The Rise and Fall of the Bucco Bullpen

Spring Training opened in March with a few position battles to be watched here and there, (such as Nyjer Morgan's and Nate McLouth duel for the center field spot - look how that paid off), but there was little left to be completed. The rotation was set with Phil Dumatrait as a back-up sixth starer, and the lineup was only missing its third outfielder. The bench improved with free agent signings that included former Indians infielder Chris Gomez and veteran Luis Rivas. Closer Matt Capps was back to wrap up the ninth for the second season, leaving the only real question concerning which pitchers would bridge the gap to get to that critical final frame?

Huntington dipped into the veteran minor league contract pool, signing some "oldies but goodies" that included Yankee-beloved Jaret Wright, Japanese reliever Byung-Hyun Kim, and right-hander Elmer Dessens. None ever left Bradenton, Florida with a Major League contract. Even if the Bucs had countless of cheese to spend, the free agent pool wasn't heavily funded with bullpen arms. So, new to the organization, Neal decided to make some moves that not only benefitted the 2008 Pirates team, but the future of the organization. Good grief, what was he thinking!

To break it down, Huntington decided that Franquelis Osoria would be the chosen righty to eat up innings for the Buccos. Osoria was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers about three years ago, and never really made an impact since besides a small stint in the Majors last year. Osoria, currently on the DL, did just was he was ordered to do - chomp up some innings. Though he was 'oh so eager' to do it, Franq jumped right into any bad situation that had befallen a Pittsburgh starting pitcher through the first half. To make it simple, Osoria was in there more times then he should've been. I'll be interested to see how much he's going to be able to pitch in the second half.

Osoira sits on the shelf with 6.02 ERA and a 3-2 record in 36 games It would be nice for the Bucs' long reliever to have an ERA under 3.50, though we don't hold it against Osoria that he gotten pounded upon of late. After posting a 2.75 ERA in May, Franquelis was lit up in Interleague play in June, losing to the Baltimore Orioles on the 13th while giving up a total of eight runs in 4.2 innings against the American League. Oh, do us Pirate fans LOVE that IL play. Osoria has only struck out 27 in 52.1 frames, but he's also walked just eleven. Where his sinker goes, so goes Franqy. 

The meat-and-cheese part of the bullpen sandwich was where things were a bit slippery early on. In what has now been one of his biggest impact deals, Huntington dealt for fireballer Tyler Yates from Atlanta for a nonroster pitcher. Yates, though inexperienced at it, was going to be put into late-game spots to ensure a smooth ride to the Capper. Yates has been a huge surprise, posting fantastic numbers that nobody saw coming. In 41.2 IP, Yates is 3-1 with an ERA of 3.67. It doesn't seem as if this is the case, but his control has plagued him from being really outstanding thus far. He's walked 30 over 26 Ks, however his 10 holds match up right behind left-hander Damaso Marte's 15. 

Speaking of Damaso Marte, the Bucs knew that they needed a reliable pitcher to set-up the eighth. Shawn Chacon, as popular as he may be on this blog, truly was key in the previous season's 'pen by protecting a ball game for the Buccaneer closer to do his thang. John Russell went ahead and pinned Marte (for the most part) as the man who do the act of holding in '08. Fellow lefty John Grabow was terrific to open up the year, but like our friend Osoria, has fallen on his butt facing the American League guns. Grabow has struck out a beautiful 34 in 42.2 innings, holding eight three-run (or less) leads. Grabow has been always been a constant for the Pirate organization, throwing up a career ERA of 4.43 in five seasons. 

So what is with all the fuss of a Bucco bullpen demise? They  seem to have three reliable arms with July upon us. Huntington has as well added names like Denny Bautista, TJ Beam, and even Sean Burnett to the bullpen mix. The bullpen isn't something to worry about anymore... right? I'd say yes - but then I would be lying to you. Matt Capps had an atrocious June, and the pitcher the Burgh's front office wasn't even concerned with seemed to be taking a recent constant hit game after game - even if it was, again, against AL teams. 

Capps blew five games (two of which came in Baltimore and two in Cincinnati), leading to the question whether Matt was completely healthy or not. Well, when Capps dialed up an 88-mph fastball to his first hitter three nights ago, no one in the world had a doubt htat something was wrong. Capps was put on the 15-day disabled list with a right-shoulder injury that will luckily enough not require surgery. Unfortunately, the Capper will be held out until at least early September, giving Russell a huge cut to cure with the loss of an important Pirate puzzle piece.

It's not so much that it is has been the 'rise and fall' of the 'rats 'pen; it has for the most part been even keeled (with the exception of games like the Braves' home opener). Still, with or without Capps, these relievers will determine whether or not Pittsburgh will see its first winning ball club for the first time in the last 15 years. Yes, the rotation has its problems with Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Snell, but guys like Yates and Grabow are going to be the ones keeping a potent and highly ranked Pirate offense from losing its grip. Where the pitching goes - the Buccos will go.

It seems as if Russell will send Marte out of the gates to close for the time being, though he is more than willing to try new options every night. Marte has the stuff to close, but his left-handed arm worries me when finishing off an affair. Lineups don't always go in favor of the southpaws. With 19 of the 40 wins the 'Burgh has accumulated thanks to relief pitchers, it's all up to these bulldogs to keep the black-and-gold from tripping out of this season's Major League existence.