Tyler Thornburg

[notin]

... avoided arbitration and settled for $1.75 mill.

 

So he’s back in the bullpen with Barnes, Brasier, Hembree and Workman and possibly Johnson.

 

One spot left? Will the Sox take advantage of Thornburg’s closing experience at some point?

[Bellhorn04]

For me the obvious first question is why did he pitch so badly last year when he came back from the injury?

[cp176]

Also looks as though Kimbrel is looking for 6 years! Ouch - likely not in Boston.

[Bellhorn04]

Also looks as though Kimbrel is looking for 6 years! Ouch - likely not in Boston.

 

I'll go on record that there's no way he gets 6 years.

[cp176]

I'll go on record that there's no way he gets 6 years.

 

You should be carful Bellhorn about going on record with that. It is safe to say that I won't remember what you said but you know there are others who would hold your feet to the fire if the prophecy turns out wrong. lol I don't think that there is any way that he gets 6 either but you can't fault a fella for trying.

[kenmeister]

... avoided arbitration and settled for $1.75 mill.

 

So he’s back in the bullpen with Barnes, Brasier, Hembree and Workman and possibly Johnson.

 

One spot left? Will the Sox take advantage of Thornburg’s closing experience at some point?

 

I liked what I saw from Poyner.

[moonslav59]

For me the obvious first question is why did he pitch so badly last year when he came back from the injury?

 

He may never get near to what he was that year with Milwaukee. It is a difficult injury to fully recover from, but if he does, we have a closer or a great set-up guy.

 

I think we should plan on getting nothing from him, and anything he gives us will be a bonus.

[moonslav59]

Possible pen current depth chart:

 

Barnes

Brasier

Hembree

Workman

Thornburg

Johnson/Vezaquez/Wright

 

Poyner

Scott

Walden

Brewer

Lakins

Josh Taylor

Shawaryn/Shepherd/Josh Smith

Feltman

[Carpin]

Kimbrel shooting for the moon, he wants a 6 years deal, he will settle for 4 maybe 5 years, but let's see who's dumb enough to give him a 6 yrs contract (hopefully not the Yankees)

[Bellhorn04]

Possible pen current depth chart:

 

Barnes

Brasier

Hembree

Workman

Thornburg

Johnson/Vezaquez/Wright

 

Poyner

Scott

Walden

Brewer

Lakins

Josh Taylor

Shawaryn/Shepherd/Josh Smith

Feltman

 

+ Austin Maddox. (You did use the word 'possible'.)

[Spudboy]

The only good thing about the Thornberg deal is that it is cheap and short.

 

I suspect this is a waste of roster space.

 

I too like Poyner.

[dgalehouse]

Possible pen current depth chart:

 

Barnes

Brasier

Hembree

Workman

Thornburg

Johnson/Vezaquez/Wright

 

Poyner

Scott

Walden

Brewer

Lakins

Josh Taylor

Shawaryn/Shepherd/Josh Smith

Feltman

 

We are going to have to improve on that lineup.

[moonslav59]

+ Austin Maddox. (You did use the word 'possible'.)

 

I thought we cut him.

[moonslav59]

We are going to have to improve on that lineup.

 

Yes. I think we need at least one very good RP'er or two solid RP'ers.

 

This might be more accurate:

 

________

Barnes

Brasier

_______

Hembree

Workman

Thornburg

 

Johnson/Vezaquez/Wright

 

Poyner

Scott

Walden

Brewer

Lakins

Josh Taylor

Shawaryn/Shepherd/Josh Smith

Feltman

 

[Bellhorn04]

I thought we cut him.

 

He was 'outrighted' to Pawtucket.

[moonslav59]

He was 'outrighted' to Pawtucket.

 

I'm glad he's still in the system. I thought he showed promise before the injury.

[dgalehouse]

Can never have too much pitching depth, as they say. However , it is difficult to substitute quantity for quality if you want to succeed at a high level. Hoping to get lucky is usually not a good strategy.

[notin]

Can never have too much pitching depth, as they say. However , it is difficult to substitute quantity for quality if you want to succeed at a high level. Hoping to get lucky is usually not a good strategy.

 

So you think Dombrowski is hoping to get lucky?

[dgalehouse]

So you think Dombrowski is hoping to get lucky?

 

No , I don't. What I like about Dombrowski is that he goes for quality. Some fans seem to prefer collecting a number of mediocrities hoping to find that elusive diamond in the rough. Let's not pin our hopes on guys like Maddox , Poyner , Workman , etc.

[moonslav59]

So you think Dombrowski is hoping to get lucky?

 

I think he is planning to improve his pen (luck) by obtaining 2 pitchers.

[notin]

No , I don't. What I like about Dombrowski is that he goes for quality. Some fans seem to prefer collecting a number of mediocrities hoping to find that elusive diamond in the rough. Let's not pin our hopes on guys like Maddox , Poyner , Workman , etc.

