6th in the MLB in ERA, 3rd in FIP, 4th in XFIP. Pretty good.Just a check-in:
The bullpen, taken together, has now thrown 226 2/3 IP of 3.02 ERA ball. They have conceded a .644 OPS, struck out 9.9/9 and walked 3.4.
6th in the MLB in ERA, 3rd in FIP, 4th in XFIP. Pretty good.Just a check-in:
The bullpen, taken together, has now thrown 226 2/3 IP of 3.02 ERA ball. They have conceded a .644 OPS, struck out 9.9/9 and walked 3.4.
Except the way he handled Melancon. He had, what, two bad outings then got buried, had two more rough goes then got shipped out to Pawtucket. When he returned, he was actually pretty solid. 37 games, 43 innings, 40 K, 1.05 WHIP, .597 OPS against. He wasn't nearly as bad as people want to remember. First impressions linger, I guess.Albers was actually pretty good for us in 2012 before he was moved. One of Valentine’s underrated (only?) talents was bullpen management.
I'd guess most teams have great records when leading after 7. Not sure a 40-3 record means much of anything. I do like our bullpen though and think it's fine as is. No need to make a move for a pitcher.According to NESN the Sox are 40-3 when leading after 7 innings.
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Brian Johnson is pretty close for me, though even he's been fairly playable if you keep him mostly to lefties.Baseball Reference has a table "Wins above average by position". By that table, the Sox lead the AL in both starting pitching (5.6 wins above average) and relief pitching (4.6). BTW, the Rangers are 2nd in the relief pitching metric with 1.2 wins, quite a gap.
The Sox bullpen appears deep; so far, there's noone in the bullpen that makes me want to turn off the TV when they come in to the game, which says something (yes, that includes Joe Kelly). The depth is a nice thing to have, as it allows Cora to manage workloads and play matchups when needed. It could come in very handy in the playoffs, assuming the rest of the team (hitters, starting pitchers) perform to their standards.
Well, 40-3 is 0.925, correct, so that is indeed significantly better than average (0.847)....According to BRef, teams are 771-111 (0.874 ) when leading after the 7th inning.
They are 820-83 (0.908) when leading after the 8th inning and 874-38 (0.958) when leading after the 9th inning.
Brad Hand will probably be the most expensive to acquire of all relievers in his asset class. The Sox can't trade for an elite reliever under cheap control for the next three seasons—that's Kimbrel territory.I still think DD will explore acquiring someone like Brad Hand as a playoff weapon. He’s also great Kimbrel replacement insurance as he signed cheaply for 3 more seasons.
Particularly since they don't have a haul to give. When people are proposing trade targets that, if they move at all, will be in high demand, it would be instructive to figure out what exactly the Red Sox can offer that a) is enough to satisfy the other team and b) is enough to top what the Yankees or Astros or Nationals or Braves or Brewers or Diamondbacks or any other contender can offer. My assumption is that should shut down most suggestions before they are even posted.Brad Hand will probably be the most expensive to acquire of all relievers in his asset class. The Sox can't trade for an elite reliever under cheap control for the next three seasons—that's Kimbrel territory.
I would 100x prefer a small trade for Jake Diekman than a giving up a haul for Hand.
Agreed. I think the most minimal package we could offer that would get that deal done would include Devers.Particularly since they don't have a haul to give. When people are proposing trade targets that, if they move at all, will be in high demand, it would be instructive to figure out what exactly the Red Sox can offer that a) is enough to satisfy the other team and b) is enough to top what the Yankees or Astros or Nationals or Braves or Brewers or Diamondbacks or any other contender can offer. My assumption is that should shut down most suggestions before they are even posted.
40-3 is .925. 40-6 is .870... or below average. Average was .874, not .847. I'm not sure you can really read much into it.Well, 40-3 is 0.925, correct, so that is indeed significantly better than average (0.847)....
You'd probably want to look at more than just one team before you make a conclusion.Well, 40-3 is 0.925, correct, so that is indeed significantly better than average (0.847)....
Correct. You beat me to the math. That said I still believe this is one of the better Sox pens I’ve seen.40-3 is .925. 40-6 is .870... or below average. Average was .874, not .847. I'm not sure you can really read much into it.
Edit: Nevermind. I didn't consider teams taking the lead in extras and losing the game later.According to BRef, teams are 771-111 (0.874 ) when leading after the 7th inning.
They are 820-83 (0.908) when leading after the 8th inning and 874-38 (0.958) when leading after the 9th inning.
Wow - teams actually lost 38 times when leading after the 9th inning? You'd think they'd already be in the clubhouse having a beer or something.According to BRef, teams are 771-111 (0.874 ) when leading after the 7th inning.
They are 820-83 (0.908) when leading after the 8th inning and 874-38 (0.958) when leading after the 9th inning.
The original poster said " the Sox are 40-3 when leading after 7 innings" and people just copied the language because we understood what it meant.Extra-inning road games?
That's really their only option, isn't it? Then they can run the rehab clock again?And they can always disable him again if he's not ready
Reasonable move. They need a fresh mop-up/long man after using Haley twice in three nights for multi-inning stints, and Cuevas is the freshest in the Pawtucket rotation.Evan DrellichVerified account @EvanDrellich 58m58 minutes ago
Source: Red Sox call up William Cuevas
He’s death on both righties and lefties.I doubt we have the chips for Barraclough but that'd be an intriguing get.
Even if Thornburg is good I'm sure we'll pick somebody up, even if it's for a bag of balls.
Holy crap.Thornburg activated. Cuevas optioned.
A decent MR in the midst of a hot streak.What've we got with Brandon Workman?
2018: 12IP, 5H, 1ER, 0HR, 4BB, 14k, 0.75 WHIP. Pretty nice line in a small sample.
His curveball has been excellent but his FB velo is way down from a few years ago. I suspect what we are seeing is essentially what bosox said but we'll have to wait and see. It's possible for a reliever to be good with a below average FB and a good curve but it sure isn't common.On Workman, I was listening to the radio feed about a week ago, may have even been an opponents feed, and they said he had really improved his curveball.
They’ve still got 2-3 weeks to assess if he can give the team enough to not have to trade for another reliever.His curveball has been excellent but his FB velo is way down from a few years ago. I suspect what we are seeing is essentially what bosox said but we'll have to wait and see. It's possible for a reliever to be good with a below average FB and a good curve but it sure isn't common.
As for Thornburg I can't imagine they are counting on him for much, if he ends up giving the Sox anything at this point it's a bonus.
I'm not expecting miracles but am looking at his performance as meaningless spring training numbers. He mentioned it would be nice to face guys with a game plan and scouting report rather than a bunch of guys he's never seen before. It's the same as a rehabbing veteran hitter. He isn't looking at video or anything.On Thornburg, I hope his minor league numbers are not indicative of how he’ll pitch in the majors. In his most recent rehab stint, he’s got only 6 K in 9 IP and has given up 5 ER even though some outings were as low as AA Portland. The only good stat is the 1 BB, but major league hitters will probably be more able to lay off his junk pitches.
No he’s done. Shoulder surgery.Speaking of Smith... is there any chance in hell he winds up making it back on the 25 man this season?
Whatever happens to Smith or Thornburgh, it makes me very hesitant to want to trade for relievers. I'm very much on the Develop Relievers In Your System Boat.
Considering all reports say his shoulder surgery was "season-ending", safe to say no chance at all.Speaking of Smith... is there any chance in hell he winds up making it back on the 25 man this season?