Huge relief in newest ’pen pal Price
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — David Price just became the Red Sox’ X-factor for October.
In a dominating debut appearance as a Red
Sox reliever — 21 pitches, two perfect innings, two strikeouts — Price altered the entire look, shape and feel of the bullpen as it gears up for the playoffs.
If he can replicate or even approach this type of effort in his 3-5 remaining regular-season appearances, there will be no understating the magnitude of the lift he would provide.
He is an elite pitcher when healthy, and in yesterday’s 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, he made the sudden and unwanted transition from starter to reliever look easy. He threw four different pitches — fastball, knuckle curve, cutter and changeup — and got outs with three of them.
His arrival does not suddenly elevate the Red Sox’ bullpen into the Yankees’ and Indians’ ranks, but maybe it’s time to start to imagine how good this bullpen can be.
Price, a Cy Young winner enduring a long, painful and emotionally challenging season due to the tear he has somewhere near his left elbow, could not have been less surprised with his success.
“Done this for a long time,” said Price. “My last bullpens, my last live BP’s were really good. That mound is still 60 feet, 6 inches away from home plate. I wasn’t surprised.”
John Farrell was, and very much so.
“That was even more than personally anticipated,” said the manager. “From the power to the touch and feel, I’m amazed that someone can pitch — haven’t pitched in a game in seven weeks and come out with that kind of command and throw three, four pitches for strikes. He’s a unique pitcher, and that was really a strong two innings of work today.”
When Price debuted with the Rays in September 2008, he was coming off a full, healthy rookie season in the minors. He became an X-factor in Tampa Bay’s run to the World Series, a fact the Red Sox team he finished off in the American League Championship Series remembers well, then returned to starting virtually uninterrupted — he made one relief appearance on the final day of the 2010 season — until this year, when his still-concerning elbow issue cropped up in spring training.
Eleven midseason starts were all the Red Sox got from him before the elbow started to bark again. It’s settled down enough that Price can step back on the mound, even if it’s a role he never sought.
“I knew I wanted to start, but I didn’t map it out in my head or anything,” said Price. “I’ll do whatever.”
Whatever it takes is enough for Price.
“Just to be able to try and help us win at this point in the season is what you want to be able to do,” said Price. “It’s good to be back out there.”
If it felt like 2008 all over again, the resemblance sounded faint and not all that complicated for Price.
“The past experience, just being ready,” said Price when asked what he could draw from nine years ago. “Being in the bullpen, not knowing when your number’s going to be called, that’s probably the biggest difference. Just pay attention to the game, watch the lineup and knowing you have an opportunity to pitch.”
He made the transition sound as uneventful as it’s not.
“Pretty good,” he said about having enough time to get warmed up during the top of the seventh. “Just had three outs to work with for the top half of the inning. That was enough.”
Really not a big deal at all, folks.
“Got about 60 feet to play catch, that’s probably the biggest difference, not being able to stretch it out in the outfield,” said Price, “but you can still throw the baseball as hard as you want at 60 feet.”
Price pitched no differently than he did as a starter, rather than downgrading to the two-pitch arsenal most relievers rely upon. He threw all his pitches — nine fastballs and four apiece on the other three off-speed pitches — and 15 of the 21 he threw for strikes.
“Felt good with the curveball, threw some really good cutters, a couple of good changeups,” said Price. “It was good.”
Farrell used more demonstrative language.
“Excellent command,” he said. “Impressive.”
The earliest Price will pitch again would be Wednesday in Baltimore, and he’ll get more chances after that. It will all be prep work for what happens with Price when the playoffs start.
When that reality arrives, it will be showtime for this special Red Sox weapon. A weapon that, at the moment, looks to be rather dangerous.