Bullish Bullpen!

(July 26)

Short take:  J.B.'s gone, Bullpen shines

James Baldwin was traded just a few hours before the Sox played this game in Cleveland.  He was the scheduled starter.  For J.B., the Sox got three minor league pitchers, or at least thought they did.  Turns out Kenny Williams had the wrong guy figured in the deal, Jeff Barry a 32 year-old outfielder who spent last season in Japan, rather than Jon Berry, a 23 year-old right-handed pitcher in Single-A Vero Beach.  Confusing for sure, since the Sox GM said he liked Barry's arm.  That's not much of endorsement for an outfielder, is it?

Somewhere back in L.A., former Sox GM candidate Dan Evans is rolling on the floor laughing.  He's the one who pulled this deal off and was passed over for the very job Kenny Williams now has.

Otherwise it was a proud day to be a Sox Fan.  Josh Fogg was called up to take Baldwin's roster spot but the start went to Gary Glover, the player Williams got for Scott Eyre last fall.  As it turns out, it was the best trade he made all year.

Glover teamed up with Matt Ginter, Bob Howry, and Keith Foulke to hold off the Cleveland Indians just enough to win the game 5-4.  Maybe the bullpen should start games more often?

While the bullpen cobbled together enough outs to stretch across nine innings, Jose Canseco was mashing the ball at the plate.  His clutch two-out three-run blast in the fifth inning was the big blow of the game and the highlight of his own impressive line, 3 for 3 with a walk, 2 runs scored, and 3 rbi's.  Not bad for a guy benched after a festival of strikeouts the past week.

Matt Ginter deserved a better fate than what Bob Howry dealt him, allowing two inherited runners to score.  Keith Foulke was much kinder to Howry, getting the third out for his teammate stranding runners at first and third.  

The bullpen picked up the win, a hold, and the save tonight.  Danny Wright is called up and Josh Fogg, an emergency call-up pitcher only, is sent back down.

Evaluating who stays and who goes for opening day, 2002 has begun!