Red Sox Bullpen

As Spring Training approaches (pitchers and catchers report in six weeks) LeRoy will begin its preseason analysis of the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and the hated New York Yankees.  We will continue with the bullpens and will begin with the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox figure to be one of the best teams in the AL East (and probably in the league) and they hope their bullpen can be up to par.  They had some gaps in their 'pen last year and Boston is counting on bounce-back years from quite a few guys pitching out of relief.

Closer:  Jonathan Papelbon.  Papelbon had a down year last season by his standards, posting a 5-7 record with a 3.90 ERA (well above his career 2.22 mark), and 37 saves.  Some in Red Sox nation are calling for Papelbon to be traded or released.  The notion is not completely absurd, especially given Theo Epstein's belief in the moneyball system.  Papelbon is due a big raise in arbitration and will likely ask for a huge contract extension in the near future.  But he's still an adequate closer and could have a rebound season be back on top again.  Keeping Papelbon at closer answers a lot more questions than dumping him raises.

The remaining bullpen looks something like this:

1.  RHP Daniel Bard:  1-2, 1.93 ERA, three saves, 76 strikeouts
2.  RHP Bobby Jenks:  1-3, 4.44 ERA, 27 saves, 61 strikeouts (Chicago White Sox)
3.  RHP Scott Athison:  2-3, 4.50 ERA, no saves, 41 strikeouts
4.  RHP Tim Wakefield:  4-10, 5.34 ERA, no saves, 84 strikeouts
5.  RHP Dan Wheeler:  2-4, 3.35 ERA, three saves, 46 strikeouts (Tampa Bay Rays)
6.  RHP Robert Coello:  0-0, 4.76 ERA, no saves, five strikeouts
7.  RHP Michael Bowden:  0-1, 4.70 ERA, no saves, 13 strikeouts
8.  RHP Junichi Tazawa:  Did Not Pitch
9.  LHP Felix Doubront:  2-2, 4.32 ERA, two saves, 23 strikeouts

This group is heavily righthanded but they are considered to be the elite among Boston's relievers.  As you can see, there are a lot of high ERAs a huge margin for error.  Only seven of the nine are likely to make the team and others will undoubtedly come into the mix before Spring Training begins.

Another pitcher to watch is Matt Albers.  Boston has also brought back Hideki Okajima to offset the heavy righthandedness present in the bullpen, but the signing has not yet been made official.

The Pawtucket Red Sox will likely fill out their roster with former big-league arms.  Expect most of those pitchers to be looked at in Spring Training by Boston.  With the thinness of Boston's rotation those pitchers could make the team with a good showing in Spring.  Some of the players that Pawtucket has signed already are:

1.  RHP Jason Bergmann
2.  LHP Rich Hill
3.  RHP Santo Luis
4.  LHP Andrew Miller
5.  RHP Tony Pena (former starting shortstop with Kansas City Royals)
6.  RHP Clevelan Santeliz
7.  LHP Randy Williams

Verdict:  The bullpen will probably be the team's weak spot.  With the apparent wide-openness of a lot of jobs in the bullpen, this should be one of the more interesting battles to watch in Spring Training.  Expect the BoSox to sign a few more relievers, either in the big picture or as non-roster invitees.