The 2018 Bullpen Season Thread

[jacksonianmarch]

When it comes to your pen, you guys have two potential 3 WAR players out there. Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel have the same WAR (per fangraphs) through the first quarter of the season. Carson Smith has been better of late. Velasquez had been solid as a swing man. Hembree and Johnson have been garbage. Who knows how Thornburg returns, but he is a wild card. If he struggles and the sox see Kelly return to his prior lack of success, I anticipate the sox will be adding to their pen. If Thornburg reclaims his prior stuff and Smith finds success at a lower velocity than his pre TJS days, then you might be set. The lefty reliever thing is a thing of the past IMO. If you have power arms capable of striking out anyone, that decreases the need for a LOOGY

[a700hitter]

I like a knuckleballer in the rotation. when that butterfly is dancing not only does it mow down batters but it can also EFF with their swing for the next day vs traditional pitcher.

they can also eat innings as the stress on the arm/elbow is not the same as FB/CB pitchers.

I don't mind a knuckleballer in the rotation. I hate them running the bases.

[notin]

I like a knuckleballer in the rotation. when that butterfly is dancing not only does it mow down batters but it can also EFF with their swing for the next day vs traditional pitcher.

they can also eat innings as the stress on the arm/elbow is not the same as FB/CB pitchers.

 

I do agree that is a better usage.

 

In the bullpen, I would prefer them in a long relief role that allowed them to pitch multiple innings in games where the starter was ineffective. In this capacity, they reduce the workload on the rest of the bullpen and prevent using 4 or 5 pitchers chasing a potentially unwinnable game, and therefore resulting in 1 or 2 additional losses from chasing that game.

 

A lot of times, long relievers don't start with a clean inning, but I wouldn't let that impact the decision on their usage...

[notin]

When it comes to your pen, you guys have two potential 3 WAR players out there. Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel have the same WAR (per fangraphs) through the first quarter of the season. Carson Smith has been better of late. Velasquez had been solid as a swing man. Hembree and Johnson have been garbage. Who knows how Thornburg returns, but he is a wild card. If he struggles and the sox see Kelly return to his prior lack of success, I anticipate the sox will be adding to their pen. If Thornburg reclaims his prior stuff and Smith finds success at a lower velocity than his pre TJS days, then you might be set. The lefty reliever thing is a thing of the past IMO. If you have power arms capable of striking out anyone, that decreases the need for a LOOGY

 

Unfortunately it isn't. Teams still have LOOGY specialists. But it should be a thing of the past.

 

They are a stupid solution, especially coupled with the rampant league-wide deployment of the shift...

[a700hitter]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/theremyreport/permalink/1821654114593562/

[notin]

Carson Smith was placed on the DL with an injury to this right (throwing) shoulder.

 

Poyner was recalled...

[Slasher9]

Carson Smith was placed on the DL with an injury to this right (throwing) shoulder.

 

Poyner was recalled...

 

fudge.

[Jasonbay44]

Carson Smith hurt his arm throwing his glove in the dugout after he left the game yesterday. "It's unfortunate," Dave Dombrowski said. No timetable. Went for testing today, MRI, needs a second opinion: "It's got the potential of being a major injury."

 

 

What the hell?

[moonslav59]

Thanks DD!

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Now we lose a reliever who has pitched much better lately because he got hurt throwing his glove? WTF?

[DontCallMeUncleRico]

Can't make this s*** up.

[Bellhorn04]

Wow, that's f***ed up. Especially a guy who had already missed so much time with injury.

[bkzwhitestrican]

Pitcher injured throwing glove.

 

There's a joke in there somewhere, I just haven't figured it out yet.

[a700hitter]

This sucks. How come none of these dopes get hurt when they are assaulting their wives/girlfriends? That would be justice.

[moonslav59]

I had high hopes for Smith and Thornburg, this year.

[harmony]

Who will be on the disabled list longer: Carson Smith or Wade Miley?

 

 

The heralded December 2015 trade may turn into a dud.

