Bullpen

by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 17, 2010 9:39 AM EST

With Bobby Jenks in the mix now, the Red Sox all of a sudden have a deep bullpen. With Jenks, Bard, and Papelbon, the Red Sox should have few problems in late innings.

My number one and two targets this offseason were Scott Downs and Matt Guerrier. As you can see, I thought the Red Sox would win up with one of them. That was not the case, and many wondered what Theo was thinking.

I know the bullpen was horrendous last season, but let's take a look at the bright spots. Obviously Daniel Bard, having a really terrific season. Scott Atchison provided much needed long relief when needed. And i thought Felix Doubront did pretty good as well. Papelbon had a not so good year, but in a contract year, I would not be surprised by a bounce back season.

Now let's look at additions and subtractions. Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and Ramon Ramiro were the poster boys of the bad bullpen. Delcarmen and Ramirez were shipped out of town, but the bullpen remained terrible because the mid-season replacements were Robert Manuel and Robert Coello. The replacements now seem to be Bobby Jenks, Andrew Miller and Taylor Buchholz.

Now, this is the bullpen I think makes the team:

Papelbon

Bard

Jenks

Doubront

Atchison

Miller

Wakefield

What do you think?

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i like it

not the best in the league but i think muvh better than last year and def good enough to win esp with the starters and offense and defense this club now has. all we need to do is stay average healthy for a full season and i predict good things will happen for the 2011 red sox.

by brady12mvp3 on Dec 17, 2010 10:02 AM EST reply actions

I like it

as long as Miller can actually harness his control in a relief role. We do need an effective lefty in that spot and, judging by the market, it’s probably going to end up being a battle between Miller, Hill, DiNardo, and whoever else they can shove in.

by wolf9309 on Dec 17, 2010 10:15 AM EST reply actions

No to Dinardo

Miller is the guy. Remember on lefites, Doubront!

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by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 17, 2010 10:27 AM EST up reply actions

I'm saying spring training competition, which is probably a better way to see where they're all at

Doubront is good, but from everything I can see is actually not quite as good against lefties as he is against righties. So I’d like to see a lefty specialist in there.

by wolf9309 on Dec 17, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

Hill intrigues me

Live arm and K potential but like Miller – control problems. Seems like the guy has been around forever but he’s only 31 coming into the season

by BobZupcic on Dec 17, 2010 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah he's kinda my favorite to start the season if they don't pay Fuentes.

I saw him one game in Pawtucket where he was just awful, but after he got settled into relieving, not starting, he seemed very effective against lefties. From my recollection at least. I’m hoping Miller can make it up but feel like making the transition to reliever, he should get some time in Pawtucket before the majors.

But we’ll see how ST goes.

by wolf9309 on Dec 17, 2010 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

I still think Theo is gonna make a move via trade

to get the final piece of the pen.

by SoxAcumen on Dec 17, 2010 1:13 PM EST reply actions

maybe he trades Scutaro

embrace the martian
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Dec 17, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

Very good posibility.

In Lax We Trust -
Offical Pro Lacrosse Blog of SBN

by Marisa Ingemi on Dec 17, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Deep seems to be an exaggeration

The top 3 are all great, but the bottom 3 is shaky. I like Doubront, and I like him better in the pen than a starter, but he may not be the lefty specialist that we need. As for the bottom 3 on your list, we can’t really rely on them. Miller- has never really proven himself, Atch was DFA’d 3 times last year, and Wake, now 42, had a miserable year last year in the pen. Wake’s only value is his ability to spot-start, because out of the pen all he did is mop-up.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the pen is going to be good. But I think that the bottom 3 on your list will fluctuate alot during the first month or so of the season. We have a lot of other arms in the minors (Dinardo, Albers, Bowden) and I think spring training will determine alot.

Remember last year, Schowenweis (spelling?) was on our opening day roster because of spring training, and I see that situation happening again with Atch or Albers or Dinardo or even Miller.

I also tend to agree with SoxAcumen, I think one more move (not Fuentes) will be made. Then, we will have a truly deep pen.

by LesterJohn on Dec 17, 2010 1:23 PM EST reply actions

For the record, Atchison wasn't DFA'd at all

he had an option year. This year he’s out. Last year a big part of his role involved that they could freely call him up and send him back down, that was by design.

by wolf9309 on Dec 17, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions