The Red Sox have claimed left-hander Josh Osich off waivers from the White Sox, as per a team announcement.
Originally claimed off waivers from the Orioles last March, Osich posted a 4.66 ERA, 4.07 K/9 rate, and 8.1 K/9 over 67 2/3 relief innings for the White Sox last season. Osich’s effectiveness was limited to same-sided batters, as he held left-handed hitters to only a .551 OPS (115 plate appearances) while right-handed hitters mashed him to the tune of a .903 OPS (157 PA).
These numbers largely match Osich’s rather lopsided splits for his career, making him one of many specialist relievers (particularly lefties) whose careers could be altered by the three-batter minimum rule coming into effect in 2020. From Boston team in need of bullpen reinforcements, however, clearly the team sees value in exploring Osich’s potential. The 31-year-old does possess a mid-90’s fastball, and he has a solid 48.5% grounder rate over his 188 career MLB innings.
The waiver claim will shave a little bit of money off Chicago’s book, as Osich was projected to earn $1MM in his first year of arbitration eligibility.
Here we go!
his sox gained some color lol
Solid LOOGY when actually used properly.
I thought teams were going away for lefty specialists? My guess is this will be a game of musical chairs for most teams and as someone they like better pops up on waivers, others get released. I doubt he’ll be in spring training with Boston.
The 3 batter minimum rule is idiotic. They are trying to ruin baseball!!
Just another excuse to speed up the game that already has way too many tv commercials.
If they are serious about speeding up the game, use a pitch clock and force batters to stay in the batter’s box. Assign a ball if the pitcher goes over the pitch clock. Assign a strike if the batter leaves the box during an at bat. Also stop throwing out baseballs every time they hit the dirt on a pitch.
It’s one thing to speed up the tempo of the game. But altering the rules to benefit a quicker game is stupid.
Another way is force teams and pitchers to change by limiting the pitching staff to eleven. if Bloom forces a Cash type managerial style on us, I’m done with watching. The pace at present under Cora is unwatchable. Not fair to knock Cora because it’s everywhere outside of the World Champs and the runner up. DD was trying to emulate that but he paid too much on the wrong players. Strasburg aside, the others have stayed healthy and pitch late into games. This was the best Series to watch from a neutral fan’s perspective.
Player’s Union insists on a snooze button to go with that pitch clock.
Ticket prices better drop if the game gets to short. Just leave baseball the way it is imho.
Amen!
Lol at “they”
I completely forgot about this rule change! We’ll have to wait and see how this new rule affects the new 26 man roster rule next season.
I think the game is far more strategic today opposed to 20 or so years ago and I don’t really understand the logic behind making someone pitch to 3 batters. If someone gives up back-to-back homers and loses the lead, the new rule still forces a manager to keep him in for one more batter. Pretty crazy and a little extreme. I’d rather see a pitch clock and players train their body to get up with the tempo.
The 3 batter minimum rule is idiotic. They are trying to ruin baseball!!
I disagree. This offers no change in the strategic element of the game and creates added drama for viewers while exploring a new bullpen standard.
Personally, I think we’ll see the old way was just dumb.
Bloom with his first hidden gem
First move – a bad one.
Many more to come.
How is it a bad one the bullpen needs has many arms as it takes
FIRE BLOOM
incredible this guy can hold a job
Oh such a pickup.