great spring and could be worth a look.

 

 

Ashby will save the bullpen.... probably.

 

Got to believe the second half bullpen plan has one or two of Ashby, Small, or Bettinger making it up.

[Bulldogboy]

Bullpen is a mess and oh by the way Hiura has 4 hits all season. Acuna has 7 HR. Lol

[brewcrewdue80]

The bullpen has some warts affected by injuries. Also affected by a crap offense that is missing 3 of its highest paid player veterans. No minors games to be played yet, already 20months since the last game where your prospects have shown what they can do. Williams' Change up is still good. He's just not there yet. But theres your 7th-10th inning future lockdown right there. Hader apparently just a 9th inning closer is a Counsell problem that he can die on when this season is over. Feyereisen, Rasmussen pitched adequate with upside last season. Suter has had a decent history doing what they need him to do. Lindblom was a Staryer last year, back to the bullpen for him since what? 5years ago. Give him a month more sample size before giving up completely on him. That's quite a large number of RPs that arent clicking on all cylinders. Perdomo just threw another clean inning. Theres Boxberger who's done well 1IP at a time for his career. If Williams is going to fix himself, games like today is where it's going to get started. 2ks but a walk and HR given up 2Runs. What he was last year it doesnt take much for him to clean that statline up.

Counsell pulling Houser at 73? Pitches was it when Pittsburgh had 5 hits-3 of them infield hits. Your best groundball starter has runners on 1st and 2nd he should have remained in for at least the next 2 batters. Had to pull a double switch when bringing in Suter. What is Counsell doing? Mis-managing is the answer right now.

[adambr2]

Rasmussen most certainly did not pitch adequately Iast season. So far, he looks like Ray Black lite.

[trwi7]

Not to mention they had to make the call on Knebel before they had any idea if there would be fans allowed.

 

They had all spring training to make a call to see what he had. His contract wasn't guaranteed until he made the opening day roster.

[Bulldogboy]

Not having minor league ball going is a killer for small markets like the Brewers. Fans or not time to get it going.

[rondoman]

I was listening to a Dodgers show/Pod and they were laughing at how a team like the Brewers who want to compete basically gave away Knebel for a bucket of balls. They said why let the rich get richer if you are trying to beat them?? Good question.

 

Bottom line, because the Brewers are cheap who love to claim poor.

[brewcrewdue80]

Rasmussen most certainly did not pitch adequately Iast season. So far, he looks like Ray Black lite.

 

Rasmussen sported an under 2ERA then last 2 games pitched gave up 3HRs ending his season on a bad stat finisher. He only pitched in 3 games where it was a tie ball game or 1run differential. Then he started this year with 2 games giving up HRs. The other 3runs was on the Perdomo snafu thrust in to a 5 run lead game that had Perdomo done what he did Hader was going to close it out. Mentally he had all the reason to be checked out thinking his night was done. He had 6 strikes in the 15 pitches thrown.

Gotta give him a longer opportunity to prove himself. First games of a season guys just arent ready and heat up as the temps do.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I was listening to a Dodgers show/Pod and they were laughing at how a team like the Brewers who want to compete basically gave away Knebel for a bucket of balls. They said why let the rich get richer if you are trying to beat them?? Good question.

 

Ironic then that Knebel got smacked around pretty good last night in a game that the Dodgers were winning handily until he came in in the 8th.

[trwi7]

I was listening to a Dodgers show/Pod and they were laughing at how a team like the Brewers who want to compete basically gave away Knebel for a bucket of balls. They said why let the rich get richer if you are trying to beat them?? Good question.

 

Ironic then that Knebel got smacked around pretty good last night in a game that the Dodgers were winning handily until he came in in the 8th.

 

A 2 run lead is winning handily? He gave up 3 hits, 1 was 88 mph exit velocity and another was 71. Hardly getting smacked around pretty good.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I was listening to a Dodgers show/Pod and they were laughing at how a team like the Brewers who want to compete basically gave away Knebel for a bucket of balls. They said why let the rich get richer if you are trying to beat them?? Good question.

 

Ironic then that Knebel got smacked around pretty good last night in a game that the Dodgers were winning handily until he came in in the 8th.

 

A 2 run lead is winning handily? He gave up 3 hits, 1 was 88 mph exit velocity and another was 71. Hardly getting smacked around pretty good.

 

It appears he lost his command midway through the inning. Managed to get Campusano to chase, but didn't have much of a chance against Caratini before getting lifted. It was very similar to many of the outings he had for the Brewers last year. Flashes of brilliance where he looked like the old Knebel, but plenty of inconsistency too.