Loading ...Bill Bray and Gary Majewski have been touted as everything from the next Nasty Boys to the cure for b.o. Everyone who’s supported this trade starts by saying that improved middle relief is essential to the Reds’ chances of contention.
“I think for us to compete in the second half, we had to upgrade the bullpen,” Krivsky said. “It’s very difficult to get quality pitchers for the back end of the game like a Bray and Majewski. We think they’re two key pieces for our bullpen.”
I’m not going to rehash what I believe – that no amount of even exceptional middle relief can make up the offense lost in Kearns and Lopez (especially if Clayton’s really going to be playing).
My question is whether Bray and Majewski are even able to contribute innings sufficient to make a difference, even if they’re pitching well. Majewski’s been beat around in his first two outings, which is what got me thinking — is he exhausted from overwork?
Majewski has been ridden pretty hard by Frank Robinson. He’s second among all relievers (both leagues) in innings pitched (56.2). He’s tied for fourth in appearances (48). According to ESPN’s stats, he’s thrown an incredible 980 pitches.
By means of comparison, Todd Coffey’s only thrown 738 pitches. Weathers is only at 683. Salomon Torres, the Major League leader in relief innings pitched, has only thrown 887. Bob Howry (48 appearances) has only thrown 767.
Last year, the Reds’ leader in relief innings was Weathers (77.2). He threw 1227 pitches over the season. At his current pace, Majewski would throw 1726. Last season, his first full one in the bigs, Majewski threw 1462 pitches.
I didn’t run numbers for everybody, but it sure as hell looks like Majewski has had a workload unlike any other reliever — he’s nearly 100 pitches (11%) higher than his nearest competitor. I’m no doctor, or even a pitching coach, but I can’t imagine that bodes well for the second half. He’s going to have to get a lot more efficient, or I don’t think he’s going to have anything left for this playoff hunt he’s going to preserve.
Chris-It’s a fair question. Hopefully the Reds won’t have to use him as much as the Nationals did. I now think we have four guys we can use in a set up role in Coffey, Mercker (who has pitched very well over the last month), Bray and Majewski so he shouldn’t have to pitch as much. I think the whole attitude of the team has changed with this trade because there isn’t that dread hanging over everyone’s heads heading into the 7th, 8th and 9th innings (I’m including Eddie G).
Interesting. Wouldn’t you think a MLB GM would be aware of this?
Also, I saw on SportsCenter this morning that there were no saves yesterday with all teams in action. It’s the 1st time since 1978 that this has happened. There were six blown saves.
Overused Reliever
Redleg Nation notes Gary Majewski’s high pitch count this year and wonder if the Reds picked up a worn out pitcher….
Very interesting, but don’t assume Krivsky isn’t aware … he seems to be on top of things. Majewski will be used less often in the 2nd half, but that won’t diminish his value to this relief corps.
I’m just as inclined to think he’s pressing due to the pressure of being in the middle of this big trade. Its only been a couple of games….
But, used less often in the second half? I wouldn’t bet on it. And he’s always going to throw a lot of pitches.
Living in the DC area and watching the Nationals for a couple of years now, I can honestly say that Majewski was essentially the only reliever for two consecutive seasons that the Nats could trust. Overuse is definitely possible when even your closer is just a gasoline thrower.
Off topic, but interesting. Buster Olney ranks the toughest schedules remaining in the National League among all contenders in his blog today. Of the 12 contenders, St. Louis has the 2nd easiest schedule with 49 remaining games against teams under .500. The Reds schedule was ranked fifth easiest with 40 games left against teams under .500. The good news is the teams with the easier schedule than the Reds are either division leaders (Mets and Cards) or shouldn’t be able to catch us in the wild card (Phils, Braves). The others have harder schedules. He also says the Reds are in the midst of the toughest part of the schedule right now coming out of the break, with a 10-game homestand against the Rockies, Mets and Brewers, then hitting the road and playing the Astros and Brewers, before facing the Dodgers in Cincinnati.
The head-to-head meetings are what will matter most.
This weekend through next weekend is big. So is the middle of August and the next to last week of September. Plus the way the Pirates have been playing the Reds can’t take them lightly.
I’d like to think Krivsky was aware of this, but I sortof doubt it. Frankly, I’ve never heard anyone ever talk about season-long pitch counts for pitchers. You’d think it if was something the teams tracked, someone would mention it. So either I found something interesting, or I’ve pointed out something totally immaterial.
As for impact, I’m not really suggesting Majewski is worn out now, but that he might have troubles later in the season, especially because, as orangeandbrown says, it’s pretty unlikely that Majewski’s workload relaxes – especially given the weight this trade has put on his shoulders.
Game 92: Rockies 2, Reds 3
The Reds extended their post-All-Star-break winning streak to three last night with a 2-3 win over the Rockies.
Bronson Arroyo got the hard-luck no-decision after seven innings of scoreless baseball on
interesting … very interesting
Well, he didn’t pitch yesterday and today is a day off. Maybe if the Reds can get lucky and the starting pitching holds up well, the team can limit his use for a week or so. I’m not saying that this will fix this potential problem, but the cure for overuse is rest.
Even if he has been overused, he was still hitting 93 on the radar gun. I’m no expert but I would think a tired arm would show up on the gun.
It sometimes does, sometimes not. But I thought he was supposed to be a 95-96 guy, so maybe it is.
And again, contrary to the headline, I’m not suggesting that Majewski is worn out, only that he might be worn out later if he keeps up this pace. (A pace he’s going to have to keep up if he’s going to come close to matching the lost contributions on offense).