In that they’re both upright primates?Barnes looks a lot like Jacoby Ellsbury actually.
In that they’re both upright primates?Barnes looks a lot like Jacoby Ellsbury actually.
Take away the glasses and I'd argue he looks a lot more like Chris Sale then Joe Kelly.Is it just me, or does Marcus Walden look just like Joe Kelly? I instinctively panicked when I saw him on the mound.
Carson Smith would like a word with those upper-lip-less compatriots:When I first saw Bobby Poyner on the mound the other day I though I was looking at Steven Wright.
.
It's great that Walden lived the dream by pitching in the majors, but he shouldn't be long for the big-league team, with E-Rod and Pomeranz close.Walden is giving up to many hard-hit balls.
These things usually sort themselves out. Wright doesn't seem all that close to returning. And if by the time he is, Johnson is still pitching well (out of the pen if Pomeranz and Rodriguez are back), then maybe Wright is the one to go. I dont think its worth worrying about.B. Johnson is out of options, right? if E-rod, Pom, and Wright get healthy ,then Velasquez goes to Pawtucket, and Wright goes to the pen. What happens to Johnson? He's not a short reliever, and Wright is the long-man. I think they're going to have to trade Johnson.
He's not a short reliever yet. But no reason to think he wouldn't be a better reliever than Bobby Poyner, regardless of role. No reason to think that if all the Sox pitchers are healthy (which would be a very good "problem") that Johnson has to get traded.B. Johnson is out of options, right? if E-rod, Pom, and Wright get healthy ,then Velasquez goes to Pawtucket, and Wright goes to the pen. What happens to Johnson? He's not a short reliever, and Wright is the long-man. I think they're going to have to trade Johnson.
Not sure what his role will be but he could be a great multiple inning option when a starter only goes 5 or less.He's not a short reliever yet. But no reason to think he wouldn't be a better reliever than Bobby Poyner, regardless of role. No reason to think that if all the Sox pitchers are healthy (which would be a very good "problem") that Johnson has to get traded.
Both Poyner and Walden will most likely be sent to Pawtucket in order to keep Wright and Johnson on staff, if everyone is healthy all at once.B. Johnson is out of options, right? if E-rod, Pom, and Wright get healthy ,then Velasquez goes to Pawtucket, and Wright goes to the pen. What happens to Johnson? He's not a short reliever, and Wright is the long-man. I think they're going to have to trade Johnson.
I think we can all agree that Tyler Thornburgh is a question.The big question will be who will Thornburg replace in the bullpen? Hembree is pitching very well so it won’t likely be him. Since we are looking at May at the earliest, an injury could occur opening up a spot or perhaps we might have to deal Wright. Either way, the Sox haven’t enjoyed this kind of starting depth in many years and it’s great for the club’s future.
ETA: could the Sox disable Wright for 60 days with an “injury complication?”
Wright's on the DL already, so if he's still there in a month it wouldn't be difficult to justify transferring him to the 60-day DL if necessary. Though Thornburg's return wouldn't really necessitate it since he's already on the 40-man roster.The big question will be who will Thornburg replace in the bullpen? Hembree is pitching very well so it won’t likely be him. Since we are looking at May at the earliest, an injury could occur opening up a spot or perhaps we might have to deal Wright. Either way, the Sox haven’t enjoyed this kind of starting depth in many years and it’s great for the club’s future.
ETA: could the Sox disable Wright for 60 days with an “injury complication?”
I think we can all agree that Tyler Thornburgh is a person. Beyond that, I’m not so sure.I think we can all agree that Tyler Thornburgh is a question.
To fail to plan is to plan to fail.I think we can all agree that Tyler Thornburgh is a person. Beyond that, I’m not so sure.
IMO, there is no need to start finding answers now, to questions that might not ever need to be asked.
1. You spelled "too" wrong.Walden is giving up to many hard-hit balls.
As in:I think we can all agree that Tyler Thornburgh is a question.
First of all, that was a typo caused by my not hitting the "o" key hard enough and I did not notice it. Second, this thread is "BOS bullpen 2018" and I was commenting on a Boston bullpen pitcher.. Third, temporary or not, Walden is currently in the bullpen.1. You spelled "too" wrong.
2. Post this in a game thread/call WEEI.
3. As has been written, he is up temporarily as a journeyman mop up man while others recover--it is temporary. He came into a 6-1 game against a weak team in the 8th inning.
I weep for the main board. Holy crap.
You posted something of zero substance with no context of the situation and you're angry that someone called you out on it?First of all, that was a typo caused by my not hitting the "o" key hard enough and I did not notice it. Second, this thread is "BOS bullpen 2018" and I was commenting on a Boston bullpen pitcher.. Third, temporary or not, Walden is currently in the bullpen.
And if you are going to "weep for the main board," then perhaps you could do us the favor of drowning in your own tears.
His thyme will come.Thornburg has been so relevant to our club since we gave up Shaw and a couple low-end prospects away for him that we're adding letters to the end of his name.
Sage advice.To fail to plan is to plan to fail.
It’ll be a long time cumin.His thyme will come.
