Theo's Pitching Picks: Armed and Dangerous
So how's the "Let's pay washed up starter Joel Pineiro $4 million and make him a closer" experiment working out so far?
Let's see....three games, 3.1 innings pitched, 6 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 1 homer, 3 walks, 1 strikeout and a 10.80 ERA.
(Pause here for projectile vomiting).
Too early to panic? Based on Theo's track record, I don't think so.
The Boy Genius clearly has connected on more than a few position players. David Ortiz was a grand slam, while Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar, Todd Walker, Mark Bellhorn, Orlando Cabrera, Dave Roberts and Alex Gonzalez have all been solid hits. But when it comes to picking pitching talent, Theo has clearly struggled below the Mendoza Line.
You can make a case that when you discount the obvious no brainer decisions (Curt Schilling, Keith Foulke, Daisuke Matsusaska-we'll assume this one will work out), Theo has made the right call on only three pitchers - Mike Timlin, Mike Myers and David Wells. To be charitable, let's call Frank Castillo, Chad Bradford, Scott Williamson and Julian Tavarez servicable.
After that? Oscar winning horror show. As gruesome as it may be, let's revisit Theo's Greatest Misses.
In 2003, the youngest GM in the history of baseball brought us Ramiro Mendoza, the Embedded Yankee, who allowed an eye-popping 62 runs in 96 innings in 2003 and 2004. That year also heralded the arrival of Byung Hyun Kim from Arizona which looked good at the time if for no other reason than it ended the hair brained "Closer by Committee" scheme. Kim ultimately proved to be an overrated NL hurler who couldn't win in the AL (a recurring theme in Theo's tenure). Kim picked up 12 saves and posted a 3.31 ERA for the year. Theo cleverly reacted by resigning Kim to a 2 year $10 million deal in January of 2004 and converted him into a starter. He posted a 2-1 record (that's $2.5 million per win for those scoring at home) with a 6.23 ERA before Theo finally dumped him on the Rockies for a bag of balls in March 2005.
But the coup de grace that first year was Theo's brilliant deadline deals that essentially ended up being two months of Jeff Suppan (3-4, 5.57 ERA) and Scott Sauerbeck (0-1, 6.48 ERA) for top prospect Freddy Sanchez . The slick fielding shortstop went to the Pirates and hit .291 in 2005 and captured the NL batting crown with a .378 average in 2006.
In 2004 Theo latched on to Lenny Dinardo in the Rule V draft and wrapped him around Tito's throat for the entire season. It took them two more years to finally realize that he was useless. And for a lefthander, that takes something. That year Epstein also brought us Terry Adams (19 runs in 19 games) and the inimitable Mark Malaska (21 hits and 12 walks in 20 innings pitched).
In 2005 Theo unearthed another load of "treasures," led by the $25.5 million panic signing of Matt Clement. The only good news here is that Theo overpaid for Clement because he lost out to the Yankmees on Carl Pavano, who turned out to be a bigger bust than Clement. At least Matt gave us a solid half year. That year Epstein also gambled on Wade Miller (4.85 ERA in 90 innings) as well as Mike Remlinger (14.85 ERA in 6 games before he was taken out of town in a body bag) and Chad Harville (6.43 ERA in 8 games).
Then on to last year's Horribles Parade. Rudy Seanez, Jermain Van Buren, Jason Johnson.
Which brings us to Theo's current crop of arms. In addition to Piniero, who the Mariners couldn't wait to get rid of, we have Runelvys Hernandez who has a 27.00 ERA in his first two appearances and JC Romero who may or may not work out.
Which brings us back to the closer fiasco. Pineiro is not the answer. Timlin broke down last year. Hansen is hurt and Manny Delcarmen (5 runs and a 16.87 ERA in 2.2 innings pitched) is headed on the fast track back to West Roxbury. Who's left? Brendan Donnelly? Tavarez? Please.
Let's cut the crap here. It's about time to end this American Idol closer tryout farce and put Jonathan Papelbon back in the closer's role. Eliminate his back to back appearances, limit his pitch count and Xray his shoulder after every appearance if you want, but get him back in the bullpen where he belongs. Take the shackles off Jon Lester, slot him number five in the rotation and let's get on with it.
We have a pennant to win here.
