43 replies to this topic

[mabrowndog]

Maureen Mullen's the first to report it (via Twitter)


Maureen Mullen @MaureenaMullen
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#RedSox also bringing up a pitcher today. Clayton mortensen.

Edited by mabrowndog, 02 May 2012 - 02:16 PM.

[mabrowndog]

Cafardo also reporting it now


Nick Cafardo @nickcafardo
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Clay Mortensen up from Pawtucket for today's game.

[TomRicardo]

I am ... speechless. Cherington ... Valentine... no words.

[Rudy Pemberton]

huh? why?

[RedOctober3829]

The only reason I can think of is that they are still fielding trade offers for Cook. Cafardo tweeted that they were bringing up Cook, but not necessarily today. Mortensen HAS to be just a placeholder, right? Right???

[mabrowndog]

Well, Cook is starting Saturday in Beckett's place. The club is already short a pitcher with Tazawa having been optioned, so I'm guessing this is just to give them a full bullpen until Cook is activated.

[Savin Hillbilly]

huh? why?

Maybe because he's pitching extremely well?

[Rudy Pemberton]

Maybe because he's pitching extremely well?

Sure, but adding another reliever and continuing to give big at bats to guys like Punto, McDonald, etc. seems like total mismanagement of the roster.

[Bucknahs Bum Ankle]

Teeny-tiny sample size, but: 10 IP, 5 H, 2R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K is pretty damn good. Then again: 2 HBP, 1 WP suggests he could be an adventure?

Edit: Is there any chance he had an opt-out clause?

Edited by Bucknahs Bum Ankle, 02 May 2012 - 02:20 PM.

[ypioca]

1.354 WHIP for Colorado in 58 IP last year. 4.6 K/9.

Was anyone aware he had this guy on the roster? He's got to be better than Justin Thomas at least. But, why this dude is coming up now - and Tazawa is staying in Pawtucket for another day - is befuddling.

[Savin Hillbilly]

Sure, but adding another reliever and continuing to give big at bats to guys like Punto, McDonald, etc. seems like total mismanagement of the roster.

But we don't yet know for certain that this is the last move of the day. And as mabrowndog pointed out, adding Mortensen just brings the bullpen up to full strength, pending any moves on Cook.

[mabrowndog]

Sure, but adding another reliever and continuing to give big at bats to guys like Punto, McDonald, etc. seems like total mismanagement of the roster.

Even if Cook were added to the roster tonight, he's not going to work out of the pen since he's set to start on Saturday. Tazawa was optioned to add Iglesias to the roster. They need another bullpen arm. That's all this is.

I'm sure if Cherington had to do it all over again, he'd have optioned Lars to bring up Iglesias and kept Tazawa on the roster.

This likely means Youk's going on the DL to clear the spot for Middlebrooks.

[Sprowl]

Mortensen's sinker-slider combination and strikeout ratio vRHB are worth seeing at the major league level. There's not much point in keeping both Albers and Mortensen.

Presumably Mortensen is the blowout insurance for today's game, but he might get a few other opportunities to impress as well. Maybe someday game threads will chant for

Mor-Mor-Mortensen!

[Bowlerman9]

Teeny-tiny sample size, but: 10 IP, 5 H, 2R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K is pretty damn good. Then again: 2 HBP, 1 WP suggests he could be an adventure?

Edit: Is there any chance he had an opt-out clause?

No, there is no chance a guy with 109 days of service time had an opt out.

[nvalvo]

Any chance that the "Cook starts for Beckett" news is a trade bluff?

[gammoseditor]

Cook doesn't need to be added to the roster until 48 hours after he exercised his opt out. Since he's going to start on Saturday it makes sense to use his spot on the roster for a reliver until they need to add him.

[xjack]

Blowout insurance? That's what Darnell is for.

[Dogman2]

Well, Cook is starting Saturday in Beckett's place. The club is already short a pitcher with Tazawa having been optioned, so I'm guessing this is just to give them a full bullpen until Cook is activated.

Where do you read Cook is starting for Beckett?

[mabrowndog]

Cook doesn't need to be added to the roster until 48 hours after he exercised his opt out. Since he's going to start on Saturday it makes sense to use his spot on the roster for a reliver until they need to add him.

Bingo. I mean, they could add him, but he's not going to pitch before Saturday regardless.

[mabrowndog]

Where do you read Cook is starting for Beckett?

Rob Bradford @bradfo
39m
Valentine says on @WEEI Beckett sore from last outing. Says Beckett feels stiffness

Rob Bradford @bradfo
40m
Cook to start Saturday for Beckett

[Dogman2]

Rob Bradford @bradfo
39m
Valentine says on @WEEI Beckett sore from last outing. Says Beckett feels stiffness

Rob Bradford @bradfo
40m
Cook to start Saturday for Beckett

Great news. So glad Beckett threw 130 pitches in his last outing. WTF is going on?

