Mariners 25-Man Roster Ultimate Preview: Roster-Projected Bullpen

4 of 8

Mar 22, 2017; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Nick Vincent (50) pitches during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

RHP- Nick Vincent

IP- 54 W- 3 L- 1 ERA- 3.29 WHIP- 1.26 K-57 WAR- .7

Nick Vincent, like most relievers, is an oddity. Is he the Nick Vincent of 2013 and 2015 in which he never had an ERA over 2.35? Or is he the Nick Vincent of 2014 and 2016 in which he never had an ERA lower than 3.60?

The problem with relievers is because they pitch only an inning at a time, and because they don’t pitch too many innings in a year, the law of averages doesn’t always add up for them.

What I mean is as follows. Nick Vincent isn’t really a 2.35 ERA guy, but he most likely also isn’t a 3.60 ERA guy. He most likely is somewhere in between. Eventually, he will regress to his mean, and I think this is the year Nick Vincent is solid but not spectacular.

The one big concern with Vincent is his struggles with giving up the long-ball. Last year he gave up 11 home runs. In comparison, he had only given up eight home runs combined in his career before that year. In just 6.2 innings in spring training he has already given up five home runs.

If Vincent can just solve his home run problem, which is a major “IF”, I think he will be a positive component to the Mariners relief corp.