Maroone call to the surgeon....I mean bullpen

A glimpse into how my mind works on a Marlins off day

We all hear it. We all love it! How can you not? When the Fredi makes his trip to the mound we all know what ensues......A Maroone commerical to the Ghostbusters theme song playing while a more-than-dynamite reliever is trotting towards the hill. I personally here Mighy Mouse screaming "Here I come to save the gaaaaaame" in the background as well.  And you should too. It has been well documented already how good this bullpen is, but you cannot beat that into the ground.  One good reliever is hard to come by, let alone numerous outstanding arms like the Marlins have.  Every time I see Kyle Farnsworth and Aaron Heilman take the hill for a team with multi-millions in payroll, I laugh.  I crack up hysterically knowing that the Marlins club would only use them in a blowout. Those bums would never see the light of day in a close game...if they would make the cut at all in our 'pen.

However, the key to having a successful bullpen is not to overuse it. But by necessitcy, the Marlins bullpen had already thrown 38 of the 97 innings the team has played this year.  With the starters averaging less than 5.5 innings a start thus far, a lot of pressure has been put on the relievers. To this point, they have responded and picked up the team when the starters have not. But if this trend continues, the arms of the relief corps will loathe that 'Maroone' song that has become a fan favorite. (this fan at least)

By overusing the bullpen...or any pitcher for that matter, you are begging for an injury. If Justin Miller keeps throwing multiple innings every other day, one of two things will happen. He'll either wear down as the season goes on (like last year) or he will get hurt. The same goes for all the relievers.  I'm only using Miller as an example because he has been used the most with his 8 innings so far. It is a 2-edged sword. The bullpen is so good that Fredi must be tempted to use them early because he has so much confidence in them-as well he should. But racking up innings on the arms is going to take its toll, and at least one will go down with an injury if the starters can't work out of trouble and keep the pen door closed.

 The Marlins' starters must pitch deeper into ballgames, or else the calls to the bullpen will no longer be toll-free; they will come at the high price of an injury.  If this trend continues, Fredi better have Dr. James Andrews on speed-dial.