Red Sox Win Series Opener in a Shootout, 13-12

by Ben Buchanan on Apr 26, 2010 11:22 PM EDT in Game Stories

It'd be impossible to recap the whole offense in this game. Suffice it to say, there was a lot.

It'd be equally impossible to recap all the pitching in this game. Suffice it to say, there was a lot--but very little of it was any good.

There are some standouts, though. Like the top of the order (Marco Scutaro, Dustin Pedroia, and Kevin Youkilis), which went a combined 9-15, and the 6-7 combo of Adrian Beltre and Jason Varitek who each went 3-5. And Manny Delcarmen, Daniel Bard, and Jonathan Papelbon, who did not allow a baserunner in 4 innings.

On the other hand, 2 pitching performances stand out as remarkably bad. Josh Beckett allowed 8 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks in just 3 innings, and Hideki Okajima was completely ineffective for a second straight night, allowing 2 runs without recording an out.

The Sox will need a long outing from Buchholz to save an exhausted bullpen tomorrow night.

Game Notes:

The Red Sox stranded 10 men on base--Mike Lowell played a role in 8 of them.
As Ed Price tweeted, Beckett's awful start is nearly identical to his April in 2009.
Remarkably, the Red Sox committed 0 errors in a 12-run game. Though Bill Hall didn't exactly light the world on fire out there.
Kevin Youkilis was erroneously called out at home in the first inning, cutting short the scoring at 1 run that inning.
Is this the first game where the Sox stole more than their opposition? 2 steals for Dustin Pedroia, 0 for the Blue Jays. If we're looking for a replacement catcher, don't look at John Buck, who also had a dropped ball at the plate costing a run.

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Comments

for tomorrow

someone is leaving the pen soon anyways, with Wake joining. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them call someone up to the pen for a day and send Atchison down. Especially if someone who can go a while, like Bowden, is available (not sure when he pitched last). Then we’d at least have a couple of rested, if questionable relievers.

by wolf9309 on Apr 26, 2010 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

Bowden, Manuel, Richardson, or Castro are the top choices.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 26, 2010 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Manuel

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Apr 26, 2010 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Just remembered, Manual not on the 40 man.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 26, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

And throw in Nelson.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Apr 26, 2010 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

No options left.

We want a guy who we can send back down without going through waivers.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 26, 2010 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

or maybe a guy we don't care if he clears waivers like

allen embree

by Mick Lowe on Apr 27, 2010 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Question

I know all contracts are different. However, when a club is dealing with player in their farm system, what are the stipulations for calling them up to the parent club and sending them back down into the system?

Is it based on accrued service time in the majors, or is there a set number of times you can shuttle someone between AAA and the show?

by Christopher B on Apr 26, 2010 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

there's a set number of times

first of all, they need to be on the 40-man roster to get called up to the majors.
Second of all there’s a whole process- each player has 3 years in his career where he can freely be shuttled to the minors and back. After that, to send someone back, they need to clear waivers (so basically be turned down by every other club)

by wolf9309 on Apr 26, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

does that include the year they are drafted and play in the

instructional league?

thx

by Mick Lowe on Apr 27, 2010 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, if they're called up to the majors, then yes.

But if not, then no.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Apr 28, 2010 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah sorry I wasn't clear

it’s not that they can be sent up and back for the first three years, it’s that they can be sent up and back in three different years. If they stay in the minors they don’t burn up option years. There’s also cases like Ellsbury, who got called up to stay without much back and forth, so he technically still has two option years left (though is unlikely to ever use them)

by wolf9309 on Apr 28, 2010 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

If they stay in the minors they don’t burn up option years.

Well… once a player is added to the 40 man (typically to protect him from being eligible for the Rule 5 draft) he is using options even if he begins the season in the minors and never appears in the bigs that year. He is considered to be on optional assignment once he is assigned to minor league camp in spring training. So you can use three options without ever appearing in the majors, or only appearing once (Dusty Brown is an example of this – he will be out of options next year).

