Fredi Gonzalez took to heart something Bobby Cox told him during his time in Atlanta. Or at least I assume it was when he was with the Braves, but it really doesn't matter when it happened, so onto the story .
Again, though, Gonzalez dismisses any suggestion of complicated theory as an explanation for Florida's success so far. It requires no genius, he said, and instead he made reference to something mentor and Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox once told him. "He said most managers get fired for one reason - they don't handle the bullpen right," Gonzalez said. "We have some pretty good guys out there." --- "It's almost to the point where anybody could do any job at any point," Gonzalez said of his bullpen after the win. "It's a nice problem to have.
Fredi's greatest in game strength as a manager this season has been his ability to manage the bullpen. While I'm sure he gets advice from Mark Wiley, it is Fredi's decision to make.
The real test will come in July and August if most of the starters can't go deeper in the games than they are now causing the pen to become arm weary. While he did sit at the feet of Yoda and all, there isn't much one can do with a dead arm pen.
Hopefully over working the bullpen won't be a season long problem. Olsen should be good all season, if they don't allow him to throw an inordinate number of innings. Hendrickson is looking solid. Badenhop has promise. I still think Nolasco will come around. And then there is Andrew Miller, we will see about the young Mr. MIller.
If the starters can do their part, Fredi knows how to handle the relief.