Red Sox take Koji Uehara out of closer role
By Maureen Mullen / Boston Globe
PHOTO: Koji Uehara blew a save and was tagged with the loss in the Yankees’ 5-4 victory over the Red Sox Thursday.
It’s not an exaggeration to say the Red Sox would not have won the World Series last year without Koji Uehara. After taking over the closer’s role in late June, he recorded 20 saves in 22 opportunities, posting a 0.41 ERA, a .097 opponents’ average, and 0.36 WHIP.
But, the formerly lights-out closer has been removed from the role, with Edward Mujica taking over for the time being.
Uehara, 39, suffered his latest disappointment on Thursday night in Yankee Stadium when he entered in the ninth inning with the Red Sox leading, 4-3. He gave up a leadoff home run to Mark Teixeira and a one-out home run to Chase Headley for the loss.
It was his fifth blown save of the season, and third in his last five games.Of the 18 runs he’s allowed this season, 10 have come in his last six appearances, spanning 4⅔ innings. His ERA has more than doubled, from 1.27 to 2.64.
It might be time to shut the Red Sox closer down for the season. But the bigger question is whether he can regain his form next year.
“[Uehara] understands the reason for it,” said manager John Farrell before the Sox’ 9-8 walkoff win over the Blue Jays Friday night.
“We’ll probably give him a couple days to regroup some and then look to get him back in some lower-leverage situations before — ideally, we’d have him close out games before the season’s out. And that’s the plan moving forward. When that is, remains to be seen.”
Last season, Uehara appeared in 73 games, pitching 74⅓ innings, both career highs. He recorded 21 saves, appearing in 45 percent of the Sox’ games. Through 140 games this season, he has appeared in 61 games, throwing 61⅓ innings, or 43.5 percent of the Sox’ games, with the Sox stuck in the bottom of the division for much of the season.
With little left for Uehara to prove this season, there had been speculation the Sox should shut him down. Farrell said the move is not a result of Uehara’s health.
“Well, first of all, he’s healthy,” Farrell said. “So there’s no reason to shut down a healthy player. There’s no physical ailments. He doesn’t complain of anything. He downplays the fatigue that has been discussed or written about or reported.
“So we have to factor all that in and yet not be blind to the number of appearances he’s had over the last two years. So there’s no intent to shut him down.
“But yet, we’re dealing with a stretch of games that might be similar to one that he had when he first started with Texas. And we’re working with him to get through this.”
Pitching coach Juan Nieves said Uehara will not throw for at least three days, with a tentative schedule that could have him back in a game Sept. 11.
“Strictly no throwing for the next few days,” Nieves said. “[Friday] is a cardio day, [Saturday] is a workout day, and that third day will be a rest day. Possibly Day 4 will be a side session, two days off and be available for the game.”
Uehara had been struggling with his splitter, which had been so effective for most of his tenure with the Sox.
“I think it’s more the intent behind the pitch, because he’ll throw some — for instance, look at Teixeira’s at-bat last night,” Farrell said. “The first one he threw him, there was good depth to it. There was swing and miss, and then after three consecutive ones, it didn’t have the same consistent finish. And that’s where he’s getting hurt right now, is how many times does he throw it inside a given at-bat and does it have the same action to it?”
Nieves doesn’t see a problem with Uehara’s mechanics.
“I think it’s just location overall,” Nieves said. “Finishing is your hand. How far in front of your body you can get and get it down.
“To me, he hasn’t shown any sign of fatigue. Maybe a little mental. Because he’s been challenged for two years now.”
Uehara didn’t speak to local reporters Friday, but he told Makoto Morimoto of Kyodo News he suggested the break.
“He said he was mentally tired,” Morimoto said. “He said he understands the situation. And he wants to come back before the end of the season.”
Nieves agreed Uehara could have some mental fatigue.
“I’m sure,” Nieves said. “He’s been pitching for a long time and a short offseason. And he’s a hard worker.”
Nieves doesn’t believe Uehara’s age – 39 – is a factor.
“No, he throws the ball probably the easiest, as effortlessly as anybody can make it,” Nieves said. “He’s a healthy guy, fit, eats well.”
Nieves said he did not think the Sox should have shut down Uehara or given him a break earlier in the season.
“No, I think he hasn’t shown us any signs. He throws every day, finishes his throwing program healthy. He’s always available. Velocity is never any different because he’s thrown 89-91 since he was 22. So it’s not like he has had a loss of velocity,” he said.
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