"Well, our exercise in optimism is just about over. Once I'm done explaining how "great" our bullpen will be this year, we can all go back to that black cloud hanging over the 2012 season. Right? After all, our bullpen stunk last season. And there's little hope it'll be good enough to get us to that 3.80 ERA.

After all, as you'll recall, the goal is to manage a team ERA of 3.80 over 1,450 innings pitched. Our starters, I optimistically predicted, will post a 3.92 ERA over 970 IP. That leaves 480 innings and 190 runs (a 3.56 ERA!) to allow for our bullpen."