Is Kimbrel Shook?

[mvp 78]

If it were still the regular season, I'd be all for it.

Conceding a playoff game? No thanks.

 

I think sleep deprivation has gotten to him.

[notin]

Maybe his FA price tag is falling?

 

At this point, does it matter?

[bosoxmal]

Think Radatz (He who does not lear history is doomed to repeat it." Both He and Sale have ams that are not just tired. They may be totally shot, at least for this season. The writing has been on the wall for a month, now.

 

But, with this lineup? We'll manage!!!!!

 

Besides, the other "contenfers" are having the sale problems! Even Verlander? We'll find out tonight!

Edited October 18, 2018 by bosoxmal

[notin]

phantom DL kimbrel and bring up Pom to start game 5.

let Pom twist in the wind and save every arm for game 6 (and 7 if needed).

 

Looking at Price, Pomeranz, Sale and now Kimbrel, it is amazing so many key pitchers from 2017 could go south yet 2018 could be so much better.

 

I just think Cora has to get a quicker hook on Kimbrel. Or a hook period...

[mvp 78]

Looking at Price, Pomeranz, Sale and now Kimbrel, it is amazing so many key pitchers from 2017 could go south yet 2018 could be so much better.

 

I just think Cora has to get a quicker hook on Kimbrel. Or a hook period...

 

Price was a key pitcher in 2017? I remember him missing most of the season being injured.

[notin]

Price was a key pitcher in 2017? I remember him missing most of the season being injured.

 

THAT is the flaw you're hanging everything on?

[OH FOY]

Pedro said after game, that GK is not picking up his target fast enough.....and he's right, and fixable.

[mvp 78]

GK?

[notin]

GK?

 

Greg Kimbrel

 

The theory here is apparently Craig's twin brother is pitching for the Sox in a little practical joke similar to the one Corey Lidle used to do all the time (which is actually true in Corey's case)...

[TylerD]

I can’t take him and his heart attack finishes anymore. If it wasn’t for the defence bailing him out twice last night Houston likely wins that game. Assuming he’s not a Sox player in 2019 or anytime after who would you want as a closer?

[BillyWilliams]

I think Britton is a viable alternative. He came on pretty good in Sept after originally struggling returning from his injury.

[mvp 78]

Greg Kimbrel

 

The theory here is apparently Craig's twin brother is pitching for the Sox in a little practical joke similar to the one Corey Lidle used to do all the time (which is actually true in Corey's case)...

 

I do enjoy a good conspiracy theory from time to time.

[mvp 78]

Barnes

[notin]

Barnes

 

Just assemble a good bullpen with good releivers with several pitchers capable of closing rather than sticking to one regardless of how ineffective he has become. Kimbrel's been off since the AS break, yet no one else has even gotten a chance at closing...

[OH FOY]

GK?

 

CK hahahaha

[sk7326]

Like everything else with the bullpen, throw bodies at it and let it iron itself out. I certainly am not itching to give Kimbrel 3 years or anything.

[BillyWilliams]

Just assemble a good bullpen with good releivers with several pitchers capable of closing rather than sticking to one regardless of how ineffective he has become. Kimbrel's been off since the AS break, yet no one else has even gotten a chance at closing...

 

I think someone has already tried the "closer by committee", no?

[mvp 78]

Just assemble a good bullpen with good releivers with several pitchers capable of closing rather than sticking to one regardless of how ineffective he has become. Kimbrel's been off since the AS break, yet no one else has even gotten a chance at closing...

 

Yes, we need a whole group of guys in the pen that could actually close.

[mvp 78]

I think someone has already tried the "closer by committee", no?

 

That committee was pretty s***** though. None of those guys were very good.

[mvp 78]

2013 was basically closer by committee.

[sk7326]

I think someone has already tried the "closer by committee", no?

 

2013 was a good example. Uehara basically took the job because he was so much better than the other relievers. There is nothing special about the 9th inning - especially with a 3 run lead. Now you need a 9th inning guy - because pitchers like having defined jobs to a certain degree. But spending 30 million dollars or something stupid on it is silly unless it's 2013 Uehara or Mariano Rivera.

 

I always cite Tampa who have been able to find closers by going through other teams' garbage.

[TylerD]

I would like to see an actual closer that we can lean on in that role. It’s not mandatory but it sure as hell helps come playoffs. Just ask the Dodgers with Jansen. I would be fine with giving Barnes an opportunity. He’s really been pitching some good baseball.

 

Billywilliams mentioned Drake Britton. I don’t know enough about him. But sure see what he’s got.

