Sox Pitching Staff Discussion

[sk7326]

Ziegler is a good RP but is also a FA I believe. Kimbrel has done a fairly good job, Buchholz has looked better with the bullpen work, Ross is a valuable BP asset, Barnes just isn't getting it done despite the good velocity, Tazawa has been used an awful lot and then was injured (maybe his career is on the downside but he deserve much credit for all the past work he has done), Abad in my opinion, has very good stuff and is acclimatizing himself to the new position (I would definitely keep him).

 

Do we have enough relief pitching to get to the Playoffs? It hasn't looked good and in combination with JF's reluctance to pull pitchers until the damage is done further harms our chances.

 

Probably. I do expect Farrell to be more aggressive with a larger roster - he managed the playoffs pretty aggressively on this front in 2013.

[Jasonbay44]

The roster expansion could be interesting, maybe one of these relievers being called up will catch fire and help us.. Wishful thinking but who knows.. Can't be much worse than what we already have.

[bosoxmal]

Was I seeing things? Real or fantasy, what I was seeing after one or two pitches the eRod made in the 5th inning, was not being seen by the manager or his piching coach. Now, I am almost 92 f***ing years old, sitting in front of a 33" Vizio. These two gurs are 50 feet away from the pitcher, and they can't see what I saw? After 2 or 3 pitches? He was awkward, out of synch, call it what you will. My imagination? Not after he walked his way getting pulled, it wasn't. Does JF see this, too? And simply hopes he will straightened out? With his history? He belongs on the Dl, then a recovery period in A ball. Barnes should have been hustled in for one batter, giving Buchholz a chance to warm up. No, I don't travel well any more, so am not interested in the job.

[Spudboy]

Was I seeing things? Real or fantasy, what I was seeing after one or two pitches the eRod made in the 5th inning, was not being seen by the manager or his piching coach. Now, I am almost 92 f***ing years old, sitting in front of a 33" Vizio. These two gurs are 50 feet away from the pitcher, and they can't see what I saw? After 2 or 3 pitches? He was awkward, out of synch, call it what you will. My imagination? Not after he walked his way getting pulled, it wasn't. Does JF see this, too? And simply hopes he will straightened out? With his history? He belongs on the Dl, then a recovery period in A ball. Barnes should have been hustled in for one batter, giving Buchholz a chance to warm up. No, I don't travel well any more, so am not interested in the job.

 

Give'em hell Gramps!!1!!

[Maxbialystock]

Was I seeing things? Real or fantasy, what I was seeing after one or two pitches the eRod made in the 5th inning, was not being seen by the manager or his piching coach. Now, I am almost 92 f***ing years old, sitting in front of a 33" Vizio. These two gurs are 50 feet away from the pitcher, and they can't see what I saw? After 2 or 3 pitches? He was awkward, out of synch, call it what you will. My imagination? Not after he walked his way getting pulled, it wasn't. Does JF see this, too? And simply hopes he will straightened out? With his history? He belongs on the Dl, then a recovery period in A ball. Barnes should have been hustled in for one batter, giving Buchholz a chance to warm up. No, I don't travel well any more, so am not interested in the job.

 

Oh, it's possible you saw what others didn't see. But when you look at the game thread all the comments were on the ineptitude of both ERod and Barnes (and Ross). Back to what you saw: I believe ERod had no problems in the 5th inning. It was the 6th that was his problem. He gave up a double and 2 walks and got one out against a lefty hitter, which is when Barnes came in, with no runs in but the bases loaded and the Sox clinging to a 4-2 lead. Also, when ERod went out to start the 6th, he had only thrown like 70 pitches. Given our weak bullpen, Farrell had all kinds of reasons for not wanting to take ERod out after 2 or 3 pitches.

[Slasher9]

Barnes threw a match into the can of gas.....

