Sunday, July 04, 1999
Reds' bullpen unconventional, unsurpassed
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The modern-day bullpen is a place where roles are rigidly defined. Closers close. They pitch the ninth inning and only the ninth. Set-up men set up. They pitch the seventh and eighth but never the ninth.
The long men pitch the sixth or seventh and are never around to finish the game.
That's your typical major-league bullpen. Then you have the Reds' bullpen, where there is no set closer, where set-up men pitch into the ninth, where three- and four-inning saves happen.
It may sound like baseball anarchy, but it's working. Working better than any bullpen in baseball, in fact.
“The bullpen has been phenomenal,” Reds General Manager Jim Bowden said. “It's the reason we're where we are.”
The 10-0 shutout of the Houston Astros Saturday night was the eighth of the season for the Reds. Only two of the eight have been complete games by the starter (both by Pete Harnisch.) Dennys Reyes finished up Saturday, going three innings to earn his first save of the season.
Oh, and the Reds are in first place in the National League Central.
The bullpen leads the major leagues in wins (20), ERA (2.95) and opponents batting average (.216).
Bowden got the arms that make up the bullpen: Danny Graves, Gabe White and Reyes through trades; Scott Sullivan and Scott Williamson through player development, and Stan Belinda through free agency. Only Belinda had significant big-league experience before he joined the Reds. And he has pitched only two games this year.
Bowden gives the credit for the success of the bullpen to Reds manager Jack McKeon and pitching coach Don Gullett.
“It's a reflection on (McKeon and Gullett),” he said. “One of the hardest things to do in baseball is to try to develop your bullpen at the big-league level.”
The relievers are a tight-knit group. They all have their lockers in the same corner of the Reds' clubhouse. White and Graves are rarely apart at the ballpark. Belinda has been sort of a mentor to Williamson.
“We have a lot of confidence in each other,” Williamson said. “Any one of us can close. That doesn't put the pressure on one guy.”
The closer-by-committee began last year after the Reds traded Jeff Shaw to the Los Angeles Dodgers just before the All-Star break. Graves and White shared closer duties. White ended up saving nine games and Graves eight.
The plan was for them to share the closer role this year. But White struggled early, and Williamson moved into the co-closer role.
Roles change frequently and subtly.
“It depends on the workload,” Gullett said. “We try to space out so we're not overworking anybody. We go with the freshest arm.”
Williamson, a 23-year-old rookie right-hander, gave the bullpen something it didn't have last year: a flame-thrower who could get a strikeout when needed.
“He's been a tremendous help,” McKeon said. “He's the guy we bring in when we need a strikeout. Danny Graves is the one when we need a groundball.”
Williamson is tied for the team lead with seven wins. He also has 10 saves, a 1.50 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 54 innings. Opponents are hitting .168 against him.
Graves, as McKeon alluded to, is good for groundball outs with his sinker. He's 5-3 with 10 saves and a 3.58 ERA.
Reyes and White, the left-handers, are used mostly to get left-handers out.
Sullivan has been the guy that gets the Reds from the starter to Graves and Williamson.
“I have no idea of how I'm going to be used,” Sullivan said. “It's worked out so far ... Jack and Gully go with the guys who are hot in the late innings.”
The concern about the bullpen: Will it wear down? Reds starters have averaged just more than 5ô innings a start.
“We're not worried about that right now,” McKeon said. “We've been in a good streak with the starters. The three days off — with the All-Star break — should help.”
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