The Red Sox bullpen – ranked 12th in the Majors with a collective 3.97 ERA – will have to make room for a couple of extra bodies today. With the season coming down to two final games against the Nationals, manager Alex Cora is all-hands-on-deck, telling starters Nathan Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta to be ready out the bullpen, if necessary, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com (via Twitter). Both Pivetta and Eovaldi have spent the entire season pitching out of Boston’s rotation.
Eovaldi and Pivetta are a necessary safeguard in part because Garrett Whitlock still isn’t ready to return. Whitlock has a chance to return for Sunday’s game, which is more than can get said for Josh Taylor. The 28-year-old southpaw is out for the foreseeable future, per The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey (via Twitter). Taylor has been a major contributor, pitching in 61 games and serving as the primary southpaw among Boston’s relief corps. A back injury has ended his season. He has a 3.40 ERA/2.83 FIP, holding same-handed hitters to a measly .146/.222/.159 line in 90 plate appearances.
Without Taylor, Darwinzon Hernandez, Austin Davis, and deposed starter Martin Perez are the other lefties available to Cora against the Nats, who boast a lineup heavy on lefties or switch-hitters, most notably Juan Soto, but also Josh Bell, Yadiel Hernandez, and Keibert Ruiz, whom the Nats often feature near the middle of the order.
As for Whitlock, he’s been one of Boston’s most valuable players, which is certainly a surprising development for the Rule 5 pick. Regardless, the 25-year-old stabilized the Red Sox bullpen with 72 1/3 innings spread across 45 appearances, good for a 1.99 ERA/2.89 FIP. Whitlock has picked up eight wins, two saves, and 14 holds en route to a 1.5 fWAR season.
Without Whitlock, Cora will leave open the possibility of using Eovaldi or Pivetta out of the pen. Tanner Houck and Chris Sale are set to start the final two ballgames, making everyone else on the roster on call as they try to hold off the Mariners and Blue Jays for the final playoff spot in the American League. Presumably, Eduardo Rodriguez would be available to start a potential one-game playoff.
And how do you view the role of Matt Barnes?
As Goofy in Disneyland? Who knows; the bullpen is system of interchangeable parts, most of whom aren’t any good. But they’ll still probably back into the playoffs. Neither the Jays or Mariners are quite there yet. And if the Spanks don’t hit 5 HRs a game, they may very well be out of it (altho the pitching carried them for a bit, that was more mirage than substance).
Don’t let the numbers fool ya; the AL East teams aren’t getting past the initial rounds.
If the Mariners don’t get into the WC game, at least 1 team from the AL East is guaranteed to make the ALCS, so I don’t think your supposition is correct unless you inexplicably count the CS as an *initial* (i.e. first) round
You’re right of course…mm Ken Singleton just announced he’s retiring from the Yanks broadcast booth….guess Sterling and Uecker are waiting until they get old….
Bob – Funny as always. I think TB goes to the world series (AL East team) by beating HOU. Then, SF beats them to further extend their lack of rings but everyone will still tout their great farm system!! I still choose rings over bragging rights to the farm system!! Seems like SF gets the idea as well. Also, STL gets it unlike LAD and NYY. To them it’s all about the Farm System bragging rights not the rings.
If it weren’t for Mookie neither franchise would have a ring for 13 and 43 years but they have had sustainable farm systems and division finishes just no rings!!! In the meantime, SF may get it’s fourth like BOS.
Unless something changes I doubt I will see another Duck Boat parade. I just hope my kids get to see one before they are senior citizens!! Sustainable mediocrity needs to be the Bloom slogan. T=shirts should be made and ticket prices should be reduced to reflect the talent level of the team today versus 2018.
2021 was fun for the fans and has completely misled them to believe there have been improvements. 2022 will be the reality check. Without an influx of talent, one and gone is the best fans can expect. Sure they can hope for more but it’s not going to happen without an upgrade in talent beginning with the GM and Manager..
Sustainable mediocrity…yep, pretty much sums it up.
Yesterday we had a pretty good RF playing CF , and a 1B who’s a 1B as much as I am….and people wonder where the miscues come from. Oh, and that utter nonsense that defense REALLY means something in THESE games….no. you flipping idiot, defense means something in games in June and July, too!
