2022 Bullpen Thread

[mvp 78]

Was it his call how fast players moved along in tampa?

 

It's now his third season here in Boston. Has he skipped anyone significant past AAA yet?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

shouldn't both be... stupid non-editing malfunctioning feature!

[JDavis76]

It's now his third season here in Boston. Has he skipped anyone significant past AAA yet?

 

Well, considering he only arrived in the fall of 2019 and there was not a 2020 minor league season and we are now only a little over a month into 2022, that's not exactly what I would call a lengthy track record.

[notin]

Well, considering he only arrived in the fall of 2019 and there was not a 2020 minor league season and we are now only a little over a month into 2022, that's not exactly what I would call a lengthy track record.

 

Well we keep hearing it’s his third year here, but it’s also only been 250 or so games, too..,

[mvp 78]

Well, considering he only arrived in the fall of 2019 and there was not a 2020 minor league season and we are now only a little over a month into 2022, that's not exactly what I would call a lengthy track record.

 

He has never been a part of a ballclub that has rushed a prospect past AAA. I don't know why we'd consider it an even remote possibility.

[mvp 78]

Current Sox Bullpen Power Rankings:

 

Are they really that good Division:

1. John F'n Schreiber

2. Matt Strahm

 

Tanner Houck Division:

3. Tanner Houck

 

Take what you can get Division:

4. Austin Davis

5. Jake Diekman

6. Matt Barnes

 

DFA Division:

7. Hirokazu Sawamura

8. Hansel Robles

[moonslav59]

Current Sox Bullpen Power Rankings:

 

Are they really that good Division:

1. John F'n Schreiber

2. Matt Strahm

 

Tanner Houck Division:

3. Tanner Houck

 

Take what you can get Division:

4. Austin Davis

5. Jake Diekman

6. Matt Barnes

 

DFA Division:

7. Hirokazu Sawamura

8. Hansel Robles

 

Sounds about right.

 

What happened to Valdez. The guy looked good for along time, had one bad game (maybe 2) and was demoted. He's been in AAA ever since.

 

I think he's pitched ab oyt 6 innings.

 

Is he hurt?

 

He's gotta be better than the DFA division.

[mvp 78]

Sounds about right.

 

What happened to Valdez. The guy looked good for along time, had one bad game (maybe 2) and was demoted. He's been in AAA ever since.

 

I think he's pitched ab oyt 6 innings.

 

Is he hurt?

 

He's gotta be better than the DFA division.

 

They buried Valdez on the bench for long stretches last season too. I think Cora just doesn't really trust him.

 

He gave up 6 bb's over his first 3 appearances in WOO. He's pitched ok, but his constant high bb% and low LOB% for BOS isn't getting it done.

 

I really think they need to just try some younger guys like Zach Kelly. They can't be any worse than Sawamura or Robles. Not sure there is much to lose.

[moonslav59]

They buried Valdez on the bench for long stretches last season too. I think Cora just doesn't really trust him.

 

He gave up 6 bb's over his first 3 appearances in WOO. He's pitched ok, but his constant high bb% and low LOB% for BOS isn't getting it done.

 

I really think they need to just try some younger guys like Zach Kelly. They can't be any worse than Sawamura or Robles. Not sure there is much to lose.

 

I'm thinking German might be a better choice than Kelly.

[mvp 78]

I'm thinking German might be a better choice than Kelly.

 

I think they have bigger plans for German later in the season. I think they could call up someone else right now and replace some of the dreck.

[moonslav59]

I think they have bigger plans for German later in the season. I think they could call up someone else right now and replace some of the dreck.

 

Agreed, and I'm fine with the Kelly choice, but I'd prefer to see Houck moved to closer and a Seabold/Winckowski call-up to fill in the long man/piggy back pitcher that Houck is, now.

[harmony]

It's time to pick up Matt Barnes in fantasy baseball.

 

Or not.

 

For a team on the upswing, Barnes has a 2.84 ERA over his last seven appearances despite a .333 BABIP.

[moonslav59]

It's time to pick up Matt Barnes in fantasy baseball.

 

Or not.

 

For a team on the upswing, Barnes has a 2.84 ERA over his last seven appearances despite a .333 BABIP.

 

Not.

[vegasbob]

It's time to pick up Matt Barnes in fantasy baseball.

 

Or not.

 

For a team on the upswing, Barnes has a 2.84 ERA over his last seven appearances despite a .333 BABIP.

 

And walks, don't forget the walks, oh and the 400' screamers caught on the dead run by the wall, those too.. This dimwit is skating on melting ice.

[Larry Cook]

Current Sox Bullpen Power Rankings:

 

Are they really that good Division:

1. John F'n Schreiber

2. Matt Strahm

 

Tanner Houck Division:

3. Tanner Houck

 

Take what you can get Division:

4. Austin Davis

5. Jake Diekman

6. Matt Barnes

 

DFA Division:

7. Hirokazu Sawamura

8. Hansel Robles

 

Do we have two reliable arms to replace sawamura snd robles in Worcester or do we need to go outside the organization?

[Larry Cook]

Barnes is pitiful. He must be sent to the dl for a few months in order to get his act together. This is embarrassing. 4 walks. Putrid!

