Could Hideki Okajima's inconsistency lately be attributed to his heavy workload over the first half of the season?

In this week’s AL Grumblings, I could talk about the race in the AL East, the battle between the Angels’ and Red Sox, “Manny being Manny”, or the meeting between the White Sox and the Twins, but this is my article and frankly, I will do what I want. With that being said, this week, I want to look at the bullpens around the American League and determine who should pitch where and when. I elected to review the teams that have the likeliest chance to be a playoff team.

BOSTON RED SOX

Lefty Specialist ~ Javier Lopez

7^th Inning ~ Manny Delcarmen / Justin Masterson

8^th Inning ~ Hideki Okajima / Mike Timlin

Closer ~ Jonathan Papelbon

In my opinion, this is the Red Sox’s weakness. Delcarmen has the ability to blow away the best batters in the league but his control can be an issue, which typically leads to an implosion on the mound. Masterson has come in and filled in nicely, improving on his slider since his original cup of coffee as a starter at the beginning of the season. With Okajima, I believe it is important to cut his work back simply to the eighth inning, allowing him time to get readjusted and recover from the workload that was placed on him early. The Sox can use Mike Timlin in certain situations when Okajima needs rest. Is there any question that Papelbon is one of the best closers in baseball?

NEW YORK YANKEES

Lefty Specialist ~ Edwar Ramirez

7^th Inning ~ Kyle Farnsworth

8^th Inning ~ Jose Veras / Damaso Marte

Closer ~ Mariano Rivera

It is not often you recommend a right-handed pitcher to be the lefty specialist but Edwar Ramirez has stifled lefty hitters since his call-up to the majors with a 1.74 earned run average. Like Delcarmen, Kyle Farnsworth can either blow you away or blow up, but with a defined role, you are likely to get more production from a relief pitcher than if you run them out there willy-nilly. Although less seasoned, I like alternating with the newly acquired Marte and Jose Veras to setup for Mariano Rivera. To have live, young arms blasting batters late in the game is a good way to establish the future of your team’s bullpen as well as getting them firmly under the tutelage of Rivera.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

Lefty Specialist ~ Trevor Miller

7^th Inning ~ J.P. Howell / Dan Wheeler

8^th Inning ~ Grant Belfour

Closer ~ Troy Percival

Here we go again with another right-handed left specialist candidate. Trevor Miller is absolutely abominable against right-handed hitters (10.97 ERA), but when facing left-handed hitters, he has handcuffed them with a 1.15 earned run average, striking out 14 batters in 15.1 innings. J.P. Howell is one of the most underrated relief pitchers in the game (6-0, 2.54 ERA, 59 K, 60.1 IP) and should be used whenever a pitcher is not putting his best stuff out there. With Dan Wheeler, originally traded for the closers’ position, it is simply a matter of not performing up to the levels of both Grant Belfour (future closer) and Troy Percival. With Percival’s apparent health issues, Belfour would slip into the closers’ position with Howell bumping up to setup man and Al Reyes possibly joining Wheeler in the long relief role.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Lefty Specialist ~ Boone Logan

7^th Inning ~ Matt Thornton / (Scott Linebrink – INJ)

8^th Inning ~ Octavio Dotel

Closer ~ Bobby Jenks

Beset with injuries, the Chicago White Sox still move forward. Although not used as a lefty specialist, Boone Logan is the best candidate in this bullpen. With a 2.49 earned run average, striking out 26 left batters in 21.2 innings are statistics that lend itself to such a role. Matt Thornton is my other candidate for most underrated relief pitcher, running “1 and 1a” with J.P. Howell of Tampa Bay. Thornton has amassed an impressive 4-2 record, maintaining a 2.43 earned run average and striking out 49 in 40.2 innings. Scott Linebrink, who just landed on the disabled list, is the other candidate to play the long relief, setup role. We will have to wait to see how he recovers from his newest injury. The resurrected Octavio Dotel has had one of his best statistical years, posting a 4-4 record, recording 68 strikeouts in 46.1 innings, and keeping his earned run average under three (2.91). All Sox fans are holding their breathe as Jenks makes his triumphant return from the disabled list. If he does not fully recover or is beset again with injury, Dotel is the likely candidate to assume the closers’ role.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Lefty Specialist ~ Dennys Reyes

7^th Inning ~ Jesse Crain / Matt Guerrier

8^th Inning ~ Craig Breslow

Closer ~ Joe Nathan

Denny Reyes has a great arm but is a little long in the tooth to be overworked and potentially injured; however, I propose that the team utilize him in short blasts, preferably against lefty-hitters to limit the wear and tear on the arm. You could occasionally stretch him out when the young arms of the starting rotation are pushed out of games early. With Crain and Guerrier, they have younger arms but are not able to get their earned run averages under three this year, relegating them to the long relief and hold positions. When/If Pat Neshek comes back from injury, you could see him join Breslow in the setup role or have Crain move up to lessen the load of Breslow. Although Craig Breslow had an abysmal start to 2008 with the Cleveland Indians, since joining the Twins, he has been lights out. With 24.2 innings logged in Minnesota, he has struck out 22 batters and maintained a 2.19 earned run average, earning him (for the time being) the setup position, in this writers’ opinion. Nathan is a stable, sturdy closer who, like the Twins, does not get the publicity that he (they) deserves.

