Top Five Bullpens in Baseball in the 2007 Season<sub>by: Josh Sabo (LC) written for RotoKingdom.com - Your Kingdom For Fantasy Sports Knowledge</sub>1 - Detroit TigersKey Players:- Todd Jones- Joel ZUmaya- Fernando Rodney- Andrew Miller- Jason GrilliNotes: Still the best pitching staff in baseball. Because of the return of Mike Maroth to the rotation Zach Miner, Wilfredo Ledezma, and most importantly Andrew Miller will be living in the bullpen this season.Watch out for Andrew Miller, he is one of the best young left handed pitchers in baseball right now and should have an impact immediately2 - Atlanta BravesKey Players:- Mike Hampton- Bob Wickman- Rafael Soriano- oscar VillarrealNotes: This is probably the best bullpen that Bobby Cox has ever had in Atlanta. This combination can completely shut down inning 7-9 for the Braves. Despite his injury problems, watch out for Rafael Soriano.3- Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimKey Players:-Scot Shields- Franky Rodriguez- Justin SpeierNotes: The Angels always have one of the best bullpens in baseball throughout the year. Scot Shields has been one of the best set-up men in the MLB in the past and Franky Rodriguez entered himself into the club ofelite closers last season4- Minnesota TwinsKey Players:- Joe Nathan- Jose Rincon- Jesse CrainNotes: Joe Natahan returns as the elite closer in baseball this season. Watch for these three to log major innings in relief roles because of the youth of the Twins pitching staff. Rincon and Crain formed one of the best one-twopunches in MLB last year, shutting down the 7th and 8th innings 5- Houston AstrosKey Players:- Brad Lidge- Dan Wheeler- Chad QuallsNotes: This is probably a tough pick to select, however, this is the only team that stands out to grab the fifth spot. Despite Brad Lidge's recent blunders Wheeler and Qualls were two of the best set-up/spot closer pitchers in baseballWatch for Lidge to re-earn his manliness this year.
Miller should be in the bullpen, he's too good to be in the minors. We won't have a rotation spot clearing up for atleast 2 years....Mesa isn't that great. Yeah he looks good on paper but he's been from team-to-team and has been inconsistent. Theres a reason why he was still available for Detroit to sign, other teams no he isn't good.
Nah, I disagree man.First, regarding Miller-http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article...sp&c_id=det<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>But it's not going to be immediate.Miller is the closest in camp to being this year's version of Verlander or Zumaya, the kid who overwhelmingly impresses in Spring Training games. Yet no matter how much Miller impresses, Leyland says there's virtually no chance of him breaking camp with the big club. As much as Leyland likes to say that he'll go with talent, that he wants the 12 best pitchers on his staff, Miller is one of the reasons for Leyland to caution that the 12 best pitchers aren't necessarily the 12 best arms.Realistically, Miller's situation is more similar to Verlander from two years ago. Then a 21-year-old prospect out of college, Verlander came to camp on a Major League contract and wowed the staff in Spring Training games, capping his performance by a striking out Ken Griffey Jr. to get out of a jam. He was among the first round of cuts and went to Class A Lakeland, where he could learn the rigors of being a professional starting pitcher.</div>2nd, I feel Mesa will have the role that Colon had last year. Come in when Jones/Rodney/or Zumaya need a rest and get 2-3 innings out of him. He's gonna be a big part to the bullpen's success this year.
Note in any order but how they performed in 20061. Minnesota Twins: 161 games, 498 IP and a 26-10 recordERA: 2.91 (1)WHIP: 1.21 (T-1)K/9: 8.13 (2)K/BB: 3.28 (1)HR: 39 (2)BAA: .248 (8)OBA: .301 (1)SLG%: .359 (1)2. San Diego Padres: 158 games, 492.2 IP and a 30-23 recordERA: 3.42 (3)WHIP: 1.22 (3)K/9: 7.05 (19)K/BB: 2.66 (3)HR: 52 (T-10)BAA: .246 (6)OBA: .302 (2)SLG%: .692 (4)3. Detroit Tigers: 159 games, 471.2 IP and a 20-20 recordERA: 3.51 (4)WHIP: 1.31 (T-5)K/9: 6.72 (26)K/BB: 1.89 (T-18)HR: 47 (6)BAA: .242 (2)OBA: .319 (6)SLG%: .375 (4)4. New York Mets: 157 games, 542.2 IP and a 32-15 recordERA: 3.25 (2)WHIP: 1.21 (T-1)K/9: 8.04 (4)K/BB: 2.79 (2)HR: 52 (T-10)BAA: .239 (1)OBA: .303 (3)SLG%: .361 (2)5. Los Angeles Angels: 157 games, 464.1 IP and a 25-17 recordERA: 3.78 (7)WHIP: 1.31 (T-5)K/9: 8.02 (5)K/BB: 2.37 (5)HR: 49 (7)BAA: .245 (T-4)OBA: .316 (5)SLG%: .39 (8)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Miller should be in the bullpen, he's too good to be in the minors.</div>Well for now he's in the minors.espn<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Tigers send Miller to Single-A for seasoningAssociated PressDETROIT -- Top pitching prospect Andrew Miller is among eight players the Detroit Tigers cut from spring training on Monday.Miller, a 21-year-old who played at North Carolina, has been assigned to Single-A Lakeland, in a move that was expected and is intended to give him some seasoning. The 6-foot-6 left-hander made eight appearances out of the bullpen for the Tigers last season.The team also announced that it has optioned the contracts of pitchers Jordan Tata and Virgil Vasquez to Triple-A Toledo and pitchers Eulogio De La Cruz and Kyle Sleeth to Double-A Erie.The Tigers assigned pitcher Jair Jurrjens and catchers Gabe Johnson and Dusty Ryan to minor league camp.The roster reductions leave the Tigers with 51 players in major league camp in Lakeland, Fla.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L_C @ Mar 2 2007, 04:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>4- Minnesota TwinsKey Players:- Joe Nathan- Jose Rincon- Jesse Crain</div>Its Juan Rincon.And as for the best bullpen, although I'm biased, I'll take the Twins. Nathan is arguably the best closer in all of baseball, and Minnesota has two fantastic setup men in JUAN Rincon (righty) and Dennys Reyes (lefty). Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain do good work in innings 6-7, and Pat Neshek with his funky delivery is amazing at getting right handers out.
