Brandon Workman was a 2nd round pick by the Sox in the 2010 MLB Draft and was the Sox' Minor League Pitcher of the year in 2012. He made his major league debut in 2013 and was an integral part of the Red Sox post-season run after the season ending injury to Andrew Miller. He did not allow an earned run in the playoffs and pitched a scoreless eighth inning in the decisive Game 6 of the World Series.
From then on, his career went to pieces. Inserted into the starting rotation in 2014, he plummeted to a 1-10 record including getting suspended for throwing at Evan Longoria. After being put on the Disabled List in April of 2015, he had Tommy John surgery and missed the entirety of the season and posted a hideous 7.65 ERA in rehab starts in 2016. After 3 lost seasons, Workman returned to the bullpen in 2017 and once again was an integral part of the 2018 World Series run. In 2019 he was one of and arguably the best closer in baseball going 10-1 with a 1.88 ERA. From 1-10 in 2014 to 10-1 in 2019, what a comeback. Due to the Sox ineptitude in 2020, he hasn't been in too many closing situations which is why he became the perfect trade bait. For someone that rose from the ashes to become one of the better relievers in the game is a good legacy.
Heath Hembree was picked up at the July 31, 2014 trade deadline when Sox general manager Ben Cherrington blew up the "bearded brothers" that did in 2014 what was expected in 2013. Jake Peavy was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for their top two pitching prospects Eduardo Escobar and Heath Hembree.
Escobar flamed out but Hembree went on to become a key part of the Sox bullpen from 2015 until his trade on Friday. Hembree was never the flamethrowing closer San Francisco thought he would be but he still was the modern day Mike Timlin for you old timers out there. His departure is already showing as the Sox relief pitchers have allowed runs past the 6 innings in the two losses following the trades. Like Cinderella once said, don't know whatcha got till its gone.
So as we end the eulogy, let's take a moment to remember the Red Sox career of two bullpen stalwarts. One a member of two World Series teams and the other a vital cog in the 2018 World Series run. Thanks for the memories.
As for tomorrow night's game, Kyle Hart (0-1, 11.12 ERA) gets his ass handed to him by the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays haven't named a starter yet but it won't matter as the carnage begins Tuesday night at 6:30 PM at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, NY.
No comments:
Post a Comment