DETROIT TIGERS

Lefty Specialist ~ Bobby Seay

7^th Inning ~ Fernando Rodney / Zach Miner

8^th Inning ~ Joel Zumaya / Bobby Seay

Closer ~ Todd Jones

For a team that is expected to compete for the World Series this year, their bullpen seems to be as disastrous to date as the Boston Red Sox. Although Bobby Seay should double up with Zumaya as a spot-filler for the setup role, he is the best pitcher against lefties in the bullpen. Utilizing him primarily for left-handed batters, late in the game, seems to be the best use of his assets. Rodney has had a start to his season comparable to the way the Detroit Tigers did…he came in with a bang, but it has been in the form of an explosion, posting a whopping 5.17 earned run average. Todd Jones still remains serviceable, however, if the wings come off the plane, Zumaya is ready and willing to step in with his three-digit fastball.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

Lefty Specialist ~ Jose Arredondo

7^th Inning ~ Justin Speier / Darren Oliver

8^th Inning ~ Scott Shields / Jose Arredondo

Closer ~ Francisco Rodriguez

Working backwards, Francisco Rodriguez is in pace to shatter the saves record. He has been simply dominant in the closers’ position and shows no signs of stopping. The young arm of Arredondo has proved invaluable throughout the season, striking out 28 batters in as many innings while logging an impressive 1.25 earned run average. Shields continues to be a confident relief pitcher, notching a slightly higher earned run average than Arredondo (2.85); however just as effective when it comes to strikes, 45 batters in 41 innings. Darren Oliver has had a long and tenured career and has been slightly less than serviceable, just the guy you are looking for to cover your 4^th through 6^th inning (long relief). Justin Speier can cover the hold position (7^th) when Arredondo is used for specifically for a lefty or Scott Shields needs a night off. I can foresee a day when Arredondo could be the sole setup man, destined for the closers’ position if K-Rod decided to go elsewhere.

TEXAS RANGERS

Lefty Specialist ~ Frank Francisco

7^th Inning ~ Jamey Wright / Josh Rupe

8^th Inning ~ Frank Francisco

Closer ~ C.J. Wilson

There is a lot of confidence lost in the Rangers’ potential for a playoff run when you consider the state of their bullpen. Although Wilson has recorded 23 saves, he has done it while have some awful showings, often resulting in near misses more than dominant performances. The one shining spot in the bullpen is the pitching of Frank Francisco. Posting under a 2.00 earned run average against lefties and displaying a 1.80 earned run average over the past thirty days, striking out 11 in 10 innings. These statistics lead me to believe that if not by the end of the year, easily next year, you are looking at the potential closer for this organization. With Wright and Rupe, you have the ability to throw; hitting or missing in quality of performance, but it is what the team has to work with at this point. It is unlikely that the team will push for a playoff spot unless their starters can stay healthy and average at least 6+ innings per performance. The team may elect to start to use Kameron Loe more often as a long relief even though he has struggled as of late.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Lefty Specialist ~ Jerry Blevins / Dallas Braden

7^th Inning ~ Santiago Casilla / Lenny DiNardo

8^th Inning ~ Brad Ziegler / Jerry Blevins

Closer ~ Huston Street

Truthfully, all Lenny DiNardo brings to the table is a stretchable arm and a 1.08 earned run average against left-handed hitters. Had Blevins and Braden not been equally as effective with the ability to stay in the game if a right-handed batter comes up to the plate, I would have elected to stick DiNardo in the lefty specialist role and went with Braden as the long-relief pitcher. With Casilla slowly working his way back from injury, he has had a few shaky outings, but all in all could be a future closer for the organization. The outstanding pitching of Brad Ziegler is not getting league-wide notice as he has the longest inning-stretch without surrendering a run. Blevins, although not used as frequently as he should, still has a 0.79 earned run average with 11 strikeouts in 11 innings, dating back to the last thirty days. With Huston Street listed as a common name on the trade market, look for either Ziegler or Blevins to addition for the closers’ role, if such a trade should occur. In a case like that, the pitcher that does not get the closers’ role while be guaranteed a setup role, with Casilla backing them up.