Leading Off this Week: The Pen is Mightiest

The bullpen has become the focus of modern baseball. It's essentially a greenroom as they prepare to take center stage. Hours are spent analyzing the opposition, comparing notes and getting loose - which often extends beyond pitchers' muscles to their interactions with spectators. The bullpen is home not only to relievers, of course, but also to starters before game time, to backup catchers and to coaches who are a phone call away (not cell, not even cordless) from the brain trust in the dugout.

Miami Marlins in Bullpen

Rob Foldy

Dean Treanor of the Miami Marlins reviews charts with Dillon Peters and Nick Wittgren in the bullpen during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park

Bullpen Coach Dean Treanor

Rob Foldy

Miami Marlins Dillon Peters warms up in the Bullpen

Rob Foldy

Miami Marlins

Rob Foldy

Miami Marlins Junichi Tazawa warms up in the Bullpen

Rob Foldy

Miami Marlins Tayron Guerrero

Rob Foldy

Miami Marlins Junichi Tazawa

Rob Foldy

Miami Marlins Tayron Guerrero

Rob Foldy

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

Erick W. Rasco

Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers

Greg Nelson

Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Kershaw warms up in the Bullpen

Robert Beck

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Minnesota Twins

David E. Klutho

Miami Marlins Junichi Tazawa

Rob Foldy

Pittsburg Pirates vs. New York Mets

Erick W. Rasco

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington

Simon Bruty

Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees

Erick W. Rasco

New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves

Kevin Liles

New York Mets vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Nils Nilsen

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Pittsburg Pirates vs. New York Mets

Erick W. Rasco

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Fred Vuich

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Pittsburg Pirates vs. New York Mets

Erick W. Rasco

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes

Kansas City Royals at Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Haynes