Fans overreacting to D-backs bullpen problems
Jun 28, 2011, 7:10 PM | Updated: 9:11 pm
Is the Arizona Diamondbacks’ bullpen a victim of its own success this season or rather of its lack of success last year? Sports 620 KTAR’s Ron Wolfley thinks it’s a combination of both.
“Look, the Arizona Diamondbacks coming into the season the expectation was their bullpen was a huge question mark,” he said on Doug and Wolf Tuesday morning. “We’ve seen this bullpen really overachieve if you will. Because of that I think the expectations we had earlier in the season for them is working against this bullpen right now. Because we’ve all be waiting for this.”
Just because the D-backs relievers are struggling doesn’t mean they’re alone; it’s something that happens to the best in the big leagues.
“It happens to every major league team,” Wolf told listeners. “Even those with great bullpens. Even the Cleveland Indians with the best bullpen in baseball, with a 2.92 ERA, even they are going to go through some little hiccup, some little funk. The problem is when the D-backs do it everyone says ‘oh no the iceberg, we’re taking on water.'”
It’s tough to shake the memories of last season. A year where giving up late inning leads and blown saves happened more frequently than fans showing up to the ballpark. With that said, it’s probably not fair that fans hold this season’s bullpen accountable for the sins earned runs of the past.
Hopefully if they can right the ship this week and return to their early season form, fans will be able to let go of the pain last year’s bullpen caused and embrace this year’s group as one worth believing in.
