It’s been a difficult road for the Atlanta Braves’ 2019 bullpen with many potholes along the highway. Today marks another detour.
The Atlanta Braves found gold in the arm of Anthony Swarzak after picking him up from Seattle just over 6 weeks ago.
Unfortunately, they have now also found a shoulder having trouble with the load he’s been carrying.
The #Braves today placed RHP Anthony Swarzak on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 29, with right shoulder inflammation and recalled RHP Chad Sobotka from Triple-A Gwinnett.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 30, 2019
Swarzak is 33 years old – will turn 34 in mid-September – and has been so much better than had to be expected for Atlanta.
In 17 outings and 17.1 innings, he’s posted a 0.52 ERA. How good is that? Let’s check the ERA for all relief pitchers with at least ten innings pitched:
- Sean Newcomb, 0.81 (yes, he’s #1 on this list!)
- Shane Greene (DET), 0.87
- Liam Hendricks (A’s), 1.03
- Adrian Houser, (Brewers), 1.05
How about some names you’d recognize as being ‘top relievers’?
- Ken Giles (BJays), 1.29
- Kirby Yates (Padres), 1.31
- Aroldis Chapman (NYY), 1.41
- Adam Ottavino (NYY), 1.49
- Will Smith (SFG), 2.16
- John Gant (STL), 2.34
- Brad Hand (CLE), 2.37
- Tony Watson (SFG), 2.48
Yet Swarzak beats all of these… for the time he’s spent as an Atlanta Brave. Before that, Seattle was ready to kick him to the curb for a 5.27 ERA in 13.2 innings.
Maybe there’s something to be said for putting a winning team with a great defense behind you… as opposed to Seattle.
Regardless, this is a huge blow to both the player and his new team, for with shoulder injuries, the return date is going to be completely unpredictable: 2 weeks, a month, the rest of the year… it’s totally unknown.
Dave O’Brien said the next point succinctly:
Just underscores the need for #Braves to add a quality reliever before deadline. Got to have another accomplished arm in pen, can't ride same guys virtually every time you have a lead. Plus, Swarzak has recent history with shoulder woes. Gonna have to be mindful from here out.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 30, 2019
From this writer’s perspective, that need was already there… this may double that requirement.
The bullpen has actually been operating at an elite level, 4th in overall team ERA for the season and 1st in the month of June… primarily thanks to Newcomb and Swarzak (0.00 ERA for the month… Jacob Webb has 0.71 in 12.2 innings as well).
That said, it’s clearly put together with duct tape and baling wire, which makes O’Brien’s point about the need for quality depth… probably on both the front and back ends.
If teams haven’t learned anything else from recent playoff years, it’s that 2 things are winning championships starting pitching and relief pitching.
Today’s news is going to make Alex Anthopoulos’ task all the more difficult in July.