I never bought that they were doomed this year; the lineup is too good, and the division is weaker. I’ll admit TB surprised me, not that they won it, but the ease in which they did. But every other team has played true to form.
Hey, I hope the get in; and in a short series, those bats can carry them. But with 650M in revenue, being close doesn’t get you a cigar…yes, the rules ARE different for them. There’s simply no excuse for not being competitive every year.
Great post Bob!
Yes it always amazes me how Cora emphasizes early season games aren’t that important. The defensive experimentation that’s been going on recently is even more concerning. Hunter is not a CF, Schwarber is not a 1B, and Dalbec at 2B is simply jawdropping.
Tampa is just remarkable, imagine where they’d be if Glasnow never got hurt.
IRT Dalbec not being a 2B, he spent most of his career as a 3B. It’s not that big a stretch to think he could a grounder at 2nd.
Of course, since he’s never played 2nd, I am not sure why you mentioned it.
IRT to the complaints about the defensive alignment, I agree, and have agreed for the past month. Kike should be in CF and Iggy s/b at 2nd.
I love Duck Boats!
Not as much as Jake Peavy, he bought one!
He makes me wanna throw my remote at the TV every time he pitches
…meanwhile Yanks are putting the last 2 arms on the bullpen depth chart into 1 run games so that everyone else can get enough beauty rest before the WC game that have yet to secure.
& *now* reaching for Luetge in the Brandon Lowe game. I know Booner is merely following orders with this stuff but it’s absolutely baffling decision making, man.
It would be really interesting watching a fan manage a really good team. By mid season every pitcher on the roster would probably be injured and the fan would have to join Steve Bartman in protective custody.
Maybe.
Well…probably!
But: Boone just pulled him after 53(!) pitches. I hear what you are saying. But he certainly could have gone an inning last night in a winnable game as opposed to squandered/left to twist in the wind this afternoon.
This is just simply baffling bullpen management.
Could be worse, imagine if Boone had pulled his starting pitcher after throwing FIVE PERFECT INNINGS on (again) just 53 pitches.
Oh, wait a minute …
Houck was pitching on 2 days rest today. 5 innings seems about right to me.
Umm … Houck hadn’t pitched since Tuesday, and he threw only 41 pitches in that last game..
It was an incredibly foolish decision, resulting in more relievers having to be used and the game almost being lost.
On top of that, the pinch hitter Cora chose for Houck is a guy who has a grand total of 4 PA’s since August 26, and a grand total of ONE HIT since July 17th.
You are correct. I was at the Baltimore games and I thought I remembered him pitching the middle game. So, 91 pitches in a 5 day stretch. Maybe they could have gotten one more inning out of Houck today. They have only been letting Houck go through a line up two times. I just don’t think it is some huge blunder like you think it is.
*94 pitches
I was watching the game on the Red Sox network, and Eck said a couple times it was a very risky move that could really blow up. With the bullpen being so overworked and no truly reliable reliever right now, it definitely was a risky move which at the very least could result in some pitchers not being available tomorrow. My philosophy is let him start the 6th and pull him as soon as he gets in trouble.
Do you go to the Baltimore games often? I’ve been to Oriole Park several dozen times, it’s one of my favorites. In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t attend the two losses.
AITSTYW – Ever pitch? During the days between starts you actually throw hard in a bullpen session. Also, it’s Sept and the off season follows. Houck has had a relatively light number of pitches this season.
The pitcher had a perfect game and he had no stressful innings. The previous outing was two days earlier than a bullpen session and only a few pitches more. Pulling him prior to at least 80 pitches was simply another poor decision by a very bad manager who has no clue how to manage a pitching staff.
Think of the bullpen pitchers and how taxed they are and then add to it because you have no idea what you are doing? Any chance the guys that threw today might be needed tomorrow more than they were today? Unless Sale has 5 stress free innings to start the game tomorrow the answer is NO.
ANYTIME a pitcher is coasting with stress free innings you let him go until there are signs of fatigue. Did he seem fatigued to you? Since Cora arrived he’s shown he has no clue about being a manager. He sits guys because it’s been x number of days since he last sat them not because he recognized something that suggested they needed a day off. Also, as we saw earlier in the week, he pulls guys at the wrong time because he simply doesn’t understand pitchers. Sale gave up 3 hits and got pulled in a 2-2 game after 85 pitches. That’s as insane as the Houck move.
