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. Rundown 2:57 Spring Training News & Notes 13:40 A Sleeper for Saves in Texas? 19:33 Increasing the Conversation Around Leverage Index 25:25 Shutdowns & Meltdowns 31:55 Finding Ways to Appropriately Value Cade Smith Relative to Emmanuel Clase 41:11 Building a Bullpen with Varying Looks 50:19 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.social Follow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.social Follow Trevor on Bluesky: @iamtrevormay@bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris With: Trevor May Producer: Brian Smith Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Bonus: 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.