Koji hurts pectoral

[Bellhorn04]

Those who are claiming overuse, tell us what your 'Koji Rules' would have been this year, starting with targets for # of appearances and innings.

[Dojji]

... and while you do that bear in mind that those preseason rules would already have to be adjusted slightly due to the injury to Carson Smith.

[mvp 78]

Simple rule: don't let him lead the team in appearances.

[Dojji]

OK. Who takes those innings, and the innings Carson Smith wasn't able to pick up? Do you think that a mix of Layne and Hembree could have taken those extra late and tight situations?

[Kimmi]

Also, when your starting rotation fails to do its job and get through 6 innings, it puts the manager in a real bind in terms of BP usage.

[Bellhorn04]

Simple rule: don't let him lead the team in appearances.

 

Wouldn't Kimbrel and Tazawa be in a virtual dead heat with Koji if they didn't go on the DL?

 

Plus Barnes leads the bullpen in innings.

[User Name]

Koji was probably overused in April and May with a total of 21 IP. But in June and July he only had a total of 15 IP. That's very moderate usage. I'm not sure how you're supposed to plan around a reliever that you can only use sparingly with the number of innings that have to be covered. It's much easier said than done when you're trying to win games. IMHO.

 

That's management's problem. But I've been singing this tune since before the season started, as you know.

[Dojji]

That's management's problem.

 

So you criticise them for mismanaging a job that you admit you have no idea how to do better?

[User Name]

Also, when your starting rotation fails to do its job and get through 6 innings, it puts the manager in a real bind in terms of BP usage.

 

Also management's problem. I (and I will blow my own horn here again) cautioned against counting on two injury-prone pitchers for 2/5ths of the rotation since mid-November. The answer by the time the season rolled around was Kelly's great ST and Buchholz' stellar half-seasons every other year. Needless to say, both of those backfired miserably. They had options to increase rotation depth and did not do so. This is the end result.

[User Name]

So you criticise them for doing a job that you admit you have no idea how to do better?

 

I have an idea, but I don't get paid to do it. That's a stupid inference.

 

My three-step plan, which I posited back in November:

 

1) Get another starter

2)Move Kelly to the bullpen

3)Manage Tazawa's and Koji's innings

 

1 and 2 allow 3 to happen.

[Dojji]

And if he brings in a bottomer from the pen and loses the game, you're going to sit there and bite your lip because they're managing Koji and tazawa's innings, right?

[User Name]

They wouldn't be overworked if they had a better constructed pitching staff. That is an indisputable fact. Reasons 1 and 1A that led to the massive amount of innings thrown by this bullpen are called Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly. Is that incorrect?

[Dojji]

Reasonable statement, but it goes back to the question of how exactly Farrell was supposed to keep the innings down on his top bullpen arms with the Bastard Batallion in full operation.

[Bellhorn04]

Also worth noting: in his last 3 appearances before getting injured, Koji was nearly perfect, 3 innings, 10 batters faced.

[User Name]

Reasonable statement, but it goes back to the question of how exactly Farrell was supposed to keep the innings down on his top bullpen arms with the Bastard Batallion in full operation.

 

Not riding Koji like a rented mule at the beginning of the season would have done a lot towards helping that.

[Dojji]

That was caused by the injury to Carson Smith as much as anything. Not a ton Farrell can do about suddenly not having his setup man. Especailly before the bullpen has really shaken out and he knows who else he can count on.

[User Name]

That excuse doesn't pass the smell test.

[Dojji]

I think your nose must be blocked.

[User Name]

....by B.S.

[devildavid]

It is debatable that Uehara has been over-used this season. The game before his injury he threw 7 pitches. Prior to those 2 games he had 5 days of rest.

 

Koji's age has been a concern since 2013. What has extended his career is his efficiency. The real problem lies in his declining skills, which have led to a decrease in pitch efficiency overall this season. His pitches per plate appearance is 4.09 in 2016 as opposed to 3.96 in 2013.

[mvp 78]

It is debatable that Uehara has been over-used this season. The game before his injury he threw 7 pitches. Prior to those 2 games he had 5 days of rest.

 

Koji's age has been a concern since 2013. What has extended his career is his efficiency. The real problem lies in his declining skills, which have led to a decrease in pitch efficiency overall this season. His pitches per plate appearance is 4.09 in 2016 as opposed to 3.96 in 2013.

 

The "well rested" argument falls flat when you are talking about a pitcher in his 40's with health concerns that was leading his team in appearances. You can't run an old car into the ground, let it sit for a week and then expect it to drive cross country.

[devildavid]

The "well rested" argument falls flat when you are talking about a pitcher in his 40's with health concerns that was leading his team in appearances. You can't run an old car into the ground, let it sit for a week and then expect it to drive cross country.

 

Appearances are not the only measure of use of a pitcher. You have to look at IP and # of pitches as well. And you contradict yourself. You complain that he is both over-used and at the same time rested for too long.

[Bellhorn04]

Koji may have been overused somewhat in April and May, but it wasn't like he got Scott Proctored. As I pointed out earlier, at the time Tazawa went on the DL he was leading the staff in appearances, not Koji. And Kimbrel was almost the same.

[a700hitter]

Koji may have been overused somewhat in April and May, but it wasn't like he got Scott Proctored. As I pointed out earlier, at the time Tazawa went on the DL he was leading the staff in appearances, not Koji. And Kimbrel was almost the same.

Koji is 41. Tazawa and Kimbrel are in their 20's

[Bellhorn04]

Koji is 41. Tazawa and Kimbrel are in their 20's

 

I realize that. But mvp keeps beating the drum about Koji leading the staff in appearances, and it's not factual.

 

Seriously, if Koji is that fragile he was used exactly right. Get what you can while you can and then replace him. For the Red Sox bullpen of 2016 there are a lot of innings to be eaten.

[mvp 78]

I realize that. But mvp keeps beating the drum about Koji leading the staff in appearances, and it's not factual.

 

Seriously, if Koji is that fragile he was used exactly right. Get what you can while you can and then replace him. For the Red Sox bullpen of 2016 there are a lot of innings to be eaten.

 

Koji WAS leading the team in appearances when he got injured. It's completely factual.

[Bellhorn04]

Koji WAS leading the team in appearances when he got injured. It's completely factual.

 

Wrong fact.

[Nick]

Say goodbye to Koji for 2017 and hello to $9M Sox can better use elsewhere. That's the bottom line. He's too old. Don't waste a spot on 25 man roster who can become injured taking a crap.

[a700hitter]

Say goodbye to Koji for 2017 and hello to $9M Sox can better use elsewhere. That's the bottom line. He's too old. Don't waste a spot on 25 man roster who can become injured taking a crap.

They should learn to wipe with their non-pitching hands.

[Bellhorn04]

Nonetheless, Koji was a great acquisition by Ben and his Red Sox legacy will always be a very good one.