[mabrowndog]

So, to recap all the roster crap:

Tue pre-game: Tazawa optioned, Iglesias called up
Tue post-game: Anderson optioned
Wed pre-game: Mortensen called up
Wed pre-game: Middlebrooks called up (I assume either Iglesias optioned or Youk to the DL)
Sat pre-game: Mortensen optioned, Cook's contract purchased (Repko DFA or Crawford 60-day DL to clear a spot on the 40-man)

Did I miss anything?

Edited by mabrowndog, 02 May 2012 - 02:40 PM.

[E5 Yaz]

Did I miss anything?

Do they have assisted suicide laws in California?

[Lose Remerswaal]

1.354 WHIP for Colorado in 58 IP last year. 4.6 K/9.

Was anyone aware he had this guy on the roster? He's got to be better than Justin Thomas at least. But, why this dude is coming up now - and Tazawa is staying in Pawtucket for another day - is befuddling.

Many of us are familiar with the Marco Scutaro trade.

Edit: My reply is because I read your post as "Was anyone aware we had this guy on the roster?"

Edited by Lose Remerswaal, 02 May 2012 - 02:42 PM.

[trekfan55]

Except Maureen Mullen is now tweeting this:

Looks like Iglesias going back, and Lars last night, gives #RedSox two roster spots for Middlebrooks and Mortensen. #redsoxtalk

Which is odd considering that Jose himself tweeted

Got the call to the Majors! Thanks to all for your well wishes. Looking forward to help the #redsox put up more W's.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

The good news might be that Youkilis is close to ready. They are avoiding DLing him.

[ypioca]

Many of us are familiar with the Marco Scutaro trade.

Edit: My reply is because I read your post as "Was anyone aware we had this guy on the roster?"

Right. I guess my forgetfulness came from the assumption that, when the time came where Justin Thomas was on the 25-man, we were out of MLB-tested pitchers on the roster.

[OttoC]

Any chance Buchholz (blister) is heading to the DL, then rehab assignments?

[mabrowndog]

Any chance Buchholz (blister) is heading to the DL, then rehab assignments?

With this team?

[Phenom]

So, to recap all the roster crap:

Tue pre-game: Tazawa optioned, Iglesias called up
Tue post-game: Anderson optioned
Wed pre-game: Mortensen called up
Wed pre-game: Middlebrooks called up (I assume either Iglesias optioned or Youk to the DL)
Sat pre-game: Mortensen optioned, Cook's contract purchased (Repko DFA or Crawford 60-day DL to clear a spot on the 40-man)

Did I miss anything?

If Youkilis heads to the DL to make room for Middlebrooks on the 25-man roster, does that mean they're going to keep Iglesias on the big league roster? Would that be the wrong move to make for his development, or do the Red Sox feel it's beneficial to keep Iglesias up here for the next 10 days (until Youkilis comes off the DL) in a defensive replacement/pinch-runner role, as they did last May?

With Lars Anderson being optioned for Clay Mortensen, the move to option Junichi Tazawa yesterday looks puzzling to me. Why not keep both Tazawa and Anderson up here? The team would be better in the short-term with Tazawa/Anderson than they are with Mortensen/Iglesias.

Edit: Just read a post about Beckett possibly heading to DL. I guess that would mean Beckett goes to the DL, and Cook takes his roster spot. Still though, why did the team feel the need to send down Tazawa/Anderson and call up Mortensen/Iglesias?

Edited by Phenom, 02 May 2012 - 03:30 PM.

[mabrowndog]

If Youkilis heads to the DL to make room for Middlebrooks on the 25-man roster, does that mean they're going to keep Iglesias on the big league roster? Would that be the wrong move to make for his development, or do the Red Sox feel it's beneficial to keep Iglesias up here for the next 10 days (until Youkilis comes off the DL) in a defensive replacement/pinch-runner role, as they did last May?

With Lars Anderson being optioned for Clay Mortensen, the move to option Junichi Tazawa yesterday looks puzzling to me. Why not keep both Tazawa and Anderson up here? The team would be better in the short-term with Tazawa/Anderson than they are with Mortensen/Iglesias.

Edit: Just read a post about Beckett possibly heading to DL. I guess that would mean Beckett goes to the DL, and Cook takes his roster spot. Still though, why did the team feel the need to send down Tazawa/Anderson and call up Mortensen/Iglesias?

With Youk out, Iglesias was there as an emergency backup IF.

With Tazawa now in AAA, Mortensen takes his place in the bullpen for added depth.

