2006 Position Analysis: RP

The 2005Red Sox had one of the worst bullpens in all of Major League Baseball, and what had been a relative strength in the 2004 postseason just slit its wrists and bled all over the the schedule. If not for the overwhelming offense the Sox would've dropped like a stone and stayed there, unable to hold onto leads past the sixth inning. The trouble started at the back, with closer Keith Foulke, and continued right on down the line. The 'pen in 2006 holds a slew of new faces and significantly fewer years. The hope is that Terry Francona won't have to worry when he takes the ball from his starters. David Riske, Julian Tavarez, Lenny DiNardo, Mike Timlin, and Rudy Seanez, not to mention either Jonathan Papelbon or Bronson Arroyo, will keep the seats warm just shy of the right field bleachers, and let's all hope they do the job well.

CLOSER:
KEITH FOULKE
Year Ag Tm Lg W L G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WP BFP IBB BK ERA *lgERA *ERA+ WHIP
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
1997 24 TOT 4 5 27 8 0 0 5 3 73.3 88 52 52 13 23 54 4 1 326 2 0 6.38 4.23 66 1.514
SFG NL 1 5 11 8 0 0 0 0 44.7 60 41 41 9 18 33 4 1 209 1 0 8.26 4.12 50 1.746
CHW AL 3 0 16 0 0 0 5 3 28.7 28 11 11 4 5 21 0 0 117 1 0 3.45 4.39 127 1.151
1998 25 CHW AL 3 2 54 0 0 0 18 1 65.3 51 31 30 9 20 57 4 3 267 3 1 4.13 4.56 110 1.087
1999 26 CHW AL 3 3 67 0 0 0 31 9 105.3 72 28 26 11 21 123 3 1 411 4 0 2.22 4.77 215 0.883
2000 27 CHW AL 3 1 72 0 0 0 58 34 88.0 66 31 29 9 22 91 2 1 350 2 0 2.97 5.17 174 1.000
2001 28 CHW AL 4 9 72 0 0 0 69 42 81.0 57 21 21 3 22 75 8 1 322 1 0 2.33 4.62 198 0.975
2002 29 CHW AL 2 4 65 0 0 0 35 11 77.7 65 26 25 7 13 58 2 1 306 2 0 2.90 4.60 159 1.004
2003 30 OAK AL 9 1 72 0 0 0 67 43 86.7 57 21 20 10 20 88 7 0 338 2 1 2.08 4.26 205 0.888
2004 31 BOS AL 5 3 72 0 0 0 61 32 83.0 63 22 20 8 15 79 6 3 333 5 0 2.17 4.87 225 0.940
2005 32 BOS AL 5 5 43 0 0 0 37 15 45.7 53 30 30 8 18 34 5 0 210 1 0 5.91 4.40 75 1.555
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
9 Years 33 8 0 190 572 253 174 41 11 2863 22 2 3.23 4.63 144 1.057
WL%= .535 38 544 0 381 706.0 262 78 659
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
162 Game Avg 4 4 67 0 0 0 46 23 86.7 70 32 31 9 21 81 5 1 352 2 0 3.23 4.63 144 1.057
Career High 9 9 72 8 0 0 69 43 105.3 88 52 52 13 23 123 8 3 411 5 1 2.08 5.17 225 0.883

Foulke had a miserable 2005, due to both personal, off-field problems and physical injury. His fastball lost several mph, and when your fastball and changeup both range in the mid 80s, you know you're in trouble. He allowed 30 earned runs in just over 40 innings pitched. Yikes. He had both of his knees scoped and worked on a number of shoulder issues, during and after last season. He reported early to spring training and has already thrown his first side session. The expectation is that he will retain his closer's role until it has been proven he can no longer handle it.

