In this week’s blog, rather than discuss who has a great bullpen and who you want to avoid at all costs, we’ll focus in on the coming week. In the following are three bullpens that enter Monday in good standing and should fare well and three relief units that could be in some trouble with mounting pitch counts and unfavorable matchups.

The Good
Detroit – This group has been pitching clean relief for two straight weeks with five saves and seven holds. The key has obviously been the rebuilding of the bridge-to-closer where Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney are slamming the door shut in the eighth and ninth innings respectively. The Tigers have been very careful bring Zumaya along. In the month of May he appeared in back-to-back games just twice while throwing a comfortable 216 pitches. Rodney proved throughout the month of May that he can be relied on in back-to-back situations and even threw three straight in one stretch. The starters have protected them well by getting deep into games.

Minnesota – Somehow, some way, the Twins’ bullpen always seems to be a positive factor. This season unlike years past, it took some time to settle in but Minnesota now has balance and depth, which allows them to be difficult on opponents in the late innings throughout a three-game series. The lefty/righty setup duo of Jose Mijares and Matt Guerrier, along with closer Joe Nathan, are exceptional protectors of the eighth and ninth innings and their arms remain fresh. The recall from Triple-A Rochester of left-hander Sean Henn is now providing situational dividends.

L.A. Dodgers – Right now, this relief corps is on the rise. Already equipped with arguably MLB’s most dominant closer in Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles has put together a trio of rookies, a second-year man and a versatile veteran who are successfully working in front of him. New setup man Ramon Troncoso has been a godsend and become an eight-inning fixture. Fellow righty Ronald Belisario is limiting opponents to a .193 batting average against and lefty Brent Leach has retired nine of the last 11 batters he’s faced. With Hiroki Kuroda back and Jeff Weaver in the pen as a starter partner, the pitch counts of the relievers figure to be reduced. 

The Bad
Colorado – New manager Jim Tracy inherits a bullpen that is currently the weakest link of this team. The spring training elbow injury to 2008 setup sensation Taylor Buchholz and this month’s injury (sprained foot) to Matt Daley have cost the Rockies dearly. Closer Huston Street has been phenomenal the last five weeks. He hasn’t allowed an earned run since April 24, going 6-for-6 in save opportunities and striking out 22 while walking only five. The problem is, he’s only had six save chances in the last 38 days. Aside from Street, this bullpen features the very disappointing Manny Corpas and a slew of journeyman disasters.

Philadelphia – Strictly based on last week’s results, it looks as if the Phillies relievers are heading in the right direction after strong performances, which included three saves, six holds and three wins. However, hidden in all the positives is the extensive usage of this bullpen’s key components during that span. Closer Brad Lidge has now appeared in 12 of the last 20 days, as has his setup man Ryan Madson. Lidge has thrown 207 pitches over that span and Madson has thrown 172. Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin have thrown 178 and 175, respectively, as well.

Texas – The schedule says it all, a pair of series this week at the Yankees and at Boston. Bringing one of the league’s thinnest and most combustible relief units into these run-producing ballparks against these run-producing lineups is a recipe for disaster. The addition of young lefty Derek Holland to the bullpen now that Vicente Padilla has returned to the starting rotation helps some, but this is still a group that is tied for the second-lowest holds mark in baseball with 15. That category is vital when on the road against offenses like the ones Texas will be facing.   

Other bullpen notes...
From Last Week: May 25-31

Cleveland - Used 10 different relief pitchers last week and have now had an MLB high 16 different relievers throw this season

Minnesota - The bullpen threw 319 total pitches last week, but starter / mop up middle reliever R.A. Dickey threw 107 (33%)of them meaning that the remainder of the pen was pretty well rested.

Tampa Bay - Led the AL with 437 pitches thrown by the bullpen (7 relievers beteewn 48-84 pitches) last week while the Chicago White Sox threw a league low 181.