The Importance of Being A Reliever: National League

Clay Condrey - you may not have heard of him outside of Philly.

It would be an egregious understatement to say that middle relievers play an important role in the day-to-day functions of a major league baseball team.

Over two months have gone by and 1,000-plus games have been played in the Major Leagues this year.  That’s a lot of innings to go around without many quality arms throw them.  

Consider this: There have been just 67 complete games in 2009, nearly half of the 136 that were thrown last season.  Starting pitching has been getting deeper into games as a whole, but it’s just a matter of time before relief pitchers get involved.

More than ever, this phase of the game is being utilized.  In 2008, relievers threw roughly 15,000 innings combined, an astounding number considering just 20 years ago, that number was 11,780 innings pitched.

Last season we watched the New York Mets melt because they couldn’t get it done past the starters.  This season, it’s the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim who are struggling at the back end, sporting an ERA close to six.

In the National League specifically, its quite easy to tell who boasts a strong bullpen.  Arizona, Colorado, and Washington are all at or near the basement in their respective divisions, and all sit at the bottom of the NL in reliever ERA.  

Singularly, a great reliever can take your staff as a whole to a different level. During the Philadelphia Phillies championship season of ’08, it was the “Bridge to Lidge” that made a world of difference.  J.C. Romero and Ryan Madson were stallions in the seventh and eighth innings, and even late-season acquisition Scott Eyre was insanely good after joining the Phillies.  

Many of the names you do not know, because they live in the shadows of the middle innings. Here are a few of the very best in the National League.  It’s time you learned them.  And, we aren’t talking closers here – strictly the guys in between.  

-Clay Condrey, Philadelphia Phillies: (4-2, 6 holds, 3.34 ERA, 32 games)

Condrey is the unknown in the bullpen for the Phillies.  He sits second on the team in innings pitched by a reliever with 34, also good for eighth in the NL.  Condrey won’t get a lot of publicity, but he has been solid.  A pleasant surprise during the Phillies title run, Clay can normally be seen in the sixth inning, but for now, he is near the back end with Brad Lidge on the disabled list.

-Ramon Troncoso, Los Angeles Dodgers: (1-0, 6 holds, 2.34 ERA, 29 games)

The NL West is filled with large ballparks and small ERA’s, with Troncoso being one of them.  Since we normally engage in east-coast bias, Troncoso certainly is not a household name.  Take notice, though.  He leads the NL in innings by a relief pitcher (42.1) and is the link to shutdown closer Jonathan Broxton.

-Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants: (0-1, 14 holds, 1.71 ERA, 31 games)

This name may ring a bell, as Affeldt has been in the NL for the past few seasons, and was even connected to the Phillies this past offseason.  For several years, Affeldt was an underachiever in the AL, but has been stellar since joining the senior circuit. He too plays out west, so very few people realize how superb he has been in front of closer Brian Wilson.

-Arthur Rhodes, Cincinnati Reds: (0-0, 11 holds, 1.59 ERA, 22 games)

I chose Rhodes because of his track record (Rhodes is a 17 year veteran) but the fact is the Reds bullpen has been nearly impenetrable this year.  Just four times the Reds have blown saves in ’09, an NL low, in addition to their league low seven losses out of the ‘pen.  Rhodes, Nick Masset, Danny Herrera, David Weathers, and closer Francisco Cordero all have ERA’s under three.  That’s dangerous.  

-Bobby Parnell, New York Mets: (2-2, 11 holds, 3.20 ERA, 32 games)

If this were last season, a list like this would be void of Mets pitchers.  However, the revamped staff has paid dividends for New York this season, with one of the main reasons being the inclusion of rookie Bobby Parnell.  The kid throws in the high-90’s with regularity, but his slider clocks in at about 85, so that disparity makes him filthy.  Plus, he’s just 24.  

(Statistics as of 7pm on 6/17)

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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