2021 was a long year too, and 2022 turned out just fine. I'm also tired of hearing about the WBC as an excuse. The Rays had 9-10 players in the WBC and it hasn't hurt them at all. We just need to play better, complimentary baseball, which I expect we will soon enough.
Somebody had posted stats that Pressly was even better in tie games. The shtick that closers have bad numbers in non save situations comes from games they pitch in when their team is losing or up big and the closer is just getting work in because they haven't pitched in a while.
This is the problem with fans trusting their memories instead of data. Pressly was very good in April/May 2022 (sesaon started mid-April due to lockout) He was outstanding in April 2021. He sucked in August 2020 (Covid late season) He was virtually perfect in April and May 2019. He was virtually perfect in April 2018.
Astros with last year's bullpen is 8-4, possibly 9-3. I'll reiterate my prior point, this team as it currently stands with the bullpen will absolutely not make the playoffs this season.
Bullpens are notoriously fickle. If players don't perform, they'll get replaced. It happens every year. The Astros will win their division going away this year.
Okay. Sure. Of course the season is already over. Might as well mail it in the rest of the way. It’s been, what, 12 games? Surely, SURELY, the bullpen couldn’t just be in a bit of a rut right now, right? Surely the bullpen that is the exact same as the best bullpen in baseball last year is already cooked right? Yeah, no chance at playoffs. Sure.
How much if those stats were from before when he was a setup man? There is nothing you can do to convince me that Pressly is better now in tie games than in save situations, short of posting the actual stats and proving me wrong.
Not sure where you are getting this, maybe it’s your imperfect memory… He blew half of his saves last year in the first month of games. In 2021 he had his worst outing in May. He only blew 2 saves that year, but that was one of them. Im not saying he’s dogshit compared to the rest of the league early, but he’s dogshit compared to peak Pressly early in the season. I wasn’t going back to 4-5 years ago.
Bryan Abreu wasn’t on the radar last April (or May, or June) as being some dominant closer in waiting. Some were surprised/frustrated he was still on the roster. Montero was also not expected to be doing much going into last year… let alone being this teams closer when Pressly was out, and becoming the setup man. Things do change in the bullpen that quickly in the majors. Pressly will be fine as long as he’s not hiding an injury (something that has happened in the past that led to sub par outings)… it’s certainly not a mental thing that often does plague relief pitchers. I’d still question some of the more questionable aspects of the lineup/roster at this point… guys who haven’t proven much in their time given. Guys who still may need more AAA AB’s to figure out their abilities.
Uhh... 2022 April: 3 saves, 1 blown save; 2.70 ERA 2022 May: 6 saves, 1 blown save; 2.08 ERA 2022 Season ERA: 2.98 So "dogshit early" is 1 game in May now? 2021 April (you know, actual "early"): 3 saves, 0 blown saves; 0.82 ERA 2021 Season ERA: 2.25 He's not dogshit compared to anyone early - the league, himself, or any reasonable standard. Try again. Yikes.
