Eovaldi to be closer

[dgalehouse]

Interesting because the Sox had made it clear that they wanted him to start , and he said he wanted to start . But I think this is a good move . I like this a lot . If it works out it can help stabilize the whole bullpen . And the fewer innings pitched could help keep Eovaldi healthy . Obviously , we will need a fifth starter unless we go the " opener " route . But I do like this a lot . Could be just what the doctor ordered .

[notin]

Interesting because the Sox had made it clear that they wanted him to start , and he said he wanted to start . But I think this is a good move . I like this a lot . If it works out it can help stabilize the whole bullpen . And the fewer innings pitched could help keep Eovaldi healthy . Obviously , we will need a fifth starter unless we go the " opener " route . But I do like this a lot . Could be just what the doctor ordered .

 

I really hope the Sox don’t do the opener thing.

 

Right now the main purpose of their rotation should be to keep the bullpen off the mound...

[Slasher9]

In fact other teams stopped doing it a long time ago...

 

Make Closing Great Again!

[Slasher9]

While I prefer that idea, can he physically handle it? Even knuckle ballers have to have some stamina in their arm and shoulder...

 

plus if he's starting he wont be available to pinch run.....

[notin]

Make Closing Great Again!

 

Trevor Kelley was called up today.

 

He could be a real shot in the arm for this bullpen, meaning he could be painful and not enjoyed by anyone. Also make small children cry.

 

Or not...

[notin]

plus if he's starting he wont be available to pinch run.....

 

Actually he would. He was a starter then, having throw a 9 IP shutout the day before...

[moonslav59]

While I prefer that idea, can he physically handle it? Even knuckle ballers have to have some stamina in their arm and shoulder...

 

...and Wright throws one of the hardest knuckleballs ever thrown.

 

I'd stick with Johnson until he shows he can't do it. Use Wright and Velazquez in all to often needed long relief roles.

 

I'm not sure about Walden's usage going forward. Maybe only pitch him in low leverage situations to see if he can snap out of this funk.

 

Barnes may need a 10 day IL stint. He needs to be watched closely and not used in high leverage until he shows improvement.

 

We could really use Hembree, but I fear he is done for 2019.

 

Brewer has done well, of late, so I ride the hot arm for as long as we can. He's my second set-up man to Workman.

 

Brasier looks to be doing better, but he needs to be moved up slowly.

 

Closer: Eovaldi

Top Set-up: Workman & Brewer

7th inning: Brasier & ______(trade acquisition)

5th & 6th: Wright, Velazquez

Scrub duty (for now): Barnes or Walden (maybe Smith)

[TylerD]

While I prefer that idea, can he physically handle it? Even knuckle ballers have to have some stamina in their arm and shoulder...

 

This rotation worries me. If Porcello doesn’t stay in Boston next year that’s two starters we will need.

[iortiz]

Looking at the facts, this move could work it out and turn into a win-win situation for the Sox beyond the paycheck of Evaldi.

 

The Sox are clogged in their payroll.

JH is not planning to add more payroll.

Nathan has an injury-prone arm.

We don't have a closer.

Nathan has proven to pitch well in high-leverage situations.

We don't have top prospects to trade for elite BP arms.

We can BP every five day —Johnson-Velazquez-Wright

 

Said that, Eovaldi at closing is a prudent move considering the facts.

[notin]

Looking at the facts, this move could work it out and turn into a win-win situation for the Sox beyond the paycheck of Evaldi.

 

The Sox are clogged in their payroll.

JH is not planning to add more payroll.

Nathan has an injury-prone arm.

We don't have a closer.

Nathan has proven to pitch well in high-leverage situations.

We don't have top prospects to trade for elite BP arms.

We can BP every five day —Johnson-Velazquez-Wright

 

Said that, Eovaldi at closing is a prudent move considering the facts.

 

The “bullpen every fifth day” is s bad, Bad, BAD idea.

 

The pen has been overworked and has underperformed. The idea should NOT be to try and get more innings out of them...

[iortiz]

The “bullpen every fifth day” is s bad, Bad, BAD idea.

 

The pen has been overworked and has underperformed. The idea should NOT be to try and get more innings out of them...

 

I'm saying using only Velazquez, Johnson and Wright (1-6,7 IP) every fifth day. Wonder what's the record with Johnson and Velazquez starting.

 

Given the circumstances putting Eovaldi at closing could give us more chances to win more games in the second half.

 

Also we are going to need Beni's and Betts' bats badly. Without them, it won't matter what you do in the BP.

