Rotoworld said it all tonight.
After entering a tie game, Blaine Neal gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss for the Red Sox tonight. Neal could be facing a demotion. His 9.00 ERA makes it unlikely that he’ll be claimed off waivers. If he does go, Jason Kershner would be a candidate to replace him. Another option would be to follow the Royals’ lead and call up Cla Meredith, their best relief prospect, from Double-A.
Neal has been effective, then ineffective. His consistency is not good enough, and this balloons his ERA to 9.00 making it likely he could clear waivers, so I have no problem demoting him. He can still be a quality pitcher, but just needs more time. So send him down to Triple-A, and while Jason Kershner is a pretty good candidate (27 years of age, has three years MLB experience – not a full three years – this year in Pawtucket he has 10 IP with a 2.70 ERA … 9 H 3 ER 2 BB 6 K) … I want Cla Meredith. As Brian said today,
And closer Olise (Cla) Meredith continues his assault on AA. In 14 IP over 11 appearances, he’s allowed 0 runs, 5 hits, 2 BB, and 12 Ks. He already has 8 saves.
Let us look at Cla a bit more. Cla was mentioned here courtesy of Cuzittt, who said that:
Cla Meredith: The 6th pick out of Virginia Commonwealth, the relief specialist took 13 games (and 15 1/3 innings) of scoreless relief before getting the bump to Sarasota. Cla went 1-0 with 6 saves, giving up 8 hits, 3 walks, 2 HBPs and striking out 18.) … got a bump from Augusta … and while he was not as perfect as in Augusta, he did quite well in 16 games. Cla went 0-2 with 12 saves and a 2.20 ERA. Cla struck out 16 in 16 1/3 innings, while allowing 15 hits and 3 walks.
I also mentioned him here, when I said that “in the ninth inning, Cla Meredith came on to get the final out after Kason Gabbard got into a jam. I really like Meredith’s windup, it’s like a slingshot. He’s going to be filthy.”
Filthy, indeed.
Thanks, Baseball America!
As we can see, Cla is unhittable. And it’s not like we haven’t brought someone up from AA before who has failed. The last person up from AA that we had was this dude who gave us a 4.87 ERA in 44.1 IP that year.
SoxProspects has this to say about Cla (seventh best Sawx ‘spect): “Meredith has great movement on his pitchers and is very tough against righties. Makes use of a low 90s fastball and a slider. He was used as VCU’s closer in 2004. Boston is grooming Meredith as a closer.”
Cla can break-in as a nice middle reliever this year (and could be sent down once Miller/Schilling/Wells returns from the DL) and then next year take on more responsibility and start being groomed by Foulke. If all progresses well, Cla could be the setup guy for Foulke in 2007, and if we don’t resign Foulke, could close in 2008 at the tender age of 23. Other great closers have followed this lineage – Mariano Rivera and Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez, for instance.
Why Kershner when you can have Cla? It’s easy to send Cla back down, and he’s probably ready now, anyways. People talk about burning an option year, but honestly, you can’t put a ton of stock in option years, plus it’s not as if it won’t be burned next year or later this year. We need to win, and to win, we need the best people available, and the best reliever available in the minor leagues is Cla Meredith.
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evanbrunell: 
alexconvery: 
CharlieSaponara: 
Sam, hard to explain, but he throws sidearm and he doesn't THROW it. He WHIPS it. Your'll see shortly if I get my wish.
Tamaz … I say that we'll win three out of four!
Like a slingshot? I'm intrigued. How do you mean, exactly?
Detroit over Boston! Evan, what do you have to say for yourself?
Like Brandon League's delivery, but more violent?
Not really, Cla stays back.
Cla already has been promoted….to Pawtucket. I heard about it on a message board, but I still haven't seen it in print, but apparently Meredith plays in AAA now.
I'd rather see him in AAA right now than the majors. Let him go for a couple of months to see how he's doing. If the big league bullpen is still struggling in August, then give him a shot to see how he does.
Unhittable?!
This kid just cost Sox a game in his major league debut by walking two and giving up a grand slam to Sexson before getting an out. Hardly can throw a strike and almost all the strikes were batters chasing bad pitches. A prospect is, after all, a prospect. Why rush him?
Did you even stop to think that maybe the kid was nervous? Don't you care that Sexson's homerun was Pesky Pole cheapie?
Nah. Burn the kid!
No offense, but I hope you never become GM of any team I like. Actually, let me rephrase that: I hope you someday end up becoming the GM of the Yankees. Yeah, that's more like it.
I played with the kid in High School and let me tell you he has the spirit. He has come a long way in a year and because of his personality when the pressure is on he'll play. I quarantee an improvement the next time he's up. He learns from his mistakes. Nice work Cla!
I played with the kid in High School and let me tell you he has the spirit. He has come a long way in a year and because of his personality when the pressure is on he'll play. I quarantee an improvement the next time he's up. He learns from his mistakes. Nice work Cla!
another outing, another 2ER….guess he really could have used some more time in Pawtucket before making his way up here. He's having a horrible time locating pitches, but I have no doubt that he'll be a fine big league pitcher one day, but I do wish Francona had not put him in with the game on the line yesterday!
I played with him in the summer of 2003. He is unhittable with the dirtiest sinker I have ever seen. I don't think he gave up a run all summer against Division 1 college hitters with wood. He also has the best mentality of any pitcher I have ever seen. He never is scared and always expects to win…. and usually does!
Great comments, guys. Not too sure why he was rushed, but I like his stuff, and I think he'll settle down soon.
No… I didn't mean to blame the kid; just the decisions to bring him in and keep him in the game after two BBs. I was annoyed by the fact he wasn't pulled after it's apparent he didn't have control. As for "Pesky Pole cheapie", you wouldn't use it to characterize Tek's walk-off homer today, would you?