A Realistic View at 2017 Part II

[Fisk]

If mvp's point was that Sandoval is playing better than he had with the Sox previously, he's probably right. "Better" doesn't mean "good" if the previous bar was pretty low...

 

Better is still really bad. Hard to say his fielding is acceptable.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR...

 

Red Sox left-hander David Price will throw a 45- to 50-pitch bullpen session Monday as he tries to work back from forearm trouble, per Ben Standing of MLB.com. Price still seems a ways off from making his 2017 debut, but a positive showing Monday would put him in position to face live hitters sometime soon. “Once we get through [Monday’s] work session and kind of begin to map out a little more of a structure on a calendar, I think we’re at that point [of facing batters],” said manager John Farrell. “Anytime you get to the number of pitches thrown that will be tomorrow, you can start to foresee a progression to hitters and ultimately to games, but we don’t have that in place right now.”

[Nick]

by Christopher Smith

Brandon Workman dominated again for Triple-A Pawtucket last night against Charlotte. He pitched two perfect innings, striking out five.

Former Boston Red Sox prospect Yoan Moncada (traded for Chris Sale) was one of the five hitters who Workman struck out. All were swinging.

He threw 26 pitches, 19 strikes (73 percent). So stats at Pawtucket have been sensational. He has allowed just one hit and one walk while striking

out 10 over 7 scoreless innings.

 

Workman is returning from Tommy John surgery he underwent June 15, 2015. The Red Sox wanted to see an increase in fastball velocity from

spring training when he was throwing mostly in the high-80s.

 

His fastball averaged 92.3 mph in 2013 (per FanGraphs.com). He reached 92 mph April 13, according to Brendan McGair of The Pawtucket Times.

 

Red Sox manager John Farrell said here at Rogers Centre on Thursday that Workman has experienced a slight uptick in velocity. But the most important factor in his dominance has been more consistency and sharpness to his curveball. "That is the one pitch that has taken probably even more of a step forward than what we saw in spring training," Farrell said. "He's gradually putting himself putting himself right back in the mix to be a strong candidate here."

 

He allowed just one unearned run in 8 2/3 innings during the 2013 playoffs.

 

Another option for Red Sox? He's 6-5, 235, age 28. Prime of his career. In his first arbtration year.

Edited April 25, 2017 by Nick

[mvp 78]

I'm a big Workman mark. Dump Abad.

[S5Dewey]

I'm a big Workman mark. Dump Abad.

 

I like Workman too. I always have. What's not to like about a player named Work-Man? ]

 

But I'd agree with your last sentence whether I liked Workman or not.

[moonslav59]

Looking good for Workman.

 

I hope he gets a shot.

[Nick]

Healthy Carson Smith, Thornburg, Workman and now Taylor........we have some arms in the pen if we can hold it together for another month.

 

And Kimmi is right. This is an area you shouldn't have to spend inordinate amount of money. How often do you hear about a pitching prospect analysis ending with a sentence "probably a future reliever"?

[moonslav59]

Healthy Carson Smith, Thornburg, Workman and now Taylor........we have some arms in the pen if we can hold it together for another month.

 

My biggest worry going into this season was the pen. It's not that I didn't have high hopes in Barnes, Kelly & Hembree to take up some slack from the departing Uehara, Ziegler and Taz, but it was hard for me to imagine all 3 doing well and nobody else doing surprisingly poorly.

 

So far -so good.

 

Adding Taylor and Workman to the mix of options is also a very big boost, but nothing compared to the potential Smith and Thornburg's returns could mean to our pen.

 

I'd love nothing more than to be proven totally wrong about my pen expectations, but remember, I said it was not "weak but was the just the weakest link."

[moonslav59]

soxprospects.com's take on our upper level pitching on the farm...

 

http://news.soxprospects.com/2017/04/system-restart-17-upper-level-pitching.html

[Fisk]

Looking good for Workman.

 

I hope he gets a shot.

 

No reason to have both Abad and Scott, they are redundant. I believe Workman will be up very soon.

[Fisk]

Healthy Carson Smith, Thornburg, Workman and now Taylor........we have some arms in the pen if we can hold it together for another month.

 

And Kimmi is right. This is an area you shouldn't have to spend inordinate amount of money. How often do you hear about a pitching prospect analysis ending with a sentence "probably a future reliever"?

 

We could have a very potent bullpen second half of the year.

[Bellhorn04]

If all our pitchers were healthy at the same time it would be a beastly staff. That's a mighty big if obviously.

[Emp9]

Workman, with an uptick in velocity? I'm immediately intrigued. Although a true test would be to have him pitch against Beni, not Moncada.

[moonslav59]

If all our pitchers were healthy at the same time it would be a beastly staff. That's a mighty big if obviously.