FPG is right. Cora got lucky today and hurt tomorrow’s chances of winning by taxing his bullpen unnecessarily and of course by his hideous batting order. You don’t bat Hernandez 1st you bat him last. Why? Because his Sept average is .200 and Sept OBP is .283. Schwarber by comparison who should be leading off has an average of .256 and an all important OBP of .383. Yes, his OBP is 100 points higher in September!!! Unfortunately, Cora plays favorites and it always costs the team wins.
When multiple media sources noted the oddity of his move to pull Houck and discussed the impact on an already exhausted and depleted bullpen you know he screwed up. Those idiots have as little understanding of managing as Cora and they figured it out!!
Nice job FPG. Cora should be raked over the coals for his stupidity.. No that’s harsh. JUST FIRE HIM!!!
Thanks KD, I agree with you 100%!!
We usually go to either Boston or Baltimore every year. We haven’t been to Baltimore in 5 years so we went this year. I like it a lot, but the Red Sox haven’t won all that many games when I have been there. I think we’ll head to Boston next year.
No, I’ve never pitched. I don’t think Cora makes pitching decisions by himself. I think the pitching coach and probably other analytics department people are involved. I don’t know what their thinking was, but I think they have a plan for each pitcher and each game. I think they know more than me and I basically just root for the team. I think Cora’s decisions are generally good. Nobody is perfect. I think they are generally heading in the right direction, so I don’t get too down on them.
KD- I don’t always agree with you but the decision to take Houck out after 53 pitches and 5 perfect innings was mind boggling. Sometimes I think Cora has no clue. To me he seems to be a really bad game manager. Some of the decisions he makes are just so bad during the game. I have never been a huge Cora fan and watching him bumble decisions during the game just drives me crazy.
Just win today and all the extra game nonsense is a moot point. I’m confident Sale will step up. Let Toronto the Yankees and the M’s slug it out for who plays Boston. Here’s hoping the Yankees lose, Toronto wins and the Mariners win and of course Boston wins. It would be great seeing those guys have to duke it out to get to the one game playoff. It would also reset the rotation Eovaldi, Sale and Erod. Fun last regular season day today and all the games starting at the same time great call by MLB.
Bruin1012 – More mistakes but the team overcame them to set the Eovaldi vs Cole match-up on Tuesday. The team should be proud of what they accomplished and Devers came up big which is a good sign but JD got hurt which is a bad sign. I don’t think BOS or NYY can beat TB but it would be fun to see if they can win a game or two against them.
BOS is stuck with Cora’s in game decision making so all they can do is play hard and hope to overcome any mistakes like they did on Sunday. Kiki leading off with a hot Verdugo simply makes no sense to me. Either put Schwarber there for the extra at bat since he’ll probably walk and add a base runner or move someone hot in front of Schwarber. Either way, the team is better off than having a guy with OBP under .300 in Sept leading off.
Got to go, it’s Brady time!!
Great post KD!!!
Did you also see Vazquez get charged with another PB, it was a ridiculously easy pitch to catch …. headed right to the center of his chest, and he couldn’t hold onto it.
The triple yesterday was great and all, but his head is just not in the game. I think Cora overworking him (most innings caught in MLB) is affecting his performance, he’s probably exhausted. Why doesn’t Cora rest Vazquez more often???
I have no problem with Kike leading off. He struggled for a little over a week after coming back from Covid but he has been around a .400 OBP guy since the middle of the month just like he has been since mid June until getting a particularly nasty case of Covid. Kike isn’t the problem and hitting him leadoff is not the problem.
I do have a problem with a lot of Coras in game decisions I just don’t think he makes real good decisions. Once he saw that Richards didn’t have it he should been out after three hitters if this was the Yankees Richards would of given up 5 runs and never gotten out of that inning. It was obvious he didn’t have it and that kind of decision will be fatal against a good team.
Not talking about a whole season just the last series of the year when you need to win at least one game to secure a playoff spot. 1 or 2 extra innings doesn’t mean spit regardless of how “overworked” the bullpen is. Absolutely ridiculous to risk the whole season on the last 2 arms in the pen.
& then to try & get 3+ out of Luetge today. Bonkers. It just really doesn’t make any sense at all.
Man.
& 2 early turnovers for Notre Dame too. Can’t believe I came home from hunting to watch all this. I guess Booner ain’t the only one to make dumb choices.
