2022 Bullpen Thread

[dgalehouse]

For some reason, folks seem to get hung up on the terms "saves " and "blown saves". The object is simply to win the game. A " save" is good because it means you did win. A " blown save" is not good because it lowers your chances of winning. Simple as that. But no matter what you want to call it or how you slice it , the Sox bullpen so far this season has been a hot mess. There is no denying that.

[moonslav59]

You don't need to look at blown saves to see how bad this pen is.

 

fWAR - 28th (IP 8th)

FIP - 25th

BB/9 - 24th

HR/9 - 24th

LOB% - 29th

WHIP - 23rd

 

No doubt. The numbers have really fell off a cliff over the past week or two.

 

One thing I have noticed is that many of our worst RP'ers, at least by OPS Against, have faced more batters than the ones who have done better.

 

Worsst OPS Against and ranking in most batters faced among our 14 pitchers who have pitching from the pen:

 

.997 Crawford 2nd

.915 Diekman T5th

.778 Barnes T5th

.751 Brasier 9th

.745 Davis 1st

 

4 of our 6 most used pen arms are on our 5 worst OPSA list.

 

Granted, Plawecki (.500) has our 4th best, and Schreiber (.375) has our best, and Whitlock (.384) and Houck (.745) have been used as starters, but ...

 

Strahm .461 is 8th in batters faced

 

Valdez .556 in in AAA

 

Robles .580 is in a tailspin

[notin]

Always possible to find an exception to the rule. You do that well. Doesn't change the idea that this is not a good way to run a ballclub.

 

I picked one team. But I would be willing to bet nearly 50% of all World Seies winners this millennia have swapped out closers mid-stream. It’s really common.

 

Even the 2016 Cubs swapped out Hector Tondon for Aroldis Chapman…

[moonslav59]

I picked one team. But I would be willing to bet nearly 50% of all World Seies winners this millennia have swapped out closers mid-stream. It’s really common.

 

Even the 2016 Cubs swapped out Hector Tondon for Aroldis Chapman…

 

Some posters were hoping we replaced Kimbrel in 2018, late in the season and playoffs.

[notin]

Some posters were hoping we replaced Kimbrel in 2018, late in the season and playoffs.

 

Sale got the last out in the World Series

[moonslav59]

Sale got the last out in the World Series

 

Yes, with a 3 K ninth, if I recall.

[Larry Cook]

Our team era in the 7th 8th and 9th innings must be astronomical!

 

For all the math majors out there, the calculation is as follows: a pressure situation and substandard stuff equals an astronomical era and poor results!

[notin]

You don't need to look at blown saves to see how bad this pen is.

 

fWAR - 28th (IP 8th)

FIP - 25th

BB/9 - 24th

HR/9 - 24th

LOB% - 29th

WHIP - 23rd

 

Want to feel better about the bullpen?

 

Do the same thing with the Sox offense…

[notin]

We are 27 games into the season and the Red Sox have scored more than 5 runs in a game THREE times. (They are 3-0 in those games.)

 

Know how long it took the 2021 Red Sox to score more than 5 runs in a game three times? SIX GAMES. And to score more than 5 runs in a game 4 times took them 7 games into the season.

 

The Sox bullpen isn’t good. But it also isn’t their biggest problem..

[moonslav59]

We are 27 games into the season and the Red Sox have scored more than 5 runs in a game THREE times. (They are 3-0 in those games.)

 

Know how long it took the 2021 Red Sox to score more than 5 runs in a game three times? SIX GAMES. And to score more than 5 runs in a game 4 times took them 7 games into the season.

 

The Sox bullpen isn’t good. But it also isn’t their biggest problem..

 

So far, no, but I have more hope in the bats turning around than the guys we have in the pen, right now.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sale got the last out in the World Series

 

And I remember hoping that winter when they let Kimbrel and Kelly go that Sale would be converted into a closer. With his durability issues -- breaking down at the end of seasons -- he seemed an ideal candidate to become a one-inning, go-all-out guy rather than a starter always laboring through five.

 

Of course, sitting for three hours during a game, then getting loose while trying to contain the late-inning adrenaline rush is not for everyone. Especially -- those with a constant eye on salaries will tell us -- for someone making so much money. Not that nailing down wins matters that much...

[notin]

So far, no, but I have more hope in the bats turning around than the guys we have in the pen, right now.

 

If the bats did their job, the bullpen would matter a lot less…

[JDavis76]

If the bats did their job, the bullpen would matter a lot less…

 

And if the queen had balls she'd be the king.

[moonslav59]

And I remember hoping that winter when they let Kimbrel and Kelly go that Sale would be converted into a closer. With his durability issues -- breaking down at the end of seasons -- he seemed an ideal candidate to become a one-inning, go-all-out guy rather than a starter always laboring through five.

 

Of course, sitting for three hours during a game, then getting loose while trying to contain the late-inning adrenaline rush is not for everyone. Especially -- those with a constant eye on salaries will tell us -- for someone making so much money. Not that nailing down wins matters that much...

 

Many felt Kelly should have been left off the playoff/WS roster, but that would have been a costly mistake.

 

(Also, a lesson to those who feel your most recent production level dooms you to repeat that going forward.)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Many felt Kelly should have been left off the playoff/WS roster, but that would have been a costly mistake.

 

(Also, a lesson to those who feel your most recent production level dooms you to repeat that going forward.)

 

Your parenthesis reminds of the mercurial lot of relievers. At least Kelly could throw 100 mph, which can overcome a lot of missed spots in the zone.

[moonslav59]

Your parenthesis reminds of the mercurial lot of relievers. At least Kelly could throw 100 mph, which can overcome a lot of missed spots in the zone.

