On Paper, Series Battle of Pens Ends in a Draw

CINCINNATI â€”  In the battle of the bullpens, the Oakland Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds both were big winners in the playoffs.

So which set of relievers would you rather have for the World Series--Dennis Eckersley & Co. or the Nasty Boys?

“I would call their bullpen dominating, not ours,� Eckersley said. “I think they’re better because they throw harder. If you need a guy to come in and blow the ball by someone, they have three who can do it.�

Not that the A’s relief ace does too badly bringing it a tad slower.

“Oakland has a great closer in Dennis Eckersley and three great setup men in Todd Burns, Gene Nelson and Rick Honeycutt,� Reds Manager Lou Piniella said. “We have three closers. I think they compare favorably. Ours is more of a power bullpen. I think our guys throw harder.�

Rob Dibble hit 101 m.p.h. on the radar gun this season and Randy Myers and Norm Charlton are in the mid 90s. Honeycutt, a left-handed specialist, relies on off-speed and breaking pitches and Nelson throws a mix.

“Theirs is more of a finesse pen. I guess we’re more power,� Charlton said. “We’re not real concerned as to whether we get the ball on the inside part of the plate or the outside part. Our philosophy is: Here it is, hit it.�

No one did much hitting against either relief corps during the regular season and the bullpens were even better in the playoffs.

Eckersley, Honeycutt and Nelson combined to shut out Boston on five hits and no walks in 6 2/3 innings during Oakland’s four-game sweep.

Myers, Dibble and Charlton gave up one earned run in 15 2/3 innings in Cincinnati’s six-game victory over Pittsburgh. They combined to strike out 20, walk seven and give up six hits.

Myers, a left-hander, and Dibble, a right-hander, shared the series MVP award.

Eckersley enjoyed one of the best seasons in relief history this year, getting 48 saves in 50 chances. He had an 0.61 earned run average, walked only three batters unintentionally and struck out 73 in 73 1/3 innings. Opponents batted just .160 against him.

If the Reds’ relievers have a weakness, it’s control trouble. Myers, who had 31 saves, had a 2.08 ERA and opponents hit .193 against him, but he walked 30 (not including intentional ones) in 86 2/3 innings. Dibble, who had 11 saves as mostly a setup man, had a 1.74 ERA and opponents hit just .183 against him, and walked 31 in 98 innings. Charlton, who began the season as a stopper, became a starter and then returned to a relief role, walked 66 in 154 1/3 innings.