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Post by jimed14 on Dec 5, 2013 12:59:03 GMT -5
Starting with Workman in AAA is the easiest way to start the season with more pitching depth. He's the only guy with options left. It's a bit of a shame, because he was close to overtaking Tazawa by the end of the season. But it's necessary to have that depth, as we saw last year.
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Post by elguapo on Dec 5, 2013 13:09:16 GMT -5
Starting with Workman in AAA is the easiest way to start the season with more pitching depth. He's the only guy with options left Maybe if every pitcher starts the season healthy. But how often does that happen? |
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Post by TheCerebral1 on Dec 5, 2013 13:15:43 GMT -5
Mujica was an unexpected addition. I thought we'd see more of a lower AAV per season signing. Good deal Ben. Allocating funds to strengthen the pen when there are concerns about Buchholz makes complete sense. Loved the move.
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Dec 5, 2013 13:27:44 GMT -5
They're actually set up really well roster-wise, as well as I can remember.
They have a wild-card in Villareal who might be so bad they can pass him through waivers to Pawtucket, or so good that he forces himself onto the roster. In this regard, he fits a long-standing organizational tradition that has included washouts (Wes Littleton and Boof Bonser), missed opportunities (David Aardsma), and one score (Matt Albers, whom they traded for Breslow).
They have another guy in Workman whom they'd be delighted to use as the MLB longman and extra high-lev reliever, and equally delighted to send down to Pawtucket to start, should he prove to be surplus because Villareal is aces (or some NRI guy is amazing, or Britton looks unhittable as a LOOGY, etc.) and everyone is healthy.
I am officially declaring it pointless to speculate on what will happen, or even what's likely to happen, because we don't know how Villareal will look or how many injuries, if any, they'll have (let alone who we might sign as NRI guys). All we need to know is that they have a great crop of candidates for the last healthy spot, and any others opened up by injury, and the flexibility to fill them in a number of ways, best way TBD.
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 5, 2013 13:42:33 GMT -5
Starting with Workman in AAA is the easiest way to start the season with more pitching depth. He's the only guy with options left Maybe if every pitcher starts the season healthy. But how often does that happen? They have how many bullpen guys now? But regardless, this is probably the way they see it. You aren't going to dump guys like Morales because Britton is just as good. You're going to keep Britton in AAA for depth. Ditto for Workman even if he's better than Badenhop and Tazawa. |
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 5, 2013 14:17:35 GMT -5
Updated as of 12/5 noon: Current Potential Bullpen Arms on the 40-man (in alphabetical order):1) Badenhop 2) Breslow 3) Britton (Reliever in Pawtucket) 4) De La Rosa (Starter in Pawtucket) 5) Miller 6) Morales 7) Mujica 8) Tazawa 9) Uehara 10) Villarreal (DFA Candidate) 11) Webster (Starter in Pawtucket) 12) Wilson (Reliever in Pawtucket) 13) Workman (Starter in Pawtucket) Eric, it's not pointless, because it's fun, and by talking it out you identify certain issues. For instance, I was putting together a likely, no injuries no trades bullpen and came up with this: 1. Closer: Koji 2. Primary Set-up: Mujica 3. Set-up 2: Tazawa 4. Lefty 1: Miller 5. Lefty 2: Breslow 6. Middle Relief: Badenhop 7. Swingman: Dempster A seemingly small issue, that I think is actually extremely important jumps out at me. None of these guys has options left. Having a guy or two in the bullpen with options is EXTREMELY helpful with in season roster management. Bullpen gassed? Send a reliever down to get a fresh arm. Need a spot starter, but no DL stint necessary? Send a reliever down and call up a guy for 1 game Relievers are nice to bounce around, but this pen doesn't allow it. Is it as important as I think it is? If so, Dempster is as good as gone, if he isn't already. |
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Dec 5, 2013 21:58:08 GMT -5
