Bullpen key to Padres' success

By: Shaun O'Neill - Staff Writer | Sunday, February 20, 2005 9:04 PM PST ∞

PEORIA, Ariz. ---- For the Padres to transform from mere playoff hopeful to postseason participant, they need several good things to happen.

The heart of the batting order must put up better numbers than 2004. Woody Williams must step in seamlessly for David Wells in the rotation. Dave Roberts must show he can handle everyday duty in the leadoff spot. And Adam Eaton must match his considerable skill with considerable consistency.

But, most of all, the Padres must avoid one bad thing from happening: They can't have their bullpen step backward.

Bruce Bochy has directed the Padres to three winning seasons in his 10 years as manager. In each successful campaign, the bullpen ranked among the game's best.

In each losing season, the bullpen, with the exception of stalwart closer Trevor Hoffman, tanked.

In 1996, the bullpen posted a sparkling 3.30 ERA as youngsters Doug Bochtler and Dario Veras opened eyes in the pennant drive. In '97, they were unable to repeat their success and the relievers' collective ERA jumped nearly 1.7 runs a game.

In 1998, Dan Miceli, Donne Wall and Brian Boehringer ably bridged the gap from a strong rotation to Hoffman and posted a 3.46 ERA. The next year? Up to 4.41 with most of the same pitchers surviving the offseason purge.

"Relievers are less predictable the starters," Bochy said over the weekend, "because you don't have as many innings, you don't have as much information on them to get a completely true track record."

Which brings us to Scott Linebrink and Akinori Otsuka. The two right-handers combined with the comebacking Hoffman to give the Padres a nearly unbeatable combination in the final three innings. When Linebrink, Otsuka and Hoffman pitched consecutively in a game, the Padres posted a 23-3 record.

The Padres' bullpen as a whole had a good 3.75 ERA last year, but Otsuka and Linebrink were lights out. Otsuka went 7-2 with a 1.75 ERA in 73 games in his first major-league season. He struck out 87 batters in 77 1/3 innings.

Linebrink was 7-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 73 games. He struck out 83 in 84 innings.

General manager Kevin Towers was so taken with his bullpen that he resisted trade requests for Linebrink and Otsuka, both at the nonwaiver trade deadline last season (costing him center fielder Steve Finley) and in the offseason.

What's more, he gave a two-year, $2,275,000 contract extension to Linebrink.

That's contrary to his philosophy of signing relievers on the cheap and avoiding multiyear pacts. He was burned when he got stuck with Randy Myers and burned again when Jay Witasick failed to live up to a two-year deal in 2003 and '04.

Towers, a former scout and pitcher who retains a key eye for arms, much prefers to find the likes of Miceli, Wall, Boehringer, Alan Embree, Rod Beck and Steve Reed on baseball's scrapheap and watch them resurrect their careers. Then he trades them off for younger, cheaper talent.

Remember, Linebrink came to the Padres from the Houston Astros via the waiver wire.

"Especially in middle and long relief, you just don't know," Towers said. "It's probably best just to go year to year with those guys. That's probably the one area that's most flooded on the free-agent market. There's always an abundance out there.

"With the health risks, injury risks, it's a pretty volatile area."

Yet by spurning trade offers and investing even more money in his setup relievers, Towers has made a clear commitment. Why are these two pitchers different?

"Otsuka, the guy has been a closer," Towers said. "He's almost like a Hoffman. For me, it was how would he perform once he got to the States. Well, he showed us. Second time through the league, he was just as successful as before. He's a guy who's never really had peaks and valleys.

"Linebrink's a guy who's just coming into his own. For a guy who's been a starter most of his career, he's really embraced this role as a seventh-inning guy, a power guy. He's got an above-average fastball with good command. He's got upside even beyond last year. I don't think it was a fluke."

With lefty Chris Hammond and righty Rudy Seanez signed to patrol the middle innings, Towers gave himself some insurance against late-inning stumbles. Both are veterans who have been setup relievers. And hard-throwing Blaine Neal still could turn out to be any kind of pitcher.

Have no doubt, however, Towers built the 2005 Padres expecting the bullpen to remain the strength of the team. Any less, and there will be no playoff games at Petco Park.

Regarding Linebrink and Otsuka, Towers said "at least one of the two" must equal his 2004 production for the Padres to succeed.

"If you can't get the ball to Hoffman, it doesn't really matter even having Hoffman," Towers said.

Contact staff writer Shaun O'Neill at (760) 740-3546 or soneill@nctimes.com.