Red Sox’ Ryan Dempster Willing to Be a Reliever During Playoffs
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Robert Roger/MLB Photos via Getty Images (NEW YORK) — With Major League Baseball’s postseason just weeks away, Red Sox starting pitcher Ryan Dempster says he’s willing to move to the bullpen when October rolls around.
“I was asked to go down there I could help us out in a big way. I have confidence in my ability, confidence in the mental side of it,” Dempster told WEE.com‘s Rob Bradford. “I’ve been there before. It’s fun. It’s a totally different animal.”
In his first season in Boston, Dempster has had an up and down season. Through 29 starts, Dempster is 8-9 with a 4.64 ERA. He’s also third in the American League in walks issued.
But Dempster does have experience as a reliever. From 2004-2007, he served primarily as a reliever with the Chicago Cubs.
With the starting rotation expected to tighten up during the postseason, Dempster wants to help the team anyway he can.
“…I’ll do whatever role they ask me to pitch in. Whatever they ask me to do, I’m going to grab it by the horns and run with it,” Dempster continued.
Dempster signed a two-year, $26.5 million deal with the Red Sox prior to this season.
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