Philadelphia Phillies: The bullpen is already wrecking the season

The 2020 Philadelphia Phillies season is barely off the ground, but the team’s bullpen figures to prevent any success this year.

Is anybody surprised that this weird, stop-and-start MLB season has already exposed the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen problems?

I didn’t think so.

GM Matt Klentak went the cheap route last offseason, employing a “throw things at the wall and see what sticks” approach that is already threatening to run 2020 off the rails for the Phils. In his defense, he did strengthen other areas of the club as he tried to steer clear of triggering the luxury tax per his boss’s orders, but so far it looks like the inattention to the bullpen will be the fatal flaw of this team.

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Klentak took a stab at several veterans like Francisco Liriano, Bud Norris, and Drew Storen. But in the end, none of them ended up being part of the Phillies’ bullpen when Opening Day finally rolled around. In fact, when the team had to make its first call to the ‘pen in nearly ten months, the first man up was… Ramon Rosso. After allowing a walk, a hit, and two wild pitches in 1/3 of an inning, we may have already seen the last of that guy. Yet the rest of the Phillies’ offerings aren’t much better.

From Cole Irvin to Trevor Kelley to Reggie McClain, one wonders if the Phillies were truly serious about competing this year. You can hit, and you can get solid production from the top of your rotation, but sooner or later a bad bullpen will undermine what you’re trying to do. At least give the Phillies some credit for showing us what they are right away instead of keeping us in suspense.

Look no further than Monday night’s loss to the Yankees as definitive proof of what we have to look forward to for (maybe) 56 more games. The Phillies were playing for the first time in eight days thanks to the Marlins, and they were down 3-1 going into the bottom of the sixth. Skipper Joe Girardi decided to lift Jake Arrieta and turn to Deolis Guerra. Four batters later, a close game was blown open at 6-1, and the Phils were well on their way to defeat.

I know that Girardi and pitching coach Bryan Price can only play the hand they’ve been dealt by management, but it’s utterly disappointing that a 31-year old journeyman was who they decided to trot out to the mound when the team hadn’t played in over a week. And while I won’t entirely discount the possibility that some of these bullpen arms have a chance to be somewhat less than terrible as the season rolls along, the 60-game slate means that there is no time to “find your game”. If bullpen disasters cost the Phillies even a handful of games in the early going, it will be too much to overcome. This experiment seems doomed.

In a year where 16 of 30 MLB teams will make the playoffs, it’s unforgivable for the Phillies to not fight their way into that group. At least, that was my opinion just before this season started. Now, even with the little we’ve seen, I’m fully prepared for this bullpen to be the ultimate factor that keeps them from clearing even such a low threshold.

Blame the GM; blame the Philadelphia Phillies’ middling developmental system; blame the wacky format this year. Do whatever you like. Ultimately though, it comes down to the pitchers entrusted to cover the late innings for this team looking like they are simply not up to the challenge. It’s my hope that they can reverse course quickly, but there doesn’t seem like there is enough time for that to happen, even at such an early juncture.

Next. Why is Jake Arrieta so frustrating?. dark

There’s always next year, though. Maybe…

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