Chicago Managers Depend on Bullpens Amid Challenges

Craig Counsell and Will Venable are experiencing similar hurdles with their teams’ bullpens. Counsell saw his Chicago Cubs lose an 8-6 game to the Toronto Blue Jays after blowing a 5-0 lead. Venable watched the White Sox bullpen crumble in a 4-1 loss against the Detroit Tigers during a bullpen day due to a shortage of starters. The White Sox bullpen faltered again on Sunday, blowing leads in the ninth and tenth innings in a 5-4 loss to Detroit, resulting in a road trip sweep.

Baseball managers like Venable and Counsell rely heavily on their bullpens. Teams average 4.23 pitchers per game, a trend seen since 2015, as starter pitch counts decrease and reliever velocities increase. Managers often face criticism when bullpen strategies fail.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell, known for his bullpen management in Milwaukee, with closers Josh Hader and Devin Williams, faces scrutiny over his decisions in Chicago. Venable’s strategies are getting attention as the White Sox contend and prepare for a significant series against the Cleveland Guardians.

Both teams’ bullpens have been inconsistent. Cubs relievers rank 12th with a 3.82 ERA but fell to a 4.94 ERA in June, blowing five saves. The loss of closer Daniel Palencia affected the bullpen’s performance. The Cubs rank last in holds, and injuries have led to a rotation move for Ben Brown.

Every season throws stuff at you and you just got to roll with it and you got to be ready for it and you got to adjust to it.

White Sox relievers ranked 18th with a 4.26 ERA. Venable has used an opener 15 times, impacting bullpen stats. The bullpen excels at home but struggles on the road.

The Cubs restructured their bullpen, letting go of Brad Keller to sign free agent Phil Maton on a two-year, $14 million deal, although Maton struggled alongside Ryan Pressly. Injuries have plagued Hunter Harvey and Jacob Webb.

The White Sox revamped their bullpen, acquiring Jordan Hicks and signing Seranthony Domínguez on a two-year contract. Hicks returned from injury Sunday. Domínguez has 12 saves but struggles with control, evidenced by Sunday’s blown save.

Overall, relievers like Grant Taylor and Sean Newcomb have been effective, although Venable finds Taylor’s role challenging. Newcomb’s value to the bullpen is significant, despite the potential for starting roles.

Using openers has received mixed reviews among players. Erick Fedde has adapted after frequently following openers, emphasizing that he focuses on performance regardless of his role.

Managing baseball in Chicago requires resilience. Counsell and Venable face complex bullpen choices that influence their teams’ success as they continue their seasons.