McAdam: Bullpen-by-committee? Red Sox aren't ruling it out

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In the modern analytics era, the Red Sox have proudly been in the forefront.

From the time Theo Epstein became general manager before the 2003 season, the Red Sox have embraced new concepts, trafficked in data for player evaluation and projection and generally showed a willingness to be bold. Under Dave Dombrowski, viewed by most as a more traditional executive, the Red Sox have expanded their analytics department and incorporate their input into virtually every part of their decision-making.

So, why, at a time when the team lacks an obvious experienced closer for the ninth inning, wouldn't they consider using a variety of pitchers late in games based on the most favorable matchups?

Well, in fact, they just might.

"I think we're considering everything right now,'' Alex Cora told BostonSportsJournal.com. "March 28 (the date of the regular season opener), people will be like, 'OK, that's what they're doing.' But we've got capable guys to get people out and we'll maximize their talent.''

Cora noted the team used an unorthodox approach last postseason, utilizing starters for high-leverage spots. In the World Series clincher at Dodger Stadium, Cora went with Chris Sale rather than Craig Kimbrel for the final three outs in Game 5.

In the regular season, it's not tenable to have starting pitchers used in relief between starts. The workload would be prohibitive and injuries would be inevitable. But the willingness to focus more on matchups and less on a fixed role is very much on the table.

"When you have talent and you have options, anything is possible,'' said Cora. "I'm not saying that's the way we're going, but it's something we'll talk about.''

Like most modern managers, Cora relishes flexibility with his roster and pitching staff and the notion of using various relievers in different spots holds great appeal to him.

"Options,'' answered Cora when asked what intrigues him the most about such a plan. "Options from the seventh inning through the ninth. More teams are doing it, like Houston. You hear A.J. (Hinch, manager of the Astros) say, 'Yeah, (Roberto) Osuna is my closer, but that doesn't mean he's always going to pitch the ninth inning.' That's just a title.

"But it's too early (to know if this is the path we're going to take) right now. It all depends who we have. If we have guys who can get people out and we're comfortable with it, it might be an option.''

Some of this is more a matter of semantics. As Cora noted, even a team with a designated and established closer like Houston could well use that closer to get two big outs in the seventh, rather than wait to deploy him for a routine, three-out save in the ninth.

The idea is to use the best pitcher for a given spot -- regardless of title, role or protocol.

This wouldn't be the first time the Red Sox experimented with such an approach. In 2003, when the team was similarly in transition in their bullpen, the team began the year with a "bullpen-by-committee'' approach.

But when Chad Fox blew a save in the ninth inning at Tropicana Field on Opening Night, the fan backlash was immense and before long, the idea was scrapped.

At least one member of the organization, only half-jokingly, wondered whether the toughest part of implementing the committee approach in 2019 would be selling it to a skeptical fan base.

For all the changes brought to the sport in recent years -- with teams utilizing "openers,'' to name one seismic shift -- most organizations have been reluctant to go with a committee approach, even as the notion of saves have become devalued and adherence to traditional roles lessens.

And for all his willingness to invest in analytics and new concepts, Dombrowski seemed unconvinced of its efficacy last week.

"I know you have to be careful (retaining) an old-fashioned mindset,'' said Dombrowski, "but I will tell you that I still believe, in talking to people, that pitching the ninth inning is different than pitching any other innings for some guys. Not everybody can do it. We have guys (for whom pitching the ninth) would really be no question because they have the ability to pitch the ninth inning. You look at guys like Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier, they have the pure stuff to pitch the ninth inning. But will they do it on a consistent basis? Time tells.

"Some people just don't feel comfortable pitching the ninth inning, so I think that's why it hasn't necessarily evolved (more across the game).''

But if ever there seemed a good opportunity for the Red Sox to try it, it would seem to be now. Kimbrel remains an available free agent, but Dombrowski has continually stated that the Sox don't envision a "big expenditure'' for an addition to the bullpen. Even a one-year reunion with Kimbrel -- which would lessen the Red Sox risk in terms of contractual length while allowing Kimbrel to go back on the market next winter -- would, thanks to the Red Sox' luxury tax issues, cost well in excess of $20 million once penalties are factored in.

Barnes and Brasier have been mentioned most often as the likeliest candidates to replace Kimbrel, but one of the appealing features of not designating a closer per se would be to limit the pressure and expectations placed on the reliever who emerged with the job. Assuming the closer's role has plenty of inherent pressure and that would only be heightened for the pitcher who emerges as Kimbrel's replacement.

The Sox have almost six weeks before Opening Night in Seattle. But it's clear that there are multiple options -- including the committee approach -- on the table.