[Larry Cook]

Our bullpen blew an 8 to 2 lead against the orioles! Pitiful!

[moonslav59]

This bull's pen is full of bull crap!

[Bellhorn04]

Seems very possible that we have the worst bullpen in baseball.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Seems very possible that we have the worst bullpen in baseball.

 

Shhhhh... Bloom cautions there's a need for patience.

 

But since it was an audible quote, maybe he meant patients... as in, a recruitment drive for more fans to be fitted with straight jackets, forced to watch an entire season at Chaim's inane asylum.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

As I firmly believe other than the closer, which has been problematic all year, the rest of the pen did a pretty good job of protecting 1 run leads the lack of offense resulted in. They seemed to be asked to do it nearly every night and again other than the closer they held their own for much of the season.

 

Well all that has changed recently. I'm glad I didn't get to watch last night, it was on Apple TV and that pissed me off. But I was listening when I could and knew what had happened.

[Old Red]

As I firmly believe other than the closer, which has been problematic all year, the rest of the pen did a pretty good job of protecting 1 run leads the lack of offense resulted in. They seemed to be asked to do it nearly every night and again other than the closer they held their own for much of the season.

 

Well all that has changed recently. I'm glad I didn't get to watch last night, it was on Apple TV and that pissed me off. But I was listening when I could and knew what had happened.

 

The more the BP is used the more they are exposed, and the more innings the BP is used the more they are exposed, and this BP has been used over, and over again.

[Bellhorn04]

The more the BP is used the more they are exposed, and the more innings the BP is used the more they are exposed, and this BP has been used over, and over again.

 

I don't think it's the usage that's the problem. I think the problem is that it's a collection of mediocre pitchers and worse.

 

This bullpen is all on Bloom, there's no way around it. He put it together, and it's bad.

[Old Red]

I agree it is all on Bloom.

[dgalehouse]

A good bullpen should start with a top notch closer . The closer is the linchpin , the mainstay. You build the pen around that. The Sox have been lacking this . I would suggest using Sale in the closer's role when he returns. In the meantime , try Houck or Whitlock . And try to slot the other relievers into a more predictable and steady role . Right now , you never know who is going to enter the game and when are they coming in.

[notin]

I don't think it's the usage that's the problem. I think the problem is that it's a collection of mediocre pitchers and worse.

 

This bullpen is all on Bloom, there's no way around it. He put it together, and it's bad.

 

I do think Cora deserves a huge chunk of blame for how he’s using it…

[Old Red]

A good bullpen should start with a top notch closer . The closer is the linchpin , the mainstay. You build the pen around that. The Sox have been lacking this . I would suggest using Sale in the closer's role when he returns. In the meantime , try Houck or Whitlock . And try to slot the other relievers into a more predictable and steady role . Right now , you never know who is going to enter the game and when are they coming in.

 

I’ve been saying since opening day that if the good Barnes can’t be the closer than Whitlock should. I think Whitlock is being wasted being in the rotation, and not because he can’t start, but the Biggest need is in the bullpen. Leading the league in blown saves is not a good stat to lead anything in. I blame both Bloom, and Cora for the bullpen, and the use of Whitlock, and Houck specifically. Piggybacking seems to be more important than closing.

[notin]

I’ve been saying since opening day that if the good Barnes can’t be the closer than Whitlock should. I think Whitlock is being wasted being in the rotation, and not because he can’t start, but the Biggest need is in the bullpen. Leading the league in blown saves is not a good stat to lead anything in. I blame both Bloom, and Cora for the bullpen, and the use of Whitlock, and Houck specifically. Piggybacking seems to be more important than closing.

 

 

That they acquired Wacha and Hill this off-season to go with Sale, Eovaldi and Pivetta does certainly indicate they planned to start the season with both Houck and Whitlock in the bullpen.

 

By the time they learned Sale was hurt, there wasn’t much left on the free agent market for SP. Not sure if they talked to Oakland about Manaea or Montas and what if anything happened there. But at the very least, they needed to do better work backfilling the bullpen when relievers got bumped to the rotation.

 

But Cora’s use of Houck has been beyond stupid. Not sure if this is his idea, some sort of stupid developmental plan (which seems incredibly stupid with its specificity if it is one) or what the (complete absence of) logic is…

[dgalehouse]

I’ve been saying since opening day that if the good Barnes can’t be the closer than Whitlock should. I think Whitlock is being wasted being in the rotation, and not because he can’t start, but the Biggest need is in the bullpen. Leading the league in blown saves is not a good stat to lead anything in. I blame both Bloom, and Cora for the bullpen, and the use of Whitlock, and Houck specifically. Piggybacking seems to be more important than closing.

 

Apparently , " piggybacking " is the latest fad . I guess it is an offshoot of " openers " , third time through the order phobia and bullpen games. It is hard for me to keep up with all this stuff. I'm too old for this.

[Old Red]

Apparently , " piggybacking " is the latest fad . I guess it is an offshoot of " openers " , third time through the order phobia and bullpen games. It is hard for me to keep up with all this stuff. I'm too old for this.

 

Openers, and piggybackers are 2 things that I would have no problem being done away with. In the meantime The Sour Man, and Hansel are back to Worcester, and on the injured list, and Valdez, and the Bra Man are back. Nothing ventured, and nothing gained.