MVN: Most Valuable Network

Can someone please explain to me the fascination with Kyle Snyder?

With the news that Bobby Kielty will likely be demoted to AAA Pawtucket before the Red Sox open their U.S. season in Oakland late Tuesday night, it appears both David Aardsma and Kyle Snyder will be featured in the Red Sox bullpen. While Aardsma has clear potential and fits the mold of someone who should man one of the last two roster spots, it is still unclear to me why Kyle Snyder hasn’t 1) been traded to a NL team yet where he may be useful as a fifth starter or 2) been completely dumped.

Theo was able to pick up Snyder off the waiver wire in the summer of 2006 when the Red Sox pitching staff was totally shot thin due to various injuries and the move paid some dividends at the beginning of 2007. Through the month of May, Snyder established himself as an underrated long reliever with a 1.53 ERA in 17.2 IP. The problem lay ahead: we learned that Snyder not only is not a long reliever, but that those two months were rather fluky.

From the middle of July on last season, Snyder pitched very poorly. He surrendered 15 earned runs in his last 20 games for a 5.55 ERA and an astronomical WHIP. 11 of those earned runs were given up in his last 11 games for a 7.62 ERA. Despite stellar K/9 and BAA concluding numbers, Snyder stranded an inordinate amount of runners, allowing two or more base runners in half his innings pitched and finished with 5.3 BB/9 innings.

Also, Snyder cannot be relied on in game-deciding situations, or anywhere close to that type of scenario. Of his 46 appearances last season, Snyder entered the game when the Red Sox were trailing or leading by three or more runs 30 times. When Tito called for Snyder to protect a one-run lead in the sixth inning over other options last Wednesday, I let out a soft cry for help. When Snyder departed, the lead had vanished.

It is a complete mystery why a redundant arm like Snyder would be favored on the roster over options such as Bryan Corey, who has continuously proved he belongs on the pitching staff, or Bobby Kielty as an extra bench option, rather than relying on just Coco Crisp in the backup outfielder slot. Snyder has always been about potential; Curt Schilling last season raved about his curveball. Yet, Snyder has never harnessed his full capabilities and it is clearly time for the Red Sox to move on with another option.

The last spot on the roster should not be served to a pitcher with no clear role, who is awfully mediocre, and provides absolutely zero upside. The last spot should be reserved for a player like Bryan Corey, or hopefully Justin Masterson later in the year. With Julian Tavarez able to stretch out for multiple innings, why is Snyder needed?

There are other options, Theo. Trade him to an NL team and take what you can get. It’s time for the Kyle Snyder Era to end in Boston.

(And, no, I’m not bitter because Snyder gave up a three-run walkoff home run to Kevin Millar last August when I drove down to Camden Yards for the game. Not at all.)