Just How Good Is The Dodgers Bullpen

                    Over the years one of the things most fans complained about was the way that AF builds a bullpen. Many said that his bullpens were not built for a championship run. Almost every year since he took over running the team, he would bring in other team’s castoffs to fill important bullpen roles.

                    Nothing seems to have changed. But he also has picked up some relievers who were reborn in LA, fixing whatever problems that they might have had in their delivery, or repertoire. He has also re-signed veterans like Hudson and Treinen, pitchers with track records of success and has kept them in the organization even when injured and not available to pitch for an extended period of time. He also tried this with Jimmy Nelson, but the results were not the same as with Treinen and Hudson. 

                    They picked up Yohan Ramirez from the Mets after he was DFAd, and in his first couple of games, he was awful. Fans wanted him gone. But a little encouragement from manager, Dave Roberts, and the guy has responded to be one of the more reliable arms in the pen. It doesn’t always work. So far, Feyereisen has not pitched well, Elieser Hernandez bombed and was DFAd. Because of injury the bullpen has been a revolving door. 

                    Some are already in other organizations or released. Crismatt, Hernandez, Lamet. Others turned their seasons around after rough starts, Vesia, Grove. Newcomers are pitching well so far, Banda, Peterson. This has allowed the team to wait on the return of guys like Kelly, Brasier, Graterol, Grove. There is also the possibility of Dustin May pitching out of the pen if he indeed returns by August. He probably won’t be built up enough to start. 

                   Many want the Dodgers to get a solid back of the pen arm come the deadline, many advocating for Tanner Scott of the Marlins. Most would love to see the Dodgers go get Miller from the A’s. At this point, I have to think AF is pretty happy with the arms he has down there and with someone like Graterol, who has started throwing, he might feel no reason to add a reliever. But I do know that he will add players he feels can help the Dodgers win. 

                   So far, the bullpen sports the 3rd best ERA in baseball. Not bad considering they were one of the worst at the beginning of the year. I realized how good this pen really is when Bobby Miller did not go past the second inning the other night in Chicago. 7 innings of shutout baseball. 11 overall with the 4 innings from the night before. That is solid relief work. 

                  Phillips has cemented himself as one of the best closers in the game. He has not blown a save yet. His ERA would be lower, but he pitched in a game that LA had well under control and gave up some runs. Blake Treinen has looked like his old self except for one pitch where he gave up a grand slam. He is one of the best set-up men in the league, and he can also close. Daniel Hudson had a few rough outings to begin the year, but since then, he has been as solid as they come. 

                 Alex Vesia also had some problems early in the year. But he seems to have gotten used to pitching quicker because of the pitch clock, and his stuff has been excellent since he added that devastating sinker. Anthony Banda has been a pleasant surprise. For now, I believe the pen is in good hands. They will have their bad days, but so far, they have been few and far between. The Dodgers are experts at finding and fixing arms. Mark Prior has to be one of the best pitching coaches in the majors.