Brasier latest ’pen casualty
Relieverto Pawtucket, Hernandez gets call
It’s the middle of July and established veterans and role players who aren’t getting the job done are being dumped like a bad date. Eduardo Nunez, designated for assignment. Hector Velazquez, to Pawtucket. Same with Ryan Brasier yesterday, the day after he allowed four more runs in less than an inning of work.
What’s happening here is a failure to win and play winning baseball on a consistent basis.
And the Red Sox have to make changes because, as manager Alex Cora said yesterday, “This ain’t it. Probably we will make more adjustments. Throughout the days, throughout the months, for the rest of the season. So that’s part of it. And we’re in the stage right now that we’ve been saying it all along. Yeah, we’ve gotta get better. We’ve gotta get better. It’s July what? 16th? 16th? So, yeah. We better get better now.”
The main issue has been a lack of continued excellence.
“We’ve been consistent at being inconsistent — we see flashes of the team and then it doesn’t happen for a few days,” Cora said. “Obviously the fifth starter, we always talk about it, it put us in a bad spot as far as like the bullpen and the usage. A few times you feel limited with them.”
Brasier, with a 1.215 WHIP this season after becoming a critical piece of the bullpen last year with his 0.772 WHIP, is in need of a midseason retooling.
“He has to make some adjustments,” Cora said. “Go down, reset, and try to get him back. I think overall location has been a struggle with him where he goes with the fastball hasn’t been there probably the whole season, and the slider has been inconsistent. Just go down there, keep working, and see where we go after that.”
Replacing Brasier in the bullpen is Darwinzon Hernandez, the 22-year-old righthander who made one brief start (four runs, three innings) June 11 against the Texas Rangers at Fenway. He has been groomed for this midseason role switch this month. In his last four appearances with Pawtucket, Hernandez has pitched in relief, posting a 2.08 ERA with six strikeout and one walk in 4⅓ innings.
“We feel like his stuff will play,” Cora said. “He’s a guy that even when he makes a mistake with his fastball in the zone it plays. We saw flashes of that in his start against Texas. That first inning was electric. So now it’s not about going six or seven, it’s about getting that guy out and we’ll take it step by step. Just get this guy out and if he does get the next one and the next one and see how he takes it. But stuffwise we feel like he’ll be fine.
“We just want him to aggressive around the strike zone. He doesn’t have to pitch, actually. What I mean is like, pinpoint control, and try to go six. This is more of a sprint. I think he’s suited for that.”
Hernandez is eager to pitch again on the big league team, no matter what role. Moving between the rotation and bullpen has not been a taxing journey for him.
“It’s been good, it’s been easy because I’m just here to pitch and wherever they want to put me in, as long as I’m able to help the team that’s fine with me,” Hernandez said. “It’s been a smooth transition for me overall.”
Injury updates
Mitch Moreland (right quad) hit and ran and took ground balls before the game. He could be headed to Pawtucket today, weather permitting. Same with
Nathan Eovaldi (right elbow/ biceps). Brian Johnson (nonbaseball related medical matter) will throw a simulated game today or tomorrow.
Reliever Steven Wright
(right great toe bruise) still is sore and likely will head to Fort Myers when the Red Sox travel to Baltimore this weekend.
All eyes on Sale
Chris Sale, who has been struggling mightily, had a big crowd watch him throw a bullpen session.
“It was teammates being teammates, just being there and watching,” Cora said. “Everybody knows about the game and obviously pitchers know about mechanics and usage and all that, but I think for them to be there it means a lot. It means a lot where we’re at as a team and you never know, someone might pick something up that me, (pitching coach Dana LeVangie) or (bullpen coach Craig Bjornson) hasn’t seen. It was
good. Sandy (Leon) and Christian (Vazquez ) were there too, so you don’t see that often. I think that was good for the team to let him know, ‘Hey, we’re here for you.’ ” Twitter: @MikeSilvermanBB