Reds Bullpen Has Tightened Up After Slow Start

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The Reds bullpen was getting beaten up early and the fan base wanted them shipped one-way to Louisville or sent around the majors to undermine Reds' opponents.

Perhaps it was the return of Aroldis Chapman that helped stabilize the Reds' pen perhaps it was just baseball evening out the statistics, the Reds bullpen has been outstanding for the last 22 games.

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Manny Parr (4.87), J.J Hoover (4.97), and  Logan Ondrusek (3.91) have higher earned run averages but that measure is largely a useless measure for a pitcher that may only get two or three innings a week.  One bad inning can skew the numbers for the entire season.

"The fan base was down on our bullpen guys but these are our guys," said Bryan Price, who was their pitching coach for four season and knows what each of them can do.

Over the last 22 games the bullpen has worked in 69 2/3 innings with a "Johnny Cueto" like 1.94 ERA (Cueto lowered his from 1.97 to 1.85 on Wednesday night and leads the league.)

Parra hasn't allowed a run in his last seven appearances.

Hoover has a 1.56 over his last 13 appearances.

Ondrusek hasn't been scored upon in his last six appearances.

Jonathan Broxton coming off elbow surgery has an 0.44 ERA and no runs over his last 12 games.

"Even under normal circumstances, what Brox has been doing is great.  He's been extremely reliable," said Price.  "If a manager wants to win an All-Star game it would be in his best interest to pick a guy like him. It seems to me that if a manager wants to put together his best team, Broxton would be considered."

Aroldis Chapman missed the first six weeks of the season returning on May 11.  He has a 1.29 ERA.

Chapman has retired the last 22 batter he faced and 32 of the last 33. That's seven straight perfect appearances., nine straight scoreless appearances, while converting seven straight save opportunities.

"I've never seen Chapman throw as well as he is right now," Price said.