SETUP:
MIKE TIMLIN
Year Ag Tm Lg W L G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WP BFP IBB BK ERA *lgERA *ERA+ WHIP
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
1991 25 TOR AL 11 6 63 3 0 0 17 3 108.3 94 43 38 6 50 85 1 5 463 11 0 3.16 4.23 134 1.329
1992 26 TOR AL 0 2 26 0 0 0 14 1 43.7 45 23 20 0 20 35 1 0 190 5 0 4.12 4.11 100 1.489
1993 27 TOR AL 4 2 54 0 0 0 27 1 55.7 63 32 29 7 27 49 1 1 254 3 0 4.69 4.38 93 1.617
1994 28 TOR AL 0 1 34 0 0 0 16 2 40.0 41 25 23 5 20 38 2 3 179 0 0 5.18 4.81 93 1.525
1995 29 TOR AL 4 3 31 0 0 0 19 5 42.0 38 13 10 1 17 36 2 3 179 5 1 2.14 4.72 220 1.310
1996 30 TOR AL 1 6 59 0 0 0 56 31 56.7 47 25 23 4 18 52 2 3 230 4 0 3.65 5.30 145 1.147
1997 31 TOT AL 6 4 64 0 0 0 31 10 72.7 69 30 26 8 20 45 1 1 297 5 1 3.22 4.59 142 1.225
TOR AL 3 2 38 0 0 0 26 9 47.0 41 17 15 6 15 36 1 1 190 4 1 2.87 4.62 161 1.191
SEA AL 3 2 26 0 0 0 5 1 25.7 28 13 11 2 5 9 0 0 107 1 0 3.86 4.53 117 1.286
1998 32 SEA AL 3 3 70 0 0 0 40 19 79.3 78 26 26 5 16 60 3 0 321 2 0 2.95 4.66 158 1.185
1999 33 BAL AL 3 9 62 0 0 0 52 27 63.0 51 30 25 9 23 50 5 1 261 3 0 3.57 4.82 135 1.175
2000 34 TOT 5 4 62 0 0 0 40 12 64.7 67 33 30 8 35 52 4 0 295 6 0 4.18 4.68 112 1.577
BAL AL 2 3 37 0 0 0 31 11 35.0 37 22 19 6 15 26 2 0 157 3 0 4.89 4.72 97 1.486
STL NL 3 1 25 0 0 0 9 1 29.7 30 11 11 2 20 26 2 0 138 3 0 3.34 4.64 139 1.685
2001 35 STL NL 4 5 67 0 0 0 19 3 72.7 78 35 33 6 19 47 3 3 307 4 1 4.09 4.32 106 1.335
2002 36 TOT NL 4 6 72 1 0 0 17 0 96.7 75 35 32 15 14 50 5 3 376 2 0 2.98 3.86 130 0.921
STL NL 1 3 42 1 0 0 10 0 61.0 48 19 17 9 7 35 4 1 236 2 0 2.51 3.91 156 0.902
PHI NL 3 3 30 0 0 0 7 0 35.7 27 16 15 6 7 15 1 2 140 0 0 3.79 3.79 100 0.953
2003 37 BOS AL 6 4 72 0 0 0 13 2 83.7 77 37 33 11 9 65 4 0 340 3 0 3.55 4.71 133 1.028
2004 38 BOS AL 5 4 76 0 0 0 12 1 76.3 75 35 35 8 19 56 5 1 320 3 0 4.13 4.87 118 1.231
2005 39 BOS AL 7 3 81 0 0 0 27 13 80.3 86 23 20 2 20 59 2 3 342 5 0 2.24 4.40 197 1.320
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
15 Years 62 4 0 130 984 403 327 41 27 4354 61 3 3.50 4.53 129 1.266
WL%= .504 63 893 0 400 1035.7 445 95 779
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
162 Game Avg 4 4 67 0 0 0 30 9 78.3 74 33 30 7 24 59 3 2 330 4 0 3.50 4.53 129 1.266
Career High 11 9 81 3 0 0 56 31 108.3 94 43 38 15 50 85 5 5 463 11 1 2.14 5.30 220 0.921
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
W L G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WP BFP IBB BK ERA *lgERA *ERA+ WHIP

**PAO: 342 BFP/ 17% K/ 6% BB/ 34% GB/ 19% OF/ 3% IF/ 20% LD/ 1% OTHER

Timlin led the league in appearances in 2005, with a whopping 80.3 innings of work. That be impressive if he were a rookie, but Timlin is entering his 16th season and goign on 40 years old. He was lights out much of the time, and helped solidify a tattered bullpen. Although his personal ERA is stellar for a 39 year old in the AL East, Timlin was miserable at keeping inherited runners from scoring. It would be foolish to expect an identical performance in 2006, but his work ethic and intensity are second to none. Let's just hope nothing happens to him while pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Lessening the load on Timlin, however, will be one of the front office's best pickups, in my opinion.

