Three thoughts on the Astros’ broken bullpen:
1. From 2009-16, Luke Gregerson appeared in the majors’ most games (558) and Tyler Clippard the third most (550). Clippard is not on the Astros’ World Series roster and Gregerson might well as not be.
Both guys had their worst season as a reliever while continuing to be used heavily — Clippard 67 games for the Yankees, White Sox and Astros; Gregerson 65 in the final season of his three-year, $18.5 million deal with Houston.
Gregerson, who was the closer for the U.S. World Baseball Classic team before this season, appeared in two games against the Red Sox in the Division Series and just once in the seven-game ALCS against the Yankees and not at all through four World Series games despite the Astros’ at times desperation for relief help. So Gregerson had appeared in one of the last 12 Astros postseason games, a period that covered 27 calls to the Houston pen.
2. Francisco Liriano also has become lost in the Astros pen, like Gregerson appearing twice in the Division Series, once against the Yankees and not at all in the first four World Series games. Houston obtained the starter from Toronto in July to be a lefty relief specialist. But he had faced just five in the postseason, allowing a hit and a walk.
The Dodgers acquired Tony Cingrani and Tony Watson for the same reason, and lefty hitters this postseason were 3-for-18 against them.
Gregerson, Liriano and Watson are all free agents after the World Series.
3. The postseason of Ken Giles has overtones for me of Mitch Williams for the 1993 Phillies and Jose Mesa for the 1997 Indians, closers who would both give up the walk-off hit to decide the World Series.Williams appeared in seven games in ’93, never had a clean inning and was scored upon in four of the outings, all of which were blown saves. In ’97, Mesa never had a clean inning in 11 appearances and was scored upon in six.
On Saturday night in World Series Game 4, Giles tied Mesa for most times scored upon in one postseason, with now six of seven.
Ex-Braves take over the World
No team used fewer of their own drafted players this season than the Braves, with just Tyler Flowers, Freddie Freeman, Jason Hursh, A.J. Minter and Lucas Sims being picked by Atlanta and playing for it in 2017.
There are four Braves draft picks playing in this World Series — Evan Gattis, Brian McCann, Charlie Morton and Alex Wood. Morton, who pitched to McCann in Game 4, was a third-round Atlanta pick in 2002, while McCann went in the second round.
The Braves’ first-round pick in 2002?
Jeff Francoeur.