[jung]

Horrible horrible news on Smith. Sounds stupid, but having thrown a glove in disgust a number of times in my life there is just something odd about the weight and balance of a leather baseball glove that surprises you if you throw it in frustration as in throw it hard. But for God sake fella.....you are a pitcher in the major leagues. You must have thrown a glove in disgust before and realized it often can leave an odd aftertaste. IDIOT SMITH....IDIOT!

 

Why do you think you see so many players about to throw their glove in frustration and then just pull it back. You can literally see them reminding themselves "Nah, this is not a good idea."

Edited May 15, 2018 by jung

[oldtimer]

I had high hopes for Smith and Thornburg, this year.

 

Sounds like Smith's injury is serious in that there is no discussion about his return. Relief pitchers in general have a reputation of not being well grounded. These is a case of a grown men doing a stupid thing.

[jacksonianmarch]

Shoulder injury that could be major. Wow. And here I was complimenting him earlier. Looks like the sox will be in the market for relief at the deadline

[Bellhorn04]

Who will be on the disabled list longer: Carson Smith or Wade Miley?

 

 

The heralded December 2015 trade may turn into a dud.

 

Don't go out on a limb now.

[Meh]

Shoulder injury that could be major. Wow. And here I was complimenting him earlier. Looks like the sox will be in the market for relief at the deadline

 

Look for something like selling high on Beeks and throwing in a guy with a down year with some upside like Dalbec or Ockimey for Kirby Yates from the padres.

[fxkatt]

The returns on the Smith and Thornberg trades are next to ziltch. It's going to be hard now to give away much for another top receiver... get burned again. We might as well bury the promises that these two held for us--both supposed stopper quality.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't think the sox can be faulted for getting Smith. They dealt next to nothing. The deal for Thornburg looks really bad right now, although he might change that a bit

[User Name]

I bet dollars to doughnuts Shaw turns back into a pumpkin by the second half of this season, and the other "big piece" tore his ACL.

[harmony]

I don't think the sox can be faulted for getting Smith. They dealt next to nothing. The deal for Thornburg looks really bad right now, although he might change that a bit

The Red Sox traded away two years (and a option) of a left-handed starter who posted 2.6 fWAR in leading the 2015 Sox in starts, innings pitched and wins. Wade Miley's 2016 fWAR of 1.5 would have ranked fourth among pitchers on 2016 AL East champion Red Sox. This year Miley posted a quality start before going on the disabled list.

 

The Red Sox control Carson Smith through 2020 so the Sox have a chance of salvaging something from the trade.

[fxkatt]

The Red Sox traded away two years (and a option) of a left-handed starter who posted 2.6 fWAR in leading the 2015 Sox in starts, innings pitched and wins. Wade Miley's 2016 fWAR of 1.5 would have ranked fourth among pitchers on 2016 AL East champion Red Sox. This year Miley posted a quality start before going on the disabled list.

 

The Red Sox control Carson Smith through 2020 so the Sox have a chance of salvaging something from the trade.

 

I didn't realize that Smith had such a great contract. Thornberg has a couple more years too but for over double the cost. Both are being paid much less than I thought. (so I guess the injuries don't faze me as much now)

[Larry Cook]

We don’t need to trade for another reliever, we have the bodies to have a really good bullpen now.

 

Beeks needs to replace Johnson.

In nine days we can bring back Velasquez.

Maybe Maddox rehabs and is good to go by July.

[jacksonianmarch]

Beeks must stay in the minors. He’s your only trade chip to land something of minor value. If he comes up and gets ravaged, then you’ll have nobody to deal. I disagree with the sentiment that you won’t add to the pen. You now need someone to stabilize your bridge. Barnes and Hembree cannot be trusted. Thornburg is a wild card. I guarantee he adds a setup man assuming he has enough to add one.

[MADSTORK]

Funny how you never show up after the Sox bullpen has a great game.

 

Also funny that you haven't said anything about Kelly, one of your Three Stooges, now having a 2.33 ERA and a WHIP of .93.

 

 

The bigger ? is, CAN or WILL Kelly Barnes Hembree win you a World Series?

[notin]

The bigger ? is, CAN or WILL Kelly Barnes Hembree win you a World Series?

 

Did Kimbrel retire?