Should the Boston Red Sox keep Justin Masterson in the bullpen for the 2009 season? Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe offers up 5 reasons why they should.
5. The impact on Manny Delcarmen. As we learned last year, Delcarmen is far more effective in the sixth or seventh innings.
4. His stuff is better. As a starter, Masterson’s fastball is in 90-92. As a reliever, he has touched 96. This gives Masterson the ability to induce K’s and double plays.
3. The lefty issue. Unless or until he incorporates an effective changeup or split, Masterson will continue to be vulnerable against lefthanded batters.
2. Efficiency – or inefficiency. As a starter, Masterson’s difficulties against lefthanded batters can inflate his pitch counts and shorten his outings.
1. The team would be better off. It may seem sad to say, but an effective late-inning reliever now may have more value than a mediocre, back-end starter.
Usually Mazz blows smoke up our asses. This time though I have to agree with him.
First off, how do we know that Ramon Ramirez is going to thrive in Boston? He’s never pitched in an environment like Fenway Park which is like playing in the World Series on a nightly basis.
Masterson’s proved he can pitch on the big stage. It’s as simple as that.
We did see Masterson struggle against lefties when starting. He did have some struggles against lefties out of the bullpen but not to the degree of when he started. By keeping him in the bullpen, you’re able to use him for any amount of time in a similar fashion to how he was used this year. Need him for 2 innings, let him go 2 innings. Need him to come in and strike Alex Rodriguez out, let him come in and do that.
Personally I think the Red Sox are a better team with Masterson in the pen than they are with him starting. Of course if the Red Sox sign a free agent starter, he’ll end up in the bullpen and all of this ends up being a moot point.
Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
