Great in eight?
Masterson deserves chance in setup role
It might be time to go with the kid in the ’pen.
Red Sox setup man Hideki Okajima has largely lived up to his billing over the last two months while giving up runs just twice in his last 15 appearances — despite a deceivingly high 3.86 ERA since the All-Star break — but Manny Delcarmen continues to display the worst possible characteristic for a reliever: unpredictability.
The 26-year-old had a nice run in June when he piled up five holds and a 2.25 ERA in 11 appearances over the month, but things have gone from bad (4.91 ERA in July) to worse (6.75 ERA in August).
Enter Justin Masterson.
The 23-year-old has a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings during the Great Masterson Bullpen Project, and he has fanned 16 batters while holding opposing hitters to a .231 batting average.
“I’m getting more and more used to it,” Masterson said. “It’s good to keep getting that experience of pitching with men on base late in ballgames and trying to stay calm, cool and collected while still getting the outs.
“It’s a good time when you finish a game and everything stops, and then guys just start shaking your hand.”
The right-hander has grown so comfortable that it’s time to dial up his relieving responsibilities.
Masterson has been handed eighth-inning duty five times in his 11 overall relief appearances.
The lanky sinkerballer has proven his reliability and effectiveness in a handful of crucial situations over the last month, and he’s yet to be scored upon in 4 2/3 innings pitched during the telltale eighth inning.
Unlike the hard-throwing Delcarmen’s penchant for walking batters and suddenly losing the strike zone, Masterson can register both strikeouts and ground balls with his lethal sinker-slider combination.
It’s about time people see more of the Great Masterson Project.