 

But Dombrowski did try and get that elusive “diamond in the rough” with his signings of fringe Major League talent like Marcus Walden and Chris Smith. He did strike gold with Ryan Brasier using this same tactic.

 

The guys you named were all farm system products he inherited. The irony is, every time I suggest signing minor league free agent pitchers, someone always suggests giving those chances to farm system products like Maddox and Poyner and Workman.

 

My biggest gripe with Dombrowski is he doesn’t take enough chances with risk-free minor league contracts. He dabbles and it occasionally works out, but it is a numbers game...

Edited November 30, 2018 by notin

[dgalehouse]

But Dombrowski did try and get that elusive “diamond in the rough” with his signings of fringe Major League talent like Marcus Walden and Chris Smith. He did strike gold with Ryan Brasier using this same tactic.

 

The guys you named were all farm system products he inherited. The irony is, every time I suggest signing minor league free agent pitchers, someone always suggests giving those chances to farm system products like Maddox and Poyner and Workman.

 

My biggest gripe with Dombrowski is he doesn’t take enough chances with risk-free minor league contracts. He dabbles and it occasionally works out, but it is a numbers game...

 

I don't necessarily disagree with that . But as to this year's bullpen , I think we need a couple of quality arms to replace Kimbrel and Kelly. If we can find a somewhat obscure gem like Brasier , fine.

[notin]

U

I don't necessarily disagree with that . But as to this year's bullpen , I think we need a couple of quality arms to replace Kimbrel and Kelly. If we can find a somewhat obscure gem like Brasier , fine.

 

If Thornburg can return to form, he has one. But Kevlly and Kimbrel gave the team about 125 IP so further help is needed. I expect an experienced closer to be added. If the Sox add two relievers (and everyone is healthy), someone has to go. Soxprospects.com seems to think Workman is on the bubble...

[moonslav59]

U

 

If Thornburg can return to form, he has one. But Kevlly and Kimbrel gave the team about 125 IP so further help is needed. I expect an experienced closer to be added. If the Sox add two relievers (and everyone is healthy), someone has to go. Soxprospects.com seems to think Workman is on the bubble...

 

We didn't count on Brasier at the start of the year, but he did well. It's hard to plan on "getting lucky" again, but you are right- sign more guys like Brasier and you have a better chance one turns into Brasier.

 

As for the 125 IP'd (less than 1/5th of our total RP IP, but most were very important ones) needing to be replaced, we could possibly, barring injuries to any pen arm, get more from these guys.

 

Relief IP in 2018

62 Barnes same

60 Hembree same

55 Velazquez same, maybe more if no starts

41 Workman maybe +10-20

39 Johnson same, maybe more if no starts

34 Brasier should be +25-30

30 Wright who knows?

24 Thornburg maybe +25-30

22 Poyner maybe +25-40

15 Walden who knows?

7 Scott who knows?

 

Gone

65.2 Kimbrel

62.1 Kelly

22.2 Pom

15.0 Cuevas

14.1 Smith

7.2 Haley

2.1 Beeks

[Larry Cook]

We could always sign buchholz as a bullpen guy!

 

And keep in mind Feltman and Lakin’s should be in Boston in 2019!

[oldtimer]

U

 

If Thornburg can return to form, he has one. But Kevlly and Kimbrel gave the team about 125 IP so further help is needed. I expect an experienced closer to be added. If the Sox add two relievers (and everyone is healthy), someone has to go. Soxprospects.com seems to think Workman is on the bubble...

 

The Thornburg signing tells me the coaches think there is hope for him going forward. We do have some minor league potential so maybe only one reliever would be adequate if we can get a starter like Eovaldi.

[notin]

The Thornburg signing tells me the coaches think there is hope for him going forward. We do have some minor league potential so maybe only one reliever would be adequate if we can get a starter like Eovaldi.

 

Hopefully the Sox ignore the minor league bullpen options right now. They’re going to use maybe 12-15 relievers this year, which means they will be calling up 5-7 minor league relief pitchers as it is. Let’s save Durban, Lakins, etc. for that list...

[Kimmi]

The Thornburg signing tells me the coaches think there is hope for him going forward. We do have some minor league potential so maybe only one reliever would be adequate if we can get a starter like Eovaldi.

 

I do have hope for Thornburg going forward, but I'm not comfortable depending on him in any significant role. I will be surprised if Dave does not sign a well known closer plus at least one other reliever. This is in addition to adding another starter like Eovaldi.

[Kimmi]

Hopefully the Sox ignore the minor league bullpen options right now. They’re going to use maybe 12-15 relievers this year, which means they will be calling up 5-7 minor league relief pitchers as it is. Let’s save Durban, Lakins, etc. for that list...

 

Depth, depth, depth, and more depth.

[jacksonianmarch]

It’s a cheap contract for a guy who at his peak is nasty. It’s a cheap hope that he regains form