San Diego Padres: All Hail Bullpen Day!

Once again the San Diego Padres bullpen comes out firing on all cylinders to steal a win in St. Louis.

Typically, there’s a starting pitcher in your team’s rotation that you’re just itching to see. “_____ Day is here!” And it’s not that the San Diego Padres don’t have that young talented pitching that’s fun, personally, I think Joey Lucchesi is going to be a dominant force in the years to come, but while he’s still on the disabled list, the Padres have managed to cobble together some very impressive starts from their bullpen guys. All hail bullpen day.

Mess with the Bull

Matt Strahm has looked dominant while on the mound in his last two “bullpen starts.” Every time I watch him pitch, I often forget that he’s only going to be out there for about three innings. I would say if he could prove that he’s got the stamina to go at least three more, the Padres should definitely consider adding him to the starting rotation.

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Strahm’s ERA in his last three starts is 1.50. He retired all nine batters he faced against the Cardinals on Tuesday evening and struck out four of them.

Then Adam Cimber and his awkward skeleton looking side-arm delivery took over in the 4th. Andy Green comes off as a mad genius for orchestrating such a change halfway through the game. He was quoted by MLB.com after the game saying:

“First, you have a lefty slinger throwing 95-96 [mph]. Next at-bat, you’ve got a drop-down righty coming from underneath. It’s just two radically different looks, and it plays well off each other and keeps guys uncomfortable.”

Cimber went on to strike out three and only coughed up a single infield hit. His ERA over the last 7 games? 1.80.

Craig Stammen would be the only reliever to surrender runs Tuesday night, before Kirby Yates and Brad Hand would come in to shut the Cardinals down.

There’s been plenty of talk on whether or not it would be a smart move to trade Hand at the deadline. And to that I say, it’s a terrible idea. The Padres have a young talented farm system, they’ve got their piece to build around in Eric Hosmer, and despite being in last place, they’re still holding their own in the NL West.

Next: San Diego Padres Need To Hold On To Brad Hand

The bullpen has looked great over these past few starts.  It’s important to keep building around them, and not be so eager to let them go for what may or may not benefit them in the next few seasons.