You are going to have to up your "commenting" game if you want to successfully post outside of a game thread. Game threads happen each day while a game takes place and are a great place for play-by-play frustration and venting things like "Walden is giving up to many hard-hit balls", and it's OK to do it in a couple words at a time with no context and even use some curse words if you feel really frustrated that Cora had the stones to pitch the mop up man in a mop up game. On a main board thread, the content benchmark should be a bit higher.Second, this thread is "BOS bullpen 2018" and I was commenting on a Boston bullpen pitcher..
I agree.I'm starting to think that Poyner's going to stick around when the guys start coming off the DL. It's pretty easy to send Velazquez down when Rodriguez comes back, but whoever comes back next pushes Johnson to the 'pen.
This is obviously true. I'm not enough of a talent evaluator to know if it's real or a hot streak that Cora is riding, but he's almost certain to survive the returns of Rodriguez and Pomeranz..
He seems to have the confidence of his manager is what I'm saying.
Worrying about that now is a waste of mental bandwidth.The next crunch is if/when Wright and Thornburg are game ready.
If it's a hot streak, it looks suspiciously like the three-year-long hot streak that was his minor league career, the only hiccup in which was a poor showing after a possibly too-hasty promotion to Salem in 2016. Before that half-season and after it, he's been nothing but dominating. (It sounds funny to talk about a guy with a 90 mph fastball dominating, but that's what the results have looked like--it's hard to argue with a 10.1/1.8 K9/BB9.)This is obviously true. I'm not enough of a talent evaluator to know if it's real or a hot streak that Cora is riding, but he's almost certain to survive the returns of Rodriguez and Pomeranz.
We watched Koji dominate with an 86-92mph fastball for years. It's not unheard of.If it's a hot streak, it looks suspiciously like the three-year-long hot streak that was his minor league career, the only hiccup in which was a poor showing after a possibly too-hasty promotion to Salem in 2016. Before that half-season and after it, he's been nothing but dominating. (It sounds funny to talk about a guy with a 90 mph fastball dominating, but that's what the results have looked like--it's hard to argue with a 10.1/1.8 K9/BB9.)
He celebrated winning game 7 of a season like it was game 7 of the world series. Loved him for that. Well, that and being remarkably good.Like Saints Rest, I adored Koji. Beyond how well he used his talents, I don’t know that I ever saw a ball player, in any sport, who was happier playing and winning more than him. His joy was contagious.
Not that I know how these things really work, but that struck me as a big moment for Poyner. The first time in a "big spot," and your manager either does or does not show confidence in you. The former is a big boost, just as the latter might be pretty undercutting.He seems to have the confidence of his manager is what I'm saying.
Yup. The description of his motion at SoxProspects says it all: "Short arm action, keeps the ball hidden behind his body so hitters don’t pick the ball up until late."We watched Koji dominate with an 86-92mph fastball for years. It's not unheard of.
I entirely forgot Walden existed.Walden and then Velazquez go for EdRo and Pomeranz.
Other than Bard not being a lefty. The results are good so far, but he looks pretty hittable to me. Perhaps one of the more analytical folks can explain the good fortune of Poyner, despite his lack of "cheese".I watched a replay of Poyner and thought, “shit! That kids throwing 98mph heat with good movement”.
Wow. It looked not quite like vintage Bard but close.
Then I saw it was only 91 and it impressed me even more
Deception and a good variety of pitches, according to Speier: http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2018/04/06/take-big-leaguer-bobby-poyner-once-told-red-sox/h8IvBJiJp8cYc4vjadLClJ/story.htmlOther than Bard not being a lefty. The results are good so far, but he looks pretty hittable to me. Perhaps one of the more analytical folks can explain the good fortune of Poyner, despite his lack of "cheese".
I recall Koji had a high spin rate ... does Poyner have a high spin rate?Yup. The description of his motion at SoxProspects says it all: "Short arm action, keeps the ball hidden behind his body so hitters don’t pick the ball up until late."
The combination of good control, a deceptive delivery, and decent secondary stuff can take a soft-tosser a long way, as Koji's example shows. I'm not saying Poyner is Koji II, of course, but I'm impressed by the control he has shown in these couple of stints, especially for a guy with no experience above AA. If you go to his brooksbaseball.com page and look at the zone maps, you'll see that he's doing a great job so far with location on the slider, in particular--running it away from LHH and burying RHH down and in with it.
Who knows if he can keep it up, but he seems to know what he's doing.
Though less lovable (and harder-throwing), Papelbon 2007 is the third member of that holy trinity.Koji and Foulke, neither with 90 mph fastballs, put up two of the most dominant relief seasons in Sox history
Kimbrel is better than Paps and Foulke.Though less lovable (and harder-throwing), Papelbon 2007 is the third member of that holy trinity.
Poyner averaged a little over 2,000 rpm for his faster pitches on Thursday. I don’t think that is a particularly high spin rate. Price, by comparison, was in the same range on his faster stuff.I recall Koji had a high spin rate ... does Poyner have a high spin rate?
Is that middle of the pack in general or high and low.Middle of the pack.
View attachment 20405
Did he show something today beyond efficiency? I missed his innings, but his earlier appearances looked like a lot of pitches smashed directly at fielders. Happy for the results he provided, but don't know how much I'd trust him in a regular role once the BABIP wave breaks.WALDEN optioned to PawSox after today's Rays Game so they can activate EdRod. He will be back. I wish he could stay.