Bailey - Stay or Go?

[Youk Of The Nation]

I'm only at 2 pages, you need to step your posts per page game up.

 

My computer slows down drastically the more posts per page there are. I still can't afford a new laptop so as long as I'm on my stepdad's old desktop computer it's sloooow going.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Is that Navy dude eligible to be missed even though he made a few posts recently?

 

Oh yeah! Destroyah! He was cool too, though I didn't know him as well. I miss SOTK most of all though, I wish he'd come back. It must be nice to have friends and stuff in real life.

[Station 13]

Get this f***er outta here.

[Bellhorn04]

Some people say our closer position should be easy to fill. But Bailey is the 4th guy to bomb out in the last 1.5 seasons. Aceves, Melancon, Hanrahan and Bailey. Granted Hanrahan got injured or maybe was injured, but he didn't look good at any point.

[User Name]

Hanrahan needed TJ, Melancon was insurance for the injured Bailey, and Aceves.....he shouldn't even be mentioned.

 

Again, the Sox have chosen a lot of questionable options. Doesn't mean they can't fill the position without a big name

[Bellhorn04]

Hanrahan needed TJ, Melancon was insurance for the injured Bailey, and Aceves.....he shouldn't even be mentioned.

 

Again, the Sox have chosen a lot of questionable options. Doesn't mean they can't fill the position without a big name

 

But Melancon and Aceves have had success pitching in other situations. They're not bums. But they couldn't handle being the Sox closer, for whatever reason. And Bard turned down the job, which was a catastrophic decision.

[User Name]

But Melancon and Aceves have had success pitching in other situations. They're not bums. But they couldn't handle being the Sox closer, for whatever reason. And Bard turned down the job, which was a catastrophic decision.

 

Melancon's anxiety issues were well publicized (i remember Jacko warning about his failures in NY, one of the only times he's been right). Aceves doesn't have closer stuff, and having him try to pitch like one proved disastrous. Bard was chasing the money....could've been the answer.

 

As of right now, they should see what they have in Tazawa. He's a guy that profiles similarly to some other "out-of-nowhere" closers from successful teams like Romo and Motte.

[Bellhorn04]

Tazawa is the obvious choice. Uehara may have pitched a little better than Tazawa, but Tazawa should be more durable.

[User Name]

Tazawa is the obvious choice. Uehara may have pitched a little better than Tazawa, but Tazawa should be more durable.

 

He also has way better stuff. Also, don't be surprised if Bailey is injured. He has never been this bad. It's not a mental thing i don't think. It seems like he has no idea where the ball is going.

[iortiz]

It's funny how the "start exploring options" has raised.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Yeah, because no one spent pages trying to explain why Tazawa and Uehara would be good options in case Bailey continued to spiral. The discussion was raised before tonight's fiasco, we are now returning to it in earnest because of that.

[User Name]

Yeah, because no one spent pages trying to explain why Tazawa and Uehara would be good options in case Bailey continued to spiral. The discussion was raised before tonight's fiasco, we are now returning to it in earnest because of that.

 

In several threads.

[RedSoxNC84]

Man, if only Hanrahan wasn't injured and didn't suck.

[dupree]

After lastnite game i dont know what the answer should be. But one thing is for certain Bailey is gonna have to turn it around. I think options should be brought in and fast. Each game is too critical in the tight AL East.

[mvp 78]

Found it interesting that it was Miller warming behind Bailey. Maybe that's who gets the call next? I think Taz could definitely handle it. How long until Bailey is on the DL and Wilson comes back?

[SoxFanForsyth]

Bailey hasn't had a clean inning since...

 

 

wait for it....

 

 

APRIL 24TH!!!!

 

He's allowed at least 1 baserunner in every single outing since then. Good job, closer.

[Bellhorn04]

Bailey hasn't had a clean inning since...

 

 

wait for it....

 

 

APRIL 24TH!!!!

 

He's allowed at least 1 baserunner in every single outing since then. Good job, closer.

 

I think Bailey makes the case that it's not an easy job to be the Red Sox closer. He had great numbers with Oakland and he got off to a good start this year. But now look at him. He's toast. It's a tough job. The choke factor is underrated.

[Standing Room]

Tazawa would be the obvious choice, he was the number one player being acquired in Yahoo fantasy baseball leagues this morning. And after last night, I can't say I blame Farrell for making the change.

[User Name]

I think Bailey makes the case that it's not an easy job to be the Red Sox closer. He had great numbers with Oakland and he got off to a good start this year. But now look at him. He's toast. It's a tough job. The choke factor is underrated.

 

Or overrated? How do you know the reason for his struggles are not physical? We're all speculating here. High-leverage situations are high-leverage situations, and while some places may be tougher to play in than others, Boston is not some magical place where pitchers can't perform.

[SoxSport]

Bailey has been wearing a "danger-implosion" sign on his forehead his last few appearances. Amazing how a manager takes chances on a guy like that with the game on the line in a close pennant race.

They just get locked in on assignments and are unable to change direction quickly enough.

 

If you are going to make a guy so important saving game after game, you better get a good one--and pay him.

[Bellhorn04]

Or overrated? How do you know the reason for his struggles are not physical? We're all speculating here. High-leverage situations are high-leverage situations, and while some places may be tougher to play in than others, Boston is not some magical place where pitchers can't perform.

