Ross Ohlendorf a Victim of the Red Sox Numbers Game

The Red Sox have lost Ross Ohlendorf to free-agency as he elected to use his June 1 opt-out clause when he was not on the major league roster at that time.  It should not come as a surprise that the Red Sox did not call up Ohlendorf given how well their bullpen has performed this year and the starting rotation did not have a spot for the Austin, Texas native with both Daisuke Matsuzaka an Aaron Cook on the horizon to return in the near future.

The Red Sox signed Ohlendorf in February to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training and was apart of the low cost gamble that Ben Cherington was hell bent on sticking to this winter instead of overspending on the high-prized free agent starters.

Ohlendorf made 10 starts in Pawtucket, going 4-3 with a 4.61 ERA in 52.2 innings of work. He had a strikeout ratio of 6.3K/9 and a walk ratio of 2.6BB/9, certainly respectable numbers and given the fact he had not worked out of the bullpen in over four years it was rotation or bust for Ohlendorf and the Red Sox with the latter being the unfortunate consequence of an already crowded rotation.

You could make the argument that you can never have too many starting pitchers and the 2011 Red Sox would certainly attest to that.  But with versatility options in Daniel Bard and maybe Felix Doubront, Ohlendorf’s one track game led to his dismissal.

It would not come as a surprise to see Ohlendorf get claimed by another club given his numbers thus far in triple-A.  If Jamie Moyer can get 10 starts in the majors after recovering from Tommy John Surgery at the age of 49, then surely the 29-year old Ross Ohlendorf can be given a chance to start with another club.