8/25 vs Twins

[Maxbialystock]

Seems like just one good reliever would have made a pretty big difference the past week or so.

 

Actually, not the past week or so. It really goes back further.

 

Barnes last save was August 4 at Detroit when he pitched a scoreless 9th with a 4-1 lead. Barnes has not had a save since then, and his ERA for August is 16.88.

 

After the August 4 save came the Toronto series, Aug 6, 7, 7, and 8, which the Jays took 3 games to 1 and Barnes lost the 2d game and the 4th game and then lost the first game at Tampa on August 10. Since August 10 Barnes has pitched in just 3 games and once as a closer. That game was 3 days ago vs. the Rangers: Barnes blew a 2 run lead in the 9th Sox, but the Sox won it in the 11th thanks to the great pitching by Whitlock and the Sox hitters.

 

So, no question, the Sox could have used a really good reliever. But, in Bloom's defense, there were no really good relievers at bargain rates last month. Plus no way could Bloom have predicted that his ASG closer would collapse in August. Barnes's ERA in July was 1.13.

[mvp 78]

Actually, not the past week or so. It really goes back further.

 

Barnes last save was August 4 at Detroit when he pitched a scoreless 9th with a 4-1 lead. Barnes has not had a save since then, and his ERA for August is 16.88.

 

After the August 4 save came the Toronto series, Aug 6, 7, 7, and 8, which the Jays took 3 games to 1 and Barnes lost the 2d game and the 4th game and then lost the first game at Tampa on August 10. Since August 10 Barnes has pitched in just 3 games and once as a closer. That game was 3 days ago vs. the Rangers: Barnes blew a 2 run lead in the 9th Sox, but the Sox won it in the 11th thanks to the great pitching by Whitlock and the Sox hitters.

 

So, no question, the Sox could have used a really good reliever. But, in Bloom's defense, there were no really good relievers at bargain rates last month. Plus no way could Bloom have predicted that his ASG closer would collapse in August. Barnes's ERA in July was 1.13.

 

It has nothing to do with bargain rates or Bloom being a fortune teller. You ADD at the deadline to bolster your pen. Adding another arm (better than Robles and Davis) would have mitigated any risk of Barnes slowing down or could at least stretch a game from lock down 8th and 9th (Otto and Barney) to a lockdown once you got to the 7th.

[Maxbialystock]

Personally , I think Whitlock should be closing unless and until Barnes gets straightened out. There are those who think the closer role is not vitally important. That's a matter of opinion also. To me , nothing is more deflating than blowing a game that appeared to be won.

 

Whitlock could certainly close, but he has also been hugely valuable as a late inning reliever who can go more than 1 inning. He has pitched the most innings of any Sox reliever--60.1. Next most is Ottavino with 50. And Whitlock has the 2d best WAR, 2.5, on the entire pitching staff and an ERA of 1.64.

Edited August 26, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[Maxbialystock]

It has nothing to do with bargain rates or Bloom being a fortune teller. You ADD at the deadline to bolster your pen. Adding another arm (better than Robles and Davis) would have mitigated any risk of Barnes slowing down or could at least stretch a game from lock down 8th and 9th (Otto and Barney) to a lockdown once you got to the 7th.

 

Perhaps. We'd have to ask moonslav to tell us who was available in late July who could have really helped and was reasonably available.

 

My gut says that Cora would have stayed with Barnes no matter what and that the Sox would have lost the same games. They didn't lose the one 3 days ago when Barnes blew yet another save because Whitlock was great and the Sox won it in the 11th.

Edited August 26, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[dgalehouse]

Whitlock could certainly close, but he has also been hugely valuable as a late inning reliever who can go more than 1 inning. He has pitched the most innings of any Sox reliever--60.1. Next most is Ottavino with 50. And Whitlock has the 2d best WAR, 2.5, on the entire pitching staff and an ERA of 1.64.

Obviously , he can't do both jobs. It's just a matter of which one you think is more important.

[Bellhorn04]

Obviously , he can't do both jobs. It's just a matter of which one you think is more important.

 

The way our pen is going, it's rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

[mvp 78]

The way our pen is going, it's rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

Well, you know what they say "finding a great closer is like finding a needle in a haystack if the hay is made out entirely of average pitchers."

[Bellhorn04]

Well, you know what they say "finding a great closer is like finding a needle in a haystack if the hay is made out entirely of average pitchers."

 

Yes, I think that was Confucius.

[mvp 78]

Yes, I think that was Confucius.

 

Pretty sure it was Animal Chin.