[notin]

 

Also we are going to need Beni's and Betts' bats badly. Without them, it won't matter what you do in the BP.

 

The Sox are third in MLB at 5.51 R/G, behind only theYankees and Twins, while getting subpar production from Betts and Benintendi. Certainly it would be great if both could turn it around, but the season doesn’t depend on it...

[jacksonianmarch]

Your offense isn't the main culprit here. What I have noticed about your offense this year is the lack of tack on runs. The sox will jump ahead of someone then go silent for the game. Last year, your team would jump ahead, then start fenceposting the other team until they gave up. Now, they'll drop a 5 spot through 2 innings then go silent

[illinoisredsox]

It makes some sense; at this point to start he’s going to have to ramp up ala normal spring training. That’ll take 5-6 weeks and I don't think they have that kind of time.

[moonslav59]

This rotation worries me. If Porcello doesn’t stay in Boston next year that’s two starters we will need.

 

If he stays, we may need 3.

 

 

[TylerD]

If he stays, we may need 3.

 

 

 

[Kimmi]

Normally I agree.

 

But like I said, I think this is more about Eovaldi than the Sox bullpen. Maybe full time starter duty this year is just too much for Eovaldi’s frequently rebuilt arm. Maybe it’s a choice of limited action or no action.

 

This might not be the cautionary reaction I think you’re implying. It might be based on the condition of his arm post-surgery...

 

The only way this move would make sense is because it would be beneficial to Eovaldi's arm. That said, and I'm no doctor, there seems to be some consensus that having him pitch once every 5th day would be better for his arm than having him ramp it up 3-4 times a week.

[Kimmi]

Seems like a bit of a desperation move. When is Nate due back anyway?

 

IMO, it's another panic move by the Red Sox front office.

 

One of the reasons that the pen is performing so poorly is that the starters have not gotten it done, due to either underperformance or injury. Taking Eovaldi out of the rotation and moving him to the pen will only exacerbate that problem.

[iortiz]

The Sox are third in MLB at 5.51 R/G, behind only theYankees and Twins, while getting subpar production from Betts and Benintendi. Certainly it would be great if both could turn it around, but the season doesn’t depend on it...

 

If Betts and Benis bats don't turn around we ain't going anywhere nothin. Anywhere. You won't compete vs Yankees, Astros and Twins without those bats. No way. Those bats were key last year. Devers and Xander have helped to cover their underperformance.

[jacksonianmarch]

IMO, it's another panic move by the Red Sox front office.

 

One of the reasons that the pen is performing so poorly is that the starters have not gotten it done, due to either underperformance or injury. Taking Eovaldi out of the rotation and moving him to the pen will only exacerbate that problem.

 

Right now Eovaldi is nowhere, so this might get him back sooner in some capacity. This reminds me of the David Price return where the sox needed a bridge to Kimbrel badly and weren't going to be patient enough for Price to ramp up

[Kimmi]

Eovaldi deserves the chance. I’m sure he will do well only thing is he might be rusty.

 

One thing to keep is mind is that Eovaldi does not want to be in the bullpen. He is on record as saying that. During the offseason, he did not want to sign with any teams that were thinking of using him as a closer. He wants to start.

 

This is not exactly the mentality that you want from your closer.

 

This move has potential disaster written all over it.

[southpaw777]

So we didnt want to pay 18m for a closer...aaaand now after a complete, and predicted meltdown of the Bullpen, weve got our closer for....18m

Funny how that worked out.

We have a group of failed starters that are not consistent enough to be reliable in a tight situation. Even when the starters are good, which for the most part they have been over the last month, the bullpen kicks the pooch more times than not. They may be tired but thats one of the many reasons running a BP this way has never worked.

They need to go get another late inning arm that misses bats to go along with Eovaldi

Edited July 2, 2019 by southpaw777

[Kimmi]

Interesting because the Sox had made it clear that they wanted him to start , and he said he wanted to start . But I think this is a good move . I like this a lot . If it works out it can help stabilize the whole bullpen . And the fewer innings pitched could help keep Eovaldi healthy . Obviously , we will need a fifth starter unless we go the " opener " route . But I do like this a lot . Could be just what the doctor ordered .

 

Eovaldi is needed more as a 5th starter than he is needed as a closer.

 

The pen can't do its job successfully when the starters aren't doing theirs.

[Kimmi]

These two guys get it.

 

Chris Mason‏Verified account @ByChrisMason

 

The bullpen shoulders all the blame — and they absolutely deserve a lot of it — but at what point are Sox starters going to start taking matters into their own hands and going deeper into ballgames, too?

