The Pen

[dgalehouse]

Do we really want to even consider fixing the bullpen by breaking up the starting rotation ?

[mvp 78]

Closers don’t need to throw smoke. But they do need to throw strikes...

 

Of the top 10 closers last year (most saves), only 1 had a FB less than 93.5 (Boxberger) and he had a negative fWAR.

 

Cheese isn't required, but the best relievers typically have it.

[notin]

Of the top 10 closers last year (most saves), only 1 had a FB less than 93.5 (Boxberger) and he had a negative fWAR.

 

Cheese isn't required, but the best relievers typically have it.

 

Doug Jones saved over 300 games throwing 85mph and under.

 

Eckersley didn't throw smoke but he did throw strikes and lots of them...

[notin]

Do we really want to even consider fixing the bullpen by breaking up the starting rotation ?

 

No. The bullpen needs to be fixed by either a key signing, a key trade, or both...

[mvp 78]

Doug Jones saved over 300 games throwing 85mph and under.

 

Eckersley didn't throw smoke but he did throw strikes and lots of them...

 

Doug Jones would get lit up today.

[notin]

Doug Jones would get lit up today.

 

Well, he is 61 years old...

[Bellhorn04]

Of the top 10 closers last year (most saves), only 1 had a FB less than 93.5 (Boxberger) and he had a negative fWAR.

 

Cheese isn't required, but the best relievers typically have it.

 

That Koji guy was pretty good.

[moonslav59]

Do we really want to even consider fixing the bullpen by breaking up the starting rotation ?

 

No.

 

I think of it as an emergency option.

 

We did use Eovaldi a bit in that role in the playoffs.

 

He was cheaper than Kimbrel will cost.

[Kimmi]

Would be funny if by a certain point, Porcello ends up as a closer. Wright/ERod healthy, lot of pitchers.

 

IMO, Eovaldi would become the closer before Porcello would.

 

Sale would too.

 

Porcello is about the only guy we have who seems capable of making all of his starts year after year.

[Kimmi]

It's not usually a good plan to have one of your top starters moving to the bullpen.

 

This would only happen if the move was needed to preserve the health/arm of one of our starters, namely Eovaldi or Sale.

 

It won't happen just because we need a closer.

[Kimmi]

Do we really want to even consider fixing the bullpen by breaking up the starting rotation ?

 

No.

[cp176]

I doubt seriously that any of our current starters ever wind up in a closing role until they pitch themselves out of the primary rotation.

That is just the way it works. The best start. Porcello is a durable mid rotation pitcher who has great value to us. He does not throw the ball hard enough in this day and age to ever close. He does not have the deceptive delivery that Koji had.

[mvp 78]

That Koji guy was pretty good.

 

Cheese isn't required, but the best relievers typically have it.

[SoxnCycles]

No.

 

If that has to happen, the Sox are already screwed.

But, it's interesting to talk about.

[notin]

Cheese isn't required, but the best relievers typically have it.

 

Eckersley? Hoffman?

[TylerD]

Do we really want to even consider fixing the bullpen by breaking up the starting rotation ?

What would it look like if we did this? I think our bullpen is good enough to leave the starting rotation alone. I guess you could move Porcello to the bullpen but who fills that spot?

[Slasher9]

says the guy with Mr. Tingles, Eovaldi and ERod in his rotation. And how was Sale's shoulder by season's end?

 

might be tired from carrying around that World Series trophy all winter......

[BillyWilliams]

might be tired from carrying around that broken World Series trophy all winter......

 

There, fixed it for you.

[Slasher9]

LOL....if that makes you feel better about it.

[Kimmi]

If that has to happen, the Sox are already screwed.

But, it's interesting to talk about.

 

The starting rotation takes precedence over the bullpen.

 

I would not even consider creating a hole in the rotation to fix the bullpen.

[TylerD]

The starting rotation takes precedence over the bullpen.

 

I would not even consider creating a hole in the rotation to fix the bullpen.