[bosoxmal]

Oh, it's possible you saw what others didn't see. But when you look at the game thread all the comments were on the ineptitude of both ERod and Barnes (and Ross). Back to what you saw: I believe ERod had no problems in the 5th inning. It was the 6th that was his problem. He gave up a double and 2 walks and got one out against a lefty hitter, which is when Barnes came in, with no runs in but the bases loaded and the Sox clinging to a 4-2 lead. Also, when ERod went out to start the 6th, he had only thrown like 70 pitches. Given our weak bullpen, Farrell had all kinds of reasons for not wanting to take ERod out after 2 or 3 pitches.

I stand corrected; yes, it was the 6th when he fell apart. The smoke was coming out of my ears so fast I couldn't see the 2" graphics they use. Are they getting smaller every year? I know the score streaming is only half the size it was at one time. BTW, we have to take 3 or 4 from the Rays, or I can get out my old Woody Guthrie recording of "Good Night Irene"

[bosoxmal]

Give'em hell Gramps!!1!!

 

Ah, but you didn't answer the question. Could JF see what should have been ovious? Or was he simply saying a little prayer, and hoping on the side?

[oldtimer]

Ah, but you didn't answer the question. Could JF see what should have been ovious? Or was he simply saying a little prayer, and hoping on the side?

 

JF acts like the Buddha, sitting there in serenity while E-Rod was obviously out of synch. Not the first time he has left a starting pitcher in too long. Maybe us older guys have seen it all happen before and realize that inaction in this case and other similar ones may lead to this club becoming an also ran. When the starting pitcher obviously can't get the job done, at least try something else.

 

My dad, who would be 120 had he lived, would often stew about bad decision making and why the Sox could never win a title. They finally did, but too late for him to see it.

[Spudboy]

JF acts like the Buddha, sitting there in serenity while E-Rod was obviously out of synch. Not the first time he has left a starting pitcher in too long. Maybe us older guys have seen it all happen before and realize that inaction in this case and other similar ones may lead to this club becoming an also ran. When the starting pitcher obviously can't get the job done, at least try something else.

 

My dad, who would be 120 had he lived, would often stew about bad decision making and why the Sox could never win a title. They finally did, but too late for him to see it.

 

I'm not a true Farrell basher but I certainly see what you see.

[oldtimer]

For those of you who bash Abad, he came in and got the job done last night. He has really good velocity (95 mph fast ball) and a killer curve. I for one hope they keep him next year as finding good lefty relief pitchers is not that easy.

[mvp 78]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/08/jonathan-papelbon-red-sox-reunion-increasingly-unlikely.html

 

We're 36 hours away from the nightmare scenario of Papelbon signing with the 2016 Sox being over. My fingers are crossed.

[SoxnCycles]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/08/jonathan-papelbon-red-sox-reunion-increasingly-unlikely.html

 

We're 36 hours away from the nightmare scenario of Papelbon signing with the 2016 Sox being over. My fingers are crossed.

 

Yeah, with that rock-solid bullpen, where could the Sox possibly fit him in?

[mvp 78]

Yeah, with that rock-solid bullpen, where could the Sox possibly fit him in?

 

Who would he take the place of right now? Would he be an improvement over what we have? Would his performance outweigh any of the baggage that he brings to the table?

[Slasher9]

Who would he take the place of right now? Would he be an improvement over what we have? Would his performance outweigh any of the baggage that he brings to the table?

 

it's not like the bullpen is lights out and he would adversely effect the bp mojo. i would rather see him given a shot than tazawa throwing another pitch.

[mvp 78]

it's not like the bullpen is lights out and he would adversely effect the bp mojo. i would rather see him given a shot than tazawa throwing another pitch.

 

What would you do with Tazawa? DFA?

[a700hitter]

Taz needs to turn things around very fast. He doesn't have much rope left.

[mvp 78]

Who is the odd man out when Koji comes back next week? Ross? Tazawa? Barnes? I can't see them moving on from Abad.

[mvp 78]

Maybe they just give Taz a DL stint?

[illinoisredsox]

Who is the odd man out when Koji comes back next week? Ross? Tazawa? Barnes? I can't see them moving on from Abad.

 

Maybe they just give Taz a DL stint?

 

 

None of them, rosters expand Thursday.

