[ayaghmour2]

The Relievers (Stats only include time spent in the Cougars bullpen)
Karl Clasby (3 G, 0-0, 10 IP, 6.30 ERA, 77 ERA+, 1.80 WHIP, 3 BB, 5 K)
Dick Kadlec (31 G, 4-7, 6 SV, 5.33 ERA, 91 ERA+, 1.72 WHIP, 26 BB, 31 K)
Bill McLean (19 G, 1-0, 1 SV, 5.94 ERA, 82 ERA+, 2.06 WHIP, 26 BB, 16 K)
Chick Meehan (37 G, 7-5, 3 SV, 61.2 IP, 5.55 ERA, 87 ERA+, 1.67 WHIP, 25 BB, 35 K)
Len Moore (36 G, 6-6, 8 SV, 48.2 IP, 4.25 ERA, 114 ERA+, 1.54 WHIP, 20 BB, 7 K)
Claude Purvis (2 G, 0-0, 5.1 IP, 5.06 ERA, 96 ERA+, 1.31 WHIP, 2 BB, 1 K)
Michael Ivory (11 G, 1-1, 17.1 IP, 10.90 ERA, 44 ERA+, 1.90 WHIP, 14 BB, 9 K)
Cotton Taylor (1 G, 0-0, 2.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 999 ERA+, 1.50 WHIP, 2 BB, 3 K)

The bullpen was a mess all season, and we finished 7th in the league with a pitiful 5.56 bullpen ERA. Chick Meehan, who is supposedly the third best reliever in the game, has generally been a solid pen contributor, had a really bad season that saw him lose the stopper job. He finished with his first below average season since 1926 with a -0.2 WAR, 87 ERA+, and a career most 25 walks. He did tie his best K/9 season (5.1) and struck out more batters then any season in his career, but the 33-year-old might not stay in a Cougar uniform after this season.

Despite an awful walk to strikeout ratio, waiver claim from Baltimore Len Moore was by far our best reliever. I probably shouldn't have given the stopper job to Dick Kadlec after moving him to the pen, as Moore pitched well, but 34-year-old relievers don't really have much upside. He had a solid season despite his career worst 1.3 K/9, almost 2 points lower then his career mark. His 8 saves were the best on the team, and I think he has the most secure spot for next year. The only problem is age could take another hit on him, and I have a lot of young guys that will look to earn a pen spot.

Out of all the relievers used this year, Dick Kadlec has the most upside, and I'd love to see him or Ace McSherry win the stopper job next season. He didn't have the best results out of the pen, but he has great stuff and can mix five pitches well. He'll have to compete with youngsters Claude Purvis, Milt Nelson, and Gus Cain as well as Cotton Taylor and Ray Powell. A few current non roster players such as Bill Kline, Mickey Williams, Ed Stevens, and former #2 overall pick Mike Murphy will have a chance to join the crowded bullpen mix, with both Kline and Williams Rule-5 eligible in the offseason. Kline will most certainly be added to the 40, but I can't say the same for the other three and there's also the chance that more players get added to the mix in the offseason.