Have the Sox actually said anything about Kelly and consecutive days? I wonder if this is going to be all season, or maybe they'll try a few back to backs in the second half.
From earlier in JuneHave the Sox actually said anything about Kelly and consecutive days? I wonder if this is going to be all season, or maybe they'll try a few back to backs in the second half.
Probably someone will get injured before Carson Smith is ready. Law of averages and whatnot.I wonder what the plan is for Workman. WHIP just under 1.00, 29K in 25 1/3 innings this year in AAA. Seems like he's back.
I'm as big a Workman fan as we have here, but he got sent down after a pretty poor outing against the Yanks last month. That being said, he's probably in line to be one of the next two guys to be called up if the Sox get much inconsistency from Boyer or Abad.I wonder what the plan is for Workman. WHIP just under 1.00, 29K in 25 1/3 innings this year in AAA. Seems like he's back.
That... or let him try to work it out for a while. Owens is just not the kind of pitcher you give up on. He lacks consistency but you hope he finds it in a more natural arm slot - it can make a huge difference when repeated over a longer period of time that 0.2ip.Owens first start in AA with the new arm slot was a disaster. There were talks of people wanting to move him to the pen, it's time. Either that or stick a fork in him.
0.2ip, 0h, 3er, 6bb/0k, 42 pitches, 15 strikes.
I think he'd be more likely to find consistency working 1 inning at a time. I just don't see this guy ever working out as a starter. His walk rates have been on the rise for awhile. In 2015 he was at an 11.2% BB rate, 2016 it was 13.6%. 2017 it's at 19.9%. It's also 26 walks in the last 16.1 ip to go with only 10 strike outs. Ultimately, it doesn't matter much to the big league club this season because he's not going to be anywhere near Boston. It almost seems like it's mental now.That... or let him try to work it out for a while. Owens is just not the kind of pitcher you give up on. He lacks consistency but you hope he finds it in a more natural arm slot - it can make a huge difference when repeated over a longer period of time that 0.2ip.
I won't dispute the numbers - Owens looks to be getting worse/breaking down. But I suppose the hope is that those numbers are immaterial when you change the way he pitches. An extreme would be if a pitcher started throwing submarine - would you still factor in previous numbers, or is it really a different pitcher? Owens obviously isn't that extreme, but changing the arm slot seems to be an acknowledgement that what he's working with isn't working - and that he's open to make adjustments, which would not toss out the mental argument, but at least seem to mean that he's not in such a bad mental place that he won't make changes.His walk rates have been on the rise for awhile.
Owens has logged roughly 3 years in AAA now and is about to turn 25.That... or let him try to work it out for a while. Owens is just not the kind of pitcher you give up on. He lacks consistency but you hope he finds it in a more natural arm slot - it can make a huge difference when repeated over a longer period of time that 0.2ip.
I'm not arguing that a new arm slot will make him realize his potential, but that's the kind of serious mechanical change that can make a pitcher consistent, and hopefully make the jump to the show. I wonder if the Sox think that change AND a move to the bullpen are too much all at once. Let him stick with what he knows, but work on this one, major adjustment and see where the results take him.Owens has logged roughly 3 years in AAA now and is about to turn 25.
Is transitioning him to a bullpen role, where he might actually have a better overall chance to find something that sticks, really giving up on a guy? The other way and all or nothing approach atm arguably fits that bill better imo.
Starting means he gets more innings a week to practice the new arm slot, if things go well.I'm not arguing that a new arm slot will make him realize his potential, but that's the kind of serious mechanical change that can make a pitcher consistent, and hopefully make the jump to the show. I wonder if the Sox think that change AND a move to the bullpen are too much all at once. Let him stick with what he knows, but work on this one, major adjustment and see where the results take him.
I'm not just reading into those numbers, though. I'm also taking into account how he's looked lately. I don't trust him in a close and late situation and I really hope they find a better option before the deadline. And his road numbers look a lot more like the guy he was before this year than his home numbers.There's no real reason to believe his "on the road" numbers are any more real than his home numbers. Most likely, he's somewhere in between. As almost always with relievers, the numbers are small, and small numbers are easily influenced by variance. The 3.467 OPS he gave up in 5 PA in Minnesota drags his full season OPS up 20 points, and I'm sure walking 2 guys, giving up 2HR, and getting one out makes a tangible difference in FIP/xFIP when the denominator is 20 innings. The point isn't that these shitshows don't count, or didn't happen, it's that reading too much into when and where they happened isn't wise.
Sale didn't strike out 6 either.(Nervous Nellie alert) - can I just say that Kimbrel's ASG appearance scared the bejeezus out of me? I worry that he gets way too amped up in critical situations, which results in loss of control.
Earlier in his tenure with us, every time out of the pen when facing a RHH, his first few pitches were overthrown and jerked into the LHH batters box.
After a bit (and perhaps a walk), he seemed to settle down and regained control.
For most of this season, he seems to have been able to control his adrenaline (if my coach potato psychology is correct) and he's been dialed in from the get-go.
