I've been pushing back on many of what I feel are dumb kneejerk anti-Farrell posts but this seems pretty right on to me. I mean it isn't like those guys are lights out but they are better options than keeping Ziegler in there.
Last night there was nothing he could do. Tonight he did the classic "get Abad up too late to face a lefty with the game still close" that shows a complete lack of foresight, even if the options were all marginal.
I wasn't complaining. I was looking for a reasonable explanation. You just gave it. Thanks. Snark could have been avoided, but whatever.
Good question...since a CGSO wasn't in play maybe there was no reason to let him continue.
How about his pitch count isn't high and your bullpen is a dumpster fire? That seems good enough reason for me.
This whole trope of "nobody out there can be trusted" is tired - yes many have under-performed but many have also been used in sub-optimal ways. Giving up one HR to a first ballot HOF stud is the definition of SSS. Here are two guys' season splits vs. LHB, you tell me which one you want in the game and quit being a baby. Management is sometimes about choosing from a variety of mediocre options, you don't always have a clear path to victory.
I think it could go either way, but to be honest I didn't have a problem with it. It is fucking hot and gross out there, Edro has not thrown more than 102 pitches all season (and topped 100 only three times), and, SSS and all but he is giving up a 1.040 OPS on pitches 75-100 this year. And the inning actually started with 3 righties (they PH Horseface for Romine, who did not make an out against Edro).
And now add dropping 2 of 3 to the out-of-it Yankees, at home, to this big picture.
MFYs have 7 games remaining against the Sox at the end of September and are only 3.5 back in the 2nd Wild Card.
We're way past the point of rationality with Farrell.
There is a middle ground. I was fine with the move and I would launch Farrell into the sun personally if given the chance. And yesterday was on the players.
They decided not to trade him or jettison him, he came in for Pomeranz and looked just fine in the sixth inning, he's a starter by nature; thus used to going multiple innings, the Red Sox were leading 4-1.
Hey, maybe there is something to shaking up a team and maybe Farrell is most expendable (they certainly can't DFA their whole bullpen).
BECAUSE HE IS STARTING ON SATURDAY. If anything, give Farrell credit for getting out of the 6th by letting him do his side work during the game. At that point between warmups and the actual inning, he had probably thrown the equivalent of a typical side; if you're not going to let him throw 20 pitches the following inning, then it makes no sense to start the inning with him only to bring in someone else to put out the fire if he walks the leadoff guy.
Farrell's not an idiot for leaving in Ziegler over Abad. I disagree with that call but it's at least within the realm of debate.
And his overall in game management and in the management of the entire pitching staff...and....
We're far out of nothing, so if the team could be improved by canning Farrell, the time is now. But you're right about one thing, "2016 is now...the focus for management." Check your calendar.
I think we have to start asking about big picture moves. Did Steven Wright become an all-star caliber pitcher this spring training but suck last year? How many wins would we have had in 2015 if Steven Wright had been in the rotation instead od Justin Masterson?
Not sure about this. The 2016 Price has yielded a career high LD% (25.2%) and is giving up more hard contact than ever before (35.5%).
I can't think of a manager who was fired this late in the season while his team was contending for a playoff spot. To be sure, that kind of move must not happen very often, but I can't think of even one example. I'm generally in the fire Farrell camp, but removing him now would be highly unusual, no? I would be curious to hear other examples. The Red Sox will probably give Farrell the rest of the season to sink or swim.
When there is a gap between ERA/FIP with ERA consistently higher than FIP, doesn't that point to the possibility of poor defense?
The same Bud Black that has never had any interest in Boston or leaving the west coast for that matter? What's next we bring in Billy Beane as well?
