While pitching remains a disastrous endeavor in Portland, the 2041 bullpen did manage to rank 12th overall in the Frick League with a less than stellar 5.50 earned run average. Despite the entire staff allowing a whopping 982 runs (up from 2040) they did not rank as the worst pitching staff in the league as two fellow Frick League squads surrendered more runs than the Lumberjacks.
The Lumberjacks made a switch at the closer's spot mid-season in 2041.
Wen Huang, who started the season at closer, wound up leading the team with 16 saves on the season. However, Huang was removed from that roll after some struggles. Struggles that continued throughout the season as he finished with a 6.83 ERA and 1.90 WHIP en route to a -0.8 WHIP. He is not our top reliever.
Taking over for Huang was everyone's favorite reliever
Scotts "Dale" Joe. Joe, a righty with control issues, took the reigns as closer and did rather well. He recorded 14 saves in the second half while posting a modest 4.32 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 77 innings pitched. His 0.6 WAR wound up as the 4th best WAR among pitchers on the entire Portland staff (yeah, let that soak in. Our pitching is still bad). Nonetheless, even he didn't win the award.
Instead, the award for our top reliever goes to little known southpaw
Flynn Bernard. The 22 year old Bernard led the bullpen with a 1.1 WAR, good enough for 3rd best on the entire staff. He went 5-3 on the season out of the pen with a solid 2.45 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Despite only throwing 36.2 innings this season, Bernard struck out 42 batters, one of only 3 relievers on the team with more strikeouts than innings pitch. The other two were
Diaz (78/76.2) and
Pena (55/50.1).
