When All Else Fails, Who’s In The Pen?

When talking about pitching, most people are going to automatically think starters, which is fine. They give you the edge and set the tone for the game, but I’ve always been a firm believer that a team is nothing without a strong bullpen. In fact, that’s what a season will usually come down to in a division race. In recent years, the Indians bullpen has been as nasty as it’s been cringe worthy, but nonetheless one of Tito’s favorite tools in his arsenal. With spring training fast approaching (pitchers and catchers report tomorrow), fans are starting to wonder who of the long list of arms will end up being that last line of fire for the Tribe in 2016.

There’s almost no question who the Indians closer will be, RHP Cody Allen, leading from behind as he has the last few seasons. His last year wasn’t so much a better or worse year from the two before, though his ERA rose from a 2.07 in 2014 to a 2.99 in 2015. He’s a dominant closer, but the intimidation factor that I like to see in my closers has lessened, leaving me and other fans with a nervous hope that he can get the save or win. With 34 saves in 38 opportunities and only giving up two home runs through last year I have faith that he still has a fire in his gut to get his job done and can shut down the game leaving no question who the better team is on the field.

To be completely honest though, there is another pitcher the Indians already have possession of that I would like to see in the closing role. If Trevor Bauer is passed on a starting spot, he would be solid finish at the end of a game. Even though I’m not a fan of his, I will never downplay his talent on the mound, despite his personality and attitude is a huge turn off. Because of his arm, Bauer is wonderful trade bait, though many teams don’t want to deal with his childish attitude on and off the field. That being said, the Indians are probably going to keep him and his ego, so why not put it to good use? As a starter, you’re susceptible to putting yourself in scary situations, needing the help of your pen to clean up the mess. It’s embarrassing, it’s frustrating and it gets people to question you as a starter. But, if you put someone like Trevor into the position of being that arm to do the cleanup work and be the hero to “save” the game with a single inning, you’re using every tool he’s given to your advantage. (Ego+ERA=Wins) Of course, you can move the kid, but that doesn’t mean it will change who he is, still being the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the Indians pitching staff.

Two other pitchers who will more likely than not have a spot in the pen are Zach McAllister – “Mr. Fastball” and Bryan Shaw, each RHPs like Allen both of whom ended with a .500 W% in 2015. These two are very similar in my mind, in that they make me incredibly nervous, though Tito still puts the world of the game on their shoulders with confidence, so I hold my breath and watch through my fingers like some scared little kid.

McAllister played his first full season, 61 games, in the Indians bullpen in 2015 with a single start early on in April. He had a 4-3 record, giving up 18 earned runs and six home runs with a 2.49 ERA in relief. It’s an improvement from 2014, leading me to feel he’s more of a fit for the pen than starting. Of course, there is that “little” detail of being a one-pitch wonder, though you could argue that means nothing because so was Mariano Rivera, (he’s no Rivera though…). Shaw on the other hand has been in the Indians pen for a while, logging in more than 70 appearances a season for the last three years (70 in 2013, 80 in 2014, 74 in 2015). He’s a workhorse of sorts, with the stress of being the bridge between the relief and the closer and keeping the game intact. With someone who’s worked so hard for Francona I’m not surprised that Tito continues to use him so much. That overuse is a worry to me, leaving me curiously awaiting his 2016 season to see if he still has arm and work ethic. Both pitchers are good, but that being said, good won’t get you to the playoffs, which is why it’s so important who fills the other spots in the pen to make them all as a whole amazing.

This leads me to the rest of the bullpen possibilities, for once leaning towards the left a bit since so far I’ve named all righties. Choosing a bullpen pitcher isn’t easy, and I’m only saying this as a writer, it’s not even my job and it’s hard. Looking at who still has options, who can/should be long or short relief, who has that “IT factor” of confidence, determination and a perfect amount of being too stubborn to give the game away, while still keeping a level head. They’re kind of a grey area of the game, which gives those guys coming out the task to shut everything down and be the unsung heroes. The pen is almost a team of its own, never really knowing who or when someone will make it to the mound, so it’s almost always all hands on deck.

Some names I’d like to see as serious contenders would be southpaws T.J. House, Kyle Crockett and maybe even Giovanni Soto. The last of these made six appearances out of the Indians pen last season with 3.1 IP and no earned runs after a solid 2015 with the Columbus Clippers posting a 2.68 ERA in 46 games allowing only a single home run. House might be kind of a stretch, but watching him start, he keeps a level head in small stints before he begins to lose focus or control.

As a starter, only lasting about three innings would decrease value because it starts to show that there’s no way that pitcher will make it solidly to six or seven innings. Although, with that idea, putting him in the pen where he’ll only be needed for those few innings of nasty pitching, his value as trusted relief are will increase, thus upping his confidence on the mound. It’s no shot to his skill and I wouldn’t look at a move to the bullpen as a demotion, but more looking for a better fit, like the Indians did with McAllister. Also, House is coming off a year of injury and little work so using the pen as a sort of rehab to see how he’s progressed from 2015 could be another motive.

Kyle Crockett has been someone I’ve enjoyed seeing on the mound. He goes out, shuts it down and walks off. Cut and dry, to the point. He averaged about a hit an inning (17.2 IP and 17 hits) but only eight earned runs in 31 appearances. His ERA wasn’t fabulous, going from a 1.80 to a 4.08 between his two seasons with the Indians, but with the need of a good lefty, he would be at the top of my list. Other options for the southpaw role are guys like Joe Thatcher from the Houston Astros and Ross Detwiler from the Atlanta Braves, both on a minor league deals with a spring training invites.

As for adding other righties, two other pitchers are almost guaranteed spots, Jeff Manship and newcomer Tommy Hunter. Manship pitched in 32 games for Cleveland in 2015, ending his season with a promising 0.92 ERA. With 39.1 IP, and only giving up a single bomb and four ERs off 20 hits. I can see why he would be one of the top contenders to contribute to the October goal. Hunter is new to me, only signing with the Indians a few days ago and coming off an interesting 2015. Bouncing from the Baltimore Orioles to the Chicago Cubs, and having muscle surgery, his track record says good signing, but his last year says to be cautious. In 2015, his 4.18 ERA between both squads makes me nervous, knowing that the Indians have a history of bringing on “pound puppies” and trying to nurse them back to being better than they were. Sometimes it works better than we think and sometimes it doesn’t. When healthy though, it seems that Hunter is a solid arm, so let’s aim for that.

Some other names to keep tabs on would be Ryan Merritt, Shawn Armstrong, Michael Clevinger, Shawn Morimando, Tom Gorzelanny and Joba Chamberlain, just to name a few. Francona likes to keep a fully loaded bullpen whenever possible, shrinking the bench a bit. With a shared philosophy that one can never have enough pitching, I completely agree with him. Never really know when you’ll need to use the entire pen in a single game, or use no one at all, and with both options being a possibility, it’s good to have the options at hand. You’re only as good as your bullpen lets you be, and I’m pretty confident that who the Indians have in their army of flamethrowers will let them be as good as ever, if not better than ever.