|
Post by Oregon Norm on May 31, 2013 0:08:22 GMT -5
I'm getting sad that Britton is still in AA and still starting. It's obvious that with his 40 man spot and lack of options remaining he's going to have to move to the 'pen to get to Boston. Therefore, I believe they're hoping to include him in a package at the trade deadline and want to maximize his value by starting him. I think he'd be a very good bullpen arm. I'd replace Andrew Miller with him. He can't be much worse and only makes league minimum. Well, we need a new definition of worse here, because the standard one doesn't fit Miller at all at this point. As jmei pointed out above, he's been damn near lights out for a while now, aside from the very start of the season. And yes, Britton could be much, much worse - in the traditional sense. Miller is ridiculously effective of late, not that making Ryan Howard look absolutely awful is all that great a problem for left-handers these days. But he does that to most left-handers and a lot of right-handed hitters also. The Sox don't need to replace him with Britton unless they've got plans to tank the season. It may be a little early for that.
|
|
|
Post by mattpicard on May 31, 2013 2:11:17 GMT -5
I think he'd be a very good bullpen arm. I'd replace Andrew Miller with him. He can't be much worse and only makes league minimum. You mean Andrew "1.99 xFIP" Miller? He's got a crazy 15.79 K/9 and is striking out more than three times the batters he walks. He's probably the fourth best reliever on the team (you could make an argument for Breslow, I guess) and there's no chance in hell that Britton is anywhere as good as Miller. I understand the sentiment that Britton needs to piss or get off the pot, but Miller is a misplaced target of criticism. Well said regarding Miller. He draws a lot of criticism because he can have a batter or two in an outing, whether it be a formidable threat or a number 9 hitter, where he loses his control and issues a couple of walks. Still, he's looked dominant against righties this year, elevating him from an unreliable lefty specialist to a big time strikeout relief pitcher who has occasional lapses locating his pitches.
|
|
|
Post by amfox1 on May 31, 2013 6:39:13 GMT -5
Greenville has the worst record (by percentage) in the entire minor leagues, FYI.
|
|
|
Post by raftsox on May 31, 2013 7:54:58 GMT -5
Previous animosity got the best of me re. Miller.
However, how much is the fourth best reliever on your team really worth? I still think Britton would justify his contract at least as much as Miller does his. $/Performance type thing.
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on May 31, 2013 8:03:23 GMT -5
I know runs allowed aren't a great way to judge minor league talent, and his peripheral stats have improved this year, but it's hard to believe a pitcher with a RAA over 6.00 at Double-A would be a top-five reliever on a contending team. Also, regarding justifying their contracts, you don't get extra wins when they come more cheaply. The Red Sox are far under their budget, spending the difference between Miller/Breslow and Britton is worth the difference in their likely performance.
|
|
|
Post by Oregon Norm on May 31, 2013 8:38:06 GMT -5
This is the best group of relievers the team has carried in a long time. I think management will be reluctant to mess with it till August and the trade deadline at the earliest. Even then, they may be reluctant to cash out pieces if they're still in the hunt. They needed a second lefty to complement Miller and now that Breslow's back they have that arm. Why screw with success?
|
|
|
Post by okin15 on May 31, 2013 9:02:45 GMT -5
Greenville has the worst record (by percentage) in the entire minor leagues, FYI. Isn't it weird that they didn't sign some older players to at least make this team less embarassing?
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on May 31, 2013 11:10:16 GMT -5
Greenville has the worst record (by percentage) in the entire minor leagues, FYI. They could at least rotate some of the under to non performing players back to the Fort and get guys like Gedman, Mike Meyers who did well last year a try. They can't do any worse than the motley crew of non hitting outside of 3-4 guys on that roster. Pitching is just as bad. How about the kid Buttrey? Throw him a couple starts before Lowell begins in a couple weeks.
|
|
|
Post by raftsox on May 31, 2013 11:16:41 GMT -5
I'm thinking more down the line than replacing Miller this year. Britton, IMO, has enough stuff to be a very good bullpen arm. I think his problem is really with focusing on multiple time through the lineup. He doesn't have a credible third pitch and isn't that great at "pitching", but he can certainly throw. If I had the option to sign someone like Miller for 1.5-2M or plug Britton in, I'd choose Britton.
|
|
|
Post by widewordofsport on May 31, 2013 11:19:20 GMT -5
"This is the best group of relievers the team has carried in a long time."
A couple expensive guys in Hanrahan and Bailey, but a talented group for sure. They had to give up on two guys in Ryan Pressly (1.15 WHIP, 27 IP for MIN) and Josh Fields who both look like legit bullpen arms, and probably made the right call in doing so. I didn't see a lot of people trying to keep either of them over Mortensen or Bard, but other than that the pen is solid, and carries two guys in Aceves and Morales who can give a quality start now and then.
|
|
|
Post by widewordofsport on May 31, 2013 11:23:08 GMT -5
Getting way too off topic, but next year Hanrahan is gone, Bailey (arb) will close. You can keep Koji/Miller for what Hanrahan got, both are listed as last year of arbitration (Uehara may or may not have a clause preventing that). I think the pen is mostly the same next year, and 2015 is when the turnover will bring in Britton/Workman in.
|
|