Are you concerned with the current state of the Phillies’ bullpen?

That’s one of the burning questions on Phillies fans’ minds as the season starts to round into shape. It could become more intensified, especially with the rise of the Mets and the thought of the Braves still within range of the division.

It also is the topic of a recent Times News Lehighton Sports Facebook poll (See below for the results). You can argue that the Phils haven’t had a regular, legitimate closer since Hector Neris from 2017-21.

In this version of my Behind the Plate column, I’ll examine the state of the Phillies bullpen as their possible options, as well as scan around the game.

Also, I’ll look back at a former Northern Lehigh star who continued his successful career at Penn State.

There’s Plenty of Bull in the ‘Pen ... Like I documented earlier in some of these columns, the Phillies bullpen has been a major disappointment all season.

Overall, the Phillies’ collective bullpen ERA is 4.65, sixth worst in baseball, but it has moved up from being the second worst. Ironically, though, the Phils’ 20 saves are the second-highest behind the Padres (21).

Designated closer Jordan Romano imploded in the early part of the season, but he’s been working to regain the stature he had with Toronto. Jose Alvarado, who had taken over the role, was lost for most of the season due to his suspension for performance enhancing drugs (he had seven saves).

The Phillies chose not resign Jeff Hoffman and former close Carlos Estevez, which has proven to be a huge oversight.

It looked like Matt Strahm would step into the role, but he’s been inconsistent. Tanner Banks and Orion Kerkering both have been effective in short relief. Taijuan Walker has been demoted to the bullpen for long relief.

Romano has lowered his ERA from above 15 to just under eight (7.36), has eight saves along with 29 strikeouts in 22 innings.

Unless the Phils pull off a trade, it apparently will be Romano’s job to lose.

Alvarado had 13 saves and Hoffman 10 last season (Estevez had six after he joined the team in July). Craig Kimbrel saved 23 games the previous season.

And where have you gone, Corey Knebel? Remember him? He led the Phils with 12 saves during their World Series run in 2022.

Let’s Make a Deal ... Earlier in the season, the Phils were reportedly in discussions to acquire Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, who will be a free agent next season. Even though the Cardinals are back in the running for the NL Central, Helsley easily could still be on the market for the Phils and other clubs, notably in the second half of the season.

Aside from Helsley, there recently have been a number of perspective closers on the radar.

There has been growing speculation that the Phillies will make a call to the cross-state Pirates for David Bednar, a two-time All-Star closer who led the league in saves with 39 in 2023. He followed that up with 24 saves last season.

This year, Bednar struggled at the start and was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis. He found his groove nearly three weeks later, and has six saves with a 4.34 ERA. Bednar is scheduled to make $5.9 million this season and will be arbitration eligible next season.

Others who could be on the chart are ex-Phillies Seranthony Dominiquez and Gregory Soto, and fellow Oriole Felix Bautista, the Marlins’ Anthony Bender, the White Sox’ Zack Agnos, the Nationals’ Kyle Finnegan, and the Athletics’ A.J. Puk.

You Said It I ... In the recent Times News Facebook poll, 77 percent of fans believe there is a concern with the current state of the Phillies’ bullpen, while 23 percent believe there isn’t.

Lehighton resident Melissa Hammer Hager wrote: “They have no true closer and have not had one for years. The bullpen cannot seem to hold a lead. Starting pitching is suspect and may burn out at the end of the year.”

Well said, Melissa. There will be more poll results in the next column.

Big Five ... In keeping with the theme, here are the current top five closers and their current stats before Tuesday’s games:

Robert Suarez, Padres, 1-1, 1.98, 19 saves; Anders Munoz, Mariners, 2-0, 1.40 17 saves; Estevez, Angels, 2-0, 1.78, 16 saves; Finnegan, Nationals, 0-1, 2.61, 16 saves; and Josh Hader, Astros, 1-0, 1.44, 15 saves.

