Using an Opener for Houck
The Boston rotation has been a disaster except for a few starts in the first 43 games of the season. Their 5.84 rotation ERA trails only the Reds and Athletics. Although the Red Sox have plenty of options, most are not that appealing. It may take some creativity to figure out a way to maximize the rotation options. One pitcher who Alex Cora could help is Tanner Houck with the use of an Opener.
Through 8 starts, there have been 2 versions of Tanner Houck. The first version is the version that the Boston Red Sox want and that is when he faces a lineup for the first time. The numbers are incredible.
19.2 IP / 72 BF / 0.92 ERA / .109 / .194 / .125
When the lineup turns over for the second time, Tanner Houck goes from being an elite pitcher to a guy who makes you wonder if he belongs in the big leagues. The difference is quite shocking.
15 IP / 72 BF / 5.40 ERA / .369 / .408 / .523
The numbers are so different that it makes you wonder if this is just a fluke as it is only a small sample size (8 starts) or is this a result of Houck not having the pitch mix needed to get hitters out multiple times in an outing. The first time through the order makes you want to keep Houck in the rotation with the hope that he can figure it out. If he can give the Red Sox 5 or 6 quality innings, that would be a huge boost to this struggling rotation.
Due to the issues with the lineup seeing Houck for a second time, I wonder if Alex Cora would consider using an Opener on days when Houck is supposed to get the start. We have seen the Tampa Bay Rays and a few other organizations use an Opener so that their “bulk pitcher” does not have to face the top of the order as often. By utilizing this strategy with Houck, it would allow Houck to come into the game in the second or third inning and face the 4th hitter or someone lower in the lineup. Then, when the top of the order comes back around, they haven’t seen Houck yet and hopefully those elite “first time through the order” numbers continue.
With an Opener, Houck would only have to face hitters 4-9 for a second time and hopefully by then, Houck is working into the fifth or sixth inning. If the Boston offense is hot in that game and has built a comfortable lead, it would allow Houck to continue pitching and attack hitters in different ways.
I will be the first one to say that I do not care for the Opener as I love the starting pitcher in baseball. Fans still care about who is starting in the game and it just creates a more entertaining product to watch. But if an Opener is being used with the intention of continuing to develop Houck as a starter, I think I could support the decision.
The question that develops with using an Opener is who do you trust to have a clean first inning against an opposing team’s best hitters. Alex Cora’s bullpen has been split with relievers that you can trust and relievers that only provide comfort in a mop up role. Josh Winckowski, Chris Martin, and obviously Kenley Jansen have earned late game, high leverage situations. That would leave Richard Bleier, Joely Rodriguez, Ryan Sherriff, or Justin Garza to be the opener with the current roster. Playing matchups may be the way to be successful with an Opener. The pairing that intrigues me the most is Kutter Crawford when he returns from the IL this weekend. Crawford throwing 2 innings and then handing the ball off to Houck would be a combination that I can see being successful.
There is no denying how bad the Boston rotation has been in the first 43 games. Even though there have been injuries and guys like Sale and Paxton working their way back from injuries, eventually you are what the numbers say. Continuing to put pitchers in the same opportunities and hoping for different results is the definition of insanity. It may be time for Alex Cora to get creative with the rotation to try and maximize the strengths of the personnel in the rotation.
Are you anti-opener or would you consider it with a pitcher like Houck?