The Bullpen thread

[S5Dewey]

Also, an effective Addison Reed to get to Kimbrel is very important to the success of the Sox moving forward in 2017.

 

So very true.

 

Given the success our BP has had this year I'm now wondering how much better they would have been with Thornburg & Smith.

[jacksonianmarch]

Your pen has over performed for sure, and a significant part of that is your starters ability to stay in games. You've got one of the lower pen workloads in baseball. If that continues going forward, then you'll continue to perform

[MADSTORK]

Carson Smith is the wild card. The inconsistency of Kelly Barnes Hembree will be the downfall of this Team or Farrell. The only chance is that the Starting staff pulls a 2005 Whitesox and gives you 8 innings every playoff game...

[Bellhorn04]

Right now we have Kimbrel, Reed and Workman all looking very strong. Kelly and Scott have been good. Barnes and Abad are a little scary but really not that bad on average. You can't really ask for too much more.

[Larry Cook]

Hembre still scares me every time he takes the field.

 

I think Maddox could follow workman as the next home grown reliever to excel.

[notin]

Should desperate dave invest in a reliever this off season like wade Davis?

 

Melanson got 62 for 4 years. A deal similar to that should get Davis.

 

It would solve our 8th inning troubles and we would not be dependent on smith or Thornburg.

 

The Sox will be better off with Smith and Thornburg and the extra cash. Especially if Davis loses another mile or two off his fastball. ..

[notin]

I am a huge Maddox fan when he is throwing in control. Love the delivery and the late movement he gets on the heater.

 

In my perfect world we sign wade Davis and ransom Kimbrel to the nationals for turner, Robles and fedde.

 

 

Does your perfect world really undervalue Trea Turner that much? Kimbrel doesn't get Turner straight up. The man has Mookie Betts potential. ..

[moonslav59]

I seriously doubt we sign even a mid level RP'er this winter.

 

There's not as much money available as many think as players like Sale get hefty raises and arb raises will be costly. Lucky, we should be going over the luxury limit next year and maybe by a lot.

 

I see us spending large on a clean-up hitter (1B/3B/DH) and maybe bring back Nunez or sign another offensive piece.

 

Our pen may actually have more pitchers than we have room for...

 

2018 Pen

 

Kimbrel

Smith

Thornburg

Kelly

Workman

Barnes

Hembree (out of options)

 

Wright (if not a starter)

R Ross

Scott

Maddox

Taylor

Johnson/Beeks/Elias/Haley/Velazquez

Poyner/Cosart/Shepherd/Buttrey

[Nick]

I seriously doubt we sign even a mid level RP'er this winter.

 

There's not as much money available as many think as players like Sale get hefty raises and arb raises will be costly. Lucky, we should be going over the luxury limit next year and maybe by a lot.

 

I see us spending large on a clean-up hitter (1B/3B/DH) and maybe bring back Nunez or sign another offensive piece.

 

Our pen may actually have more pitchers than we have room for...

 

2018 Pen

 

Kimbrel

Smith

Thornburg

Kelly

Workman

Barnes

Hembree (out of options)

 

Wright (if not a starter)

R Ross

Scott

Maddox

Taylor

Johnson/Beeks/Elias/Haley/Velazquez

Poyner/Cosart/Shepherd/Buttrey

 

Our bullpen should be fine as long as Kimbrel doesn't get hurt. We should have quality with Smith and Workman. Someone else will emerge to go with Kelly, Barnes, Hembree, etc.

 

I wouldn't give up on Stanton.

[BstHcpr]

I am a huge Maddox fan when he is throwing in control. Love the delivery and the late movement he gets on the heater.

 

In my perfect world we sign wade Davis and ransom Kimbrel to the nationals for turner, Robles and fedde.

 

Another candidate for worst trade idea of all-time.

[Kimmi]

It looks like we'll have enough pen pieces for next year, with a lot depending on the health of Smith and Thornburg. Either way, I hope Dombrowski does not spend big on a reliever.

 

IMO, Dombrowski signs or trades for a power bat and a #2/3 starting pitcher.

