Buchholz hadn't given up a HR in 13 straight appearances before last night, including 3 starts.
He has had a very weird season. If two pitches he made against the Astros months ago were turned into outs, his season ERA would drop from 5.20 to 4.57. Still bad, but much, much less horrific.
He has been pretty good lately, and unlucky overall this season. But he also had a long stretch of terribleness this year too.
I don't think he is going to do well as a late inning high leverage reliever this year. From what we've seen of him over the years, I can't see that role working out for him. I think he would do pretty well the rest of the way as a starter, but apparently that's not going to happen.
I don't know what the answer is for this bullpen. Dombrowski has brought in Kimbrel, Smith, Abad, and Zeigler already. Those guys were good relievers when they were acquired, and should make up the core of a good bullpen, especially combined with Uehara, Tazawa, Ross, Layne and three guys who throw in the mid-to-high 90s, Kelly, Ross and Hembree. And now we have Buchholz, who seemed to be doing well as a starter recently, blowing a close game too.
Another weird thing: ERA+ loves some of our relievers. Hembree has thrown 41.1 innings with an ERA+ of 192. Layne was at 122 with the Red Sox. Zeigler's at 245 in his 19 innings with Boston. Barnes is still at 104 despite his recent implosion. Ross is at 127. Koji's had his worst season ever and is still at 102.
And somehow we only have 15 blown saves all year, but 6 of those have come in August.
It seems like even if they bring in yet another arm, whoever it is will probably just suck once they get here too. Kelly should have been up a week ago, but the way things are going, he would likely be crappy as well. But you've got to give the guy a chance with the numbers he is putting up in AAA and our ridiculous need for a reliable setup man.
Might as well bring in Papelbon now, not because he would be any good, but so we could then have four 30-save closers in the same godawful bullpen.
He has had a very weird season. If two pitches he made against the Astros months ago were turned into outs, his season ERA would drop from 5.20 to 4.57. Still bad, but much, much less horrific.
He has been pretty good lately, and unlucky overall this season. But he also had a long stretch of terribleness this year too.
I don't think he is going to do well as a late inning high leverage reliever this year. From what we've seen of him over the years, I can't see that role working out for him. I think he would do pretty well the rest of the way as a starter, but apparently that's not going to happen.
I don't know what the answer is for this bullpen. Dombrowski has brought in Kimbrel, Smith, Abad, and Zeigler already. Those guys were good relievers when they were acquired, and should make up the core of a good bullpen, especially combined with Uehara, Tazawa, Ross, Layne and three guys who throw in the mid-to-high 90s, Kelly, Ross and Hembree. And now we have Buchholz, who seemed to be doing well as a starter recently, blowing a close game too.
Another weird thing: ERA+ loves some of our relievers. Hembree has thrown 41.1 innings with an ERA+ of 192. Layne was at 122 with the Red Sox. Zeigler's at 245 in his 19 innings with Boston. Barnes is still at 104 despite his recent implosion. Ross is at 127. Koji's had his worst season ever and is still at 102.
And somehow we only have 15 blown saves all year, but 6 of those have come in August.
It seems like even if they bring in yet another arm, whoever it is will probably just suck once they get here too. Kelly should have been up a week ago, but the way things are going, he would likely be crappy as well. But you've got to give the guy a chance with the numbers he is putting up in AAA and our ridiculous need for a reliable setup man.
Might as well bring in Papelbon now, not because he would be any good, but so we could then have four 30-save closers in the same godawful bullpen.