The Red Sox bullpen implosion

It was the most publicized and talked about experiment of the baseball off-season. However, the exceedingly debated Red Sox policy of a "Closer by Committee" has not gone according to plan during the first week of the 2003 season. What statisticians and some pundits revered as a plan with a lot of merit has backfired so far this season.

The system which rotates a member of the bullpen to try shut the door on the Opposition in the ninth inning has blown two leads so far this season, and has nearly blown another. The Red Sox have managed to start their season with a 5-2 record, but questions still persist over whether the bullpen can hold down a lead with the pressure on.

On opening day, the system had its first chance to show if it could work. After seven brilliant innings by Pedro Martinez, and a scoreless inning from Ramiro Mendoza, the Red Sox entered the ninth inning with a 4-1 lead over the lowly Devil Rays. Manager Grady Little decided to go with lefty Alan Embree to try to close out the game.

Embree promptly gave up a single, a home run and another single before Little yanked him. Chad Fox, a member of the trio acquired in the off-season, was brought in to try to protect the now one run Red Sox lead. Fox was able to retire the first two batters, but then a walk was issued, a home-run followed and the game had been blown.

Only five days later Ramiro Mendoza was given the job of protecting a five run lead against the Orioles. Mendoza then imploded. It was only a terrific relay throw by Nomar Garciaparra that prevented the tying run from scoring and gave the Sox a precarious 8-7 win. The next day Fox was called upon to guide the Sox through a tied game in the ninth inning and promptly lost the game. So far this season when the bullpen has been asked to do anything remotely close to protecting a lead or being in a pressure situation, they have folded like a house of cards.

The question is can the Closer-by-Committee" system be effective? While, many still think it can, others feel that certain "closers" need a special mental toughness in order to finish off a team. If the bullpen cannot get itself together, the Sox may be forced to go out and acquire a closer with experience. If it can, then the bullpen should have a greater amount of success the rest of the season, as its pitchers calm down and relax on the mound.

Whether the system can work in a playoff like situation will be an all-together different story.