2022 Bullpen Thread

[dgalehouse]

This bullpen is kind of a mish - mash. Cora is always trying to mix and match and get the best out of them. And he is actually pretty good at it. But this is really not a good plan if you want to win a championship. To begin with , you really should have a first rate closer . ( I thought they should have gone after Iglesias in the off season). Now , whether it is Whitlock, Houck or Robles , you should have someone in that role. Then you need to define the roles of the set up men. Stick with it and don't yank them every time they get in a jam. I think they will all benefit from knowing their roles and when they are likely to be called upon.

[notin]

This bullpen is kind of a mish - mash. Cora is always trying to mix and match and get the best out of them. And he is actually pretty good at it. But this is really not a good plan if you want to win a championship. To begin with , you really should have a first rate closer . ( I thought they should have gone after Iglesias in the off season). Now , whether it is Whitlock, Houck or Robles , you should have someone in that role. Then you need to define the roles of the set up men. Stick with it and don't yank them every time they get in a jam. I think they will all benefit from knowing their roles and when they are likely to be called upon.

 

 

Iglesias was the big name closer this off-season, and funny you mention him as he got pummeled today by a White Sox lineup that’s struggling more than Boston’s…

[mvp 78]

Iglesias was the big name closer this off-season, and funny you mention him as he got pummeled today by a White Sox lineup that’s struggling more than Boston’s…

 

Even with the "pummeling" his ERA is still under 3. Prior to last weekend, he had only given up 3 hits and 1 run all season. I'd take that.

[notin]

Even with the "pummeling" his ERA is still under 3. Prior to last weekend, he had only given up 3 hits and 1 run all season. I'd take that.

 

 

I’d take it, but it happens to everyone in that role once in a while. Diekman had only given up one run before getting pummeled and that was too often for some people.

 

I still like the idea of Houck and Whitlock taking care of the last couple innings…

[moonslav59]

Even with the "pummeling" his ERA is still under 3. Prior to last weekend, he had only given up 3 hits and 1 run all season. I'd take that.

 

Me, too, but assuming the budget is somewhat fixed, who do we give up to match the $14.5M x 5 Iggy got?

 

JBJ seems like the obvious choice.

 

Wacha 7, Hill 5 comes close, too.

Edited May 2, 2022 by moonslav59

[mvp 78]

I’d take it, but it happens to everyone in that role once in a while. Diekman had only given up one run before getting pummeled and that was too often for some people.

 

I still like the idea of Houck and Whitlock taking care of the last couple innings…

 

Diekman is pitching far worse than just one pummeling. In the 3 game stretch from 4/22 - 4/26, he gave up 3 BB, 5 H, 2 HR, 4 ER, 2 IP.

[mvp 78]

Me, too, but assuming the budget is somewhat fixed, who do we give up to match the $14.5M x 5 Iggy got?

 

JBJ seems like the obvious choice.

 

Wacha 7, Hill 5 comes close, too.

 

They went over the cap. Should have just added to it.

[moonslav59]

They went over the cap. Should have just added to it.

 

That's too easy to say. I doubt it works out that easily.

 

Plus, Iggy got a 4 year deal. that changes the dynamic.

[Old Red]

Iglesias was the big name closer this off-season, and funny you mention him as he got pummeled today by a White Sox lineup that’s struggling more than Boston’s…

 

The Red Sox have 5 Saves this season, and 6 BS in only 23 games, but nope we don’t need a closer.

[mvp 78]

The Red Sox have 5 Saves this season, and 6 BS in only 23 games, but nope we don’t need a closer.

 

They should DFA every guy who had a blown save this year:

Brasier

Diekman

Barnes

Robles

Whitlock...

[mvp 78]

The only guy with positive net saves for the Sox is Matt Strahm.

[Old Red]

They should DFA every guy who had a blown save this year:

Brasier

Diekman

Barnes

Robles

Whitlock...

 

Outside of Whitlock how many of these guys would be closing on another team right now?

[mvp 78]

Sox pen:

8th IP

21st fWAR

23rd FIP

12th k/9

20th LOB%

[vegasbob]

Iglesias was the big name closer this off-season, and funny you mention him as he got pummeled today by a White Sox lineup that’s struggling more than Boston’s…

 

Funny how the Angels still won the game, although their bullpen , including Iglesias, gave 5 runs after 1 out in the 9th. It will be interesting to see how the Angels hit in the Boston dead zone .

[notin]

The only guy with positive net saves for the Sox is Matt Strahm.

 

 

But then the problem with vs blown saves is a pitcher can only get a save in the last innning, but can get a blown save any time after the 5th inning.

 

Also a blown save isn’t necessarily a loss. In a 9 inning game, it’s possible for a team to get 4 blown saves and still win the game…

[mvp 78]

Outside of Whitlock how many of these guys would be closing on another team right now?

 

Robles was the LAA closer in 2019. He was decent at it.

 

Maybe Barnes can get back there at some point this year. Hard to say.

 

Right now? Just Robles. Anthony Bender in MIA is garbage. Robles would close there.

