Pomeranz vows to pen story back in rotation
FORT MYERS — Despite having a 4.59 ERA in 14 games with the Red Sox last year, Drew Pomeranz feels as though it was the best season of his career.
And while the Red Sox, depending on health, could have six strong candidates for five rotation spots, Pomeranz is not considering a scenario where he doesn’t win one of those jobs.
“I don’t think about bullpen anymore,” he said yesterday. “I did that before last year. Moved back to the rotation and had the best year of my career. So I’m sticking with that one.”
Statistically, Pomeranz was indeed having a career year until a midseason trade to the Sox.
In San Diego, he made 17 starts with a 2.47 ERA and struck out 115 batters in 102 innings. He made the NL All-Star team.
But his strong season turned sideways when he joined the Red Sox and saw his hit rate fly up from 5.9 per nine innings to 9.2. Pomeranz’ final pitch of 2016 was a hanging curve to the Indians’ Coco Crisp, who hammered it over the Green Monster for the decisive two-run home run in Game 3 of the AL Division Series.
Pomeranz still finished with a 3.32 ERA overall, but he believes his elbow issues impacted his performance.
“It’s hard enough pitching in this game, especially when you have other things going on,” he said. “But everyone has something going on. Just have to find a way to get it done that day.”
The 28-year-old had a stem-cell shot in October. He called it experimental.
“It helps speed up the process of healing,” he said. “Why not do it? It could be a little painful but whatever, just go through it and jump-start that process to be ready. I’ll do whatever I need to do to be ready for the season.”
Pomeranz and knuckleballer Steven Wright, who are behind the rest of the pitchers, will throw their first bullpen sessions on Monday.
No hard feelings
It’s been a while since Wright threw off a mound. Asked if he remembered
the last time, he said, “whenever my last start was.”
That was Aug. 31, the second of two poor starts in which Wright was rushed back from a shoulder injury.
Before those two starts, he threw a complete game shutout on Aug. 5, but was hurt the next day when he dove into second base after being inserted as a pinchrunner by manager John Farrell.
Wright, who is still building shoulder strength and recovering from the injury almost six months later, said he has no hard feelings toward his manager.
“It’s a freak accident,” the All-Star knuckleballer said. “I’ve done that thousands of times in my life. It’s in the past. I try not to think about it. There’s no point to trying to go back in time. It’s a freak thing. It happened. If I was put in his situation I would have done the same thing. So it’s nothing, I wouldn’t change anything. There’s nothing to change. It happened. It sucks, and I’ve just kind of got to move on.”
A team player who often says he’ll pitch out of any role, Wright is competing with Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez for the final two spots in the rotation.
“I’m just focused on trying to get my body strengthened,” he said. “If my body’s ready to go, I’ll be out there.”
Farrell said all three pitchers will stay stretched out right up until Opening Day. If they’re all healthy, the assumption is that one of them will go into the bullpen.
“What we don’t know is what happens between now and April 3,” Farrell said. “The ideal situation is everyone has gotten through camp healthy and performed to their capabilities. You go back to competition, whether it’s at third base, the back of our rotation. That’s going to make us better.”
Young ideas for DH
Veteran outfielder Chris
Young doesn’t have much experience as a designated hitter, but appears to be in line for some at-bats in the DH spot this season.
Farrell said this week that Young could be the DH vs. lefties, when regular DH Hanley Ramirez will take over at first base for left-handed hitting Mitch
Moreland. Young hit .329 with a .999 OPS against lefties last year.
A longtime National Leaguer, he is 4-for-30 in his career as a DH.
“I’ve done it before but never on a regular basis,” Young said. “Nor do I think it will be this year on a regular basis. Over the years I’ve been able to mold my game to be a little more versatile. I started out as a center fielder but over the years I’ve been able to make adjustments where I can play all three outfield positions, so hopefully I can give some guys relief and get an opportunity to play on a more regular basis.” Andrew Benintendi is slated to play everyday in left field, which is where Young spent most of his time last year.
“I think it showed last year that if you perform, the team can find a way to get you in on a regular basis, which I earned last year,” Young said. “I’m sure John will find a balance where everyone is getting what they need to get and that’s fair.”