Red Sox: Matt Barnes trending for the wrong reasons after awful performance
By Mark Powell
Boston Red Sox fans are furious at closer Matt Barnes for blowing yet another save attempt, and want him removed from the ninth-inning role.
Barnes has been downright horrendous in August, so much so that fans want him removed from the closer role before the postseason begins. Such a decision would be rash in nature, but deserved given every game counts at this juncture for a Red Sox team on the precipice of Wild Card contention.
Boston was once comfortably ahead in the AL East, holding a sizable advantage over the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees. Now, they find themselves in third place behind both those squads, with Toronto breathing down their necks in the AL Wild Card race.
Red Sox fans want Matt Barnes removed as closer
Barnes gave up four hits and two earned runs, recording just one out in the process against the lowly Texas Rangers. If Barnes can’t record outs against that competition, what’s to be expected of him in the playoffs against the best lineups in baseball?
Matt Barnes shouldn’t be the closer anymore.
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) August 23, 2021
Matt Barnes has a 7.84 ERA with five saves, two blown saves and three losses since the Red Sox signed him to a two-year contract extension on July 11.
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) August 23, 2021
MATT BARNES LOCKS IT ONCE AGAIN DOWN FOR THE RED SOX AS THEY LOOK TO BE BACK ON TRACK TO WIN THE DIVISION pic.twitter.com/10tiCByzch
— Kelvin (@Cole4CyYoung) August 23, 2021
$15M Matt Barnes extension starting to look like a heist.
— Bastards of Boston Baseball (@Bastards_Boston) August 23, 2021
Matt Barnes has a 15.19 ERA (5.1 innings, 9 earned runs) in August. He has three losses and two blown saves.
— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) August 23, 2021
Matt Barnes post All-Star break pic.twitter.com/3QwIcPrrR5
— Chaim Bloom RBW (@SaleComeback) August 23, 2021
Matt Barnes has an ERA of 12.60 (!!!) this month.
— MaximBet (@MaximBetUSA) August 23, 2021
He just blew another save for the Boston Red Sox (-300).#MakeItMajor #TEXvsBOShttps://t.co/h3c9wga4fz
Exasperated Matt Barnes is a vibe pic.twitter.com/hU163wX7J4
— Michael Clair (@michaelsclair) August 23, 2021
Matt Barnes is lucky that when you google his name it’s the basketball player that shows up
— Phill (@MeekPhill_) August 23, 2021
That Matt Barnes extension isn’t looking too good now🤦🏼♂️
— Jake “Iggy” Ignaszewski (@JakeIggy) August 23, 2021
Barnes has a 6.30 ERA since the All Star Break
DEFINITELY can’t be trusted in the closer role anymore#RedSox #DirtyWater
Last 7 games for Matt Barnes:
— Dave Green (@DavidMGreen) August 23, 2021
4.1 IP
10 H
9 ER
18.69 ERA
3 losses
2 blown saves pic.twitter.com/Pctv85ByL9
Needless to say, Boston needs more out of the back end of its bullpen. Expect Alex Cora to make a move soon if things don’t improve.
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