notin

Oh they threw a lot. Complete games were not rarities. But in 1978 Bob Stanley threw 120 IP from the bullpen (and 21 more in 3 starts). How many relievers top 100 IP from the pen today? Overworking relievers was commonplace. The Dodgers once used reliever Mike Marshall in 106 games AND FOR 208 IP!!! And, despite it being a still-standing record, no one thought it was a big deal. For some perspective, Eddie Guardado was called “Everyday Eddie”, but maxed out at 83 appearances (for 73.2 largely ineffective innings)...

Many sportswriters overtly said Tony LaRussa was taking a huge risk by converting an aging starter to the closer role. But I think we both agree Dennis Eckersley worked out ok. Very few minor league closers assume that same role in the majors. So therefore every closer was a risk at some point in his career. I’m ok with taking one. And by using an actual talented pitcher (like Richards or Harvey), that risk is severely mitigated. Of course it is likely neither Richards nor (especially) Harvey is open to the idea...

The way Holt has been off the bench, keeping him for a key pinch hitting role is not a bad idea...,

What would you say was the best Sox team? If not this one, I go with the 1978 team that had four Hall of Famers (Yaz, Rice, Fisk, Eckersley) and a couple other Hall-worthy players (Tiant, Evans)...

Stanley averaged over 2IP per relief appearance, but that wasn’t the fault of a clueless manager. That was how bullpens we’re used back then. No one had all these specialized bullpen roles until the late 1980’s. Teams frequently used their best reliever as often as they needed him as opposed to making him solely a ninth inning specialist. And it was very common for a reliever to face the same hitters twice in the same game, something I would bet Papelbon never did as a reliever in Boston. The 1978 Red Sox used a four man bullpen (Stanley, Dick Drago, Bill Campbell, and Tom Burgmeier) for the majority of the season, meaning they had to rely heavily on the four pitchers they had. Can you imagine a team doing that today? It was actually common in the 70’s...

So did Keith Foulke. Big deal. Papelbon was a one inning specialist, whereas Stanley was an all-purpose relief pitcher. You could have at least countered with Dick Radatz..

A sad legacy for a pitcher who was probably the best reliever in franchise history...

Reggie did hit the home run for the fifth run. Although technically, the way a game winning RBI was defined, Bucky Dent did have the game-winning hit...

Reggie Jackson proves what I have always said about clutch - that it’s more of a reputation and the successes are memorable while you forget the failures. Reggie had a terrific postseason career with over 300 plate appearances, but most people only remember the 1977 World Series. The truth is, overall, Reggie did not hit much better in the postseason than he did outside of it. His .885 postseason OPS is only marginally higher than his .845 career OPS, an OPS that was brought down by playing until age 41...

If he continues to have prolonged slumps, maybe his arb price comes down and he becomes easier to retain...

And now he is off playing cribbage with Michael Bowden...

Do you really think the Sox are going to leave their All Star 1B off the playoff roster because of a late season slump?

Sold!! I'll take .600 from Bradley with his play in CF.

He was also EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD!! Should the sox really give up on every 18yo who isn't an immeidate superstar? At 19, Mookie Betts had a .658 OPS in low A-ball. Maybe he should have been dealt then, too...

Especially now that I jinxed him on the grad slam thing...

Well, how much of that is due to the criminally poor run support he received that the 7-8-9 starters did not?

Porcello has a 0.987 WHIP through August and September. The only issue is that in those 52.2IP, he has allowed 12 HRs. The home run has been an issue for him all year, He has allowed 27 HR's this year. 18 of them have been solo HRs. Seven more 2-run HRs. And two 3-run HRs. No grand slams...

The only way he opts out is if he really wants to leave. But even then, his agent (whom he did hire for career advice) would strongly recommend against it....

Except last year the Sox were dead last in the AL in home runs by a wide margin. This year, they're seventh and one good inning away from sixth...

But if that is your case, Sale has a significant lead in bWAR over Verlander this year. And he would have to be a massive disappointment in those 40 IP to narrow the gap. The missing IP will certainly be a factor, but Sale is a better candidate than many realize...

It could also not matter. Houston has been struggling with the closer role for the past 2 seasons and it hasn't hurt them. If the bullpen has good pitchers, the closer becomes a little less relevant. Most people do seem to think that relief pitchers are inconsistent from year to year. This is backwards. The truth is, pitchers who are inconsistent from year to year become relief pitchers. There are plenty of relievers who consistent performers who can be had to build a bullpen. And the Sox will still have Thornburg, who was a very good reliever anf closer before the Sox acquired him. His struggles this year are very likely related to an injury and excessive time off. As long as there are no lingering effects to his shoulder, he is an excellent bounce back candidate to start the new 2019 bullpen, along with Barnes, Brasier, Poyner, and Hembree and possibly even Velasquez. Carson Smith is a non-tender candidate whose return is and should be in question. So if the Sox go the free agent route, for example, there are a few intriguing candidates who won't break the bank like Kimbrel, including Jeurys Familia, Brad Brach, and Adam Ottavino. It's also possible to convert a talented starter to a reliever/closer role. (Obviously a closer role would be closer to starter money, making the transition more appealing.) Two candidates that leap out at me right away who cannot handle a full season as a starter but are very talented pitchers are Garrett Richards and Matt Harvey. (Tyson Ross should also consider the idea.)

Ok, but Bob Melvin’s team is easily the biggest surprise in MLB...

1. Doesn't "runs allowed" involve input from the defense? 2. While WAT can go negative, there is a strong trend towards positive. Even the lowest negative players rarely reach -3.0 WAR...

I would disagree Kluber was the best by a “wide margin” last year, especially since voting takes place before the postseason. If anything, you pointed out a potential example of a “makeup vote”, with Kluber getting the nod in 2017 because many felt it was an injustice that he lost in 2016. And while I agree there is value in those extra IP, the fact that Sale has still accrued more value in fewer IP should be a point in his favor. Should be...

So much for all those fans who called in sick so they could go today...