JULIAN TAVAREZ
Year Ag Tm Lg W L G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WP BFP IBB BK ERA *lgERA *ERA+ WHIP
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
1993 20 CLE AL 2 2 8 7 0 0 0 0 37.0 53 29 27 7 13 19 2 3 172 2 1 6.57 4.34 66 1.784
1994 21 CLE AL 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.7 6 8 4 1 1 0 0 0 14 1 0 21.60 4.71 22 4.200
1995 22 CLE AL 10 2 57 0 0 0 15 0 85.0 76 36 23 7 21 68 3 3 350 0 2 2.44 4.63 190 1.141
1996 23 CLE AL 4 7 51 4 0 0 13 0 80.7 101 49 48 9 22 46 1 1 353 5 0 5.36 4.90 91 1.525
1997 24 SFG NL 6 4 89 0 0 0 13 0 88.3 91 43 38 6 34 38 4 4 378 5 0 3.87 4.12 106 1.415
1998 25 SFG NL 5 3 60 0 0 0 12 1 85.3 96 41 36 5 36 52 8 1 374 11 1 3.80 4.07 107 1.547
1999 26 SFG NL 2 0 47 0 0 0 12 0 54.7 65 38 36 7 25 33 8 4 258 3 1 5.93 4.11 69 1.646
2000 27 COL NL 11 5 51 12 1 0 8 1 120.0 124 68 59 11 53 62 7 2 530 9 1 4.42 5.94 134 1.475
2001 28 CHC NL 10 9 34 28 0 0 1 0 161.3 172 98 81 13 69 107 11 2 712 4 1 4.52 4.23 94 1.494
2002 29 FLA NL 10 12 29 27 0 0 1 0 153.7 188 100 92 9 74 67 15 7 714 7 2 5.39 3.99 74 1.705
2003 30 PIT NL 3 3 64 0 0 0 29 11 83.7 75 37 34 1 27 39 5 3 350 8 0 3.66 4.24 116 1.219
2004 31 STL NL 7 4 77 0 0 0 27 4 64.3 57 21 17 1 19 48 6 2 268 0 1 2.38 4.18 176 1.181
2005 32 STL NL 2 3 74 0 0 0 16 4 65.7 68 28 25 6 19 47 8 1 278 4 0 3.43 4.27 125 1.325
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
13 Yr WL% .567 72 55 642 79 1 0 147 21 1081.3 1172 596 520 83 413 626 78 33 4751 59 10 4.33 4.44 103 1.466
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
162 Game Avg 6 5 60 7 0 0 13 1 101.7 110 56 49 7 38 59 7 3 448 5 0 4.33 4.44 103 1.466
Career High 11 12 89 28 1 0 29 11 161.3 188 100 92 13 74 107 15 7 714 11 2 2.38 5.94 190 1.141

The biggest knock against Tavarez, who spent the last two years in St. Louis to the dismay of most Cardinal fans, is his attitude. Well, that and the fact that he looks like Freddy Krueger. He did relatively well with the Cards, and though he may not be the most dominant pitcher to ever don a uniform, he has an attitude that's just crazy enough to lend him success against the stiff AL competition. Interestingly, there hasn't been a single photo of Tavarez in the Globe's galleries, even though all pitchers and catchers were required to report to camp on Saturday.

GENERAL RELIEF:
DAVID RISKE
Year Ag Tm Lg W L G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WP BFP IBB BK ERA *lgERA *ERA+ WHIP
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
1999 22 CLE AL 1 1 12 0 0 0 3 0 14.0 20 15 13 2 6 16 0 0 68 0 0 8.36 5.02 60 1.857
2001 24 CLE AL 2 0 26 0 0 0 6 1 27.3 20 7 6 3 18 29 2 1 118 3 0 1.98 4.53 229 1.390
2002 25 CLE AL 2 2 51 0 0 0 17 1 51.3 49 32 30 8 35 65 4 1 237 4 0 5.26 4.51 86 1.636
2003 26 CLE AL 2 2 68 0 0 0 24 8 74.7 52 21 19 9 20 82 3 1 293 3 0 2.29 4.26 186 0.964
2004 27 CLE AL 7 3 72 0 0 0 27 5 77.3 69 32 32 11 41 78 2 3 336 4 0 3.72 4.54 122 1.422
2005 28 CLE AL 3 4 58 0 0 0 33 1 72.7 55 28 25 11 15 48 4 0 288 0 0 3.10 4.10 132 0.963
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
6 Yr WL% .586 17 12 287 0 0 0 110 16 317.3 265 135 125 44 135 318 15 6 1340 14 0 3.55 4.39 124 1.261
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
162 Game Avg 4 2 68 0 0 0 26 3 75.0 62 31 29 10 31 75 3 1 317 3 0 3.55 4.39 124 1.261
Career High 7 4 72 0 0 0 33 8 77.3 69 32 32 11 41 82 4 3 336 4 0 2.29 4.54 186 0.963

