Red Sox rotation days are numbered for lefty Drew Pomeranz
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox are winning and one way to keep winning is to remove players who simply are failing. Drew Pomeranz has become quite hittable and may soon be in the bullpen.
I am somewhat convinced that the disappointing Drew Pomeranz will make one more start for the Boston Red Sox. That start will determine a course of action that may not be conducive to Pomeranz expecting a large free agent offer when the 2018 season is complete.
So far, Pomeranz has been – and this is minimized – a disappointment. Pomeranz’s fastball is down, contact is up and swinging strikes are down. The metrics are not a path to success.
In each of his last two failures, the one constant is Steven Wright replacing a shelled Pomeranz. Against Baltimore, Wright tossed 4.2 innings allowing two earned runs. A rather tepid performance, but one with 68 pitches. Against the Braves Saturday it was vintage Wright – when the righty knuckleballer pitched three scoreless frames.
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Manager Alex Cora apparently will have Hector Velazquez for short or long duty as needed. The former Mexican League righty has responded in a positive manner in any pitching role. That leaves Wright as the go-to pitcher when Pomeranz crumbles. If that happens the next start you may see a role reversal.
Expect Wright to return to the lefty-heavy rotation and Pomeranz to be demoted to bullpen work. Pomeranz has a long history of doing both, but a 17-6 record as a starter in 2017 settled that bullpen history. Not now – expect it to be revisited unless Pomeranz suffers some mysterious malady and ends up on the disabled list.
Wright and Pomeranz both have a common thread – being on the 2016 All-Star team. Since then their careers have gone through what is now full circle. Wright’s career has stalled by the infamous shoulder injury incurred while pinch running. Not to be limited to just a shoulder, the 2017 season was a washed out blur over knee surgery. Then came the suspension of 15 games and now a return (hopefully) to the fast track.
Pomeranz was damaged goods when he arrived. Medical records were “incomplete” which is a polite term for the Padres attempting to pull a fast one. The Red Sox held serve despite the issue and Pomeranz was less than impressed with the Red Sox in 2016.
Now injuries have returned for Pomeranz this spring – he appears a baseball version of a Faberge Egg – and that raises some dire warning. Now performance issues that may or may not be bundled with injuries. What is now the full circle is Wright’s sun is rising and Pomeranz’s is setting.
The Red Sox will not miss a beat on their road to 100 wins if Wright is a reasonable facsimile to his superb 2016 season. The rotation will have a better balance with lefty-righty mix and a knuckleballer can be a diversion nightmare after the more traditional pitchers. Expect some real ugly games with Wright, but expect far more standout ones.
Next: Hanley Ramirez designated for assignment
If Pomeranz somehow corrects his flaws or visits the healing waters of Lourdes and revives his now crestfallen season the Red Sox will be certainly looking good. Depth, talent, versatility and Mr. Velazquez waiting to step in somewhere.