Red Sox Offseason Preview: Relief Pitchers

JUSTIN MASTERSON
Just another young guy that the Red Sox have control of for a long time. Masterson is signed through 2014 for cheap money. He was a stud for the Sox this year, but I don't think that he will be a starter next year. They projected him, as he was coming up through the minors, to be a reliever, and I think that will be the Sox greatest concern going into next season. Masterson really improved that bullpen a lot at the end of the season. Imagine what he can do with another year under his belt.

JAVIER LOPEZ
Lopez is eligible for arbitration this offseason, and I think the Sox will bring him back next year. It is tough to get lefty relief pitching, and he can be very affective when used correctly. Hopefully the Sox will have a deeper bullpen next year, so they won't be forced to use him for more then one batter.

MANNY DELCARMEN
The Sox have Delcarmen under control through 2012. I have to say of all the players this year, I was most disappointed with Delcarmen. I really thought this was going to be his breakout year. He could still do it, but I am beginning to lose faith that he is going to be anything more then a average to below average reliever.

HIDEKI OKAJIMA
Okajima is signed through next season, and the Sox have to be happy to have this guy still on the team. He struggled for a good part of the season, but really turned it on at the end, and I think he will still be a great setup man next season (especially if it is a combo of Okajima and Masterson).

MIKE TIMLIN
Had a great career, but it is time to retire. He just had nothing left, and by the end of the season he was a 1 pitch pitcher. I'll miss him, but he should have retired a year ago.

JONATHAN PAPELBON
Paps is under the Red Sox control till 2011. One of (if not the) best closer in baseball, had another great year for the Red Sox. There are rumors that he may have injured himself at the end of last season, but I expect him to be fine. Still, the Sox need to find a way to use him less, and try to keep him to one inning (or not pitch him on back-to-back days). We have seen him have to be shut down if he is over used.

Offseason Previews done:
Starting Pitchers
Relief Pitchers

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-BMack

Yankees End Sox AL East Hopes With 19-8 Win

From worst to first, that is what the Rays have done this season, and it was finally written in stone as the Yankees spanked the Sox 19-8. It was an odd night at Fenway. The fans were ready to retire Pesky's number, and make a run for the AL East, but instead it was a game that cancelled the Pesky celebration, and heavy rain made the game extended till 1am. People should read too much into this, because the Red Sox really didn't try to win this game. We know that since any game that Pauley is starting is a joke, and he proved it again last night letting up 6 runs in 2 2/3 innings. The Sox also didn't play Ortiz, Pedroia, or even Varitek. Smart choice by Francona, as the chances of winning the division were very slim. The game got uglier as Aardsma got lit up, and he is looking like he is just completely useless, just like Timlin (who also played in this game). In the end, the only positive note out of this game is that Mike Lowell was able to DH for an at-bat, so hopefully that means he is going to be ready for the playoffs.

-BMack

Red Sox 5+7, Brewers 3+6

If game 1 had been played by itself, I probably would have complained about Daisuke giving up too many hits, the Red Sox leaving too many men on, Papelbon giving up a homer, et cetera. But compared to the sloppiness of the night-cap, game 1 was a clinically precise display of quality baseball.

But what matters most is that the Sox won both games. They took game 1 by out-hitting and out-pitching the Brewers. They took game 2 because the Brewers out-errored and out-squandered them.

The lack of bullpen depth on this team was brutally exposed in the night game. Okajima was unavailable with a sore wrist, Papelbon and Delcarmen worked in the early game, and there really wasn't anyone reliable left. Aardsma allowed some inherited runners to score, Hansen gave up 3 unearned runs, Lopez escaped thanks to a nifty double-play, and Mike Timlin was brought in to get a save in a 7-6 game.

A few fun facts:

Mike Timlin recorded his first save since May 2nd of 2007, and his first 1-run save since September 29th, 2006. Despite never being the official closer of the team, Timlin has recorded a save every season he's been with the Red Sox.

In game 1, Kevin Youkilis made an error for the first time in 94 games. BUT, it was made while playing third base. This means his errorless streak at first base is now at 222 games.

In game 2, Kevin Cash didn't get a hit or a walk. It's the first time he hasn't reached base safely since April 15th. Douggie who?

Jacoby Ellsbury stole his 16th base of the season, and 25th of his career. He still hasn't been caught. The record for most stolen bases made without getting caught to start of a player's career is 27, held by Tim Raines.

Beckett goes Sunday afternoon against Carlos Villanueva, which in Spanish means Charlie Villanueva.



-The Commodore

Timlin Makes Final Rehab Appearance

Timlin pitched a perfect 6th inning in last night's AAA Pawtucket win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (formerly the Ottawa Lynx). He faced three batters, and got each one of them to ground out. He threw 10 pitches, 7 of which were strikes. He also hit 92 on the radar gun (but who knows if the gun was juiced or not).

Timlin should re-join the Sox on Friday when they begin a 3 game set with the Yankees. With the struggles of the Sox middle-relief, it will be a welcome sight to see #50 warming up in the pen.

Some more good news out of Rhode Island is that Craig Hansen has been nearly unhittable. He threw 2 perfect innings in the win over Lehigh Valley, and has allowed only 1 hit in 6 innings this season.

-The Commodore