John Farrell has to be having a hard time figuring out what to do with relief pitcher Manny Delcarmen. He’s a pitcher that has a great fastball and such potential, but the end of last season was not good. Peter Gammons gave a possible reason for the step backwards:
“His shoulder started bothering him in late July, early August, and that’s why he had a 7.27 ERA after the All-Star break,” NESN baseball analyst Peter Gammons told Heidi Watney on Monday’s edition of Red Sox Hot Stove.
This season, Gammons expects Delcarmen to bounce back and help the Red Sox. If not, Gammons says the Marlins are interested in the righty.
Delcarmen has been working on his mechanics this spring which has caused a drop in his velocity.
“We’re busting our butts to get everything clicking at the same time,” he said. “With my mechanics, if something goes wrong, I fly open and my ball’s drifting. … The last thing I’m worried about is letting go right now. I feel good. My shoulder feels good. If I’ve got to throw 92 right now to get guys out, I’d rather do that.”
The team has been very slow with Delcarmen; he has only pitched in seven innings this spring. Today threw 40 pitches in a simulated game, only 26 were for strikes. This may not be the improvement the team was looking for. Francona and Farell have to decide if they are going to give a bullpen spot to a guy that is still a work in progress.
Delcarmen is a Boston native. He gives back to his community and helps public schools. Hopefully he and the Red Sox can make it work out in this last week of spring training.
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