Are the Phillies trying to be worse than last year?
Craig Kimbrel walks off the mound in the 2023 NLC in Arizona after blowing Game 4
The 2023 Phillies bullpen was awesome. The ranked 7th in ERA at 3.58 and 3rd in WAR at 6.8. Craig Kimbrel was an All-Star. Jose Alvarado was just named the 10th best reliever in all of baseball (too low in my opinion). Seranthony Dominguez should be healthy. Matt Strahm showed promise. Orion Kerkering showed he belonged. But hoping everyone either gets better, or just doesn't regress, is dumb, especially with the bullpen.
In 2022, the Phillies were near the bottom of the league in bullpen ERA, good for 23rd at 4.27. In 2021, they were 25th at 4.60. 2020 they were dead last (COVID year but still, 7.06 over 60 games is putrid.) They have done a lot to revamp their bullpen over the last few years, but they job is not and should not be done, especially when it is a major reason why they lost in the LCS last year.
Kimbrel left a sour taste in everyone's mouth due to his LCS outings, but he was awesome last season. He was an All-Star. 69 IP, 23 saves, 94 Ks, and a 3.26 ERA. He was a horse and is going to be tough to replace.
Enter Orion Kerkering. He came up with a lot of hype, and was thrown into the thick of a playoff hunt. This is not as much a knock on him, as the organization, but thrusting this youngster into an important role shutting down game on a team that has World Series aspirations is dumb and unfair. He was bad, real bad against Arizona. In 4 games in the NLCS, he face 15 batters. He only got 7 outs. More than half of the batter he faced reach base. That is not good enough. Hoping he turns into the guy before he proves it is what loser franchises do.
Jake Diekman and Shintaro Fujunami went to the Mets for less than $4M each. Kimbrel, who I know was never coming back, signed with the Orioles. Reynaldo Lopez signed with the Braves. Josh Hader signed with the Astros. The teams the Philies will be facing last in September and October are getting better. They are hoping guys like Soto and Brogdon have bounce back seasons.
The remaining relief pitchers on the FA market leave much to be desired. I wouldn't mind Ryne Stanek. Phil Maton is still available (can't have the wrong brother if you get them both!) Brad Hand is another name. They could also sign a starter and slide Christopher Sanchez into a full time relief role. But they need to do something.