If Beckett goes on the DL, the Sox will bring up yet another pitcher, likely Tazawa again (he can be brought back up earlier than the the usual 10-day post-option waiting period if there's a verifiable injury to another active player).

The only real surprising move was the Sox sending down Tazawa (rather than Anderson, who they ended up optioning anyway after the game) in order to activate Iglesias. That was a brain fart.

[Phenom]

With Youk out, Iglesias was there as an emergency backup IF.

With Tazawa now in AAA, Mortensen takes his place in the bullpen for added depth.

If Beckett goes on the DL, the Sox will bring up yet another pitcher, likely Tazawa again (he can be brought back up earlier than the the usual 10-day post-option waiting period if there's a verifiable injury to another active player).

The only real surprising move was the Sox sending down Tazawa (rather than Anderson, who they ended up optioning anyway after the game) in order to activate Iglesias. That was a brain fart.

Doesn't that still leave Iglesias on the roster?

Tazawa-Iglesias
Anderson-Mortensen
Youkils (DL)- Middlebrooks
Beckett (DL)- Tazawa
Mortensen-Cook

(It is possible I'm just having a complete brain fart, though)...

[trekfan55]

With Youk out, Iglesias was there as an emergency backup IF.

With Tazawa now in AAA, Mortensen takes his place in the bullpen for added depth.

If Beckett goes on the DL, the Sox will bring up yet another pitcher, likely Tazawa again (he can be brought back up earlier than the the usual 10-day post-option waiting period if there's a verifiable injury to another active player).

The only real surprising move was the Sox sending down Tazawa (rather than Anderson, who they ended up optioning anyway after the game) in order to activate Iglesias. That was a brain fart.

My guess is they still thought that Youls might make it back (or at least that he would not need a DL stint) and since Middlebrooks had a jammed thumb they brought Iglesias up. Now that Youks indeed needs a DL it changes everything.

[mabrowndog]

Doesn't that still leave Iglesias on the roster?

(It is possible I'm just having a complete brain fart, though)...

Yes. Iglesias is still on the roster for tonight's game at the very least. He's on the bench with Punto, Shoppach & McDonald.

Edited by mabrowndog, 02 May 2012 - 04:06 PM.

[mabrowndog]

My guess is they still thought that Youls might make it back (or at least that he would not need a DL stint) and since Middlebrooks had a jammed thumb they brought Iglesias up. Now that Youks indeed needs a DL it changes everything.

I wasn't questioning their call-up of Iglesias. I was questioning sending down Tazawa to clear his spot. It should have been Anderson.

.

Edited by mabrowndog, 02 May 2012 - 04:08 PM.

[Andrew]

I'm pretty sure that there's no distinction made for positions when recalling a player because another player is put on the DL. Since Youkilis is being DL'd I believe they could call up Tazawa if they wished to, bypassing the regular allotment of days normally required to recall someone.

This is different from post-season, IIRC.

[Eric Van]

The only real surprising move was the Sox sending down Tazawa (rather than Anderson, who they ended up optioning anyway after the game) in order to activate Iglesias. That was a brain fart.

Tazawa was destined to be sent down in favor of Cook and they thought that Cook would be joining the bullpen, today. They decided to go with 1 less guy in the pen for a day and keep Anderson around since Youk is also the backup 1B.

The move that made no sense was optioning Anderson last night when they knew they might disable Youk today.

[trekfan55]

Tazawa was destined to be sent down in favor of Cook and they thought that Cook would be joining the bullpen, today. They decided to go with 1 less guy in the pen for a day and keep Anderson around since Youk is also the backup 1B.

The move that made no sense was optioning Anderson last night when they knew they might disable Youk today.

I think they intended to send Iglesias down yesterday once they knew WMB was healthy. But maybe the fact that he appeared to be totally overmatched and exposed to LHP made them change their minds (Iglesias may not be better, but at least he plays stellar defense at SS).

[OnWisc]

Tazawa was destined to be sent down in favor of Cook and they thought that Cook would be joining the bullpen, today. They decided to go with 1 less guy in the pen for a day and keep Anderson around since Youk is also the backup 1B.

The move that made no sense was optioning Anderson last night when they knew they might disable Youk today.

I'm trying to figure that out. If it's a mistake, then would think they'd have him back up Friday with Youk to the DL and option Iglesias.

Only other thought is that they're going with the extra infielder until Repko is back on Sunday, and then optioning Iglesias (with Carl to the 60 day prior to Saturday to make room for Cook).

As far as Spears, would seem like it means a DFA for Repko. Maybe Repko's more expendable in the wake of Byrd's adequacy, but seems there's more value in just leaving Spears in Pawtucket for now instead of throwing him back on the 40-man.

