Top Five Red Sox Pitcher Disappointments of 2015

Jul 8, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher

(68) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

#4 – Matt Barnes

The six-foot-four, 210-pound, 25-year-old righty from Connecticut has been used in 21 games out of the bullpen with some pretty mixed results. Anything sounding like a ‘grey area’ when it comes to relief pitchers is never good.

Barnes has a record of 3-2 with a 5.64 ERA. If that doesn’t shorten your breath quickly, here’s another statistic: Barnes has given up 14 runs in 22.1 innings of work. That is equivalent to giving up a run 63% of the time he is used in relief. What kind of relief is it when you can put money on the fact that he will give up a run if given the chance?

His runs come from Barnes’ inability to keep hitters from bashing him around the ballpark. His opposing team batting average is .343. He can strike out as many batters as he likes, with 22 Ks at present, but the ones Barnes does not strike out find their way to the base paths.

With the troubles that the starters have had this season, a good bullpen was a necessity that the Red Sox did not have, especially not with Barnes. He only recorded one hold this season, while the losing tide washed and overcome him.