It was a stealth rebuild.
Inspiration.
In January, I wrote about bullpen pitchers. Sometimes, when I thought about the bullpen, I stopped because changes were happening.
Now, I wonder how often do ‘new’ pitchers make appearances from the bullpen? In the first 45 games, the answer was 46%. That surprised me!
Details follow:
- In January, I compared bullpen pitchers. Pitchers in the minors who escaped my attention, and pitchers who were not Diamondbacks (either in the Majors or the minors) are defined as ‘new.’
- After January, four bullpen pitchers were acquired: two of them who were acquired on minors contracts (Shelby Miller and Juan Morillo) are now in the Majors.
- This article ignored Ryne Nelson because he is long relief and a possible starting pitcher. Except for Graveman, the tables ignored pitchers with 2 or less starts.
Who are the new bullpen pitchers (since January)?
The following table shows the ‘new’ pitchers. They are compared with the same measures that were used in this January comparison.
Games thru 16 May. Data from Baseball Reference and MiLBcom.
Another possible new pitcher is Kyle Amendt. Although he is not on the 40-man roster, in AAA Reno his stats (87.5% Got-The-Job-Done and 32% Strikeouts-Per-Batter-Faced) were better than Morillo and De Oca.
Who are the other bullpen pitchers?
The following tables show the other bullpen pitchers (first the two on the IL, then the rest). They are compared with the same measures that were used in this January comparison.
Games through 16 May. Data from Baseball Reference.
Games through 16 May. Data from Baseball Reference.
The ‘A bullpen’ only includes ‘new’ pitchers.
All of the best relievers (the ‘A Bullpen’) are ‘new.’ Another way to say that: the bullpen was rebuilt!
Who are the best relievers? As of 17 May, Beeks and Miller must be included. That ‘must’ is despite Beeks bad two thirds of an inning against the Rockies on 17 May. The other two are Morillo and Graveman. I will call them the ‘mighty four’.
Albeit that part of the explanation is that Puk and Martinez are on the IL (as of 17 May). A significant part of the explanation is that the Diamondbacks have done a rebuild of their bullpen!
Their stealth is truly amazing because the rebuild was done without significant expenditure of resources (financial or prospects). This season, the ‘mighty four’ make a total of $4.34 Million, which is not much more than four pitchers at league minimum ($2.96 Million).
Three bullpen contenders have pitched in the Majors.
There are some bullpen contenders in the minors. Bryce Jarvis, Drey Jameson, and Kyle Nelson have pitched in the Majors, and it would hardly be surprising if they returned.
Summary.
It is arguable that the Diamondbacks have stealthily rebuilt their bullpen. Three points:
- 46% of relief appearances were by ‘new’ pitchers (in first 45 games of season).
- All of the best relievers are ‘new’ pitchers (since January). Albeit that will change when Puk and Martinez arrive back from the IL.
- The rebuild was stealthy because the expenditures were very small (about $1.4 Million above league minimum).