However… if you do NEVER appear in the majors in your first three option years the team gets a fourth option year on you (a little more to it than that, but that’s the basic gist of it). This is if you break camp with the minor league teams each year and never get called up.

Bullpen Banter
www.bullpenbanter.com
twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Apr 28, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

yes right, good catch

I didn’t know that about the 4th option year…

by wolf9309 on Apr 28, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

The way to think of this...

(and its more complicated than I’m saying here – generalizing)

There are a number of clocks that keep a player on a path to the majors.

1) Signing to the 40 man roster – The first is the Rule 5 Clock. Depending on where a player is drafted from (college or high school or IFA) the team has a set amount of years he can play before he becomes eligible to be drafted by other teams in the Rule 5 draft. I think its 3 for college, 4 for junior college and high school… something like that… this part can be pretty complex based on when they signed. Someone else can explain this better than I, but the point is, teams have a certain amount of time to move a guy onto the 40 man roster or risk losing him.

2) Options – Once a player has been moved onto the 40 man roster he is now using options (as discussed above). He is using options by being on the 40 man EVEN IF HE DOESNT APPEAR IN THE MAJORS. Once he uses his 3 option years he must be either kept on the 25 man active roster or passed through waivers to remove him from the 40 man (so other teams can claim him).

3) Service time to free agency – Once a player appears in the majors he is accruing service time. Once he reaches 3 years of service time he is arbitration eligible and starts getting expensive (especially years 5 and 6). Once he reaches 6 years of service time he is eligible for free agency. Remember, when he is optioned to the minors he isn’t accruing service time – so its not necessarily a block of 6 clean years. He could get 50 days of service time in the majors one season and none the next… but once the options are all used up the team either has to let other teams have a shot at the kid or keep him on the active roster and let him keep using service time.

So these are the three “clocks” that keep a player moving towards free agency.

You can actually keep a minor leaguer for 7-9 years (again based on where they came from and when they were signed) if he’s not drafted in the Rule 5 – OR the minor league Rule 5 (getting very complex here, but I hope you get the general principle at this point).

Bullpen Banter
www.bullpenbanter.com
twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Apr 28, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Bowden last pitched on the 23rd

so he probably isn’t available. Barring that, a lefty makes the most sense as Schoeneweis and Oki have both pitched a lot, and we at least have RamRam (shudder) still available against righties.

If it’s performance related, Richardson wins hands down against Castro going by their AAA performances. If they DO plan on calling up Embree before he opts out (I wouldn’t be completely shocked if they brought him up and got rid of Schoeneweis, as I dothink Richardson is the ultimate plan for that spot by the end of the year), this is a time that would make sense to do it.

So my money’s on Richardson or Embree. Probably Embree, really. If, of course, a move happens. But it really should after the last couple of nights.

by wolf9309 on Apr 26, 2010 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Castro is the most rested and was throwing strikes this spring.

Richardson was having control problems. Hope he has that worked out.
We do need at least one new body.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 26, 2010 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

well

Castro has walked 8 and given up 14 hits in 10 innings (for 9 earned runs)
Richardson has given up 9 hits and walked 4 in 9 innings.

Frankly, both look awful, but Richardson looks less awful. I am thinking that most likely is Embree, even if it’s just for a couple of days. He at least has major league experience and has been doing well his last couple of outings.

by wolf9309 on Apr 27, 2010 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Makes sense, but he can't eat innings.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 27, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions

we need inning eaters with our 3 inning starters

by Mick Lowe on Apr 27, 2010 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Options on the 40 man roster:

Bowden
Doubront
Richardson
Castro
Not much wiggle room on the 40 man so we need a pitcher already on the 40 man and an option year left, I believe.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 26, 2010 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

Options on the 40 man.