Acquired in the trade for Coco Crisp, Riske replaces the departing Guillermo Mota. His upside is great: he's going on 29, posted an ERA just over 3 for the Tribe in 2005, and in a bullpen devoid of left-handed relievers, Riske poses a serious threat to southpaw sluggers. He unfortunately fell out of favor with the Cleveland coaching staff after allowing some big hits in some key spots, but the hope is his intensity will serve him well in Boston, especially under a manager who tends to continue playing relievers regardless of how they're doing (see: Alan Embree in 2005). He could help anchor the bullpen for the next couple years.

RUDY SEANEZ
Year Ag Tm Lg W L G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WP BFP IBB BK ERA *lgERA *ERA+ WHIP
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
1989 20 CLE AL 0 0 5 0 0 0 2 0 5.0 1 2 2 0 4 7 0 1 20 1 1 3.60 3.97 110 1.000
1990 21 CLE AL 2 1 24 0 0 0 12 0 27.3 22 17 17 2 25 24 1 5 127 1 0 5.60 3.92 70 1.720
1991 22 CLE AL 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 5.0 10 12 9 2 7 7 0 2 33 0 0 16.20 4.14 26 3.400
1993 24 SDP NL 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 3.3 8 6 5 1 2 1 0 0 20 0 0 13.50 4.17 31 3.000
1994 25 LAD NL 1 1 17 0 0 0 6 0 23.7 24 7 7 2 9 18 1 3 104 1 0 2.66 3.92 147 1.394
1995 26 LAD NL 1 3 37 0 0 0 12 3 34.7 39 27 26 5 18 29 1 0 159 3 0 6.75 3.81 56 1.644
1998 29 ATL NL 4 1 34 0 0 0 8 2 36.0 25 13 11 2 16 50 1 2 148 0 0 2.75 4.24 154 1.139
1999 30 ATL NL 6 1 56 0 0 0 13 3 53.7 47 21 20 3 21 41 1 3 225 1 0 3.35 4.34 129 1.267
2000 31 ATL NL 2 4 23 0 0 0 8 2 21.0 15 11 10 3 9 20 1 0 89 1 0 4.29 4.64 108 1.143
2001 32 TOT NL 0 2 38 0 0 0 8 1 36.0 23 12 11 4 19 41 1 4 150 0 0 2.75 4.14 151 1.167
SDP NL 0 2 26 0 0 0 8 1 24.0 15 8 7 3 15 24 1 1 102 0 0 2.62 4.01 153 1.250
ATL NL 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 12.0 8 4 4 1 4 17 0 3 48 0 0 3.00 4.41 147 1.000
2002 33 TEX AL 1 3 33 0 0 0 4 0 33.0 28 25 21 5 24 40 0 6 150 1 0 5.73 4.91 86 1.576
2003 34 BOS AL 0 1 9 0 0 0 4 0 8.7 11 7 6 2 6 9 0 3 44 1 0 6.23 4.71 76 1.962
2004 35 TOT 3 2 39 0 0 0 15 0 46.0 39 17 17 3 19 46 0 4 193 3 0 3.33 4.28 129 1.261
KCR AL 0 1 16 0 0 0 7 0 23.0 21 10 10 0 11 21 0 3 100 2 0 3.91 4.45 114 1.391
FLA NL 3 1 23 0 0 0 8 0 23.0 18 7 7 3 8 25 0 1 93 1 0 2.74 4.10 150 1.130
2005 36 SDP NL 7 1 57 0 0 0 9 0 60.3 49 19 18 4 22 84 2 4 248 4 0 2.69 3.85 143 1.177
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
14 Yr WL% .574 27 20 380 0 0 0 104 11 393.7 341 196 180 38 201 417 9 37 1710 17 1 4.12 4.19 102 1.377
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
162 Game Avg 4 3 68 0 0 0 18 1 70.3 61 35 32 6 35 74 1 6 306 3 0 4.12 4.19 102 1.377
Career High 7 4 57 0 0 0 15 3 60.3 49 27 26 5 25 84 2 6 248 4 1 2.69 4.34 143 1.177
+--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+---+---+-----+-----+----+-----+
W L G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WP BFP IBB BK ERA *lgERA *ERA+ WHIP

