Perrotto: Don Kelly Gives Glimpse of How He Runs Bullpen

PITTSBURGH — Few aspects of today’s game define a manager more than his ability to handle the bullpen.

Former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton drew the ire of the fans and second-guesses from the media over the way he deployed his relief pitchers.

Don Kelly has managed just 11 games since being promoted from bench coach to replace Shelton on May 8. So far, Kelly hasn’t gotten into set patterns of using his relievers, and that may not change any time soon.

“I like playing the matchups right now and just seeing what fits best in that moment and finding the pocket that we feel is best for each guy,” Kelly said Tuesday night after the Pirates blanked the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 at PNC Park.

Former Pirates manager Jim Leyland often said roles “are something you put butter on,” when asked how he used his relievers.

Rolls are better served with butter than roles, but why quibble with a Hall of Famer?

Leyland’s point was that every pitcher in the bullpen should be ready to enter the game anytime. Kelly heard Leyland’s expression often when he was playing for Detroit and Leyland was managing the Tigers.

Thus, it was not surprising that Kelly did not commit when asked if he would eventually like to have his relievers settle into defined roles.

“I mean, we’ll see,” Kelly said. “Maybe down the road. I like where we’re at right now.”

Before Tuesday, Dennis Santana had the Pirates’ only save since Kelly became manager.

It was interesting how Kelly used his bullpen after starter Bailey Falter was removed from the game after throwing 79 pitches over seven scoreless innings. Despite Falter’s standout performance, the bullpen had no margin for error as it had to protect a 1-0 lead as the Pirates’ offense again sputtered.

Kelly had Santana work the eighth inning and David Bednar pitch the ninth.

Santana was rested as he hadn’t pitched since last Wednesday. He had also been scored upon only once in his previous 14 outings.

Conversely, Bednar allowed two runs in 0.2 innings on Monday night when the Reds turned a 2-1 nailbiter into a 7-1 laugher by scoring five runs in the last two innings of the three-game series opener.

Kelly’s plan on Tuesday seemed unorthodox, but it worked.

Santana set the Reds down in order in the eighth inning. Bednar pitched a scoreless ninth, giving up a leadoff single to TJ Friedl before getting Santiago Espinal to ground into double play and retiring Elly De La Cruz on a flyout to left to end the game.

Kelly said he had Bednar pitch the ninth because he thought the two-time All-Star matched better with the top of the Reds’ lineup. Kelly added that Bednar has not been returned to full-time closer duty.

Bednar was the Pirates’ closer the previous three seasons and had 81 saves in that span. He started this season so poorly that the 29-year-old was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on March 31 and spent nearly three weeks there before being recalled.

Since returning to the major leagues, Bednar has given up five runs in 13.1 innings and 14 games.

“Really, David, since he’s been back up, has been pitching really, really well, and Dennis has been great all year,” Kelly said. “So, we’re just trying to find the right matchups there for both of them.”

And that is fine with Bednar, even though he would eventually like to return to being the closer.

“Just being ready whenever the phone rings, getting ready for that opportunity, wanting to deliver and get us back in the dugout, or if it’s in the ninth inning, just sealing a win,” Bednar said. “It’s the same attitude regardless of the inning. But I just want to get the job done and get three outs.”

And perhaps then celebrate with a buttered roll.