14 replies to this topic

[Sprowl]

Nine games into the season and the bullpen pecking order is starting to become clearer. As in Alfredo's one-word message to the manager, it's all about Trust.

Bobby V trusts Padilla, Morales, and after a little prodding, Aceves.

Bobby V does not trust Albers, Bowden, or Melançon. Albers has pitched once all year, and has not been called upon even in a groundball situation with a RHB coming up. Bowden is DFA. Just before Melançon relieved Beckett on Friday the 13th, the Fenway fire alarm went off. Was that a fire, a prank, or Melançon's entrance music?

Bobby V should not trust Thomas, but hoped and got burned. Scott Atchison is reliable in a few situations, and Bobby V has gotten his usage just about right, riding him in Toronto but pulling him quick against Tampa Bay.

Padilla and Morales have produced in high-leverage situations. Here's what I think we've got in these relievers:

Velocity and Movement -- both are throwing 94+ on the fastball, with impressive armside run.

Variety -- Morales' curveball and Padilla's splitter both look like reliable secondary pitches, capable of generating whiffs. Morales' changeup and Padilla's eephus show a different look, and haven't cost them anything yet.

Command -- both keep their slop low or outside. Padilla challenges with the fastball, while Morales nibbles, but it seems to be working for both of them.

[dbn]

This is a good thread to start (from the scouting-our-relievers sense, particularly), but I'll remind everyone that not one Red Sox relief pitcher has faced 20 batters yet.

[JakeRae]

I think that Sprowl's post captures the current situation pretty well but I expect Melancon to earn some trust eventually.

Thomas is headed to AAA soon, so he's fairly inconsequential in the overall scheme of things. With Cook and Miller needing slots soon Albers looks like he could be the next guy to find himself without a seat. I think they'll try to pass Atchison through optional assignment waivers again but will pull him back if someone claims him. I do wonder what'll happen with Cook. He could either replace Atchison in the pen or push Doubront out of the rotation. Right now, replacing Atchison seems like a better move for the team.

So, Hill replaces Thomas as LOOGY, Cook replaces Atchison since Atchison can be stashed, and Miller and Albers are fighting it out for the last spot.

With Padilla, Morales, and Aceves all looking good, a return to form for Melancon and Hill getting back leaves us with a very deep and versatile pen. It still is going to be a bit weak on the back end but the depth should help balance that out. Cook should make a good long man and that leaves Miller likely getting an audition to see if the transition to the pen can fix him.

[koufax32]

Morales' continued beasting would be an amazing development this season. Having him in the Embree role while Hill becomes the LOOGY would help immensely. It would be nice for the Sox to actually get lucky and hit on a career year with one of these rp's.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Okay, so Hill may still be a few weeks off, but I still wanted to post this nugget from weei.com:

According to Aaron McFarling of the Roanoke Times, Hill hit 94 mph with his fastball, according to the stadium scoreboard. (The Sox have not had Hill with quite that velocity, but they have seen him reach 93 mph during his rehab assignment.) Even more notable, according to Salem broadcaster Evan Lepler, was that Hill bought steaks for his teammates for the postgame spread.

Established MLB guy on rehab, buying steaks for the A+ kids -- I just love reading about that sort of stuff. Hurry back, Rich!

[edit: just for the sake of completeness]

And from the same article, an excellent, excellent bounce-back outing from Andrew Miller.

– Left-hander Andrew Miller bounced back from an appearance on Sunday in which he lost the strike zone. Miller struck out the side while throwing 12 of 15 pitches for strikes, punching out megaprospectBryce Harper (swinging) and longtime big leaguerMark Teahen (swinging) before getting right-handerJhonatan Solano looking.

Since otherwise we've still got Justin Thomas coming into 1-run games against actual hitters, you can hurry back, too!

Edited by Buzzkill Pauley, 17 April 2012 - 12:34 PM.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

I mentioned this in another thread somewhere

I wonder if they intend to discuss a contract restructuring with Cook that allows him to stay in Pawtucket past the May 1st opt out date? I suppose that it's really up to Cook more than anyone and is also a question of what his market would be outside of the org. I thought I remember Cook stating that he has no interest in being a reliever/long man and I sure don't see the sox moving Bard or Doubront out of the rotation as long as they are as good as they have been.

Of course an injury and or inneffectiveness can solve problems like this very quickly.

[Sprowl]

After Melancon's demotion and Tazawa's recall, the bullpen sorts out a little more:

Closer: Aceves
Setup: Morales
7th inning: Padilla, Tazawa
LHP specialists: Thomas, eventually Miller, and even more eventually, Hill
RHP specialists: Albers, Atchison

long relief: Padilla, Tazawa, Atchison, and eventually Miller (in descending order by leverage)

It would have been nice to save Tazawa for starting depth, but with the bullpen in crisis, the team can't afford to wait. Two of the three Untrustworthies have been optioned or DFA. Bobby V has started to trust Albers a little more, and Albers has responded by throwing strikes at 94 mph. Who will be the 7th and 8th inning pitchers between Morales and Padilla probably depends more on the handedness of the upcoming batters than on any real distinction in jobs.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Assuming Miller throws well tomorrow, I think the Sox activate him for Thompson [sic] before the Yankees series kicks off.

[Plympton91]

And tonight Franklin Morales reminds us why he was cut by the Rockies.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

And tonight Franklin Morales reminds us why he was cut by the Rockies.

While Padilla's .300 OBP against RHP languidly thinks on what could have been.

[rembrat]

While Padilla's .300 OBP against RHP languidly thinks on what could have been.

Had his efforts not been wasted in a 18-3 nail-biter.

[trekfan55]

Had his efforts not been wasted in a 18-3 nail-biter.

Someone mentioned that the Sox broadcast said something happened to Padilla while he was warming up? I have seen nothing on Twitter.

[rembrat]

Someone mentioned that the Sox broadcast said something happened to Padilla while he was warming up? I have seen nothing on Twitter.

Beckett was working in his last inning and Morales and Padilla were warming. Next inning, Morales enters the game and Albers is warming instead of Padilla. Remy speculated that Padilla couldnt get loose possibly due to pitching the night before.

We shall see shortly.

[trekfan55]

Beckett was working in his last inning and Morales and Padilla were warming. Next inning, Morales enters the game and Albers is warming instead of Padilla. Remy speculated that Padilla couldnt get loose possibly due to pitching the night before.

We shall see shortly.

No mention anywhere, but if Padilla cannot pitch for 2 days in a row it will be very hard to count on him as a meaningful high leverage reliever.

[PrometheusWakefield]

Hill to AAA according to rotoworld:

Rich Hill (elbow) has been moved up to Triple-A Pawtucket to continue his rehab assignment.
He's been terrific in stops at Low- and High-A, posting a 1.50 ERA while striking out 13 over six innings. Hill had Tommy John surgery last June and has recovered nicely, as he's reportedly hitting the mid-90s with his fastball. He could be ready to join the Red Sox bullpen in May, if needed. Apr 19 - 2:28 PM

I assume the "if needed" is sarcastic.