Slugger Shavings 2044.04 - Bullpen Decisions

[sjshaw]

We typically run with a 6-man pen, maximum. But we have quite a few contenders to fill those spots, and the competition is more open than one would think. Our pen has typically underperformed. We hope to fix that this season.

Guaranteed Spots

RP Juan 'Mayday' Pinto - 10/7/7 - Fan favorite Pinto has all the tools to be dominant. He'll get every chance this season.
RP Emanuele Mercati - 8/6/8 - 2.1 WAR last season in 163 IP as the stopper, but faltered down the stretch.
RP Andresa Pires - 9/6/5 - Put up 2.5 WAR in 2042 in 133 IP, and should form the big three with Pinto and Mercati. We're still waiting on them all to be "on" all season.


Competing for the Final Spots

[All the guys who don't make the rotation, then...]

RP Oginga Coujoe - 6/8/6 - I love this guy. Extreme GB, no splits, stretches of dominance.
RP Francisco Barrera - 7/4/7 - Not much to look at, but he's been dominant in his limited innings. Put up 1 WAR in 26 IP last season, and he'll likely get every chance to amass enough WAR this year for a comp pick.
RP Steve Flannery - 9/6/5 - Injury left him unable to contribute after being acquired from HAW last season, but we hope he can work it out this season. Could swing to the rotation if needed. If all goes well, he'll be converted to full-time RP next year.
RP Brian Crewe - 9/4/7 - Speaking of RP conversion, Crewe looks amazing. We want to give him the chance to prove it.
RP Manuel Pacheco - 6/8/5 - Been a pleasant surprise the past two seasons, and surprisingly effective. A small CON hit might spell trouble; otherwise, he's be a lock for a spot.
RP Marvin Atkinson - 5/6/8 - Atkinson's star fading coincided with LOU's rise. He threw 197 highly effective innings as our stopper in 2041, but spent most of 2043 in the minors. He could still be effective for us... or you.