[notin]

That committee was pretty s***** though. None of those guys were very good.

 

BOOM YES!!!

 

The downfall of that bullpen wasn't the lack of defined roles. It was the over-reliance on mediocre to bad pitchers like Chad Fox, Brandon Lyon, Todd Jones, Ramiro Mendoza, Scott Williamson, and Scott Sauerbeck. Even Alan Embree wasn't all that great in the regular season. The only pitchers with more than 25 appearances and an ERA under 4.00 were Mike Timlin and Byung-Hyun Kim, and Kim wasn't even acquired until the season was 54 games old...

[notin]

2013 was basically closer by committee.

 

Well, it was more like "closer by attrition" with everyone who had the role going down for the season until the Sox finally got to Uehara...

[TylerD]

2013 was a good example. Uehara basically took the job because he was so much better than the other relievers. There is nothing special about the 9th inning - especially with a 3 run lead. Now you need a 9th inning guy - because pitchers like having defined jobs to a certain degree. But spending 30 million dollars or something stupid on it is silly unless it's 2013 Uehara or Mariano Rivera.

 

I always cite Tampa who have been able to find closers by going through other teams' garbage.

 

Although I tend to agree. I think a closer gets the brunt of the pressure like Kimbrel closing out in the playoffs against the Yankees and last night against the Astros. Yes I know a pitcher isn’t suppose to look at it that way. It should just be another inning to them. But I think a tight ball game on the line and in the 9th inning especially playoffs or World Series does take a special player to pitch with that kind of pressure. Kimbrel sure as f*** has shown how he deals wirh pressure as of late.

[notin]

2013 was a good example. Uehara basically took the job because he was so much better than the other relievers. There is nothing special about the 9th inning - especially with a 3 run lead. Now you need a 9th inning guy - because pitchers like having defined jobs to a certain degree. But spending 30 million dollars or something stupid on it is silly unless it's 2013 Uehara or Mariano Rivera.

 

I always cite Tampa who have been able to find closers by going through other teams' garbage.

 

St Louis Cardinals seem to be even better at it...

[Bellhorn04]

BOOM YES!!!

 

The downfall of that bullpen wasn't the lack of defined roles. It was the over-reliance on mediocre to bad pitchers like Chad Fox, Brandon Lyon, Todd Jones, Ramiro Mendoza, Scott Williamson, and Scott Sauerbeck. Even Alan Embree wasn't all that great in the regular season. The only pitchers with more than 25 appearances and an ERA under 4.00 were Mike Timlin and Byung-Hyun Kim, and Kim wasn't even acquired until the season was 54 games old...

 

So was it a failure of the 'throw stuff at the wall' concept as well?

[oldtimer]

Although I tend to agree. I think a closer gets the brunt of the pressure like Kimbrel closing out in the playoffs against the Yankees and last night against the Astros. Yes I know a pitcher isn’t suppose to look at it that way. It should just be another inning to them. But I think a tight ball game on the line and in the 9th inning especially playoffs or World Series does take a special player to pitch with that kind of pressure. Kimbrel sure as f*** has shown how he deals wirh pressure as of late.

 

I think Kimbrel needs to trust his stuff and go with what he has, which is enough. He gets into trouble by trying to overthrow and then he totally loses command. The difference between 96 mph and 99 mph is not that significant, especiaqlly if it causes you to lose command.

[jung]

Pedro said after game, that GK is not picking up his target fast enough.....and he's right, and fixable.

 

Pedro is not much of an "analyst" in this post season. TBS/FX1 is likely to kick his butt back to NESN after this performance. Even David Ortiz has been more of an analyst than Pedro has been.

 

Not picking up his target in time does not explain Kimbrel's mechanics being shot to hell. Once he starts trying to overthrow the FB (every appearance lately) everything goes to hell. His arm angle drops, his head comes up, his body is too upright, he doesn't finish and nobody including Kimbrel has any idea where the ball is going.

[notin]

I think Kimbrel needs to trust his stuff and go with what he has, which is enough. He gets into trouble by trying to overthrow and then he totally loses command. The difference between 96 mph and 99 mph is not that significant, especiaqlly if it causes you to lose command.

 

At the distance pitchers throw, a 99mph fastball is about a foot ahead of a 96mph fastball, which is a big difference to a batter swinging, and could be the difference between hitting a ball up the middle to fouling it off the other way (depending on the hitters bat speed).

 

but if the 99mph pitch is not a strike and the hitter doesn't swing, it doesn't matter. Right now, the Astros' hitters (except Bregman) are content to be patient and let Kimbrel pitch himself into jams...