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"Todd Stone is a top-level closer, but there's not much bullpen depth behind Adam Bristcoe, or maybe newcomer Curt Fields." -2057 Media Guide
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Bullpen ERA: 3.30 - 3rd in JL (as of 4/15/2057)
Nothing Rectenwald says is untrue. It would be awfully hard for him to argue, however, that this is perhaps one of the craziest collection of dudes in one bullpen to start a season for a contending team that there's ever been. "Certainly it's the most bizarre on paper grouping I can recall," Rectenwald says with a light chuckle.
You start with Stone. "He's Todd f***ing Stone, right?" retorts Rectenwald. "He's the best there is. When he wakes up in the morning, he pisses excellence."
He's the only "for sure" kind of dude in this pen. "That's what has everyone questioning how we can possibly win with these guys," acknowledges Rectenwald. "It took an awful lot of digging to find some of these guys, and we're feeling pretty good about them."
Bristcoe is supposed to be the #2 dude in the pen. He's struggled with control and consistency in his short career, but his stuff is hard to ignore. "We just need him to throw strikes," said Rectenwald. "He's got ninth-inning stuff if he does."
Fields, who the Media Guide named as a probable third option, is coming off a 5.77 ERA and 1.76 WHIP for Edmonton. "He has consistently proven he's miscast as a starting pitcher, but teams still keep trying him in that role," mused Rectenwald. "Why do that when out of the pen he can throw 100 mph plus, keep most contact on the ground, and do it in shorter stints. He's had success already for us."
Then there's veteran Ashton Brooks. Coming back from injury, he's back in the bullpen after starting for most of the last couple seasons with the Hustlers. "He's huge out of the pen, and with Harrell's emergence he can impact more games this way," Rectenwald said.
Before being called up to the Hustlers last September, Kyle McKinlay was just another journeyman who hadn't pitched in the BBA since 2053. "Elite control, six pitches, good movement. He's perfectly cast in a long relief role," said Rectenwald.
The long and winding road of Ash Davenport has been highly publicized in a feature article last week. He's been solid thus far.
Jorge Quinones, a lefty, was a late signing. We're sensing a pattern: failed starter (last year bombed out of RMO), high 90's, groundball pitcher, with good movement. "We certainly have a type," Rectenwald said while exploding into a belly laugh. "You got me."
Felipe Vega is another hard throwing, groundball inducing left-hander. He's struggled with command thus far.
