Papelbon leads baseball's best bullpen

1. Red Sox - 2.26
2. Athletics - 2.64
3. Mets - 3.22
4. Mariners - .323
5. Blue Jays - 3.23
6. Pirates - 3.50
7. Dodgers - 3.67
8. Royals - 3.71
9. Rays - 3.92
10. Giants - 4.16
11. Brewers - 4.29
12. Astros - 4.35
13. Padres - 4.38
14. Reds - 4.40
15. Phillies - 4.54
16. Cardinals - 4.57
17. White Sox - 4.62
18. Marlins - 4.63
19. Cubs - 4.88
20. Braves - 5.02
21. Tigers - 5.17
22. Nationals 5.25
23. Diamondbacks - 5.26
24. Rockies - 5.50
25. Indians - 5.80
26. Orioles - 6.14
27. Twins - 6.14
28. Rangers - 6.41
29. Yankees - 6.65
30. Angels - 6.82

- The Angels and Twins are the biggest surprises at the bottom. The Angels, who still have a very expensive pen even with Francisco Rodriguez gone, are even worse than the 6.82 mark suggests, as they're tied with the Rangers for the most unearned runs allowed with six. Overwork has nothing to do it. The Angels pen has throwing just 60 2/3 innings, which ranks 23rd in the majors. The Orioles lead the majors with 80 2/3 relief innings thrown.

- Even with a lousy 41/34 K/BB ratio in 59 1/3 innings, the Reds have the only bullpen yet to be charged with a blown save. The Pirates, Rays (in just four chances), White Sox, Tigers and Rangers have one blown save apiece.

- The A's lead the way with a .183 average against. Next are the Blue Jays (.193) and Pirates (.300). The Red Sox are fifth at .215.

- The Yankees are worst in the majors with 15 homers allowed. The Braves are the best with two.

- Atlanta's pen is the real mystery here. 61 hits, 29 walks and two homers in 57 1/3 innings shouldn't result in a 5.02 ERA. The pen is also tops in the game with 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The ugly ERA is largely the result of the eight-run inning that turned a 10-3 lead into a 12-11 loss against the Phillies on April 8.

- Red Sox relievers Manny Delcarmen (13) and Ramon Ramirez (12 1/3) are tops in the majors in innings thrown without having given up an earned run. Also over 10 are Brian Stokes (11), Frank Francisco (10 2/3), Ryan Franklin (10 1/3) and injured Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter (10).