 

Not magical, but higher-pressure. It's all debatable, needless to say. But I think there is actually is a body of evidence that some pitchers and some players have trouble performing for the Red Sox and the Yankees and do much better in other places. I think Melancon is an obvious example of this syndrome. With him it seems to be framed as 'anxiety issues'. Well, I think these anxiety issues probably affect a lot of players.

[User Name]

Yeah but Melancon couldn't pitch any inning, so it's not a "closer as special pitcher" situation.

 

If you can get through the heart of the order in the eighth with a runner on base and a one-run lead, you can come on the ninth with the bases clean to save the game.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I still think the Sox need to call up RDLR right now, move him to the 7th, DL Bailey, have Wilson/RDLR/Breslow for the 7th, Miller/Uehara in the 8th, Tazawa in the 9th, and Morales as your long man.

 

Simply put, that is the best bullpen that the Red Sox can put together right now, and it has a good chance to be elite.

[a700hitter]

I still think the Sox need to call up RDLR right now, move him to the 7th, DL Bailey, have Wilson/RDLR/Breslow for the 7th, Miller/Uehara in the 8th, Tazawa in the 9th, and Morales as your long man.

 

Simply put, that is the best bullpen that the Red Sox can put together right now, and it has a good chance to be elite.

I like most of this, but why would you DL Bailey? How can he work out his issues from the DL? Why not let him pitch in low leverage situations?

[Standing Room]

Just curious, is there anyone who think Junichi Tazawa won't be a good closer?

[iortiz]

[/b]

 

Not magical, but higher-pressure. It's all debatable, needless to say. But I think there is actually is a body of evidence that some pitchers and some players have trouble performing for the Red Sox and the Yankees and do much better in other places. I think Melancon is an obvious example of this syndrome. With him it seems to be framed as 'anxiety issues'. Well, I think these anxiety issues probably affect a lot of players.

 

Let me see, since 2011, what you got?

 

Jenks

Aceves

Melancon

Bailey

Hanrahan

Plus other inside experiments.

 

A lot attempts -- regardless the money, prospects and mostly Ls they taxed us --, and Zero results in a year and half. Zero.

 

... And now they about to try with another unproven closer.

 

Is this a magical spot? Naaaahhh but very few can succeed in that role and mostly in environments like Boston. You had the cream of the cream and let him walk. Just like that. Nothing new here, Good things in life cost. You had a gem and wanted to pay like if it was a fake pearl. Some people will never understand this.

 

Anyways, hopefully this new experiment works out.

[Standing Room]

Let me see, since 2011, what you got?

 

Jenks

Aceves

Melancon

Bailey

Hanrahan

Plus other inside experiments.

 

A lot attempts -- regardless the money, prospects and mostly Ls they taxed us --, and Zero results in a year and half. Zero.

 

... And now they about to try with another unproven closer.

 

Is this a magical spot? Naaaahhh but very few can succeed in that role and mostly in environments like Boston. You had the cream of the cream and let him walk. Just like that. Nothing new here, Good things in life cost. You had a gem and wanted to pay like if it was a fake pearl. Some people will never understand this.

 

Anyways, hopefully this new experiment works out.

 

Jenks, Melancon, Bailey and Hanrahan were all acquired because we believed they had the "magical" ability to pitch the 9th inning. And look how that worked out. Imagine if we had promoted our best reliever from within to begin with. If we made Bard the closer rather than a starter, he might still be our closer now. Promoting Tazawa to closer is the right move, it's a waste to give up resources to acquire a "proven closer".

[iortiz]

Just curious, is there anyone who think Junichi Tazawa won't be a good closer?

 

This experiment better work it out. If he shits the bed, will you keep experiment with unproven closers like Koji and Miller? Or would you go and explore other options in the market?

[iortiz]

Jenks, Melancon, Bailey and Hanrahan were all acquired because we believed they had the "magical" ability to pitch the 9th inning. And look how that worked out. Imagine if we had promoted our best reliever from within to begin with. If we made Bard the closer rather than a starter, he might still be our closer now. Promoting Tazawa to closer is the right move, it's a waste to give up resources to acquire a "proven closer".

 

The only thing you had to do was lock out Papelbon. Plain and Simple.

 

Anyways, it is in the past.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I like most of this, but why would you DL Bailey? How can he work out his issues from the DL? Why not let him pitch in low leverage situations?

 

Only way you can get RDLR up here right now is by DL. He was optioned on Sunday, which means he's only missed 5 days. Once you're optioned, you have to be down 10 days before being called back up unless there is a DL situation.

 

Not sure something isn't physically wrong with Bailey, anyway. Look at his numbers post-DL stint.

 

Pre DL: 1.46 ERA, Opponents hitting .140/.213/.256, 20 K, 4 BB in 12.1 IP.

 

Post DL: 7.20 ERA, Opposnents hitting .316/.422/.737, 10 K, 7 BB in 10 IP.

 

So in 2.1 fewer innings, his K numbers have been cut in half, his BB numbers have doubled, and his avg, obp, and slg numbers have all doubled or close to tripled (SLG).

 

I don't think this is a case of him being able to fix it in low leverage situations. There's another underlying factor here.