Maybe if every pitcher starts the season healthy. But how often does that happen? They have how many bullpen guys now? But regardless, this is probably the way they see it. You aren't going to dump guys like Morales because Britton is just as good. You're going to keep Britton in AAA for depth. Ditto for Workman even if he's better than Badenhop and Tazawa. This is just it. Relievers on the DL to start the season on opening day: 2013: Breslow, Morales (and by the way, the opening day bullpen was Hanrahan, Bailey, Uehara, Tazawa, Aceves, Miller, Mortensen, with only two of those guys on the 25-man come late October) 2012: Miller (8-man bullpen that included the soon-to-be-dumped Justin Thomas and Michael Bowden) 2011: Looks like everyone was healthy, but it was an awkward bullpen that included Wakefield and the soon-to-be-dumped Reyes. 2010: Bonser 2009: Healthy, in-hindight loaded bullpen of Pap-Okajima-Saito-Masterson-Delcarmen-Lopez-R. Ramirez, although I think this is the year the latter two were jettisoned at the deadline for sucking. 2008: Weird Japan opener, Timlin was on the DL for U.S. opener after being "inactive" in Japan. So the point is, more often than not, someone's hurt, and even if not, things are unlikely to remain status quo for any length of time. I felt there was a lack of depth in potential late-inning arms. Compare with last year, when Uehara going into the year as the third RHP was great (and necessary in hindsight) depth, this year entering the season with Tazawa as the only RHP other than Koji who had been counted on out of the bullpen for a length of time for big innings scared me a bit. That's why the Mujica piece makes a lot of sense. Potential high upside late-inning arm who came at something of a discount (compared with, say, Brian Wilson getting 1/10 to set up for Jensen in LAD today). I think Mujica is the last major pitching acquisition, and that while there may be a move before ST, that it's more likely things shake out there closer to February or March. |
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 6, 2013 8:42:47 GMT -5
It's going to be interesting to see how Koji does this year. Easily his biggest workload last year. His effectiveness was surprising only in its historical level, but he's been a high performance guy when healthy before so very good performance was expected if healthy.
However, a breakdown was expected too. Should they lighten his workload by moving him from the closers role early in the year so he doesn't have to pitch in dumb 3 run situations? They probably won't, but would it be the smarter play?
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Dec 6, 2013 10:11:53 GMT -5
Eric, it's not pointless, because it's fun, and by talking it out you identify certain issues. I'm not allowed to try to talk to myself to prevent my brain from exploding?  I think you deal him as soon as he establishes some trade value. He's worth way more to someone who can use him as a starter than to us as a long man and spot starter. I hadn't thought about how useful it will be to have a whole bunch of more or less equally good options at Pawtucket. Since the first six guys on your list seem like locks when healthy, it's easy to see the 7th spot being a year-long rotation among Workman, Webster, Wright, Ranaudo, De La Rosa, and Britton. That's why I've regarded Alex Wilson as maybe the most fungible guy on option after Butler. |
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Post by moonstone2 on Dec 6, 2013 10:39:57 GMT -5
Maybe if every pitcher starts the season healthy. But how often does that happen? They have how many bullpen guys now? But regardless, this is probably the way they see it. You aren't going to dump guys like Morales because Britton is just as good. You're going to keep Britton in AAA for depth. Ditto for Workman even if he's better than Badenhop and Tazawa. They are going to have to bite into that depth as soon as they add one more player to the roster and you know they will. I'd favor making a deal for Morales because he has potential upside as a starter and a team might be willing to give up a prospect for that. It's an upside that has no real value to the Red Sox however because they he won't be starting for them. Plus you can save a little bit of money. The other options are DFAing Villareal and hoping he gets through waivers, working out a deal for Lavarnway, or cutting Brock Holt. As a reliever I like Villareal's potential much better, than Morales'. I don't think you would get anything of value for Lavarnway, but he probably wouldn't make it through waivers. |
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