 

 

Jon Couture‏ @JonCouture 1h1 hour ago

 

Jon Couture Retweeted Chris Mason

 

Well put. For the plan #RedSox put together this winter to work, starting rotation had to be rock solid, not injured/inconsistent. Rotation is top-5 by fWAR, but also just below league average in innings pitched per start. Just not good enough for the way the bullpen was built.

[Kimmi]

Right now Eovaldi is nowhere, so this might get him back sooner in some capacity. This reminds me of the David Price return where the sox needed a bridge to Kimbrel badly and weren't going to be patient enough for Price to ramp up

 

Dombrowski said last week that Eovaldi would not be used as a closer.

 

Then the Sox are embarrassed by the Yankees in London, and this move is announced.

 

It's a panic move, there's no way around it.

[moonslav59]

I'm saying using only Velazquez, Johnson and Wright (1-6,7 IP) every fifth day. Wonder what's the record with Johnson and Velazquez starting.

 

Given the circumstances putting Eovaldi at closing could give us more chances to win more games in the second half.

 

Also we are going to need Beni's and Betts' bats badly. Without them, it won't matter what you do in the BP.

 

Records of our 5+ starters:

 

GS Pitcher (Team record in starts) Run support (ERA as starter)

7 Velazquez (4-3) 4.87 (6.41)

4 Eovaldi (3-1) 5.86 (6.00)

3 Weber (2-1) 8.00 (7.94)

2 Smith (0-2) 1.50 (9.82)

2 Johnson (1-1) 7.11 (1.13)

1 DHern (0-1) 9.00 (9.00)

 

Look at those ERAs! We are 10-9 in these 19 games despite the ERA.

 

We've actually got lucky in these starts as we tend to score more when they pitch.

Edited July 2, 2019 by moonslav59

[notin]

One thing to keep is mind is that Eovaldi does not want to be in the bullpen. He is on record as saying that. During the offseason, he did not want to sign with any teams that were thinking of using him as a closer. He wants to start.

 

This is not exactly the mentality that you want from your closer.

 

This move has potential disaster written all over it.

 

Well that may have been a negotiation ploy. The highest-paid relievers make about what he makes now under a contract for a mid-rotation starter.

 

And if it was a negotiation ploy, it worked.

 

Or, he just wants to start. Not eliminating that possibility either...

[TylerD]

These two guys get it.

 

Chris Mason‏Verified account @ByChrisMason

 

The bullpen shoulders all the blame — and they absolutely deserve a lot of it — but at what point are Sox starters going to start taking matters into their own hands and going deeper into ballgames, too?

 

 

Jon Couture‏ @JonCouture 1h1 hour ago

 

Jon Couture Retweeted Chris Mason

 

Well put. For the plan #RedSox put together this winter to work, starting rotation had to be rock solid, not injured/inconsistent. Rotation is top-5 by fWAR, but also just below league average in innings pitched per start. Just not good enough for the way the bullpen was built.

 

Exactly. Our starters haven’t exactly been good outside of Price. E-Rod finally had a good showing on Sunday but he still didn’t make it 6 innings. It’s sad when we count 5.2 innings as solid for our starters. But it is when Porcello couldn’t even make it out of the first. Sales last 2 starts were ugly. Though the White Sox game was more less just a bad inning. And Price’s last 3 starts he has managed 12 innings total. Simply not good enough. The pitching is a f***ing mess to put it nicely this year.

[moonslav59]

Exactly. Our starters haven’t exactly been good outside of Price. E-Rod finally had a good showing on Sunday but he still didn’t make it 6 innings. It’s sad when we count 5.2 innings as solid for our starters. But it is when Porcello couldn’t even make it out of the first. Sales last 2 starts were ugly. Though the White Sox game was more less just a bad inning. And Price’s last 3 starts he has managed 12 innings total. Simply not good enough. The pitching is a f***ing mess to put it nicely this year.

 

Exactly, and the whole "restgate" thing should have put our starters in a position to go deeper than normal to help "pick-up" the struggling pen.

 

The opposite has been true. 3 of out top 4 starters are doing much worse than their 3 year numbers since May 11th.

[Kimmi]

Well that may have been a negotiation ploy. The highest-paid relievers make about what he makes now under a contract for a mid-rotation starter.

 

And if it was a negotiation ploy, it worked.

 

Or, he just wants to start. Not eliminating that possibility either...

 

This is a fair point.

 

It could also be that he didn't want to be a closer initially, but as a team player, he will be willing to do whatever the team needs to do.