Mariners bullpen coach Brian DeLunas will not return next season, reports Corey Brock of the Athletic (Twitter link). As Brock notes, DeLunas originally joined the organization in a front office capacity entering the 2018 season. He became the club’s bullpen coach last November.
DeLunas’ only season in that position certainly wasn’t a banner year for the team’s relievers. The Mariners’ pen was worth a league-worst 1.5 wins below replacement, in FanGraphs’ estimation. Cumulatively, Seattle relievers pitched to a 5.92 ERA/5.81 FIP.
Of course, that’s hardly all the fault of DeLunas. The M’s bullpen personnel was lackluster, especially after Austin Adams and Dan Altavilla were traded to the Padres mid-season. The end of games is a clear area of focus moving forward, as GM Jerry Dipoto acknowledged the club will need to bring in “three or four” outside arms this winter.
When will someone point the blame toward Dippto?? 3 different clubs, same result, trade the players & acquire guys who don’t pan out!!!!
Zero context
Seriously djulio?! You have clearly not been paying attention.
Mariners org hasn’t been this healthy and well run in decades, and you’re about to see that translate on the field.
Know what you’re talking about before making a statement like that.
Another Angel fan still crying about Jerry. You guys are going to be on your death beds blaming Dipoto in another 10-30 years. If only Jerry would have gotten (name player here) we would have won 25 pennants. I only wish our last couple GMs would have screwed up this bad. You be bitter about Jerry we will be happy.
You either clearly do not pay attention to Mariners baseball or you’re just trolling. Simple as that
If you are a cigar aficionado, he is worth a follow on social media.
That has a lot to do with his job responsibilities!
lol
Was looking over team numbers the other day and if not mistaken.. The M’s overall pitching numbers were worse in most ways than those of the Red Sox, those Red sox who had Sale and Eduardo Rodriquez for -0- innings all year, the 2 best starters and 3 AAAA guys filling spots in the rotation.
Seattle had definite pitching problems. How did Sims keep it together calling games is my question, one of my favorite announcers in the league.
This is an interesting comment that covers a lot of ground.
Give me Blowers and Aaron Goldsmith together any day- they really enjoy each other’s company and have a good sense of humor. Blow’s old school head with Goldie’s love of analytics make them a great team imo. I’m just not a fan of Sims or Rizz.
Johnsilver- aye matey, the Mariners had pitching problems alright. We had a 6 man rotation with 4-5 new SP’s- 2 prospects, 2 SP’s returning from TJ surgery and rotating middle RP’s forced into the rotation due to injuries and a deadline transfer.
The team is in year 2 of a 3-5yr rebuilding plan- Over the last 2 years the FO has traded away most of their best pitchers: poor pitching is just par for the course in this stage of the rebuild. I am curious to find out the finer details of this transaction. The M’s have been creative, almost experimental in choosing some of their support staff- sometimes these experiments just don’t pan out.
Dave Sims is an absolute horrible commentator. The whole entire game he brings up a bunch of stuff that has nothing to do with baseball and half the time he gives no context to it. Blurting random stuff out of nowhere that pertains to nothing like a crazy person. Hes not a baseball guy and he should not be calling baseball games. Rotating cast of Blow, Goldie, Jay and Dan would be perfect. And Rizz will be here till he retires.
I suspect there is more behind the scenes. The bottom line is that the pen didn’t produce.
DeLunas wasn’t even with the team this year because he was at high risk. Neither was Perry Hill and a few others.
But he was a big part of the success Seattle got with a number of relievers they plucked off waivers the two previous years.
Sad to see him go.