Rethinking Reliever Evaluations & Measuring Bullpen Quality

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss spring injury updates and a new potential closer entering the mix in Texas, before digging into how the conversation and analysis of relief pitchers should change with a greater emphasis on leverage index and win probability added, and other existing metrics. Plus, they look at teams effectively building bullpens in different ways, and wonder if there is a better way to measure the overall quality of a bullpen based on the different looks and pitches a group offers.Rundown2:57 Spring Training News & Notes13:40 A Sleeper for Saves in Texas?19:33 Increasing the Conversation Around Leverage Index25:25 Shutdowns & Meltdowns31:55 Finding Ways to Appropriately Value Cade Smith Relative to Emmanuel Clase41:11 Building a Bullpen with Varying Looks50:19 Would a Smaller Strike Zone Reduce Pitcher Injuries?58:20 How Much Pain Are Pitchers Throwing Through Day-to-Day?1:05:42 Name! That! Dude! (Season Series entering 3.6.25: Trevor 1, Eno 0)Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.socialFollow Trevor on Bluesky: @[email protected]: [email protected] our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Trevor MayProducer: Brian SmithExecutive Producer: Derek VanRiperBonus: A closer video mentioned during this episode: https://www.startribune.com/volume-up-lights-down-it-s-fernando-rodney-s-awesome-entry-video/479161213 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.