After The Indians fell to the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field Monday night,4-2 i in 10 innings, I got to thinking as I always do
The Bullpen Mafia couldn't take candy from a baby at this point.
In what seems to be a recurring nightmare for the Tribe, the bullpen blows games for their starting rotation even when it seems that the game is well out of reach.
It seems The Bullpen Mafia are not consistent with the work they have put up in recent years. As it is pointed out by Joseph Coblitz at Burning River Baseball's Blog:
Despite fantastic results in each of the past two years, the statistics have dropped off in 2013 (even though the wins have not slowed down). Nine times in 2011 the trio (Pestano, Smith and Perez) pitched in a game together that culminated in Perez getting a save. After learning the winning combination, the Indians used the three successfully 18 times in 2012. Overall during this two year stretch, Perez earned 75 saves, Pestano took 59 holds and Smith grabbed 37 holds of his own. This marked three consecutive seasons of at least 20 saves for Perez and 16 holds for Smith. There was no reason to think this wouldn't continue in 2013.
The Indians are now currently 3.5 games out of first in the AL Central. Obviously the Tigers are in first. The Indians have the Bluejays and Royals before going into the All-Star break at home before going into the All-Star break.
That should be more than enough time for the Mafia to have a meeting.
My Spin on the Cleveland Sports Scene from a true Clevelander
