Impact Analysis: Oakland Athletics bullpen

August 6, 2008 @ 14:51:17

By Owen Kinsky
Edited by Herija C. Green and Nicholas Minnix

One would think that performing as a team's closer over the course of three years would grant a guy a little leeway. Unfortunately for Oakland Athletics closer Huston Street, he looks to have used up all the leeway he earned during that time, and the A's sound as though they may be ready to use a closer-by-committee.

With six blown saves on the year and five losses, Street has failed to pitch up to expectations, while relievers Brad Ziegler and Jerry Blevins have been among the best short relievers in baseball since being promoted. Both have been mentioned by A's manager Bob Geren as possible ninth-inning options.

Street's poor '08

Street has struggled mightily at times this season, recording only 18 saves and a 4.20 ERA. His name was floated heavily in trade rumors leading up to the non-waiver trading deadline, though none of those rumors came to fruition. Many times people like to understate the psychological effect trade rumors can have on the performance of players, but it is possible some of Street's troubles were due to his constant mention as a trade target.

Street, who saved 37 games in 2006, has seen his batting average against skyrocket this season, up to .247 from .190 last year. In addition, he has allowed the most home runs (six) of his career with two months still remaining in the season. The drop-off in production was swift and unexpected for the 25-year-old Street, and the A's appear ready to ease some of the pressure on the young pitcher by giving him work in innings other than the ninth.

Oakland's other options

Part of the reason the A's are prepared to take some save chances away from Street is the emergence of viable alternatives in Ziegler and Blevins. Both Ziegler and Blevins closed at Triple-A Sacramento this year, registering eight and 10 saves, respectively.

Ziegler has been one of the midseason stories of baseball this year, as he has yet to allow a run since his call-up. He has set a modern major league record for the most consecutive scoreless innings to begin a career, having worked 34 innings without allowing a run. With an ERA of 0.00 and a 0.82 WHIP, Ziegler has clearly established himself as a potential option in the ninth inning of close games.

Blevins, who has pitched 14 2/3 innings this season, has also been lights out for the A's. With a 1.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and a great 15-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, Blevins has pitched his way into the discussion of the closer role. He has been much more successful this year than during his brief stint with the A's last year, when he allowed six runs (five earned) in 4 2/3 innings.

Though they have not been mentioned by Geren as possibilities, relievers Santiago Casilla and Joey Devine have also been great bullpen options for the Athletics this season.

Casilla is sitting at 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 33 1/3 innings. Though injured earlier this season, he has been a solid option out of the 'pen.

Devine has also been great for the A's, who have the fourth-best bullpen ERA (3.28) in the majors. He has a 1.23 ERA and 28-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22 innings this season. Though he has great stats, he only recently came back from a two-month stint on the disabled list and, as such, probably won't be considered for a ninth-inning role anytime soon.

Fantasy baseball outlook

With the revelation that Oakland is moving toward using a closer-by-committee, Street loses some value, while Ziegler and Blevins get a boost. However, since Street is still the club's No. 1 option, and he is the incumbent, he should have the most value among the three and should be retained in all leagues.

Both Ziegler and Blevins are worthy of a roster spot in deep mixed leagues and could hold value in shallower versions given the importance of saves. It's hard to say which one is the better add of the two, but Blevins is more of a strikeout pitcher than Ziegler and boasts an identical WHIP. Blevins could potentially help you in more categories than Ziegler while also having roughly the same number of save opportunities. Keep in mind that save chances for either seem likely to be few and far between.

Casilla and Devine remain dark horses to register saves, and it is more likely that their roles will stay the same in the A's 'pen in the immediate future. With both having good seasons, they should be on AL-only rosters, but they are not options in mixed leagues at this time. They remain players to monitor from a distance, though.

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Owen Kinsky
Owen Kinsky is a KFFL contributor that has been an avid sports fan his entire life. He began playing fantasy sports, both football and baseball, back in 2000. His love of writing and the game of baseball brought him to KFFL in 2008.

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