[FredLynn]

Your pen has over performed for sure, and a significant part of that is your starters ability to stay in games. You've got one of the lower pen workloads in baseball. If that continues going forward, then you'll continue to perform

 

The problem with this team ALL YEAR has been hitting, not the pen or the starting pitching. I do not expect our pitching to suddenly implode, but neither do I expect our hitting to suddenly catch fire. I cannot remember a Sox team that finished in last place in the league in HRs.

[Kimmi]

The problem with this team ALL YEAR has been hitting, not the pen or the starting pitching. I do not expect our pitching to suddenly implode, but neither do I expect our hitting to suddenly catch fire. I cannot remember a Sox team that finished in last place in the league in HRs.

 

Last in HRs in the league, yet first in the division. As frustrated as I get with this offense, I'm fine with the lack of homeruns if the pitching can stay strong enough to keep us going.

[FredLynn]

Last in HRs in the league, yet first in the division. As frustrated as I get with this offense, I'm fine with the lack of homeruns if the pitching can stay strong enough to keep us going.

 

I think we should be the favorites to win the ALE. That said, I can't see us getting by a more balanced team like the Guardians-or, unfortunately, even the Yankees.. Sure, anything can happen, but the lack of productivity on offense should have been addressed at the trade deadline IMO.

[cp176]

The problem with this team ALL YEAR has been hitting, not the pen or the starting pitching. I do not expect our pitching to suddenly implode, but neither do I expect our hitting to suddenly catch fire. I cannot remember a Sox team that finished in last place in the league in HRs.

 

it isn't so much the lack of homeruns as opposed to the simple lack of runs in general. They clearly do need some more real bats in that lineup moving in to 2018.

[Kimmi]

I think we should be the favorites to win the ALE. That said, I can't see us getting by a more balanced team like the Guardians-or, unfortunately, even the Yankees.. Sure, anything can happen, but the lack of productivity on offense should have been addressed at the trade deadline IMO.

 

It was addressed with Devers and Nunez. My point all along, however, is that it didn't matter who was added to the line up if the guys we already had (Betts, Bogaerts, Hanley) didn't start producing.

 

The Guardians look tough right now, but just a couple of weeks ago the Dodgers looked unbeatable. Not so much now.

[moonslav59]

It was addressed with Devers and Nunez. My point all along, however, is that it didn't matter who was added to the line up if the guys we already had (Betts, Bogaerts, Hanley) didn't start producing.

 

The Guardians look tough right now, but just a couple of weeks ago the Dodgers looked unbeatable. Not so much now.

 

Let 'em peak early.

 

We're saving our peak for October.

[FredLynn]

It was addressed with Devers and Nunez. My point all along, however, is that it didn't matter who was added to the line up if the guys we already had (Betts, Bogaerts, Hanley) didn't start producing.

 

The Guardians look tough right now, but just a couple of weeks ago the Dodgers looked unbeatable. Not so much now.

 

Thats a fair point. However, right now I do not see these three heading in the right direction for whatever reason. Its possible that Bogaerts is still hurt. Betts is capable of much more than what he is giving. As for Hanley, I don't see him as being much of a threat any more. Adding one additional bat, even someone of Stanton's caliber, isn't going to fix our problems. The only way we advance far into the playoffs is if our pitching becomes lights out.

[moonslav59]

Thats a fair point. However, right now I do not see these three heading in the right direction for whatever reason. Its possible that Bogaerts is still hurt. Betts is capable of much more than what he is giving. As for Hanley, I don't see him as being much of a threat any more. Adding one additional bat, even someone of Stanton's caliber, isn't going to fix our problems. The only way we advance far into the playoffs is if our pitching becomes lights out.

 

Our pitching and defense is certainly our strength, but a boost from the offense could be what really is needed to get us through some playoff games.

 

I'm not very hopeful this will happen, so I am relying on our strength areas to carry us. Crossing my fingers.

 

[mvp 78]

@redsoxstats

 

Barnes is now being pitched like a mop-up man. Allowed runs in the two games he was trusted in (high leverage) over the past month.

 

Barnes definitely pitched himself out of the 8th inning role. I really was hoping he'd make that leap this year.

