Three Ways To Improve This Braves Bullpen

I feel like I’m beating a dead horse, but I can’t believe how bad the Atlanta Braves’ bullpen has been this season. Just two years ago, the Braves along with the Kansas City Royals had the two best relief groups in baseball. Greg Holland and company continue to dominate the American League with a 2.5 WAA, while Atlanta is dead last in the NL with a -1.7 WAA. It might be closer to -2 once Baseball Reference adds in yesterday’s catastrophe at Chase Field.

Trading away Craig Kimbrel can’t stand as the sole reason for the Braves’ immediate nosedive in relief pitching. Jason Grilli has done decently as the team’s closer with 15 saves in 16 opportunities. Kimbrel hasn’t been all that electric in San Diego (4.74 ERA, 1.316 WHIP, 12 SVs, and a 76 ERA+). But one thing is certain: this bullpen is absolutely killing our team. Fredi Gonzalez has done a great job of getting the rest of his team to play competitive baseball, but is grasping at air to find something to fix this bullpen that can’t hold leads.

It’s starting to feel almost as bad as the last few Frank Wren teams built on strikeouts. President of Baseball Operations John Hart needs to rectify this calamity before all positive locker room morale is lost and gone forever. Besides praying to the Baseball Gods for a 1-2-3 innings late in ball games, some creative and proactive solution must exist to solve this problem with the Atlanta relievers. At this point, any and all crazy ideas are okay as this psychological torture cannot continue. I’m tiptoeing the line of sanity here, but I might have something to help the Braves ‘pen out. Here are three ways Atlanta can improve its bullpen in 2015 before it’s too late.

Go To Closer By Committee and Use Jason Grilli in Non-Save Situations.

I doesn’t take an advanced sabermetrician to know that saves are the most overvalued statistic in the game of baseball. Jason Grilli is halfway to 30 saves this season. At one time, that benchmark could get a reliever a massive deal from a big market team and he and his family would be set for life.

May 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jason Grilli (39) reacts after the final out against the Milwaukee Brewers during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Brewers 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Through roughly the first quarter of the MLB season, I would say The Cheese has done a decent job as our closer but not a remarkable job. He’s not pitching very many clean, 1-2-3 ninth innings. I attribute much of that to not having all that many save situations. Grilli has only appeared in 18 games for the Atlanta Braves. He’s an All-Star reliever that wasn’t expected to close for the Braves going into spring training because the Braves still had All-World Closer Craig Kimbrel.

Grilli has the grit of a closer but is not getting many opportunities. Rather than staying infatuated with the save, Atlanta should ignore that statistical category for the rest of the season and focus on not walking batters. Jason Grilli is not the only Brave on the roster to have closed games, as Jim Johnson saved over 100 games with the Baltimore Orioles just a few years back.

Fredi can’t keep saving Grilli for save situations that aren’t coming because his bullpen keeps blowing ridiculous leads. Whether Grilli pitches in the sixth inning or Luis Avilan happens to find himself in a save situation in the ninth inning, Atlanta needs to get outs without surrendering runs from the bullpen. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning ball games and not accumulating saves.

Trade Either Chris Johnson or Juan Uribe for Long Inning Guy.

If John Hart doesn’t like what he has on the major league roster and wants to keep future starters in AAA Gwinnett, he should look to move one of our third basemen. Atlanta has two productive guys at the hot corner. Juan Uribe has played out of his mind with regular playing time on the Braves since coming over to Atlanta from Los Angeles this road trip. Chris Johnson is coming back from a wrist injury and is not even two years away from almost winning an NL Batting Title. Since coming to the Braves in 2013, Johnson has become a solid defensive player at third. Just not on Juan Uribe’s level. Uribe is like his generation’s Vinny Castilla at third, no kidding.

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I’m sure there’s some team in dire need of production from third base and unless it’s Oakland, a member from that bullpen will certainly help our team this summer. Atlanta should move whichever player gets them the most help for their bullpen as neither third baseman feel like longterm solutions at third for the Braves. The Braves could also move an outfielder if they really wanted to, but Atlanta is deepest at third base. If John Hart can get a strong, long-inning guy from an AL team for either Johnson or Uribe, I would consider that a good short-term trade for the Braves.

Mar 3, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Peter Moylan (58) throws against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Summon Peter Moylan From AAA Gwinnett.

Player/Coach RP Peter Moylan is making a comeback in the Braves organization after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery. Moylan was a crucial member of the great Atlanta bullpens in the late ’00’s and early ’10’s. This sidearming Australian is a pro’s pro and knows what it takes to make big outs in the Major Leagues. He has supposedly dropped 40 lbs. and has been on a tear in the Minors this season. Moylan started the year in Danville as he looks to transition into a pitching coach once his career ends. Well, he’s had to put those coaching aspirations on hold with his recent promotion to AAA Gwinnett.

He’s going to pitch for the Atlanta Braves again. I can feel it in the air tonight. Perhaps his player/coach role is best served in Atlanta as he can pitch in either the six or seventh innings for Fredi Gonzalez while providing years of big league knowledge to our young and inexperienced relief corps. It has the makings of a feel-good story and frankly, John Hart and Fredi Gonzalez could really use his help in any way, shape or form.

These are just three out of the box ideas I’ve had these last few days. If y’all have any crazy and/or brilliant ideas on how to fix this Braves bullpen, please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear any and all of them. Whatever it takes to not witness complete nuclear meltdowns anymore. I’m glad the team can’t physically blow a lead as the Braves have today off before the Pirates come to town tomorrow for a three-game set.

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