By the way, Hoffman has a 4-2 record with a 5.51 ERA and 13 saves for the Blue Jays.

A Brave New World ... Before the start of Tuesday’s games, the Braves were 27-31 in fourth place and 10 games out of first place.

It has been a season-long struggle for the Braves, who have been ravaged by injuries. They dipped over the .500 mark for only the second time this season on May 18, and they have a 9-14 record in one-run games. Atlanta also has a 10-20 record on the road.

Ronald Acuna Jr. is back in the lineup, and he was hitting .324 after his first nine games. However, the majority of the Braves’ bats — aside from Marcell Ozuna — have struggled, as their overall team batting average is .246.

Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach haven’t found their grooves, and Spencer Strider has been slow in his return.

Still, it’s way too early to count out the Braves.

Scrapbook ... Each column, I’ll recall a former local standout who continued their career in college, the pros, or both.

Matt Merkle was a 1985 Northern Lehigh graduate who has numerous entries in the Bulldogs’ baseball record books.

Merkle hit .352 in 1984 and .322 the following season. He holds the mark for walks in a season (34), and second in career walks (58). In addition, he is second in runs scored in a season (27), and fourth place with fewest strikeouts in a season (eight). Merkle was an All-League First Team Selection as a catcher in 1984 and 1985.

From there, Merkle earned three varsity letters at Penn State, where he had a career .352 batting average. After Penn State, Merkle began his career in the Blue Mountain League.

Readers Write ... Staying Close to Home

Dear Mr. Moeller,

I was born and raised in Palmerton, but I have lived in the suburbs of Memphis for almost 38 years. I also lived in Chicago for eight years before that. I have a subscription to the Times News here and love reading it.

In short, I think you are a great sports writer and I enjoy your columns tremendously — especially about the days gone by and the Phillies! I am a huge(!) baseball fan and the Times News still has some box scores, which I miss so much!!! The Times News coverage of baseball is better than my NY Times and you are as good a writer as any I’ve read in it, or the Chicago Tribune! Thank you!!!

Chris Scherer

Chris, thanks for the kind words and the support for the paper. Keep reading and responding!

Time Passages ... Each column, I’ll look back at a former player, team or situation from the pastime we love.

Do you remember Phillies closer Gene Garber? He is one of 24 major leaguers born in Lancaster, and one of two stellar closers from that area alongside Bruce Sutter.

Garber earned four letters in baseball and two in basketball at Elizabethtown High School. Garber struck out 27 batters in an 11-inning game against Donegal and pitched five one-hitters as a senior.

In June of 1965, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a pitcher and shortstop.

Garber made his debut for Pittsburgh in 1969, but his stay in the Steel City was a short three years and 20 games in which he had an 0-3 record.

He was traded to Kansas City for Jim Rooker in October 1972, and Garber posted a 10-11 record with a 3.54 ERA and 16 saves in 65 games.

The Phillies purchased the little-known sidearmer in July 1974, and he became a staple in the bullpen. Over five years, Garber registered a 33-22 record with a 2.68 ERA and 51 saves in 250 games.

Garber was dealt to the Braves for Dick Ruthven in July 1978, and he spent 10 seasons there. He went 53-73 with a 3.34 ERA and 141 saves in 557 games. In 1982, Garber was 8-10 with 30 saves and a 2.34 ERA in 69 games, and he finished seventh in the Cy Young voting. The Braves won the NL West that year under Joe Torre.

In August 1987, Garber was released by the Braves, and was resigned by the Royals in December.

Garber appeared in 26 games with an 0-4 record and a 3.58 ERA with six saves in 26 games before he was released in July 1988.

He then retired with 218 saves, placing him 48th on the MLB all-time list. He also has the distinction of ending Pete Rose’s 44-game hitting streak in 1978.

In 19 seasons, Garber had a 96-113 record with a 3.34 ERA in 931 games.

Your thoughts are always welcomed; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com