http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=nlfocusrankingthebullpen&prov=tsn&type=lgns 1. Pirates LHP Mike Gonzalez, RHP Salomon Torres, LHP John Grabow, RHP Matt Capps, LHP Damaso Marte Gonzalez excelled in his first season as closer and only will get better. Torres is an underrated workhorse who proved he can close games. 2. Mets LHP Billy Wagner, RHP Aaron Heilman, RHP Duaner Sanchez, LHP Scott Schoeneweis, RHP Ambiorix Burgos Wagner and Heilman are formidable, but Sanchez (shoulder) is a question mark and RHP Guillermo Mota has been suspended for the first 50 games. Burgos can be a key figure if he gains control. 3. Padres RHP Trevor Hoffman, RHP Scott Linebrink, RHP Cla Meredith, RHP Heath Bell, LHP Royce Ring Hoffman anchors a back end that's the equal of any in the game. Bell's power could be an excellent complement to Meredith's finesse. 4. Dodgers RHP Takashi Saito, RHP Jonathan Broxton, RHP Brett Tomko, RHP Elmer Dessens, LHP Joe Beimel Saito was an unexpected savior last season. Beimel was particularly effective as a situational lefthander. Displaced starters LHPs Mark Hendrickson and Hong-Chih Kuo provide depth. 5. Brewers RHP Francisco Cordero, RHP Derrick Turnbow, RHP Jose Capellan, RHP Matt Wise, LHP Brian Shouse The power of Cordero, Turnbow and Capellan is complemented by changeup specialist Wise and lefthanded specialist Shouse. Capellan has closer potential. 6. Cardinals RHP Jason Isringhausen, RHP Braden Looper, RHP Josh Kinney, LHP Randy Flores, LHP Tyler Johnson If Isringhausen (hip) is healthy, this is an excellent group. Johnson could take a huge step forward; he has excellent stuff and showed great poise in the playoffs. 7. Astros RHP Brad Lidge, RHP Dan Wheeler, RHP Chad Qualls, RHP Dave Borkowski, LHP Trever Miller The back end of Qualls, Wheeler and Lidge is expected to be a strength. Wheeler will close if Lidge struggles; manager Phil Garner likes Wheeler's aggressiveness and ability to throw strikes.
What good is it saying the Pirates have a great bullpen, when they have no starting pitching (and a bad team, overall)?
That list is way off. I would have it... 1. Padres 2. Mets 3. Astros 4. Dodgers 5. Cardinals Pirates drop completely off this list with trading Gonzalez. Then again, it might move the Braves up to 7 with his addition. Did this dips*** watch baseball last year? Turnbow was pathetic after the break. Cordero can be good, but will blow many games. Isringhausen blew twice as many games as Lidge. Where's the Nat's & Chad Cordero? The Padres, as long as they hold on to Linebrink, are the best in the NL. The Mets are a close 2nd. They'll get a lot of work this season, though, as the starters have taken a turn for the worse in Queens.
Any semblance of a resurgence from Lidge and we should be at least top3. Pads are and should be #1 until Hoffman's arm falls off. He is just a supreme pain in the ass. Damn that 98 playoff series!
Gonzalez was solid but nothing special -- the LaRoche trade was a no brainer. Gonzalez is replaceable. The Pirates always find a way to have solid bullpen play despite their lack of success in the win/loss columns. As for the person who made the comment about their starting pitching, give it time. They have a ton of talented pitchers all in their mid-20's they are currently developing. Paying $22 for one player to pitch a 1/2 a season isn't an option for all of us.
I'd have to put the Dodgers ahead of the Astros as well going off last year. Dodgers pen was nails last year, without even having Gagne. If Lidge can return to being Lights-Out then Astros go ahead of them. Cardinals pen ahead of Astros, WHATever.
Should be: Padres Mets Dodgers Astros Braves Ugh at the fact the Cardinals are ahead of us even after they moved their best reliever (Wainwright) to starter.
^Agreed...i'd rather be under the radar...I think Brad will come back stronger than ever this year...just a hunch...
