Houston Astros plan to have a stronger bullpen – MLB News
The Houston Astros’ general manager Jeff Luhnow on Friday, December 16, said that the club is all set and well-equipped, to come up with a strong eighth and ninth inning. With the departure of Mark Melancon, the Astros were thought to have got a vulnerable
line-up when it came to relievers and closers.
Melancon, for example, has the distinction of having had an appearance of 11 consecutive scoreless innings. Such a good feat essentially meant the Astros were the in building phase, gradually upping the ante against the rival sides.
But with Melancon gone, there is a latent apprehension within the side that the bullpen may not have a strong closer. But nonetheless, for Astros, there are young and strong arms that could sustain and deflect the rising pressure from the team.
Brandon Lyon, the team general manager Luhnow believe, will be an adequate substitute, providing the kind of support needed by the bullpen.
"We need to have a strong bullpen," Luhnow said. "Lyon has experience and a lot of the closer role really is about having experience in those pressure situations. No matter what, whether it's the ninth, eighth or seventh inning, he will play an important
role because of his veteran presence."
Lyon might have stumbled the past season. Nonetheless, Lyon as Lunhow says, may well live up to the expectations this time round. Lyon, only recently had undergone an operation to repair a detachment of his right biceps tendon.
The goal for the Houston Astros is to get good relievers.
"The goal for us during Spring Training is to make sure that of the 25 men on the roster, we have enough relievers in there, good relievers, regardless of roles, that we can get the game from the starter to the end of the game and maintain quality innings
at the end," Luhnow said.
All that will be clear once the next season kicks off and the team comes up with its set of relievers and closers. Be it Lyon or anyone else, the aim will predictably be to have a line-up that can save the games for the club.
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