This bullpen is a major fucking problem…maybe even more so than the rotation. Taylor, Hudson, & Newcomb are all studs, but after that it’s a bunch of question marks. And we aren’t going to last very long if we only have three relievers we can rely on. Changes are needed and well before the trade deadline.

As such, what internal options do we have to help fix this problem? There is a massive roster crunch coming at some point, which definitely adds some complexity. That being said, do Pallette or Iriarte move the needle? Sandlin makes some sense at well, but will they punt his development as a SP? Would they try Mason Adams out of the pen? After, it’s a bit of slim pickings until Wikelman and some of the TJS guys make their way back.

If it’s me, I give Sandlin one more start with the Sox while Schutz is out and then move him into a bullpen role. I’d also look into getting Mason on this pitching staff in some form sometime soon. Pallette & Iriarte need maintain their performance a bit longer in AAA before I add them to the 40 man. Still not enough, but hopefully it would allow us to get rid of a couple of the bad AAAA lefties currently occupying the active roster.

I think Taylor will be fine in the closer role, Newcomb, and Hudson have been solid, but the Sox need 1 more pitcher that can be used in a hold situation. Dominguez and Hicks should be limited to mop up roles.

Did anyone watch the postgame show. Ozzie and Chuck, yes Chuck too, were, as much as they could be, really complaining about Venable and his game choices.

1st of all they gave these stats (this is from memory, but pretty sure these are relatively correct):

Grant Taylor has an ERA of 1.07 when he pitches in the 9th closing. But an ERA of 3.90 when he’s not closing.

Now this is really nuts: Dominguez when he’s not pitching in the 9th has an ERA of 0.77. But when he closes in the 9th, his ERA is 6.06 with 6 blown saves.

(Again from memory) Ozzie was angry! He never said Venable he said “they” but he clearly meant Venable and his staff. “They can see these stats the same as us. What are they doing?”

He said it twice: They can see these stats the same as us. Why?

You know, Ozzie is 100% correct. Looking at those stats, it’s so obvious what Venable should and should NOT be doing.

Then Chuck Garfien, nicer than Ozzie and using “they” again questioned pinch hitting Gonzalez right before Antonacci. (Not sure how he said it but sorta this): Gonzalez was 0 for his last 25. Why would you put a young player who is 0 for his last 25 in that position with the game on the line?

Really, what was Venable doing batting Gonzalez there? He was clearly overmatched. I think that choice was worse than his bullpen decisions. 0 for his last 25 and you throw him in there against an outstanding closer.

Really, if you look at those stats, there’s some pretty obvious first steps to fixing our bullpen problems.

I think the Sox have four really good guys in the bullpen: Taylor (if used in the 9th), Hudson, Newcomb, and Dominguez (if absolutely never used to close the 9th).

But after that it is AAAA level pitchers. That obviously is a problem that I don’t see how to fix.

When the Sox are good, we score enough runs that we can get by with those four good relievers. But the problem is that for right now, overall, the team is in a batting slump for various reasons.

Also, I agree with the guy who started this post. We need to use Sandlin as a starter again. I know it’s pure speculation, but I think if the Sox had started Sandlin in the 2nd Detroit game instead of the bullpen game, they would have had Newcomb available to save and win the 3rd game. Of course maybe not. But soon, until Schultz gets back, I think thry need to give Sandlin another start.

Dominguez has wonderful stuff and you have to keep working with him on his control. Taylor’s control is a question too. Swapping roles solves it all? You can dream.

1 hour ago, vilehoopster said:

Did anyone watch the postgame show. Ozzie and Chuck, yes Chuck too, were, as much as they could be, really complaining about Venable and his game choices.

1st of all they gave these stats (this is from memory, but pretty sure these are relatively correct):

Grant Taylor has an ERA of 1.07 when he pitches in the 9th closing. But an ERA of 3.90 when he’s not closing.

Now this is really nuts: Dominguez when he’s not pitching in the 9th has an ERA of 0.77. But when he closes in the 9th, his ERA is 6.06 with 6 blown saves.

(Again from memory) Ozzie was angry! He never said Venable he said “they” but he clearly meant Venable and his staff. “They can see these stats the same as us. What are they doing?”

He said it twice: They can see these stats the same as us. Why?

You know, Ozzie is 100% correct. Looking at those stats, it’s so obvious what Venable should and should NOT be doing.

Then Chuck Garfien, nicer than Ozzie and using “they” again questioned pinch hitting Gonzalez right before Antonacci. (Not sure how he said it but sorta this): Gonzalez was 0 for his last 25. Why would you put a young player who is 0 for his last 25 in that position with the game on the line?

Really, what was Venable doing batting Gonzalez there? He was clearly overmatched. I think that choice was worse than his bullpen decisions. 0 for his last 25 and you throw him in there against an outstanding closer.

Really, if you look at those stats, there’s some pretty obvious first steps to fixing our bullpen problems.

Taylor closer, Dominguez later inning guy. They have too many lefties, so drop Eisert from the 40 man and add Ben Peoples from Charlotte. Once Wikelman Gonzalez is back bring him up and replace whoever is doing the worst.

Veneble has been pretty bad with decision making lately, esp bullpen use but other choices as well imo.

IMO they need to buy a closer if they want to compete this year. I'd prefer Taylor stay on track for 100 innings this year and lots of 2 inning outings - but I understand that there are good arguments to make him the closer. Dominguez obviously can't do it. Closer should be reasonable to acquire at the deadline (prospect outside top 10), but I'm not sure who's out there and likely to be available.

Part of me assumes that if Tanner McDougal comes back healthy from his IL stint, that he's going to get called up to work out of the bullpen for the rest of the season.

43 minutes ago, almagest said:

Taylor closer, Dominguez later inning guy. They have too many lefties, so drop Eisert from the 40 man and add Ben Peoples from Charlotte. Once Wikelman Gonzalez is back bring him up and replace whoever is doing the worst.

Is Peoples a better option than Pallette or Iriarte?