A look at Ryan Brasier following the 2018 World Series win
The following words came out of the mouth of Joe Buck like poetry, “From the top on down here comes the 1-2 pitch. Red Sox win the World Series.” Manny Machado struck out to end the game and the Series, and Red Sox lefty Chris Sale, and not closer, Craig Kimbrel closed the door on the Dodgers.
The Red Sox beat LA, something we’re beginning to say a lot around New England lately. But now that’s all over. The 2018 World Series champion Red Sox head to Ft. Myers looking to defend their title. There is one problem, the Alex Cora led Red Sox has no closer.
During the Red Sox run over the past 15 years names like Jonathan Papelbon, Koji Uehara, Keith Foulke and Craig Kimbrel closed the door on the ninth inning. Now it’s Ryan Brasier’s turn. You read that correctly, it’s Brasier’s time. He has the opportunity to join the list of names that were Red Sox closers if he is able to secure the job this spring.
In what will arguably be the biggest story this spring, the Red Sox bullpen is without a ninth inning option. This is where Brasier comes into focus.
One year ago, Brasier was unemployed and trying to figure out what’s next. The former sixth round draft pick of the Angels, with only seven career MLB games, had just returned from Japan with no prospects of an MLB job.
Brasier was 30 years old with only 41 days of MLB service time. For most players with that resume it usually would equate to the writing being on the wall that the end was near. The 6-foot-tall and 225 lbs. Texan, who hadn’t pitched in an MLB game since 2013, was running out of time and options.
Then the Boston Red Sox called.
The Red Sox offered Brasier a minor league deal and an invite to Spring Training. Brasier ended up seizing his opportunity with the Red Sox. He earned a spot in Triple-A Pawtucket before being promoted to the Red Sox. For the season, Brasier pitched in 34 games with Boston. He went 2-0 with a 1.60 ERA. Brasier was nails against righties, holding them to an impressive .109/.131/.182 line.
Last year, in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Evil Empire, the New York Yankees, the stage looked too big for Brasier. He looked shaken in Game 1, but in Game 2 he told Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez to “get in the f’n box”. After that everything changed for Brasier, He K’d the side and the Sox took care of New York on their way to the ALCS and then the World Series. Brasier during the postseason allowed just one earned run in 8 2/3 innings.
Brasier went from unemployed to a 30-year-old rookie who won a World Series beating the Dodgers in five games.
Now to present day affairs. The defending World Champions are currently without a closer. The Red Sox biggest question coming into the season is the state of the bullpen. The team will focus on low risk, high reward type players to fill out the pen.
Former Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel is a free agent and Red Sox President of Baseball Operations has stated the team is unlikely to spend big on a closer. Brasier figures to be a bigger piece of the Red Sox bullpen plans in 2019.
The Red Sox will have additional in-house options for closer, fellow righties Matt Barnes, Steven Wright and Tyler Thornburg will have the chance to replace Kimbrel. Thornburg is the only one of that group with true closer experience from his time in Milwaukee.
The Sox could go with the closer by committee approach, but... you can ask Theo Epstein how that went in 2003. I don’t want to open old wounds, but we all know what happened that postseason.
They’ll also have additional options in the pen like Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree and non-roster invitees Brian Ellington, Zach Putnam and Jenrry Mejia.
While Brasier is no guarantee to be the closer when the Sox break camp, the hard throwing right hander will have the opportunity to seize the job.
The question is, does Brasier have what it will take to be the ninth inning option for Cora? Just because Brasier may have the stuff to be the closer, does he possess the mental makeup of a closer?
Replacing Kimbrel will be no short order, he posted 42 saves last season. Brasier was the most consistent reliever for the Red Sox last year. Despite his success last season, his overall inexperience will be questioned.
The duck boats and the parade is over and Damage Done is a thing of the past. It’s now 2019 and Spring Training. For Brasier, who was looking for a job and an opportunity before last season, now has the biggest opportunity of his life. Hopefully for Dombro and the 2019 Red Sox, the stage won’t be too big for Brasier. Because like it or not, Brasier has the chance to be the ninth inning option this season.
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