Revamping the Red Sox Bullpen to match rotation’s growth

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Jul 26, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Junichi Tazawa (36) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Junichi Tazawa

Tazawa has been a stalwart at the back of our bullpen for many years; however, there arrives a time when a player can no longer perform up to his once superlative capabilities and a reconsideration of one’s proper role is in order. Tazawa has performed poorly all season and it may be time to redefine the nature of his association with respect to the back end of the Red Sox Bullpen.

The chart below indicates just how awfully Tazawa has performed in August:

Junichi Tazawa 2016	April – July	August Values
HR%	3.5	13.1
ERA	3.31	9.00
FIP	3.63	13.4
BB%	6.3	17.4
K%	27.3	21.7
BAA	0.220	0.316
WHIP	1.08	2.50

The major league average for Home Run percentage is 3.0%. Since August 1, Tazawa is allowing the long ball at an unfathomable 13.1%. In that same period, his ERA and FIP have ballooned to astronomical values, while his Walk Rate has nearly tripled and his Strikeout Rate has decreased.

From April to July, he was holding opposing batters to a very respectable .220; however, since August 1, he is allowing opposing batters to hit .316 against him, a mark that should not allow him to pitch in any game situation in which the outcome is in doubt. Lastly, since August 1, his WHIP is 2.50, which begs the question, “How many of the readers have even seen a WHIP in which the first digit was a ‘2’”?

Next: Fernando Abad

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