Bullpen Concerns

[Jayhawk Bill]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

The Yankees had a problem like that last yr. We were 6-36 when we scored 3 runs or less. This yr, we have already won 4 games when scoring 3 runs or less. I think alot of that has to do with luck and with pen management.

Yeah, but you were 12-49 when scoring four runs or fewer...that's a .197 W/L Pct, whereas Boston's is .167 in games with four or fewer runs scored thus far.

I'd suggest that bullpen management is the critical factor, with bench management an auxiliary factor. Boston's bench has been crap for a couple of reasons thus far:

1) Influenza
2) David Ortiz: he's blocking the DH spot when playing and, right now, clogging the bench with a player who cannot take the field.

The bullpen has been a challenge because, in large part, Tito has used struggling pitchers, especially Timlin, in crucial roles. Here are the Boston relief pitchers listed in declining order of leverage index (criticality) of their appearances:

1. Jonathan Papelbon 1.75
2. Craig Hansen 1.66*
3. Hideki Okajima 1.63
4. Mike Timlin 1.36
5. Kyle Snyder 1.28*
6. Javier Lopez 1.19
7. Manny Delcarmen 0.95
8. David Aardsma 0.93
9. Bryan Corey 0.89
10. Julian Tavarez 0.28

* Small sample size (1-2 games)

Timlin has sucked from his first appearance: he shouldn't be right behind Okajima as the "go-to" guy when his ERA is in the four-digit range.

[jacksonianmarch]

well who do you give the innings to?

Last yr, Okajima got every 8th inning hold opportunity and his arm was mush by August. Papelbon was being used in meaningless games in late 06 when his arm went pop.

A 3rd reliever who can soak up innings in the 7th or when the SU or Cl guys need a day off is a must. MDC right now has reverted to his hittable ways and the rest of the pen could not show their 07 form to this point.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

well who do you give the innings to?

You know, I'm not a board-certified Major League Baseball Manager, but I'm thinking that the 42-year-old guy with the 13.50 ERA isn't necessarily the best choice.

A 3rd reliever who can soak up innings in the 7th or when the SU or Cl guys need a day off is a must. MDC right now has reverted to his hittable ways and the rest of the pen could not show their 07 form to this point.

I'm criticizing the use of two relief pitchers:

1) Mike Timlin
2) Bryan Corey

I would rather have our AAA guy, Gronk, than either of these two pitchers. With Timlin, in particular, I see Francona making his classic early-season mistake of overtrusting a veteran who has lost the ability to compete.

Regarding the rest of our bullpen, I expect them to do perfectly well in their assigned roles, including spot use in high-leverage situations for Aardsma, Hansen and Delcarmen, as well as crucial LOOGY moments with Lopez.


***

Go worry about your own bullpen. How are Hawkins and Ohlendorf doing?

[Mr Crunchy]

id like to see you 2 men duel in a locked room with no windows,running water or doors.
just a red room covered in crushed velvet with nothing but baseball magazines,a coffee machine and some drakes cakes for nutrition
then we assemble a panel of 5,2 yanks 2 sox and a neutral to drill you both.
mj
you see what kind of a pedestal sean patrick has put you on?
jb
this guy was on an old site the boston herald had put up the day after nomar was traded to the cubs...
nobody expected him to show after the 04 comeback but the boy hung in there and by the time novemeber came he was back in form with randy johnson carl pavano,jarret wrght and steve karsay to hang his hat on..
i am soft with men who have bigger balls than brains

[Taliesin]

I'm guessing JB would pay up if he owed money. MJ, I know people in Southie. We can find you.

[jacksonianmarch]

You know I am good for it. Hell I am leading the league

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by Mr Crunchy

id like to see you 2 men duel in a locked room with no windows,running water or doors.
just a red room covered in crushed velvet with nothing but baseball magazines,a coffee machine and some drakes cakes for nutrition
then we assemble a panel of 5,2 yanks 2 sox and a neutral to drill you both.
mj
you see what kind of a pedestal sean patrick has put you on?
jb
this guy was on an old site the boston herald had put up the day after nomar was traded to the cubs...
nobody expected him to show after the 04 comeback but the boy hung in there and by the time novemeber came he was back in form with randy johnson carl pavano,jarret wrght and steve karsay to hang his hat on..
i am soft with men who have bigger balls than brains

haha, thanks crunch

[Mr Crunchy]

no sweat sonny
i tend to call spades spades

[YAZMAN]

Originally Posted by Mr Crunchy

mj
you see what kind of a pedestal sean patrick has put you on?

One that pivots 360 degrees?

[rician blast]

Originally Posted by YAZMAN

One that pivots 360 degrees?

in both directions

[Gom]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

You know I am good for it. Hell I am leading the league

For now. Enjoy it while you can. I'm about to eat you alive like the league does your two prima donna boys who can't pitch, Hughes and Kennedy.

[redsoxrules]

[One Red Seat]

MDC keeps spitting the bit every time it's offered. They need to get Hansen back up as soon the 10 days pass and see what they've got there. MDC is looking more and more like a middle of the game reliever, and not an end game option.

I will say this in his defense last night. It made absolutely no sense to pitch MDC to Lind. I know JHB posted his power pitcher splits in the game thread, but he's got a pretty strong LH/RH split too, and Oki is just a better pitcher. I think the stronger power pitcher split is negated by the quality of pitchers involved. Oki hadn't thrown since 4/24, so he was well rested. When your usual 8th inning guy hasn't had work in 5 days, give him the ball to start the inning in a 1-run game. I'm pretty sure the intent was to buy an inning's worth of outs from MDC and not pitch Papelbon on consecutive days, but it almost blew up in his face, and luckily, Oki was able to shake off the rust and get the job done after coming in without his full warm-up.

[Mr Crunchy]

i like delcarmen but i have a lot more confidence in okijima

[Sweet Chin Music33]

Originally Posted by One Red Seat

MDC keeps spitting the bit every time it's offered. They need to get Hansen back up as soon the 10 days pass and see what they've got there. MDC is looking more and more like a middle of the game reliever, and not an end game option.

I will say this in his defense last night. It made absolutely no sense to pitch MDC to Lind. I know JHB posted his power pitcher splits in the game thread, but he's got a pretty strong LH/RH split too, and Oki is just a better pitcher. I think the stronger power pitcher split is negated by the quality of pitchers involved. Oki hadn't thrown since 4/24, so he was well rested. When your usual 8th inning guy hasn't had work in 5 days, give him the ball to start the inning in a 1-run game. I'm pretty sure the intent was to buy an inning's worth of outs from MDC and not pitch Papelbon on consecutive days, but it almost blew up in his face, and luckily, Oki was able to shake off the rust and get the job done after coming in without his full warm-up.

I played against MDC growing up, so you can imagine I would hope for nothing but the best for the kid......but like me and you talked about in the past.....he has every single tool and advantage to be a big time setup man, but is missing something that I cannot put my finger on. At times, like his stretch last year, he is awesome.....and looks like he is fulfilling the tools which he is blessed with, other times he looks no better than a mop up guy. The set-up guy needs consistency. Timlin did it for all those years. You dont have to be lights out dominating, but the manager needs to know what to expect out of you before he puts you in the game. He cant turn to MDC every eighth inning knowing what he gets will be a crapshoot. A good setup man gives you solid outings 7 outta 10 times at least. MDC is probably hovering about 5 outta 10. They are winning....so thats a bright side, but if he doesnt pick it up, you have to think Theo will explore other options whether is be Hansen, or guys outside the organization.