The Norwood era has begun. Taking Arroyo's 40 spot (Covid) ATM, but they have to drop a pitcher tomorrow to get down to MLB max of 13.
This is a head-scratcher for me, especially with Norwood having no options and the pitcher roster shrinking tomorrow. If Norwood is no good, or is an extended fix-it project of some type, you're effectively dropping to 5 starters and 7 relievers (plus Norwood).
The questions are how quickly is quickly, and what would the effect be in the standings. Because I really don't want to see them tank a pair this season in hopes they "can figure him out."
Excellent point. I expect if he sucks that he will get no more time than these guys did for the Sox last year:
Yes, the fact that he has no options really jumps out. I'm guessing Braiser or Danish probably gets sent down, but when Arroyo comes off the IL there's a decision to be made. So who gets DFA to make room on the 40? Has RFsnyder made Arroyo a candidate? Will it be one of the under performing relievers? Perhaps another team takes a flyer on one of the guys not working out so well here or maybe Norwood get's dropped. As you said, it's a head scratcher, but I guess we'll see how it shakes out soon enough.
Ahhh. Wouldn't be surprised if Bloom was doing the Phillies a favor by taking him.
Not gone yet. This was gamed out by Chaim to try to get Norwood through waivers, using the June 20 deadline as leverage to ensure that Norwood is not claimed.
Good point. He's gone from the active roster though. Remains to be seen if they'll be able to sneak him through waivers. If they were the only claiming team (don't think they know that or not) the first time, they might be able to slip him through regardless of the expected activity today.
Dammit, too obvious. Also a shame that Jon Lester doesn’t quite qualify.
Cora has said he's the closer now, so at least for this season, it appears the door is closed on Houck moving back to the rotation.
He has really stabilized the pen and been one of the key players in the Sox recent turnaround. Huge success story for Bloom. Fourth highest war among pitchers on the team (behind Pivetta, Wacha, and just barely…Eovaldi). Got his opportunity and has more than made the most of it. The beauty of baseball!
Thursday's Alex Speier Globe article details the development of Schreiber from a four-seam/slider guy topping out at 94 mph with an unconventional delivery to a guy whose slider now breaks an additional 3 inches and his fastball now tops out at 97 mph, including his relentless work on his pitches and his use of BOS's strength and conditioning staff to increase his velocity.
And it works. Norwood clears waivers and is outrighted to Worcester, per Christopher Smith (masslive.com).
That wasn't really a traditional save situation. Robles had a 3-run lead in the 6th. 2 outs with no one on and then implosion. I think Cora went too long with him, but that really was a spot for the back end of the bullpen against one of the worst teams in baseball.
Irrelevant. It is still a blown save by rule.
He's the most volatile of volatile relievers. Not just appearance to appearance, but within a game. I didnt want to cut bait on him since he pitched some huge games down the stretch last season, but I think he's taking command of the "which RH reliever goes when Whitlock comes back" competition. Halfway though the season, in a tight race, I think the team is past the point of optioning the more effective Brasier or Sawamura just to keep Robles in the organization.
This is the frustrating part. For all the complaints about leaving him in too long, he struck out the first guy on three pitches and got a fly out on two with the second batter. With Hill going out early, you'd never burn another reliever by having someone warm up behind him. By the time Diekman was ready, the lead was gone and the wheels had completely fallen off. You just can't have a guy like that on the roster.
Easy for me to say, but dude is only 31 and still touches 98. If he's DFA I assume someone will grab him (Tampa?).
This would be my ideal scenario. Put him on the IL with Hellenic Flu, give him a few weeks off to tinker with his pitches, review video, and try again. If he’s still bad in August we can always DFA him then but he got huge outs last year and you can never have enough guys out of the bullpen who throw upper 90s these days.
He was just on the IL a month ago for back spasms. He's been worse since he came back.
