August 09, 2005
Dumpster Diving
Picking up Jose Cruz Jr. didn't work for the Red Sox, so now they trade for another dumped player. Mike Remlinger was designated for assignment by the Cubs, and the Red Sox were happy to take him off Chicago's hands. Mike struck out 30 and walked only 12 in 33 innings this season. It's unclear to me why the Cubs no longer want that kind of pitcher on their team. The Red Sox also get some money and move a pitcher who doesn't strike out too many batters. It looks to me like a good move for the Red Sox.
Posted by David Pinto at
01:37 PM
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I still don't understand the Cruz DFA - it's not like he did anything to really blow his chance, and if Kapler really was the choice for 4th OF, why get Cruz in the first place?
I do like the Remlinger pickup, however. Can't be worse than Embree.
Meanwhile, Embree's looked okay in his last couple of appearances with the Yanks...he throws hard and he wants the ball every day- two qualities I certainly admire in a reliever...
Remlinger's no spring chicken at 39, he's not that cheap at $4.2 million, and his OPS allowed has steadily worsened from .557 in 2002 to .763 this year.
So, yeah, I can understand why he got the axe, though he's hardly reached the point of utter terribleness. So he might help the Sox' bullpen.
Well, the Cubs have a plethora of wonderful arms on thier staff and I am sure they just wanted to share the wealth so to speak.
Remlinger's numbers look reaonable other than his ERA -- but we are talking very few innings, so a run on ERA can be simple fluke. His SO/9 are down a little, but still over 8, but his BB are down more, so his K/BB is actually up to 2.5. As with Borowski, I think the cubs are giving up on pitchers who still have real value. (He has yet to give up a run for TB in 11 appearances. His only problem with the Cubs was a tendency towards HR, never a problem before and almost certainly a fluke).
Embree on the other hand has worst numbers with the Yanks (5.40 ERA) than the "washed up" Remlinger had with the Cubs - and he hasn't even given up a HR yet (and it should happen any pitch now...)
One big reason he was struggling in Chicago was that they kept using him against lefties, when he is more effective against righties.
Of course, Dusty Baker is still a genius and his wisdom shall never be questioned, amen.
Remlinger can still be serviceable as a middle reliever if spotted correctly. But the OPS-allowed track over the past several years is not encouraging. Are the homers really a fluke, or are they an indication that a pitcher pushing 40 is just losing his effectiveness?
It will hardly cost the Red Sox anything in talent to find out. So the pickup is certainly defensible. With a 5.17 bullpen ERA, second-worst in the AL to only Tampa Bay at 5.20, the Sox should take a look at any halfway decent reliever who becomes available.
They had to ditch Remlinger whether his ERA was 3,4, or whatever. Judging a reliever based on his ERA is pretty sketchy to begin with. He just makes way too much money to be keeping around - good bullpens are created using free talent, not $4 million setup men.