Red Sox division title could hinge on Drew Pomeranz
By Rick McNair
Drew Pomeranz is slated to return to the Boston Red Sox rotation next week. Expect this to be a bumpy road that may or may not turn smooth.
Drew Pomeranz will be reinstated to the roster and tossed into the rotation out of necessity. The recent spate of rotation injuries changed any timeline for the return of the soon to be free agent left-hander. He has an opportunity to help his team and himself as the next 60+ games take place. Pomeranz is on the ledger for $8.5 MM and hopes of a long-term deal with a salary bump have disappeared. A strong finish could help restore value.
The real issue is the team and the rotation. Hector Velazquez was the other option and the valuable righty has made his share of spot starts – all of which the Red Sox have been victorious in. The team – meaning president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski – have been involved in a nation and probably a worldwide search to find pitching. This – of course – is a Sisyphus type mission.
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The trade value on the Red Sox is minimal unless they wish to package a top or near top of the line player and call the Mets or some other forlorn team wishing to dispose of a potential free agent or fat contract. Our prospect closet is barren – at least when compared to say the Yankees.
The Red Sox are stuck with Pomeranz. His fastball is down a bit as is his deadly curve. Pomeranz gets his strikeouts as does virtually every pitcher with today’s hitting mentality, but that curve is the big setup. Pomeranz has never been a master of control and this season is especially vapid with a 5.1 BB/9 in 37 innings. You get behind in the count you can get killed.
Pomeranz was excellent in 2017 and much the same was expected this season and it failed to materialize. With Pomeranz, the issues apparently happen with an occasional tender arm as it has this season. The health issue will loom like the specter of a baseball Freddie Kruger ready to pounce. With the on and off again arm miseries this season a healthy Pomeranz for two months may be wishful thinking. Keep your fingers crossed.
A Pomeranz who is a reasonable facsimile of 2017 does not instantaneously solve all pitching problems. Expect a further strain on the bullpen and you may be quite fortunate to get five solid innings out of Pomeranz, but that certainly is better than a start by committee. And it highlights the importance of Velazquez as the long relief option when Pomeranz either reaches his pitch count or is getting chewed up.
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The Red Sox season will not collapse if Pomeranz goes down in flames. Three solid starters with one being Chris Sale can easily push this team to 100+ wins. But a Pomeranz approaching 2017 form would certainly relieve the frayed nerves of Red Sox Nation. Wish him well.