 

Yes, and clearly Abad would have to go, as he is out of options:

 

12 pitchers (options remaining):

 

SP1 Sale

SP2 Porcello

SP3 Price

SP4 ERod (2)

SP5 & 6 Pom (0)/Wright (0) (one in long relief)

 

RP1 Kimbre

RP2 Smith (2)

RP3 Thornburg (1)

RP4 Kelly (1)

RP5 Barnes (2)

RP6 Hembree (0) (bubble in?)

 

Bubble out?:

Ross (2)

Scott (3)

Taylor (3)

Abad (0)

Workman (2)

N Ramirez (1)

Elias/Johnson/Owens/Kendrick/Haviland/Velezquez/Olmos/K Martin

[Jasonbay44]

I'm all for Abad going, he blows.

[moonslav59]

I'm all for Abad going, he blows.

 

I wonder why we bothered to pay him so much to begin with.

[Bellhorn04]

I wonder why we bothered to pay him so much to begin with.

 

Just one of those mysteries. Other than Abad, DD has acquired some pretty elite arms.

[mvp 78]

I think they are just holding onto Abad to Thornburg and Smith are ready.

[moonslav59]

I think they are just holding onto Abad to Thornburg and Smith are ready.

 

..and keeping pen depth is never a bad idea...get it? A Bad idea?

 

As of now, no great RP'er has had to be on the farm to make room for Abad. Some good one, but nobody who just had to be on the 25.

[Fisk]

..and keeping pen depth is never a bad idea...get it? A Bad idea?

 

As of now, no great RP'er has had to be on the farm to make room for Abad. Some good one, but nobody who just had to be on the 25.

 

The problem is having both Scott and Abad on the 25 together. it's a waste of a spot to have two lefty specialists on the team. Prefer to have Workman or Taylor on the roster.

If they want to hold onto the depth, option Scott to Pawtucket. I would prefer Abad to go.

[moonslav59]

The problem is having both Scott and Abad on the 25 together. it's a waste of a spot to have two lefty specialists on the team. Prefer to have Workman or Taylor on the roster.

If they want to hold onto the depth, option Scott to Pawtucket. I would prefer Abad to go.

 

I didn't even want Abad on the team, so I'm with you 100%.

 

I was just stating what I felt the reason was for keeping him around.

 

Another reason could be the uncertainty surrounding Ross- the other lefty.

 

BTW, when Thorburg returns, we'll have our best RP'er vs LHBs on the 25 man roster. His reverse splits are mind-boggling.

[Fisk]

I understand the Ross concern, but he will probably be fine. My bigger concern is the waste of the roster spot with both of them on the same team.

[Spudboy]

Just one of those mysteries. Other than Abad, DD has acquired some pretty elite arms.

 

Within the context of elite arms acquired by DD I'll say this. At least Abad has out performed Smith and Thornberg!!!!

[Spudboy]

Other than looking like a rabid beaver with a mullet what the f*** is wrong with Ross? He did okay last year.

 

And bullpen clowns are in short supply. Jeez you guys are brutal sometimes.

[Jasonbay44]

Hasn't Ross been hurt/sick? I don't think there's anything wrong with him as a player, he's much better than Abad. Plus he's a funny dipshit who smacks into bullpen walls and dives for home runs while in bullpen.

[Jasonbay44]

http://i67.tinypic.com/fd7l8h.gif

[moonslav59]

I understand the Ross concern, but he will probably be fine. My bigger concern is the waste of the roster spot with both of them on the same team.

 

I agree, but as of now, I don't really think we hurt anybody by "keeping them down" on the farm in order to keep Abad on the 25. That will probably change the minute the next RP'er comes off the DL.

[moonslav59]

Other than looking like a rabid beaver with a mullet what the f*** is wrong with Ross? He did okay last year.

 

And bullpen clowns are in short supply. Jeez you guys are brutal sometimes.

 

Ross has done very well for us, but all mid RP'ers are suspect. In no way was I saying I think Ross sucks or is going to suck, but he's not done much this season to gauge him by, so my point was that we might have kept Abad around as insurance against the small chance Ross does not do well. It wouldn't be the first time a RP'er dipped unexpectedly. GMs have to plan for these types of things as well as injuries. I think this is why DD chose to keep ABad so as to lengthen our pen depth, at least until we have a better understanding on who some of our guys are.

 

Kelly, Barnes and Hembree were all question marks going into this year. Taylor and Workman have improved their stock, and I'm thinking Abad's usefulness as depth is waning.

[mvp 78]

I'm an RJR Superfan. He's pretty f***ing great.

[Emp9]

http://i67.tinypic.com/fd7l8h.gif

 

You have poor taste in women