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Baltimore Orioles’ Bullpen Tops Great Staffs in AL East

By Nate Wardle

Sep 11, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Orioles won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Orioles won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Zach Britton
Sep 11, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Orioles won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton’s historic 2016 season lifts the Orioles to the top of the AL East relief pitching rankings.

As Spring Training began for the Baltimore Orioles, I started my annual series of ranking each position in the AL East (Preseason rankings: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | DH | SP | RP).

With the 2016 season officially over, I have released my latest AL East rankings for the positions of catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field, right field, designated hitter and starting pitcher.

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That means we are officially on the last set of positions, relief pitcher. Now, we know there are some great closers in the AL East. Zach Britton, Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances, Roberto Osuna, Craig Kimbrel, Koji Uehara, Brad Boxberger. Quite a list isn’t it.

Well, no reliever in the AL East or all of baseball has ever had a season like Orioles’ closer Zach Britton. But, the bullpen position is much deeper than closer, so let’s get to it.

The list will include each pitcher who made more than ten appearances, in order of the number of appearances.

5. Tampa Bay Rays

Relief pitchers: Erasmo Ramirez, Alex Colome, Xavier Cedeno, Enny Romero, Ryan Gorton, Danny Farquhar, Dana Eveland, Brad Boxberger, Steve Geltz, Kevin Jepsen, Ryan Webb, Tyler Sturdevant, Dylan Floro, Matt Andriese

Preseason prediction – 5th, Boxberger, Farquhar, Cedeno, Colome, Geltz, Ramirez, Romero, Jonny Venters, Webb

I’m not sure how you could expect much else. Yes, Colome had a fantastic year as closer, as Boxberger was not healthy, or effective. In fact, he saved 37 games with an ERA of 1.91. So, the closer had a good year. Otherwise, it wasn’t a great year for the bullpen.

Tampa had the fewest saves in the division, and only 20 wins in relief, the worst in the entire American League. They also had 33 losses in relief, also the worst in the division.

Only Colome had an ERA below 3. Ramirez had 18 decisions, and only one start. 11 of those were losses.  It wasn’t a pretty year for the bullpen, and as the Rays continue to try to piece their team together as a small market team, their bullpen is often an afterthought. As the rest of the division focuses on their bullpens, that doesn’t bode well for the Rays.

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