[Slasher9]

What would you do with Tazawa? DFA?

 

DL. although in 2 days it wont matter.

[mvp 78]

None of them, rosters expand Thursday.

 

Who needs a calendar, really?

[southpaw777]

Who would you have taken out of the rotation? Wright? ERod?

 

Either one. Buch was looking good and both of those two had crappy outings.

[southpaw777]

Farrell overuses his guys in the pen. How many f***ing times have i seen someone warm up twice only to not be brought in. Or he just goes to the same guy until his arm falls off...anyway, Barnes is about toast it seems. Taz IS toast and should not throw another pitch. Hopefully Koji can come back strong and Buch/Zig can lock down one of the 7-8 innings, although I Wish Buch got another start. Another Farrell pitching mistake IMHO.

[moonslav59]

If we only had a strong and deep pen that would allow us to yank starters after 5 or 6 innings...

 

8/30 6.2 IP 1 ER Lost 4-3

8/29 7.0 IP 3 ER Won 9-4

8/28 5.1 IP 2 ER Lost 10-4

8/27 8.0 IP 2 ER Won 8-3

8/26 5 ERs in the first innings against Wright (6 ER in 6-3 loss)

8/25 6.0 IP 1 ER Lost 2-1

8/24 7.1 IP 2 ER Lost 4-3 in 11 innings

8/23 9.0 IP 1 ER Won 2-1

8/22 8.1 IP 0 ER Won 6-2

8/21 10 runs let up in Owens start (lost 10-5)

8/19 6.1 IP 1 ER (9 IP 2 ER) Won 10-2

8/18 7.0 IP 1 ER Lost 4-3

8/17 6.0 IP 1 ER (shortened game) Won

8/16 6.1 IP 0 ER Won 8-1

8/15 7.1 IP 1 ER Won 5-3

8/14 7.2 IP 1 ER Won 3-2

8/13 9.0 IP 3 ER Won 6-3

8/12 8.2 IP 3 ER Won 9-4

8/11 7.0 IP 1 ER Lost 4-2

8/10 6.0 IP 1 ER Lost 9-4

8/09 8.2 ER 2 ER Won 5-3

 

Our rotation has looked pretty solid, at least for 5-7 IP.

 

It's a pretty incredible streak for our rotation. Only two bad games since August 8th, and those were the Owens start and the first inning back by Wright!

 

This is World Series caliber starting pitching we're seeing. It's just too bad these guys can't go 8-9 innings every night.

 

 

[sk7326]

A healthy Uehara will help a lot of this fall into place ... big if obviously

[moonslav59]

A healthy Uehara will help a lot of this fall into place ... big if obviously

 

I had hopes that Barnes or Hembree could advance over the year enough to be a solid #3 or 7th inning force, but I's having serious doubts we'll have anyone beyond Kimbrel and Ziegler we can trust.

[sk7326]

I had hopes that Barnes or Hembree could advance over the year enough to be a solid #3 or 7th inning force, but I's having serious doubts we'll have anyone beyond Kimbrel and Ziegler we can trust.

 

Hembree's splits are encouraging at least - I think the bullpen can work, but Farrell will have to be aggressive with quick hooks and such. The encouraging thing was that he did quite a bit of this in 2013.

[moonslav59]

Hembree's splits are encouraging at least - I think the bullpen can work, but Farrell will have to be aggressive with quick hooks and such. The encouraging thing was that he did quite a bit of this in 2013.

 

The quicker the hook, the more pen pieces you have to use.

 

The more pen pieces you use, the less you have to use later (or the next game).

 

When you only have 2 good pieces and 2 okay pieces, you're up s***'s creek with just your hands to use.

[sk7326]

The quicker the hook, the more pen pieces you have to use.

 

The more pen pieces you use, the less you have to use later (or the next game).

 

When you only have 2 good pieces and 2 okay pieces, you're up s***'s creek with just your hands to use.

 

with 8 relievers, the people are there - can't worry about tomorrow as much ... i mean in the postseason, third time through the order during an ERod start, the phone will be ringing