 

True, but man, he was awful for a stretch there, before the playoffs. His last 11 games:

 

7.2 IP

12 H

5 BB

2 HBP

8 ER

10 K

 

That's 19 runners allowed in less than 8 IP with an ERA over 9!

[Jasonbay44]

Launch Matt Barnes into the sun

[moonslav59]

Game by Game Breakdown (Updated after 4/30)

 

Starters IP/ER vs Relievers IP/ER

 

SP- RP

L 5.0/3 - 5.0/1 (2 ghost runs allowed)

L 5.2/4 - 2.1/0

W 3.1/3 - 5.2/1

L 4.1/1 - 3.2/2

W 4.1/3 - 4.2/0

W 5.0/2 - 4.0/5

L 2.0/5 - 7.0/4

W 5.2/0 - 3.1/0

W 5.0/0 - 4.0/1

L 4.2/4 - 4.1/4

W 4.2/1 - 4.1/1

L 4.0/5 - 5.0/1

L 5.0/2 - 4.0/1

W 5.0/2- 4.0/0

L 4.0/0- 5.2/3

L 4.0/ 0- 4.0/5

L 7.0/2- 1.0/4

L 4.2/2- 5.0/3 (plus 1 ghost runner)

W 6.0/1- 3.0/0

L 3.0/0- 5.0/0

W 4.0/0- 5.0/1

L 7.0/0- 2.0+/1 (+ ghost runner scored)

L 4.1/3- 3.2/6

W 5.2/0- 3.2/0

L 5.0/2- 5.0/7

L 5.0/0- 4.0/8

L 5.0/3- 4.0/1

L 6.0/0-4.0/2

L 2.2/3- 6.1/0

 

The pen has done better in 12 games.

The starters have done better in 14.

They did about the same in 3 games.

 

The pen as done okay to well in 18 games.

The starters have done okay to well in 19 games.

[notin]

Launch Matt Barnes into the sun

 

What did the sun ever do to you?

[moonslav59]

What did the sun ever do to you?

 

Shines on his dump parade.

[notin]

The Sox have allowed all 7 ghost runners to score, but have only driven in 3 of 7.

 

The ghost runner is essentially a gimme. Hit a grounder to the right side and a flyball. It doesn't even require a hit. The RP can actually do his job well and let one score. But somehow the Sox just cannot get the ghost runner home.

 

Also worth noting, one of the three they have driven him came after giving up 6 runs in the top of the inning when the Angels might not have been so concerned with him...

[Larry Cook]

On the season, I can’t remember ever seeing a bullpen this pitiful in the last three innings of a game,

 

We just keep rolling in all these guys with substandard stuff.

 

It is not “if” they are going to collapse, but when.

[Bellhorn04]

On the season, I can’t remember ever seeing a bullpen this pitiful in the last three innings of a game,

 

We just keep rolling in all these guys with substandard stuff.

 

It is not “if” they are going to collapse, but when.

 

And don't forget the pitiful offense in the last three innings. It's a team effort.

[moonslav59]

And don't forget the pitiful offense in the last three innings. It's a team effort.

 

Exactly, and although the starters are doing fine, lately, they were doing worse than the pen for the first half of the games played, this season.

 

Yes, the whole team has contributed to this debacle.

 

Is it too late to turn things around, in a big way?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Sox have allowed all 7 ghost runners to score, but have only driven in 3 of 7.

 

The ghost runner is essentially a gimme. Hit a grounder to the right side and a flyball. It doesn't even require a hit. The RP can actually do his job well and let one score. But somehow the Sox just cannot get the ghost runner home.

 

Also worth noting, one of the three they have driven him came after giving up 6 runs in the top of the inning when the Angels might not have been so concerned with him...

 

I know this is a bullpen thread, but it conjures this query: why are the other teams' pens Ghostbusters vs. Sox batters? Does everyone else have better relievers or do we have worse hitters?

 

And since there are no quick fixes -- even if he tries, Bloom can't replace SIX empty spots in the batting order with MLB bats -- isn't it time to talk about at least changing the offensive approach to the existing hitters with non-existent production????? Choke-up, shorten-up, play pepper, wear one for the team, learn how to f***ing bunt... do something different than flail!!!

[notin]

I know this is a bullpen thread, but it conjures this query: why are the other teams' pens Ghostbusters vs. Sox batters? Does everyone else have better relievers or do we have worse hitters?

 

And since there are no quick fixes -- even if he tries, Bloom can't replace SIX empty spots in the batting order with MLB bats -- isn't it time to talk about at least changing the offensive approach to the existing hitters with non-existent production????? Choke-up, shorten-up, play pepper, wear one for the team, learn how to f***ing bunt... do something different than flail!!!

 

Because the Sox can’t hit!!

[notin]

The bullpen could be an easier fix

 

1. Keep Houck in the pen. Make him a closer/high leverage pitcher.

2. Bring up Seabold for the rotation (to replace Houck).

3. DFA Barnes. Just to keep Cora from using him in the 10th.

4. Bring up Winckowski until Hill comes back from COVID. The Sox bullpen would get better if they left out here’s there instead of using them as starter depth.

5. Schreiber looks good in limited action. Crawford does not. Demote Crawford for now.

[moonslav59]

The bullpen could be an easier fix

 

1. Keep Houck in the pen. Make him a closer/high leverage pitcher.

2. Bring up Seabold for the rotation (to replace Houck).

3. DFA Barnes. Just to keep Cora from using him in the 10th.

4. Bring up Winckowski until Hill comes back from COVID. The Sox bullpen would get better if they left out here’s there instead of using them as starter depth.

5. Schreiber looks good in limited action. Crawford does not. Demote Crawford for now.

 

Who replace Wacha?

[notin]

Who replace Wacha?

 

Houck tried that yesterday. And now Seabold should replace Houck…

[moonslav59]

Sounds like a plan.