By: Chris Terlop

One of the latest fads on television right now is “rescue shows”. Bar Rescue, Restaurant Impossible, the list goes on.  The premise being that these businesses are struggling and there is no hope in sight.  The Brewers bullpen fit right on the list last season and the beginning of this year.

Last season the Brewers’ bullpen was dead last in earned run average with a 4.66 and appeared in every game.  You can see the problems this could cause a team in the win-loss column. They also had a league-high 29 blown saves. If a third of those saves are converted the Brewers are in the playoffs at 93-69.  A 90-win season was in reach and a playoff appearance and it all slipped away because of a black hole of a bullpen.

This season started much the same, with an ERA above four once again and a closer who couldn’t close.  Then a resurgence, a make-over, turned this rag tag bunch into one of the best bullpens in baseball, lowering their ERA to 3.05, good for sixth in major league baseball.

They did it while acquiring one new arm in the process, an unsigned Francisco Rodriguez, and taking closer John Axford out of the closing role.  What happened?  A new bullpen emerged.  Axford figured out that he is better as a set-up man at this point in his career, not allowing a run in his last 19 appearances.

Jim Henderson has taken on the closer role nicely, despite two recent blown saves.  When he moved to closer, the whole bullpen settled into their roles.  That right there is the difference, guys were throwing with confidence in familiar situations and were able to get into a normal routine.  162 games of uncertainty and confusion is a near impossible environment for anyone to be successful.

While the Brewers season is likely done, the can take comfort in the fact that they have found a closer in Jim Henderson who they can move forward with.  As for Axford and K-Rod, they are becoming quite attractive to contenders.  If the Brewers can swap them for some starting pitching prospects, they could be in business in the near future.

You can hear Chris on Sportsline M-F and the Saturday Morning Showcase at 8 am.  Follow him on Twitter @ChrisTerlop