The Mop Up Awards

When constructing a bullpen, every General Manager keeps at least one guy around, not to come in and extinguish a fire or save the game at its most crucial point, but rather to prevent further damage and save the arms of others. These are known as mop up pitchers, because their job is, essentially, to help clean up, or not spread further, the mess created by others. These pitchers tend to be the equivalent to the 12th man in the NBA, and are only called upon in situations wherein using other, better relievers would result in the wasting of resources.

One such mop up pitcher is Clay Condrey of the Phillies, who actually put together a relatively solid season. In 56 games, he posted an ERA of 3.26 and an FIP of 4.19. Numbers not necessarily keeping his agent’s phone ringing off the hook, but he did a very effective job of mopping up; entering into blowouts or games out of reach and at least keeping the score where it stood. All told, Condrey’s pLI, average leverage index, was 0.45, which happened to be the lowest amongst all relievers with at least 50 innings pitched. Interestingly enough, his career has seen the pLI decrease every season, from 1.10 five years ago down to 1.02, to 0.96, to 0.60 last year, to this year’s 0.45.

Some of his low leverage index contemporaries this season were Aquilino Lopez, Brian Bass, Joel Peralta, and the recently-signed Jeremy Affeldt. Readers, I need your help. Unfortunately, I do not know the mop up men for every team, but if we can compile a good list of 30, we will be able to determine whomever was the most moppy-uppiest of them all, and declare a winner. Further, if we are able to name all 30 and officially declare a winner, I will make some sort of an award in Microsoft Publisher or some such program and mail it to his team.

So… let the names begin!