[mvp 78]

But then the problem with vs blown saves is a pitcher can only get a save in the last innning, but can get a blown save any time after the 5th inning.

 

Also a blown save isn’t necessarily a loss. In a 9 inning game, it’s possible for a team to get 4 blown saves and still win the game…

 

Just stating the facts, sir.

[notin]

Funny how the Angels still won the game, although their bullpen , including Iglesias, gave 5 runs after 1 out in the 9th. It will be interesting to see how the Angels hit in the Boston dead zone .

 

They entered the ninth up 6-0 and left it leading 6-5. The White Sox ended that game with the bases loaded, too.

 

Exciting finish but such a letdown at the end…

[vegasbob]

Me, too, but assuming the budget is somewhat fixed, who do we give up to match the $14.5M x 5 Iggy got?

 

JBJ seems like the obvious choice.

 

Wacha 7, Hill 5 comes close, too.

 

The concern with JBJr now shifts to the story that there will be no where to get rid of his salary burden for this year or next. I guess on a weird day you could find a GM to accept the salary dump , packaged with a prime couple of prospects from the hot MiLB Sox system.

Far better Jackie starts one of his hot streaks with the bat and helps the lineup keep moving.

[Old Red]

Robles was the LAA closer in 2019. He was decent at it.

 

Maybe Barnes can get back there at some point this year. Hard to say.

 

Right now? Just Robles. Anthony Bender in MIA is garbage. Robles would close there.

 

If the plan was not to use Whitlock as the closer to start the season then both Cora, and Bloom knew the Red Sox did not have a closer, which adds up to bad planning to me.

[moonslav59]

The concern with JBJr now shifts to the story that there will be no where to get rid of his salary burden for this year or next. I guess on a weird day you could find a GM to accept the salary dump , packaged with a prime couple of prospects from the hot MiLB Sox system.

Far better Jackie starts one of his hot streaks with the bat and helps the lineup keep moving.

 

Maybe JBJ + Binelas & Hamilton for a bag of balls?

Edited May 2, 2022 by moonslav59

[dgalehouse]

But then the problem with vs blown saves is a pitcher can only get a save in the last innning, but can get a blown save any time after the 5th inning.

 

Also a blown save isn’t necessarily a loss. In a 9 inning game, it’s possible for a team to get 4 blown saves and still win the game…

I'm not sure if they charge blown saves before the seventh inning. But there are certainly some quirks in the " blown save" stat for sure. Nevertheless, when you have more blown saves than you have saves , it's not too good.

[vegasbob]

If your multi-inning closer (Whitlock) allows a lost lead in the 7th, he gets a blown save, but if the Sox tie it in the 8th and he allows no further runs he gets a hold, and in the 9th the Sox take the lead, and he preserves the win, he gets a save?? What a great guy.

[notin]

Just stating the facts, sir.

 

 

Me too…

[notin]

If your multi-inning closer (Whitlock) allows a lost lead in the 7th, he gets a blown save, but if the Sox tie it in the 8th and he allows no further runs he gets a hold, and in the 9th the Sox take the lead, and he preserves the win, he gets a save?? What a great guy.

 

No hold awarded in that case. Pitchers don’t get holds for preserving ties. In that game, the pitcher is credited with the bizarrely named “blown win”. Noted as a BW on your baseball-reference site…

[Bellhorn04]

The Sox have 5 saves, 16 holds and 6 blown saves. So their real success % is 21/27 = 77.8%

 

MLB averages: 6 saves, 13 holds, 3 blown saves. Success % = 86.4%

 

Dreaded Yankees: 9 saves, 23 holds, 3 blown saves. Success % = 91.4%

[harmony]

Robles was the LAA closer in 2019. He was decent at it.

 

Maybe Barnes can get back there at some point this year. Hard to say.

 

Right now? Just Robles. Anthony Bender in MIA is garbage. Robles would close there.

FWIW last week Anthony Bender posted four saves in four scoreless outings:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=bendean01&t=p&year=2022

 

Bender has more saves this year than the entire Red Sox staff.

[mvp 78]

FWIW last week Anthony Bender posted four saves in four scoreless outings:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=bendean01&t=p&year=2022

 

Bender has more saves this year than the entire Red Sox staff.

 

He also has a 5.49 FIP. If the Sox were ahead more often, they'd have more saves.

[mvp 78]

No hold awarded in that case. Pitchers don’t get holds for preserving ties. In that game, the pitcher is credited with the bizarrely named “blown win”. Noted as a BW on your baseball-reference site…

 

 

Reliever specific stats are f***ing horrible.

[notin]

I'm not sure if they charge blown saves before the seventh inning. But there are certainly some quirks in the " blown save" stat for sure. Nevertheless, when you have more blown saves than you have saves , it's not too good.

 

It’s not good. But it’s actually not so uncommon. (And not true per Fangraphs)

 

Fangraphs lists the Sox as having 5 saves and 5 blown saves. They are one of 4 teams with equal saves and blown saves. Minnesota (AL Central first place) and Seattle (AL West 2nd place) are two of the others…