[Larry Cook]

@redsoxstats

 

Barnes is now being pitched like a mop-up man. Allowed runs in the two games he was trusted in (high leverage) over the past month.

 

Barnes definitely pitched himself out of the 8th inning role. I really was hoping he'd make that leap this year.

 

Barnes arm looks like it could fall off from over use this year. The ball is not snapping out of his hand like earlier this year. What little movement he had is gone now,

[Bellhorn04]

Barnes arm looks like it could fall off from over use this year. The ball is not snapping out of his hand like earlier this year. What little movement he had is gone now,

 

At 62.1 innings, Barnes has been used a lot, but not overused.

[mvp 78]

I think either his mechanics are off or he has an underlying injury. His velo is down substantially this year. He's trying to rely more on his slider, which is a terrible offering.

[Emp9]

It looks like we'll have enough pen pieces for next year, with a lot depending on the health of Smith and Thornburg. Either way, I hope Dombrowski does not spend big on a reliever.

 

IMO, Dombrowski signs or trades for a power bat and a #2/3 starting pitcher.

 

Slim pickins' on the FA front, but I agree. I'd try and target Lance Lynn. Going back from last year, Mark Reynolds has shown much improvement and could be a quick fix at 1B as a power threat. His hitting has improved the last 3 years, Avg/OPS/WAR all trending upward. I'd probably over-pay for Lynn, not so much for Reynolds though.

[moonslav59]

Slim pickins' on the FA front, but I agree. I'd try and target Lance Lynn. Going back from last year, Mark Reynolds has shown much improvement and could be a quick fix at 1B as a power threat. His hitting has improved the last 3 years, Avg/OPS/WAR all trending upward. I'd probably over-pay for Lynn, not so much for Reynolds though.

 

I mentioned Lynn a while back and didn't get much positive response.

 

Cardinal pitchers usually don't do well after moving on. Maybe they see something that makes them okay with letting certain guys go.

[Emp9]

I mentioned Lynn a while back and didn't get much positive response.

 

Cardinal pitchers usually don't do well after moving on. Maybe they see something that makes them okay with letting certain guys go.

 

I usually hold off until around this part of the season to get a better idea of what kind of season free agents should wind up having. He's 30, turns 31 in May. His worst year was back in '13 with a 3.97 ERA, but he pitched over 200 innings that year. I'd even like what he's been doing lately, which is a solid 170+ innings a season. Seems like a good workhorse even if his ERA rises to 4... as a #3, I'd be fine with that... I think? Cardinals may want to re-sign him. I don't think it's the typical Cardinal ploy that is.

 

Edit: 2017 League Ranks:

• 3rd in NL in BB (68)

• 6th in NL in ERA (2.94)

• 8th in NL in WHIP (1.16)

 

Plus he's tied for 11th place with 18 Quality Starts this season. Other Sp's w/ 18 QS are: Fulmer,Stroman, Kershaw, Bundy, Santana, Samarjia, Porcello, & Strasburgh.

Edited September 12, 2017 by Emp9

[Kimmi]

Slim pickins' on the FA front, but I agree. I'd try and target Lance Lynn. Going back from last year, Mark Reynolds has shown much improvement and could be a quick fix at 1B as a power threat. His hitting has improved the last 3 years, Avg/OPS/WAR all trending upward. I'd probably over-pay for Lynn, not so much for Reynolds though.

 

Lynn sounds like a reasonable possibility, depending on the cost of course. I haven't looked, so I don't really know who will be available, but I'm confident Dombrowski will come up with someone.

[jacksonianmarch]

Lynn has been far worse than his ERA suggests. I hope you get him. He'd be another Clement type signing

[S5Dewey]

Lynn has been far worse than his ERA suggests. I hope you get him. He'd be another Clement type signing

 

Are you suggesting he'd go 10-2 before the All-Star break and then get hit in the head, essentially ending his career?

[oldtimer]

I think either his mechanics are off or he has an underlying injury. His velo is down substantially this year. He's trying to rely more on his slider, which is a terrible offering.

 

Right now Austin Maddox looks like a better bet going into the playoffs. Barnes is not reliable, even with a big lead.