You remember the old saying for Tigers fans. You might even have one of the shirts: "My bullpen makes me drink." But 15 games into this season, is the Tigers bullpen ... worthy of a toast?
After another strong series in which Tigers relievers allowed just one run in 12 1/3 innings of work against the Rockies, Detroit's bullpen leads the American League with an ERA of 2.30.
The same bullpen that was supposed to be a weakness to start the season after losing three key arms to injury in Andrew Chafin, Jose Cisnero and Kyle Funkhouser. The same bullpen, more or less, that ranked 13th in the AL last season with an ERA of 4.50.
The same Tigers bullpen that hasn't finished with an ERA under 4.00 since 2012 and hasn't ranked in the top half of the AL in ERA since 2006.
What is going on here?
For one, small samples. Let's see where things stand after another 15 games, with series upcoming against the Dodgers and Astros. Let's see where they stand at the end of next month. In the meantime, let's give these guys their due.
Because for another, how bout Jacob Barnes, Drew Hutchison and Will Vest? Those were the non-40-man-roster relievers the Tigers chose to replace Chafin, Cisnero and Funkhouser -- which surely wouldn't work. The trio's combined big-league ERA entering the season: 4.89.
Its combined big-league ERA since: 1.69. (To go with a WHIP of 0.89).
How bout Joe Jimenez? The former All-Star closer for the Tigers was fading out of the club's plans after logging a 6.35 ERA the past two seasons. But he's pitching his way back into the picture to start 2022, allowing two runs and four hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings. He'll stick around if he keeps that up.
Meanwhile, Gregory Soto, Michael Fulmer and Alex Lange have picked up where they left off last season. Soto, coming off an All-Star campaign, has allowed one run -- a homer on Opening Day -- in five appearances. He nailed down a five-out save against the Yankees last week when he extinguished a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth by retiring sluggers Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton and made quick work of New York in the ninth.
Soto, 27, has always had an electric arm. Early this season, he's also shown improved control.
"The strike throwing has been really, really good," said A.J. Hinch. "We’ve seen the growth in that department. His emotions are in check, but his intensity doesn’t waver. He’s got a ton of confidence in both his pitches. He throws 100, which helps, but nowadays everybody throws 95 or above. So I love his demeanor just as much as I love his stuff. His stuff speaks for itself. His growth as a person, as a competitor has been really fun to see."
Fulmer, the Tigers' longest-tenured player after Miguel Cabrera, just keeps doing his thing. He thrived in a move to the bullpen last season and hasn't allowed a run in seven outings this season, with seven strikeouts to one walk. At this rate, the pitcher who went to the All-Star Game in 2017 as a starter is going to return as a reliever. (At this rate!)
On the surface, Lange's numbers last year's weren't anything to write home about. But he flourished as he got more comfortable in his first big-league season, allowing a run in just two of his final 17 outings. He's allowed a run in just one of his six outings this season -- a blow-up last week against the Red Sox -- with eight strikeouts to three walks. Remember, this is a guy who was once a first-round pick of the Cubs.
"Alex has got a lot of ‘F you’ in his stuff, and I love that about him," catcher Tucker Barnhart said. "I think that all pitchers need to have some of that in their own way. Along with stuff, I think that’s what makes him good. He has the ability to throw all of his pitches in the strike zone whenever he wants. And that level of, 'Here it is, good luck,' really helps him be as good as he is."
Lange throws a fastball in the mid-90's along with a slider and a changeup that tend to induce tons of swings and misses. He has one of the highest whiff rates in the majors early this season. One of the first times Barnhart caught Lange this spring, he asked the 26-year-old righty, "How do you like to attack guys?'"
"And he said, 'I don’t care, I’ll throw anything at any time.' That speaks to the kind of guys he is," said Barnhart. "I really like catching him."
He's probably enjoyed catching all the Tigers' relievers so far. On top of its league-leading ERA, Detroit's bullpen ranks fourth in the AL in WHIP (1.07), batting average against (.199) and walk rate (3.1 BB/9).
This is a minor April miracle, on top of the fact that three of the Tigers' top relievers haven't thrown a single pitch. Last season, Detroit's bullpen ranked second to last in the AL in WHIP (1.45) and batting average against (.252) and dead last in walk rate (4.4 BB/9).
Can it continue? We'll see. It ultimately won't matter if the rotation, ninth in the AL with a 4.14 ERA, doesn't get healthy and start performing like the Tigers expected, and if the offense doesn't find some run production beyond Austin Meadows and rookie Spencer Torkelson. That the Tigers have the AL's best bullpen and a record of 6-9 is one of baseball's strangest April twists.
This mostly motley group of relievers is here to stay. Cisnero and Funkhouser won't return anytime soon, both on the 60-day injured list with shoulder strains. On the bright side, Chafin (groin) threw a strong rehab outing Sunday and should make his Tigers debut this week. Detroit's bullpen hasn't survived without them. It has thrived.
We can all drink to that.