Castro pitched Thursday, 22nd: 3.0 IN
Bowden pitched Friday, 23rd: 4.0 IN
Richardson pitched Saturday, 24th: 2.0 IN
Doubront pitched Sunday, 25th: 4.2 IN

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 26, 2010 11:52 PM EDT reply actions

Well.

That was apparently quite the game to have seen. JESUS. Some ugliness up in that thingy.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

I have a five-tool player in my pants.

ACTUALLY, advanced metrics show that that wasn't "premature".

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Apr 26, 2010 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

I love Buchhy and all, but...

I don’t exactly equate Clay with long outings.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

I have a five-tool player in my pants.

ACTUALLY, advanced metrics show that that wasn't "premature".

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Apr 27, 2010 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Good luck Fabio…

by cheekmeister on Apr 27, 2010 12:16 AM EDT reply actions

This would have been a good time for Boof to be ready, but that's not happening.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 27, 2010 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Fabio it is.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 27, 2010 1:19 AM EDT reply actions

Wow... I was not aware Castro had options left.

Why did all those teams lets this guy go…?

Bullpen Banter
www.bullpenbanter.com
twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Apr 27, 2010 1:36 AM EDT reply actions

Regarding the Ed Price tweet

While Beckett’s ERA and IP are identical with last year, his K-rate is lower and his BB-rate is lower. Last year Beckett averaged 9.73 K/9 and 5.02 BB/9. So far this year, Beckett has averaged only 5.96 K/9 and 3.51 K/9. The K-rate is alarming because it significantly lower than is career average of 8.50 K/9.

So far, only Buchholz (9.72 K/9) and Lester (8.72 K/9) are striking out hitters at a good rate. Lackey’s K-rate is 4.30 K/9 (3.52 BB/9), which is much lower than his career rate of 7.16 K/9.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 27, 2010 7:19 AM EDT reply actions

What is Beckett hitting on the guns...is it velocity?

by BobZupcic on Apr 27, 2010 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions

His velocity was way down last night

Remy was speculating that there may be something wrong with Beckett.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 27, 2010 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

last night was way out of line

3bb in 3 innings (9bb/9 rate).

good thing we didn’t sign him up for next year and beyond yet

by Mick Lowe on Apr 27, 2010 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

These games are exciting to watch,

but why are we having sooo much trouble winning against marginal teams. Meanwhile, we lose against the better teams.

Do most folks here still think this is a championship caliber team this year? If so. when will the epiphany happen??

by NG on Apr 27, 2010 7:42 AM EDT reply actions

When we get out of April

We are built on strong starting pitching….and it ain’t happening

by BobZupcic on Apr 27, 2010 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions

too early

by Mick Lowe on Apr 27, 2010 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions

After reading through the game threads…. I think I’m happy that I was sleeping last night for that game.

Hopefully Buchholz can eat up some innings and we can save the bullpen and the offense wakes up again!

GO SOX!!!

by JLS89 on Apr 27, 2010 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

Good win.
Beckett is starting to concern me, though. I hated his contract to begin with, but four more years of this?

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by bestbostonsports on Apr 27, 2010 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

I'm copying this directly from Extra Bases:

Josh Beckett after five starts last season:

2-2, 7.22 ERA, 28.2 IP, 36 H, 24 R, 23 ER, 16 BB, 31 K, .303 OBA

Josh Beckett after five starts this season:

1-0, 7.22 ERA, 28.2 IP, 37 H, 24 R, 23 ERR, 13 BB, 20 K, .316 OBA

It’ll all work out in the end. But then, I liked his contract to begin with.

by wolf9309 on Apr 27, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

meh… Im not the biggest Beckett fan.
Lester is your ace.

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by bestbostonsports on Apr 27, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Lester better too

But I like Beckett a lot, and think that’s reasonable pay for what he provides (assuming it does get back where we expect). I also like Lackey. And even Dice-K when he’s healthy.

by wolf9309 on Apr 27, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions