Bullpen sucks

[Bellhorn04]

The bullpen woild certainly look a lot better if Smith and Thornburg weren't lemons. It might not be so bad if Barnes, Hembree, Kelly and Abad were all pushed back two slots.

 

Of course, why Farrell likes using Barnes and Hembree against the top and middle of the order while saving Kimbrel for the bottom will always mystify me...

 

Most managers do the same, which is not to say it's the right move.

[Examiner]

Now it comes through that Barnes is on the DL with a back issue. So is this why he's been so bad? Or was this cherry picked to get him off the field for a mental reset? Maybe a little of both.

[Station 13]

btw - our BP is pretty darn good. what sucks is the way it is managed.

 

It is very good, except Barnes. He blows.

[moonslav59]

Now it comes through that Barnes is on the DL with a back issue. So is this why he's been so bad? Or was this cherry picked to get him off the field for a mental reset? Maybe a little of both.

 

A bridge to September 1st call-ups.

[Examiner]

It is very good, except Barnes. He blows.

 

I don't trust Kelly either, never have.

[Nick]

Did Mattie Barnes get ouchie on his back? Is that real or just made up?

[FredLynn]

But hey guys, look at the bright side, rock star ace Fister is starting tomorrow night. We prob'ly won't even need the bullpen.....

 

Prophetic, Ex.

[a700hitter]

But hey guys, look at the bright side, rock star ace Fister is starting tomorrow night. We prob'ly won't even need the bullpen.....

excellent call.

[FredLynn]

It is very good, except Barnes. He blows.

 

Interestingly, Barnes only blows on the road. His OPSa at home is .504. Maybe he should only be used for home games.

[FredLynn]

excellent call.

 

Beat you to it.

[Station 13]

Interestingly, Barnes only blows on the road. His OPSa at home is .504. Maybe he should only be used for home games.

 

That's random and not something to take seriously. He is unreliable.

 

Even if it were true, they can't have somebody not available for 80 road games.

[moonslav59]

Another night where the pen does not allow a run!

 

How can they suck?

 

(LOL)

[BstHcpr]

Interestingly, Barnes only blows on the road. His OPSa at home is .504. Maybe he should only be used for home games.

 

That's random and not something to take seriously. He is unreliable.

 

Even if it were true, they can't have somebody not available for 80 road games.

 

Agree with Station13 here.

[SoxHop]

Barnes may be overworked. He's in the top percentile of bullpen work in the league. Give him some time off. Reed is here, Kelly is back.

[Examiner]

Prophetic, Ex.

 

Haha, yeah it was, little did I know my sarcasm was prophetic!! :-)

[Examiner]

Another night where the pen does not allow a run!

 

How can they suck?

 

(LOL)

 

LOL keeping them out of the game never can't hurt! It's a strategy Farrell needs to employ every night!

[Thunder]

I just saw the name of this thread (and the thread itself) for the first time, and my only reaction is: Are you kidding me? People actually think our bullpen sucks?

[Bellhorn04]

I just saw the name of this thread (and the thread itself) for the first time, and my only reaction is: Are you kidding me? People actually think our bullpen sucks?

 

Keep in mind it was started right after the bullpen blew a game.

[S5Dewey]

I just saw the name of this thread (and the thread itself) for the first time, and my only reaction is: Are you kidding me? People actually think our bullpen sucks?

 

It seems to be the nature of the beast. When the Sox come from behind late in the game to win it's because we have good hitters. When we blow a lead late it's because our bullpen sucks. It's never because their bullpen sucks or they have good hitters.

 

I find that on the whole our bullpen is quite solid. They've more than once strung together quite a few scoreless innings. Yeah, they've blown some, and I've run out of patience with Barnes at times too. Then he comes back with a good outing. It's baseball Roll with it.

[Thunder]

Keep in mind it was started right after the bullpen blew a game.

 

That's no excuse for making such a pointless, inaccurate thread.

