What On Earth Is Wrong With Mark Melancon?
The Red Sox traded for Mark Melancon this past winter with the possibility of him becoming the closer in Boston. After Tuesday night’s performance, Melancon will be lucky to have a job in the majors as he has been nothing short of atrocious in his relief efforts in this young season.
Tuesday night marked his fourth appearance of the season and once again, Melancon turned it into a replica of the home run derby that takes place in July. The Texas Rangers hit three more home runs off the former Astros closer, bringing the total to five he’s surrendered this season. He gave up two walks and six earned runs to shoot his ERA to an astounding 49.50. That isn’t a typo. The really sad part is that he couldn’t record an out. In fact, this season he’s only been able to record a total of 2.0 innings of work through four relief appearances and only once has he managed to record three outs.
So what’s gone wrong with Melancon? He could be hurt and hasn’t brought it forward to the team in which case he better speak up soon or he could be riding the bus in Pawtucket. During his time in Houston he put up some solid numbers considering he was playing for the lowly Astros. He converted 20 of a possible 25 saves while posting an ERA of 2.78 and a WHIP of 1.22. Previously, he had spent the 2010 season split between Houston and the Yankees appearing in only 22 games but still producing decent numbers for a late inning relief arm (1.27 WHIP and a 4.22 ERA). Given his time in the Yankees organization Melancon had many folks in the Sox organization optimistic that he would be able to deliver the goods in the rough and tough AL East. Boy were they wrong, dead wrong.
The start to this year has been anything but pleasant and now the Red Sox have to figure out what to do with the 27-year old. With Michael Bowden recently designated for assignment, it might be wise for the Sox to pull him back and consider all options with Melancon. A trade is virtually impossible at this point, so it’s likely he’d have to be designated for assignment or bury him in the bullpen and use him in games that are well out of reach; similar to what Tim Wakefield would do over the past couple of seasons. Quite simply put, Melancon is a huge liability on the mound.
Tuesday night’s loss is about as ugly as it can get for a team that is already reeling in the midst of a manager controversy along with the hangover of an ugly finish to last season. Now a decision has to be made on what to do with a guy who can’t get anybody out. I wonder if the Astros will trade back Kyle Weiland for Melancon?
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