Would think it could be:

Tue/Wed:
Anderson down, Mortensen up
Youkilis DL, Middlebrooks up

Thur:
Iglesias down, Anderson up (or nothing)

Sat:
Mortensen down, Cook up (Crawford to 60-day)

Sun:
Repko activated, Anderson (or Iglesias) down

(or they could just DFA Repko tomorrow, option Iglesias and add Spears)

I probably f'd this up somehow. This just seems like it's much more complicated than it should be. I can't figure it out.

[Pumpsie]

Credit where credit is due. Aside from two Papi doubles, and two outs from Fat Albers, call-ups Clayton Mortenson and Will Middlebrooks were the only things the Sox had going tonight. If only Adrian Gonzalez could hit and Daniel Bard wouldn't lose his fastball after two innings of work. The PawSox shuttle is going to have a very busy year, it seems. Maybe Mortensen can teach Bard how to throw a decent change-up before being sent down again..

[mabrowndog]

He's got some incredibly filthy movement on his offerings. But with a slow fastball, and not much velocity differential between that and his changeup and slider, major league hitters will start figuring him out sooner than later. Hopefully he bucks the trend, but repetition and familiarity tend to breed predictable outcomes for guys without dominant arsenals.

[RetractableRoof]

He's got some incredibly filthy movement on his offerings. But with a slow fastball, and not much velocity differential between that and his changeup and slider, major league hitters will start figuring him out sooner than later. Hopefully he bucks the trend, but repetition and familiarity tend to breed predictable outcomes for guys without dominant arsenals.

We were in the bleachers last night. When I watched him with the first batter I saw FB at 88, CH at 81 and thought the sky was going to fall. The first batter got him pretty good and I KNEW the sky was falling. He retired the next 9 batters and watching their reactions I thought he is surprising batters with movement and location - because after Bard at 93/95 this should feel like batting practice to Oakland players. Good for him - but until I see later career Maddux show up a bunch more times... I'm afraid I agree with you - the sky is still falling.

[Pumpsie]

Watching Mortensen from here will be interesting after that first outing. The first question is "how come he was so much more effective than Bard last night?" Will good-hitting teams like the Rangers also have problems with him or will they treat him like a batting practice pitcher?

Can he become a Jamie Moyer type pitcher and have a successful career despite the lack of velocity on his pitches?

Here's an interesting article about pitch speed from 2008. http://www.hardballt...-a-fastball-be/

The most interesting thing about this study is that it demonstrates that if you can throw your fastball on the outside corner, it really doesn't matter how slow or fast your fastball is and you have a weird advantage that a slower pitch will more likely be called a strike there than a faster pitch. This study reminds me of Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine's success.

Edited by Pumpsie, 03 May 2012 - 09:53 AM.

[mabrowndog]

Marc Normandin at Over The Monster with a really interesting piece on Mortensen's mechanics:

The Red Sox hope they have figured out what Mortensen needed to bring him closer to becoming the pitcher the Cardinals were envisioning when they drafted him as a first-round sandwich pick in the 2007 draft. We asked R.J. Anderson to give us a hand pinpointing what was different, and thanks to him, we can see the little change they've already made, one that might make a much larger difference:



On the left, you see Mortensen on the third base side of the rubber. On the right, in Wedneday night's relief appearance against the Athletics, he's on the first base side. What's significant about this little shift? Potentially a lot, given Mortensen's repertoire. He's a sinker, slider, change-up pitcher, one who relies on his secondary stuff and angles in order to succeed, especially since he tops out in the 87-88 mph range. In his first major-league appearance of the season, he essentially pitched backwards, relying on his change-up more than one-third of the time, and often using it to set up his sinker, in order to make it appear faster than the radar gun suggested it was. Perceived velocity is, in many ways, more important than actual velocity.

According to Anderson, who has been paying attention to these shifts on the rubber in 2012:

One talent evaluator I spoke to fingered sinkerballers, citing the angles the move creates against same-handed hitters. Going back to Peterson's Hudson move, a slide towards the first-base side gave Hudson free rein to throw his fastball and let the run take it to the inside corner against righties. The evaluator also pointed out that a better angle on secondary stuff away from the batter is an added benefit.

Mortensen is all secondary stuff and sinkers, and he fits what this talent evaluator believes to be the profile of a potential rubber shifter perfectly. The Red Sox agree, if last night was any indication, when Mortensen tested out that new starting point in the majors for the first time. The results? Three innings of shutout relief, with six strikeouts, no walks, and a hit allowed to his first base that was then followed by nine-straight retired A's, as well as a release point that more closely resembled his pre-Colorado days:

The Fernando Rodney comparison he makes gives me a lot more hope that Mortensen's pitch mix could remain effective over the longer term.