Seanez is something of a journeyman, and although his first stint in Boston was brief and ineffective, he posted some decent years after that, most notably in San Diego. Age here is a concern, as he'll be turning 37. When many relievers reach that age they lose the "stuff" and have to really begin to "pitch". He's done it elsewhere, but can he do it in the Fens.

LENNY DINARDO
Order Baseball Data
Year Team Name League Age Org. Level W L ERA G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP BK h9 hr9 w9 k9 whip
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 Capital City SAL 22 Nym A 5 5 4.35 24 19 0 0 1 1 101.1 106 60 49 3 56 103 11 0 9.41 0.27 4.97 9.15 1.60
2003 St. Lucie FSL 23 Nym A 3 8 2.01 19 13 1 0 2 1 85.0 64 27 19 1 14 93 5 6.78 0.11 1.48 9.85 0.92
2003 Binghamton East 23 Nym AA 1 3 3.60 7 7 1 0 0 0 40.0 35 19 16 3 13 36 0 7.88 0.68 2.92 8.10 1.20
2004 GCL Red Sox GCL 24 Bos Rk 0 0 0.00 2 1 0 0 0 0 3.0 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 9.00 0.00 0.00 15.00 1.00
2004 Sarasota FSL 24 Bos A 0 0 0.00 1 1 0 0 0 0 3.0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 6.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 0.67
2004 Portland East 24 Bos AA 1 0 9.53 3 0 0 0 0 0 5.2 8 6 6 1 1 4 1 12.71 1.59 1.59 6.35 1.59
2004 Pawtucket IL 24 Bos AAA 0 0 0.00 1 1 0 0 0 0 3.0 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 9.00 0.00 0.00 12.00 1.00
2004 Boston Red Sox AL 24 Bos MLB 0 0 4.23 22 0 0 0 6 0 27.2 34 17 13 1 12 21 1 0 11.06 0.33 3.90 6.83 1.66
2005 Pawtucket IL 26 Bos AAA 6 3 3.15 23 22 0 0 0 108.2 109 51 38 7 35 93 1 3 9.03 0.58 2.90 7.70 1.33
2005 Boston Red Sox AL 26 Bos MLB 0 1 1.84 8 1 0 0 3 0 14.2 13 6 3 1 5 15 1 0 7.98 0.61 3.07 9.20 1.23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MLB Totals: 2 years 0 1 3.40 30 1 0 0 0 42.1 47 23 16 2 17 36 2 0 9.99 0.43 3.61 7.65 1.51
Minor League Totals: 3 years 10 16 3.36 57 42 2 0 3 2 241.0 221 112 90 8 84 247 17 0 8.25 0.30 3.14 9.22 1.27
MLB Average: 2 years 0 0 3.40 15 0 0 0 0 21.0 23 11 8 1 8 18 1 0 9.99 0.43 3.61 7.65 1.51

Acquired via a Rule 5 pick from the Mets, Lenny DiNardo is the only lefty in the entire group of likely Sox relievers. He's young, has a decent curve and cutter, and although he started for Pawtucket, DiNardo pitched lights out for the Sox after his late-season callup. Tallying 15 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched, DiNardo may have simply found the confidence and capacity to pitch to big league hitters. Should he succeed, his youth would help the bullpen for the next several years.

The striking thing about the Sox bullpen in 2006 is that is very clearly in a state of flux. The older relievers are starting to phase out, and we're starting to see an influx of youth from the farm system. This ownership knows that pitching and defense win championships, and their commitment to developing talent as demonstrated and yielded results. Should any of the options currently mentioned fail to pan out, we could see pitchers like Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen in the big leagues before long. The 2006 bullpen may be full of question marks due to it's untested nature, but it certainly has some serious potential for success.