Milwaukee Brewers' manager admits to a struggling bullpen – MLB News
The Milwaukee Brewers' manager Ron Roenicke on Saturday, August 11, admitted that the club’s bullpen is struggling. He was speaking to reporters and took the sharp questions pointed at the bullpen’s inability to do what is required for the Brewers.
Roenicke also stated that bringing in more relief from Minor Leagues may not be a solution to the persistent problem. The Brewers have lately done all they can to elevate themselves as far as bullpen is concerned, but not to any avail.
It is the same Brewers that had made it to the National League Championship Series only last year with a combination of powerful hitting and most importantly, a very effective bullpen. That has not happened this year.
"They've been struggling," Roenicke said. "We've been talking about the same thing for quite a while now. They're not throwing well. They're not throwing like they're capable of throwing. But there has to be options in order to change things. You guys want me to change things, but you don't give me any options to do it with.”
John Axford, the team’s closer – for example, had 46 saves the past year, being one of the best. However, that superb performance is far from visible in 2012. In fact he has blown 22 chances so far this season – dealing a huge blow to the team’s hopes and standing in the National League Central.
Francisco Rodriguez has not been able to do his bit either, leading to both Axford and Rodriguez’s removal. How is Roenicke going to resolve this problem?
For him, it is impossible to cover the games until there are two or three pitchers throwing really well.
"When you have two or three guys who are throwing well, you can cover the games when you're winning," Roenicke said. "When you don't have that many guys that are throwing well, you can't cover all of the innings every night. It's impossible.”
The Brewers, nonetheless, cannot sit back and watch things get out of hand. So they are already looking for alternatives. One of the options for now is to Jim Henderson who has saved previous two games for the Brewers.
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