Sox Bullpen

[DiamondDave]

I can not say that anyone 'Knows' that... the same was said about Lidge before the beginning of last season

And I agree
Timlin will go back to stinking up the joint, and Piniero will probably have a good enough season as a setup man and spot closer

[ingagi]

Love Papelbon. How good is the Other Japanese guy they signed?

[Zen653]

4/10 transaction: RHP J.D Durbin claimed off waivers from Arizona (NL) and designated for minor league assignment; LHP Javier Lopez demoted to Pawtucket (AAA); RHP Mike Timlin activated from the 15-day DL.

[AutomatedTeller]

Okajima has been awesome.
Donnely has been effective,but not used very much.
Piniero has been ok.
Timlin, Romero, Snyder not so great.

Papelbon has been papelbon.

So far, the pen has been better than expected, I think.

[Zen653]

So far, the pen has been better than expected, I think.

We haven't gone to the 'pen all that much this year. Our starters routinely go 6 or 7 innings, sometimes 8.

Pineiro and Romero have had one terrible outing each, and otherwise have been pretty solid.

I liked Lopez while we had him. He was a good situational lefty.

Timlin and Snyder have both been mediocre.

Donnelly seems to have issues with control. He hasn't completely unraveled (unless you include his ejection in the home opener), but Francona has had to pull him prematurely a few times. I'm not sure what to make of Donnelly.

Okajima has been outstanding. Probably our most reliable relief pitcher not named Papelbon. I'd like to see the Red Sox acquire some more relievers from Japan. It seems like every Japanese relief pitcher excels in MLB.

[Zen653]

If I were Theo Epstein, I'd get on the phone right away with Paul Cohen:

Percival signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Tigers and then gave the team a 5.76 ERA in 25 innings because of elbow problems. He's back throwing again and is pain-free. "If you would have asked me in spring training or April the likelihood of him coming back, I would have said 10 percent," agent Paul Cohen told FOXSports.com. "I would say now it's 50-50." Cohan added that Percvial hit 97 mph on the gun at one point. On the off chance that Percival does make it back, it's unlikely he'd do so as a closer.

Troy Percival : Rotoworld.com - Troy Percival Biography from Rotoworld.com

Troy Percival was one heck of a pitcher in his heyday and if he's now fully healthy and able to throw in the high 90s, he'd be a great addition to our bullpen. At 37 years of age, Percival is no spring chicken, but he'd likely come relatively cheap, on a short-term deal, and could fill the void left by Timlin. As we learned last year, you can never have enough pitching. I'd ease Percival back into the major leagues by using him as a righthanded relief specialist. Just throw him in there for one or two batters to blow fastballs by weaker hitters. He could share innings with J.C Romero in situations where we want to make lefty-righty switches. If he handles that well, we could then ideally use him as the designated 7th inning guy, which would push Timlin and Donnelly down into the 6th inning. Percival in the 7th, Okajima in the 8th and Papelbon in the 9th sounds like a pretty good formula to me. Instead of trading Wily Mo Pena for an overpriced Chad Cordero, let's grab Percival via free agency. This would be one of those low risk/high reward type of situations.

[AutomatedTeller]

He'd be better than Piniero, probably.

Donnely just blew guys away.

Snyder has been pretty good - he may end up being a useful reliever, not just a decent long guy.

[Zen653]

Timlin gets activated tomorrow. Orsillo seems to think that Lopez might actually survive the roster move. Does that mean we're seeing the last of Joel Pineiro tonight? Or will someone conveniently come down with an injury tomorrow?

I'd simply demote Pineiro to Pawtucket. I realize that he would have to pass through waivers first, but so what? If a team claimed him, the claimant would have to pick up the tab on what's left of his $4 million salary. I see that as a benefit, not a loss. It's not like Pineiro contributes much right now. There are about 4-5 pitchers in Pawtucket whom I'd rather have occupying Pineiro's roster spot anyway.

If no one claims him, the Red Sox can just send the guy to AAA as extra depth. The team wouldn't have to recall him until the roster expansion in September, if ever.

[Zen653]

Mike Timlin has been activated; J.C Romero designated for assignment.

[AutomatedTeller]

Sox will trade Romero and be able to get something for him.

Not sure I like keeping Piniero and losing Romero, but I guess the Sox thought they could get something for Romero. It probably doesn't matter.

[Zen653]

Not sure I like keeping Piniero and losing Romero

I would have designated Pineiro for assignment instead; he's been the weakest link in the bullpen. Look at the potential damage Romero escaped the other night in Oakland, when he got out of a no-out bases loaded situation. One would think he'd be granted a reprieve after that effort.

I can understand why the Red Sox designated Romero for assignment, though. Javier Lopez has been highly effective this year as a secondary lefthander out of the bullpen, and Epstein probably doesn't want to admit mistake with signing Pineiro to a $4 million deal. It's unclear whether any team would claim Pineiro, in which case the Red Sox would be forced to absorb his salary if he opted for free agency rather than accept a minor league assignment.

Romero's numbers weren't too impressive outside of ERA. In 20 IP, he walked 15 batters and struck out 11. Opposing batters were hitting .308 against him, and reaching base at an almost 40% clip. Pineiro has been slightly better in nearly every category except ERA. In 24 IP, Pineiro has walked 12 batters and struck out 11, with a .280 BAA. There are about a half dozen guys in Pawtuckt who would be better than either one of them.

[ingagi]

Would have kept JC and bagged Pineiro myself, but hey-that's that.

[kid gloves]

Ahem.......

GAGNE!!!!!

[AutomatedTeller]

No kidding. Gagne makes this a dominant pen.

Donnelly to have TJ surgery, btw.

Who would have guessed that the Sox would have the best pen in the league?

[bedir than average]

I'll put your top three over the Mariners, but from 1-6 (because really who cares about the 7th guy in the pen?) I think that the Mariners might have you.

The Angels also have a great pen, in fact you have inspired me. Frontpage thoughts on this discussion.