Dombro all right with his ’pen
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
CLEVELAND — If you’ve been worrying about the Red Sox’ bullpen, Dave Dombrowski would like a word.
“I think it’s fine. I know everybody else doesn’t, but we’re comfortable with it,” said the team’s president of baseball operations before last night’s series finale against the Indians.
Dombrowski doesn’t believe you have to worry about those relievers who have made fans nervous the past few weeks.
“People look at our bullpen, but some of the guys that are getting beat — no offense to them — they’re not going to be on our roster,” said Dombrowski, without naming names.
He emphasized that the bullpen is about to undergo a metamorphosis, and that change is all for good.
“Everybody is so ‘immediacy,’” said Dombrowski. “But my job is, ‘OK, we’re getting Matt Barnes back.’ When he’s healthy, he’s been a very effective pitcher. He’s healthy, he’s going to be healthy, he’s going to be important for us. Steven Wright — he’s a good pitcher, he’s going to go into the bullpen, he helps your bullpen. One of our starters (Nathan Eovaldi or Eduardo Rodriguez), they’re going to go into our bullpen.
“So, I mean, all of a sudden, those are three guys who haven’t been in our bullpen for a month. So it’s a little different.”
That different look is why Dombrowski feels good about the bullpen, before mentioning two other relievers who have been performing well.
“(Ryan) Brasier’s pitched tremendous for us, I don’t think he’s afraid at all,” said Dombrowski. “Barnes has been good, (closer Craig) Kimbrel is outstanding right now, better now than he has been all season long. Steven Wright’s a big addition. I know if I was on the other side, I wouldn’t want to face Steven Wright. Whoever we slide into the bullpen of our starters, they’re pretty good.”
The Red Sox are all but certain to carry seven relievers. With Kimbrel, Barnes, Brasier, Wright and either Eovaldi or Rodriguez as locks, that still leaves two spots open to be filled by somebody out of the crew of Brian Johnson, Bobby Poyner, Brandon Workman, Hector Velazquez, Robby Scott, Drew Pomeranz, William Cuevas, Tyler Thornburg, Heath Hembree and Joe Kelly.
Once the two are identified, Dombrowski will have a postseason bullpen that is likely going to play a critical, if not the most critical, role in the Sox’ success next month.
And if others don’t think that bullpen is good enough, its architect vouches for it. His praise is not glowing, but it still qualifies as praise.
“I like it; I think it’s fine,” said Dombrowski. “We have some other guys who have ability and haven’t performed as well as you would like, but it doesn’t mean that they won’t.”
Rodriguez was in the bullpen last October, and is likely to be back in it if the Sox face the Yankees in the postseason, considering Eovaldi’s recent track record of success against the Yankees. If the Sox face the A’s, Rodriguez might well be the fourth starter, but those answers are not yet definitive.
Rodriguez, however, will make his first relief appearance tonight, when he will come in immediately or shortly after Eovaldi finishes a short start against the Orioles at Fenway.
It’s part of Rodriguez’ October tryout.
“We don’t know who we’re going to play, so we’ll make decisions later on, but Nate came out of the bullpen already, we know he can do it,” said manager Alex Cora. “I know Eduardo did it last year in the Division Series for whatever it was, two hitters or three, but it will be good for him to go out there and come in and compete from there.”
Shooting for big numbers
Cora said the only personal milestones he would like his players to reach are a 30-30 season for Mookie Betts and 100 RBI for Xander Bogaerts. Betts had 30 homers and 28 stolen bases going into last night’s game, with Bogaerts at 95 RBI.
“It’s funny because I was talking to somebody earlier today, and I hope he gets it, but if he doesn’t I hope he doesn’t get down on himself,” said Cora. “Because before the season if you said that Xander was going to get 95 RBI, you’ll take it.” . . .
J.D. Martinez had the night off, but will play the three games against the Orioles at Fenway before having another day off with the rest of the team on Thursday.
“I think it’s good for him,” said Cora. “He played the one after we clinched. Long day yesterday. So sit down today and go after it during the week.”
Hot corner debate
Who’s on third base — Eduardo Nunez or Rafael Devers — remains unknown. Nunez had the inside track before he tweaked his left hamstring, but Devers has hit well in his place.
Who the opposing starter is may play into the decision — Nunez hits right-handed, Devers left-handed — but it sounds like it’s a decision that will not be made for a while.
Still, if Nunez is healthy, he likely stays as the favorite.
“We will have to wait and see who we play,” said Cora. “Obviously with Oakland, it’s kind of like a bullpen game with them the whole time. And obviously with the Yankees, you have (left-handers J.A.) Happ and you have CC (Sabathia).
“We’ll see. I’m happy that Raffy’s swinging the bat well, and it’s not the results. It’s the approach. We’ve just got to see when Eddy comes back, he’s healthy and he’s able to run around. That’s going to be important for us.”