[漁塭] Sox have bullpen questions; is Tazawa the answer?

看板RedSox作者lovemasami (沉睡的森林)時間16年前 (2009/08/03 08:06)推噓2(2推 0噓 0→)

留言2則, 2人參與討論串1/1

http://tinyurl.com/nzjfr7 Sox have bullpen questions; is Tazawa the answer? 05:52 PM EDT on Sunday, August 2, 2009 BY DANIEL BARBARISI Journal Sports Writer BALTIMORE — The trading deadline is past, but the Red Sox still have some internal questions to answer. The most pressing in this coming week will likely be figuring out the final piece of the bullpen puzzle. The trade of Justin Masterson leaves the Red Sox with only six arms in the pen, and Masterson was the pitcher with the endurance to pitch for the longest stretch in an emergency. The current Red Sox regime has always stocked the bullpen with seven arms. Adding a 12th man to the pitching staff is not a question of if, but when, said manager Terry Francona. "I would certainly think so at some point. I don't think that any of us think that we can be at an 11-man staff for a long time," Francona said. The most likely candidates to join the pen are Triple-A relievers Marcus McBeth and Hunter Jones, but Triple-A starter Junichi Tazawa is also an intriguing option. There could have been a need to call up a reliever on an emergency basis for Sunday's game, but Josh Beckett went seven strong innings Saturday to protect the bullpen. "We got in somewhat a semblance of order [Saturday] night and we have a day off [Monday]. But I don't think any of us really want to [go with only 11 pitchers]. We'll see how it goes," Francona said. Minor injuries to J.D. Drew and Jason Bay, coupled with the surprising play of rookie replacement Josh Reddick, have prompted Boston to keep Reddick up as an extra bat right now. But he should return to the minors soon, and would likely be exchanged for a bullpen arm. In the meantime, the team remains ready to call up an emergency replacement at any time –– and discussed possible options Saturday night. "When you have an 11-man staff, you have to be open to flexibility," said Francona. "Because if we have a rough night, you've got to be ready to make a move. We stayed here last night, me and [pitching coach John Farrell], and talked to [general manager Theo Epstein] just about those types of things, just so we're prepared," Francona said. Assistant general manager Ben Cherington was in Scranton with the PawSox, assessing the Triple-A team's pitching situation. Jones, a big-bodied lefty, got the call to fill a bullpen hole earlier this season, and struggled in his month in the majors. Jones was unavailable Friday after pitching Thursday, so when an emergency reliever was needed after Masterson was traded, Marcus McBeth, his 2.28 ERA, and his nasty changeup were added to the 40-man roster and got the call. McBeth was only with the team for one game, on Friday night, and he didn't pitch before he was sent back down, but his presence on the 40-man may place him in front of Jones and his 3.48 ERA for the time being. Pawtucket's best reliever is closer Fernando Cabrera, but Cabrera is not on the 40-man, and would require a roster move to promote. Michael Bowden is on the 40-man, and it is possible he could get the call in an emergency, but it's more likely he would be recalled for a spot start than for extended bullpen duty. Double-A starter Felix Doubront is also on the 40-man, but seeing him transferred directly to the majors would be a surprise. Then there's perhaps the most intriguing possibility: Junichi Tazawa. Tazawa's potential exceeds any other pitcher in this group, but his experience is limited. He came to the Sox from the Japanese amateur leagues this winter, and was promoted to Pawtucket only last week. He has pitched as a starter this season, but some project that his stuff would play better out of the bullpen. Tazawa pitched Sunday for Pawtucket, so he would likely not be available for several days, but he is on the 40-man roster already, and would be an exciting callup. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 220.135.58.98