Sounds like Boonie is in panic mode.
StudWinfield – I’m guessing you are talking Yankees not Red Sox. Your bullpen is proven so over=working them in a stretch drive might impact the playoffs but you are right you don’t go to crap pitchers to save arms with 2 games left. BOS has a different problem. All their relievers are pitching like crap so over using them versus leaving a starter in with a perfect game and a low pitch count shows how dumb Cora is. He rivals Boone for dumbest manager in baseball but Cora still wins easily. He’s so bad I’d trade you Boone for Cora and Bloom for Cashman and I’d even through in all the prospects we got from LAD in our Judge equivalent trade of Mookie Betts.
YES! Even trade Bloom, Cora, Verdugo, Downs and Wong for Cashman and Boone and I really don’t like Cashman or Boone that much but they can’t be worse than the two in Boston!!
Seems as tho Robles is the closer now too with Matt Barnes in the 7th and 8th innings.
There’s really no set closer now, nor should there be as nobody has stepped up recently to claim it.
Last time I saw Nick Pivetta pitch in relief (2019) he served up the Giants’s Will Smith’s only ever career hit and (2) RBIs. It was more of a temper tantrum than a relief appearance.
I’m not a fan of mediocre pitchers becoming relievers mid/end-season like this. They tend to get rocked. Red Sox should stick with what they have,
Eovaldi is the clear exception to that….and who knows, perhaps Pivetta can do as good as Richard until few days ago…..all hands on deck indeed….
It’s been all hands on deck for many years now, nothing new.
Heck Randy Johnson pitched an inning of relief the day after throwing 104 pitches in Game 6 of the 2001 WS.
vintage Pivetta performance (TM)
[looks at E-Rod’s 8.10 post-season ERA] Oh, yeah. I like this move.
lol if your plan is to start e-rod in the wild card you might as well not bother pushing to get there at all
I swear to God. If they don’t pitch Eovaldi in the 1-game playoff, they don’t deserve to win it. You CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT trust E-Rod to pitch that game.
You mean the WC Game? Eovaldi is definitely, positively starting that one. His turn in the rotation is right after Sale, so he’s already lined up for Tuesday.
It’s also critical that Plawecki catches Eovaldi.
E-Rod shouldn’t start a one game playoff appearance. Then again, one game at a time. Win each game. Start hitting. Once were in the wildcard game then just throw everything we got at it and hopefully don’t get swept in the division series. Not much the Red Sox can do. Chaim tied the team’s hands back at the trade deadline.
If there were to be Play-In Games involving three or four teams, ERod might have started the WC Game.
Sale, Eovaldi and Houck would be unavailable.
Who else would you start? Pivetta? Perez? Richards? ERod has been performing better than all of them.
All the Sox have to do is win tomorrow.
One day at a time.
And get a little help from their friends – TB, BAL and LAA. Lets hope no ties happen. Let NY come to BOS and the winner play TB.
Noooo …. we WANT ties!!
We WANT Yanks to lose tomorrow
We WANT Jays to win tomorrow
We WANT Mariners to win today and tomorrow
That would leave the three of them tied at 91-71. Let them fight it out, with the Sox hosting the survivor of the three.
The M’s are still in it with a great 8th inning comeback!
Fantastic to see a packed stadium standing and cheering throughout the game. It’s been 20 years since they made the postseason, longest drought in professional sports. I wouldn’t mind facing them in the WC Game. Their TV color commentator is kind of annoying though, way too fan-boyish.
FPG – So Sale goes on Sunday and then a three way tie means a game on Monday to reduce it to two and a game on Tuesday to find the WC2 to play in BOS on Wednesday and face Eovaldi. Then the TB series would open on Thursday with E-Rod since Sale can’t go yet and he’s the only experienced starter. Sale then goes on Friday and there is an open day on Saturday and Houck or Pivetta goes on Sunday with Eovaldi on Monday and E-Rod on Wednesday in game 5.
OK…. two days of delay does help since Sale has to pitch on Sunday.
KD – You got it!
And it’s not just the extra rest for Boston that would help.
With a 3-way tie, Cole and also maybe Kluber would likely be used up in Play-In Games. So would Berrios and Ray. And both teams’ bullpens would likely be used quite a bit too.