But what I saw yesterday on the big stage leaves me anxious about what might happen should they be lucky/good enough to reach the post-season.
Would appreciate a flood of responses that tell me I'm over-reacting. TIA
It took him 25 pitches, only 12 of them strikes, to get three outs. I wouldn't necessarily jump to any hasty conclusions that this is what we should expect from Kimbrel in big games (especially considering that he actually has a postseason record, including last year for the Sox, and it's a damn good one). But it certainly wasn't what you'd call a clean outing.Pretty sure he had two Ks and 0 runs allowed last night.
Holy crap, it was the all-star game. The only thing more meaningless is spring training. If you're honestly concerned about his mental fortitude after a rocky outing in an exhibition game then you've jumped the shark and need to relax.(Nervous Nellie alert) - can I just say that Kimbrel's ASG appearance scared the bejeezus out of me? I worry that he gets way too amped up in critical situations, which results in loss of control.
Earlier in his tenure with us, every time out of the pen when facing a RHH, his first few pitches were overthrown and jerked into the LHH batters box.
After a bit (and perhaps a walk), he seemed to settle down and regained control.
For most of this season, he seems to have been able to control his adrenaline (if my coach potato psychology is correct) and he's been dialed in from the get-go.
But what I saw yesterday on the big stage leaves me anxious about what might happen should they be lucky/good enough to reach the post-season.
Would appreciate a flood of responses that tell me I'm over-reacting. TIA
I expect Johnson and Velazquez will be going back to AAAWith the Red Sox pitching staff desperately depleted, the team is calling up righthanders Kyle Martin and Ben Taylor
They areI expect Johnson and Velazquez will be going back to AAA
What choice does he have?Workman seems to have earned Farrell's trust as least as much as Boyer had.
Ha. Good point. Even beyond binky-dom, I think he's looked useful.What choice does he have?
Smith could be back in September, I suppose. The question really is how effective he would beIs Carson Smith still a possible option this year? I thought he was unlikely to come back this year? Or was that just Thornburg?
He's beginning a rehab in 2 days... so yea, he's absolutely a possibility. You just hope he has the confidence in the elbow because this guy was as good as anyone pre-TJ. He'd be a monster pick up if he was even 80% of his 2015 self.Is Carson Smith still a possible option this year? I thought he was unlikely to come back this year? Or was that just Thornburg?
If they didn't take him out back and shoot him, he's an option.Is Carson Smith still a possible option this year? I thought he was unlikely to come back this year? Or was that just Thornburg?
Ya makes sense short term. I was assuming they wouldn't stick with 13 pitchers for long.Maddox
How do you define 80%? Certainly not velocity. WHIP, ERA, FIP, WAR? Always wondered when someone made a percentage as good as comment about a player?He's beginning a rehab in 2 days... so yea, he's absolutely a possibility. You just hope he has the confidence in the elbow because this guy was as good as anyone pre-TJ. He'd be a monster pick up if he was even 80% of his 2015 self.
I tend to think of it as literally 80% of the person, which is why there is such a broad range of outcomes. If he lost a kidney or a few ribs, he might still be effective. But if that missing 20% is his throwing arm or plant leg, it may significantly impact his ability to pitch without making some significant mechanical adjustments.How do you define 80%? Certainly not velocity. WHIP, ERA, FIP, WAR? Always wondered when someone made a percentage as good as comment about a player?
Don't forget tonsils, adenoids and appendix too.I tend to think of it as literally 80% of the person, which is why there is such a broad range of outcomes. If he lost a kidney or a few ribs, he might still be effective. But if that missing 20% is his throwing arm or plant leg, it may significantly impact his ability to pitch without making some significant mechanical adjustments.
An effective Workman, a healthy Kelly, and shiny new toy Reed totally change the depth of this bullpen. And that's without getting anything from Smith, which still needs to be looked at as a long shot--but a shot--for this season.We need to talk about Brandon Workman. The guy is painting edges at 95-96 with a wipeout cutter and a sharp curve he can get over for strikes.
He's 28. People forget he was on the 2013 WS roster. Farrell has basically used him as the top bridge arm to Kimbrel for a week now.
I have as much confidence in him as any other arm in that pen not Kimbrel.
Maybe these are the ups and downs of velocity from a guy who hasn't yet built up consistent arm strength. But that is not an encouraging report.The most concerning thing about Smith is if he really on topped out at 91. That's not major league velocity anymore.
See: workman, Brandon. It takes time to build up arm strengthMaybe these are the ups and downs of velocity from a guy who hasn't yet built up consistent arm strength. But that is not an encouraging report.
The Boston bullpen currently has a 2.91 ERA, best in the majors — the Red Sox have not finished a season with MLB’s lowest bullpen ERA in the last 100 years, and have not finished in the top 10 since 2009.
Do they?We need to talk about Brandon Workman. The guy is painting edges at 95-96 with a wipeout cutter and a sharp curve he can get over for strikes.
He's 28. People forget he was on the 2013 WS roster. Farrell has basically used him as the top bridge arm to Kimbrel for a week now.
I have as much confidence in him as any other arm in that pen not Kimbrel.