[Kimmi]

Barnes may be overworked. He's in the top percentile of bullpen work in the league. Give him some time off. Reed is here, Kelly is back.

 

Let's hope that the time off does him some good.

 

It's time to give Workman a look in the 8th if Reed can't go.

[Examiner]

I just saw the name of this thread (and the thread itself) for the first time, and my only reaction is: Are you kidding me? People actually think our bullpen sucks?

 

Yeah, I think that. I've been watching baseball for almost 40 years, and this bullpen as presently constituted is not to be trusted. Now, if Carson Smith returns to form and if Barnes really is hurt, we can revisit it, but for now I don't trust these guys. The eyeball test is telling me something a little different than cold stats and era's. We've 3-4 guys out there that are shaky far too often.

[Examiner]

That's no excuse for making such a pointless, inaccurate thread.

 

Pointless and inaccurate? Did you watch the game Monday night? Did you watch it last Friday at NY? Did you watch them give up 8 runs last Saturday and get bailed out by the offense? Did you see that it's Barnes and the un-noble ex-Cardinal pretty much every time? Do they suck every single time? No, but they suck enough to be a cause for concern. Hand a playoff game to Barnes or Kelly and watch it slip away.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Examiner

[Larry Cook]

Reed needs to not pitch in the 8th inning in close games. The guy surrenders too many home runs.

[oldtimer]

Reed needs to not pitch in the 8th inning in close games. The guy surrenders too many home runs.

 

 

Reed has nasty stuff and fills a need as well as anyone we have to bridge to Kimbrel. He needs to adapt to the American League but overall he is a plus.

[moonslav59]

I agree on Reed getting the first significant shot at being the 8th inning guy and back-up closer.

 

Workman deserves the third man role (7/8th inning guy).

 

I like Kelly, despite the abnormally low K rate for a flame thrower, but I'm not feeling very confident about using him in high leverage situations.

 

Barnes and Hembree did well for us for much of the season, but I'm at the end of rope with both of them.

 

I'm hoping Carson Smith can rise quickly enough the be the 4th guy. Maybe it's more like a prayer.

[moonslav59]

Reed needs to not pitch in the 8th inning in close games. The guy surrenders too many home runs.

 

It's him or Workman. Brandon has looked really good, but I'm not sure he's pitched long enough to win the 8th inning outright.

 

[Thunder]

Pointless and inaccurate? Did you watch the game Monday night? Did you watch it last Friday at NY? Did you watch them give up 8 runs last Saturday and get bailed out by the offense? Did you see that it's Barnes and the un-noble ex-Cardinal pretty much every time? Do they suck every single time? No, but they suck enough to be a cause for concern. Hand a playoff game to Barnes or Kelly and watch it slip away.

 

They've still won us far more games than they've lost us. It seems to me like you're expecting them to be perfect every single night. Bullpens are bound to blow a couple games here and there. We're 20 f***ing games over .500, the current #2 seed in the AL. Relax, and sit the f*** down. If the bullpen melts down in September, and we find ourselves in a similar spot as 2011, then we can talk. But, right now, the bullpen is and will continue to be the biggest strength of our team.

[moonslav59]

They've still won us far more games than they've lost us. It seems to me like you're expecting them to be perfect every single night. Bullpens are bound to blow a couple games here and there. We're 20 f***ing games over .500, the current #2 seed in the AL. Relax, and sit the f*** down. If the bullpen melts down in September, and we find ourselves in a similar spot as 2011, then we can talk. But, right now, the bullpen is and will continue to be the biggest strength of our team.

 

When you look at the names in the pen, the DL ist of relievers, the tough division we play in and the park we play in, the pen results are phenomenal, so far this year.

 

As much as I dislike JF, he's done a fantastic job with our pitching staff.

[Hugh2]

The reality is the totality of this bullpen is very very good. Our bullpen has won us more games than almost every other team......but it just doesn't feel like it.