5 comments:
(First of all, sorry about the upcoming bad grammar. I’ve already written two papers today on Faulkner and I’m pretty burnt out.)
Tom, I completely support you on all of your pro and anti Theo comments, but I have to disagree with you on your last point. I feel as if it would be brash and illogical to throw Paps back into the closer role after a shoulder injury, after he has regained the mentality of a starter, and has returned to the routine he used prior 2006 (last year in spring training, he was spending most of his time training with the other relievers, and was given a bullpen job from the start). The last thing anyone wants to have happen is for Paps to have a shoulder injury that, a.) could have been avoided, and b.) would leave the Fenway Faithful wondering “what if?” Although we all can agree that neither Pineiro nor Donnelly are fit to be closers at the major league level, the last thing any of us want to see is another “closer by committee” fiasco. Unfortunately, that appears to be the path in which we are headed, unless Theo can pull the trigger on a big trade.
I believe that a solution to this closer problem lies in our nation’s capital though, in the arm of Chad Cordero. Cordero is a young arm (24 years old), has had success closing in the majors, and is on the market. The Nationals will presumably be looking for an outfielder and a young arm to replace Cordero in the bullpen, both of which the sox have, in Willy Mo Pena, and either Craig Hanson or Manny Delcarmen. Unfortunately though, I don’t think Theo has the courage to send off another young player, after the recent backfires (Clay Meredith and Josh Bard to San Diego in exchange for the human statue Doug Mirabelli, and Anabel Sanchez and Hanley Ramirez to Florida for Josh Beckett). Although both Delcarmen and Hansen have struggled as of late, Theo views them to be his two best draft picks, and will presumably never give them up (ex. Trading deadline).
I firmly believe that Cordero is the answer to our closer problem, but alas I see him coming to Boston as no more than a pipe dream. Assuming Theo can not pull the trigger, we are going to be looking at some extremely frightening 9th innings. I truly hope that I am wrong, and either Pineiro or Donnelly is the next Trevor Hoffman, but I simply don’t see that happening.
Adin
Thanks for your feedback. I still stand by my "Paps as Closer" opinion. I can't believe that in this era of modern medicine they can't figure out a way to make this work safely. Plus having Tavarez or Timlin close for a team with a $160 million payroll is like buying a Porsche Carrera and putting bald tires on it. I'm ok with the Cordero move as long as we don't have to give up any young arms. Wily Mo could go if that would do it.
gentlemen,
let's not jump ship just yet! If Joel Piniero were to walk outta Fort Myers having put up numbers like this, how would you feel?
W-L: 0-1
ERA: 15.00
IP: 9.0
H: 17
R: 15
ER: 15
HR: 2
K: 2
WHIP: 2.22
My assumption is we'd be calling for Piniero (and maybe Theo?) to be run out of town. These of course are the exact numbers everybody's favorite Burger King employee,Keith Foulke, put up in the spring of 2004- his first spring with the Red Sox.
I don't necessarily believe Piniero is the answer, nor would I be distraught to see Papelbon back in the pen. I do think however it's too soon to abandon ship.
Here's an idea...maybe a crazy one, but an idea none the less. Is Jon Lester an option out of the pen. Converting a potential dominant starter into a closer worked well for the sox last year. Also, if I remember correctly, Lester seemed to be dominant for the first few innings last year and then would fall apart towards the fifth or sixth.
The closer position is obviously the biggest question mark with this team right now. If nothing else, it gives us something to talk about, and keeps the beer distributors throughout RSN busy.
Dan
I like your thinking out of the box. I actually discussed with Junior about a variation on that twist. Before spring training started, I suggested Josh Beckett be converted. Since he appeared hell bent on throwing only his fastball, he might get away with that in the bullpen. It would be very much what Tony LaRussa did with Dennis Eckersley back with the A's. That only got them a couple of pennants and got the Eck into the Hall of Fame. I'd go for that! As for Lester in that role, I just have never been comfortable with a left closer for no rational reason.
I was feeling the same way about the lefty situation before I posted...but my fears were assuaged when I thought of Billy Wagner.
I was disheartened to hear two callers call into WEEI the day after my post suggesting that Lester become the closer. Prior to my post, I hadn't heard it mentioned yet. Perhaps Ron Borges is reading this website and has his moles out there calling into the big show under the guise of pink hats.
disssgusting.
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