 

This is exactly my thoughts. Our rotation is too good to take someone out and try and fill that role. It's the power of our team especially if the consistency of Price and Sale continue. The bullpen was our weakness for a big chunk of last season but seemed to improve late in the season.

[moonslav59]

This is exactly my thoughts. Our rotation is too good to take someone out and try and fill that role. It's the power of our team especially if the consistency of Price and Sale continue. The bullpen was our weakness for a big chunk of last season but seemed to improve late in the season.

 

I'm not for moving a starter to the pen, but lets not forget our pen was largely saved in the playoffs by Eovaldi and a little help by other starters.

 

It's not uncommon for starters to pitch out of the pen in the playoffs, so I know it's apples to oranges, but without Kelly and CK back, we may need even more playoff help from our starters than 2018!

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not for moving a starter to the pen, but lets not forget our pen was largely saved in the playoffs by Eovaldi and a little help by other starters.

 

It's not uncommon for starters to pitch out of the pen in the playoffs, so I know it's apples to oranges, but without Kelly and CK back, we may need even more playoff help from our starters than 2018!

 

True, but for a while it looked like Kelly might not even make the playoff roster. (Fortunately Cora knew much better.) And CK was bad in the playoffs.

 

It's a funny old game LOL

[cp176]

I'm not for moving a starter to the pen, but lets not forget our pen was largely saved in the playoffs by Eovaldi and a little help by other starters.

 

It's not uncommon for starters to pitch out of the pen in the playoffs, so I know it's apples to oranges, but without Kelly and CK back, we may need even more playoff help from our starters than 2018!

 

In the post season, you need to do what ever it takes to win. if you have decent starting pitching it is highly likely that most of them are better than anything you have coming out of the pen. That is just the way it goes most of the time. Much like the presence of Martinez obviously helped a number of our guys at the plate, it is likely that Kelly was a better pitcher knowing what he had to pick him up behind him if need be. - Eovaldi - Sale - Price - Porcello - E-rod - Not too shabby.

[notin]

True, but for a while it looked like Kelly might not even make the playoff roster. (Fortunately Cora knew much better.) And CK was bad in the playoffs.

 

It's a funny old game LOL

 

Did it really ever look that way? I thought he was a no-brained...

[Bellhorn04]

Did it really ever look that way? I thought he was a no-brained...

 

It looked that way to some of us knee-jerkers here. You, in your omnipotent wisdom, were right.

[fxkatt]

This is the dumb fan in me speaking, but I wonder about Steve Wright as a closer... if, he's back in form. I think he could be more shut-down than anyone on our current (unfinished, I assume) roster. And he certainly would pose real problems for opposing lineups. As to his consistency, I think it might be able to at least match Kimbrel if he's as good as he once was (pre-injury). And, of course, this move would not at all detract from a 6-man rotation.

[OH FOY]

Talking about Eovaldi as a possible Closer, LATER in season, you start out and see what you got at the beginning. Eovaldi can impact more games, in a week then a single Start. Eovaldi can throw more then just 1 inning. You can bring him in the 8th, and make him a 2 inning Closer. You have to shorten the Game, with the 100 Pitch Count. 6 innings, is about what you get nowadays. The last 3 innings of games are crucial. Use Eovaldi for 2, you cut it down to one.

 

Seen Barnes all the way back to UCONN, kid has the tools, but does he have the balls. As a Sox Closer, it has me nervous.

[Bellhorn04]

Seen Barnes all the way back to UCONN, kid has the tools, but does he have the balls. As a Sox Closer, it has me nervous.

 

Well, Barnes pitched fantastically well last postseason.

 

8.2 IP allowing a slash line of 103/257/207.

 

Vastly better than Kimbrel's line, needless to say.

 

Which doesn't mean he'll be a great closer, but it speaks well of his ability to pitch under pressure.

[kenmeister]

I think Barnes will be fine. I think Brasier will be fine. Hembree is a known quantity. The questions for me are whether Velazquez, Johnson, Wright, and Workman can adjust to setup roles and pitch well with inherited runners in pressure situations.