My Bullpen Depth Chart/Analysis

I've been saying for weeks and weeks that the Reds should not be trading for bullpen pieces.  We have a ton of available arms, and making a trade would be as useless as last year's trades for Goodwin and Bradley.  (Bradley pitched 7 innings)

Here's where we stand now

Well, Reds bullpen finally had a bad game. Most notably Hendrix. The runs all got charged to Osich but Hendrix is the one that let them all in with 2 outs. Osich wasn't great by any means. An excuse me home run. (that's right I said excuse me home run) and then two soft hits and a walk.

Hendrix gave up solid double, and exhibited the wildness that has been his Achilles heel.

There have been some developments recently. Warren is out with an oblique that will be a month or so. Lorenzen is up taking his spot on the 26. Hoffman's final tuneup was not good in High A. And then Santillan came in for his first MLB relief appearance and looked very good. And the timetable for Sims and Antone was pushed to early August.

Revised Power Rankings

1. Lorenzen
2. Garrett
3. Hembree
4. Osich
5. Brach
6. Santillan
7. Doolittle
8. Hendrix
9. Perez

Tea Leaves had predicted them putting Hoffman in the #5 spot in rotation, with Gutierrez going to AAA rotation. Now Bell mentioned adding Hoffman without subtracting anyone (Gutierrez) one time thru rotation. That would give him to evaluate more before making a decision. So now we are looking at an August Bullpen of

Antone
Sims
Lorenezen
Garrett
Brach
Osich
Hembree
Hoffman/Santillan

With guys like Lodolo in the wings.

Again, no need to trade for anyone, and we might deal Doolittle.

Set back yesterday as Lorenzen appeared to injure his hammy. I'll be surprised if he's not on 10 Day DL.  Bell did a poor job deploying the pen yesterday.

In situations where he needed to put in strikeout capable guys, he put in contact guys like Osich, Brach and Hoffman. Putting in Hoffman in extra innings when he is known to allow all inherited runners to score was just nuts. Should have used Perez or Santillan.

Current Depth Chart (assuming Lorenzen DL)
1. Hembree
2. Garrett
3. Osich
4. Brach
5. Santillan
6. Hendrix
7. Perez
8. Doolittle

That leads us to a (now) August pen of

Antone
Sims
Lorenezen
Garrett
Brach
Osich
Hembree
Santillan

Greene and Lodolo waiting in the wings.

I would DFA Doolittle today and bring up Diehl.  Lefty .230 ERA, 36/4 ratio.

Lots has gone down.  Where do we stand now?

Current Depth Chart
1. Hembree
2. Garrett
3. Brach
4. Santillan
5. Osich
6. Hendrix
7. Doolittle
8. Hoffman
_________________
9. Garcia

I think Garcia (who has ERA over 16) is just holding a spot till Garrett comes back from paternity leave.  Santillan was pretty impressive his last time out. 

That leads us to a (now) August pen of

Antone
Sims
Lorenezen
Garrett
Brach
Osich
Hembree
Santillan

Greene and Lodolo waiting in the wings.   That's a pretty damn good bullpen. I know Reds are under pressure to make a move. Any move.  They need to pick up a RH outfield bat. One that they hopefully control into the future. He's on the 10 Day DL right now, but Garrett Cooper would be a nice pickup.

Sims to go on Rehab assignment Tuesday.  Feliz already there.

Getting Antone and Sims back is huge. Will they really be back and will it be in time?

Garrett back to active. Alejo Lopez down so we are back to 9 relievers.

After Santllan's big performance today I think he worked his way up the depth chart

Current Depth Chart
1. Hembree
2. Garrett
3. Santillan
4. Brach
5. Osich
6. Hendrix
7. Doolittle
8. Hoffman
_________________
9. Garcia

Garrett is an awfully shaky #2. That's a horrible BP to be honest...

Sims starts his rehab in AAA tonight. Feliz moves to Dayton for his.

Action!!!   A trade, and two rehab assignment results.  Sims was a little wild but it appears the arms strength was there (96 MPH).  Feliz got smacked around in Dayton.

Reds acquire Cessa and Wilson from Yankees

Current Depth Chart
1. Hembree
2. Cessa
3. Garrett
4. Santillan
5. Brach
6. Doolittle
7. Osich
8. Hendrix
9. Hoffman
10. Wilson

One of them has to go. I say Hendrix will. Easy call. He has options and Cessa (RHP) replaces RHP.

That leads us to a (now) August pen of

Antone
Lorenezen
Sims
Cessa
Garrett
Hembree
Santillan
Brach
Hoffman (if they go 9 which they should not)

Josh Osich has been designated for a life of crime, errr, assignment.

And now we add Mychel Givens  (with Osich DFA'd)  So...  where does that leave us?

Current Depth Chart
1. Givens (not available tonight)
2. Cessa
3. Garrett
4. Hembree
5. Santillan
6. Brach
7. Doolittle
8. Wilson
9. Hendrix
10. Hoffman

One of them has to go. I say Hendrix will. Easy call. He has options.

That leads us to a (now) late August pen of

Antone
Lorenezen
Sims
Cessa
Givens
Garrett
Hembree
Wilson
Santillan/Brach   (Santillan may force their hand to keep him).
 

Hendrix optioned. He really needs to work on harnessing his stuff.

Lorenzen is activated and they option Santillan.

Current Depth Chart
1. Givens
2. Cessa
3. Lorenzen
4. Garrett
5. Hembree
6. Brach
7. Doolittle
8. Wilson
9. Hoffman

This is simply one of those times when the best player is not kept because of options. Santillan had pitched great and was better than Doolittle and Hoffman for sure.

That leads us to a (now) late August pen of

Antone
Lorenezen
Sims
Cessa
Givens
Garrett
Hembree
Wilson
Brach