Five months ago, when we published our blurb reflecting on Richard Bleier’s 2021 season, it started as such: “There are three guarantees in this world: death, taxes, and sub-3 ERA’s from Richard Bleier.”
As advertised, Bleier was up to his old tricks in 2021, completing his fifth season with an ERA below 3. Now, he may not have done it in the sexiest of fashions, but the point of the matter is he did it. Even accounting for Miami’s pitcher-friendly conditions, he had a 142 ERA+ to go along with a 0.