Red Sox: Former reliever Manny Delcarmen on comeback trail

The Boston Red Sox had a very solid Manny Delcarmen in the bullpen for two seasons. Delcarmen has not pitched at the MLB level since 2010 but is looking for another shot with the Red Sox.

Can the Boston Red Sox have a Major Disaster Coming (MDC)? Manny Delcarmen is giving it another go to attempt to revive a once promising career, as reported on WEEI and other sources.

The former second round draft pick for Boston in 2000 had two very notable points of interest – he was born in Boston and the righty could throw. Now he is at Jet Blue Park attempting to get a contract.

Delcarmen used the old number one for his primary pitch and in his most notable season – 2008 – according to Fangraphs tossed the heater 68% rate at a very nice 95.8 clip. Delcarmen mixed up the remaining tosses with a curve and change. The problem was 2007 and 2008 represented the only two productive seasons Delcarmen had in his major league career.

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In the championship year of 2007, Manny became a significant contributor once he was recalled from Pawtucket. Delcarmen went on to appear in 44 games, allowing just 28 hits and striking out 41. The downside – isn’t there always one with pitchers – was 17 walks being issued for a 3.48 BB/9.

The 2008 season Delcarmen was a key contributor in a set-up and bridge role out of the bullpen. In 73 games Delcarmen registered 74.1 innings with a 3.27 ERA. The 8.72 K/9 was offset slightly by a 3.39 BB/9, but the future looked promising for the local kid.

In the playoffs of 2007, Delcarmen did little as the Red Sox hoisted a flag. In six playoff games, Delcarmen pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four runs. The playoffs of 2008 were to become what symbolized the end of Delcarmen in Boston. In the game four of a 13-4 Tampa win, Delcarmen pitched just 0.1 innings, allowing five earned runs and issued three walks. The following game Delcarmen faced two batters and walked both.

In 2009 Delcarmen’s game unwound with a 5.13 BB/9 in 53 innings pitched. Delcarmen’s ERA soared to 4. 53 in his 64 games. The fastball was starting to deteriorate at 93.9 MPH and Delcarmen became quite hittable as the H/9 climbed from 6.7 in 2008 to 9.7.

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In 2010 Delcarmen was shipped to the Colorado Rockies and that started a merry-go-round as Delcarmen eventually was signed by Seattle, Texas, Yankees, Baltimore, and Washington, but never surfaced at the MLB level with any team other than Boston and the Rockies.

Just what happened?

Early in his career Delcarmen had Tommy John surgery, but completely recovery. His fastball actually ticked up and his curve was even sharper. When his speed declined his curve also lost some of its bite and became – as scouts say – “flat.” With the degeneration of control comes consistently pitching behind hitters – and that is a pitching recipe for disaster.

Watching Delcarmen at Pawtucket and Boston in 2007 he appeared to have a solid future. The 2008 season further established – at least from my observation – that Delcarmen would continue to improve with the potential to close if he could get his walks under control.

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The various attempts to resurrect his career failed and his last release was last April from the Mexican League. Now Delcarmen has been conditioning himself and working on mechanical issues in an attempt to get back and with the money being handed out who can blame him?

Sources: Fangraphs