When Garrett Richards pitches, a memorable quote usually isn't far behind.
After the Red Sox' 4-2 loss to the Tigers, he didn't disappoint.
"It’s frustrating. This has been the worst year of my career," Richards said. "Just trying to find a way to give us a chance to win every night and take steps forward."
Statistically, it's hard to argue.
After giving up three runs in just four innings, Richards' ERA stands at 5.21 with opponents hitting .300 against him. He hasn't pitched as many as six innings since June 1, with the Red Sox carrying a modest 11-10 record n games the righty has started.
But when it comes to Richards it's never quite that simple.
The bobbing and weaving that has come with the pitcher since Major League Baseball's crackdown on sticky substances has been well-documented. That has undoubtedly been a roller coaster.
It is Richards' current existence has served as the latest twist.
Anyone who watched this last outing would have been left with images of optimism. The guy who was left inventing pitches a few weeks ago, had four pitches going at various times, offering glimpses of that guy who turned in one of the season's most dominant performances back on April 27 against the Mets.
A fastball that lived at 96-97 mph. The return of the curveball he seemingly had left behind during his well-publicized evolution. The lock-down slider that has been the go-to more often than not. And even his new friend, the changeup, he threw nine times with some effectiveness.
This, however, is a results business. And when the Red Sox really needed results, Richards couldn't come through.
The mystery of this pitcher is hard for even his manager to nail down, as was evident in the fifth inning. Richards struggled through the fourth inning, but was able to escape what had been a bases-loaded, no-out jam by giving up just one run courtesy some key pitches.
Heading into the fifth his pitch count was more than manageable, with the memory of those final few batters of the fourth offering Alex Cora hope this was going to be something more than another four-inning outing. It was to the point where no reliever was warming up, with the expectation that Richards back back on track.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Richards reverted back to back the uncomfortable version of himself. There was no command. A walk to the Tigers' No. 9 hitter Derek Hill was followed by Akil Baddoo's run-scoring double, coming off a fastball right down the middle.
Cue the confusion. What do with Richards?
With Chris Sale coming back and Tanner Houck at the ready, the Red Sox need to start finding some certainty. In the last eight games, Sox starters have gone five innings just once. During that stretch they have an 0-6 record and combined 8.47 ERA.
That simply isn't to work.
It would seem that Richards' fate is leading him to display some of those aforementioned weapons in the bullpen. It's a notion he seemingly thrilled about entertaining, as was evident by his comments after the latest outing.
"I mean, I’m a starting pitcher," Richards said. "I have an ability to throw 100 pitches and keep my stuff the whole time. I feel like that in itself, not many people can do it."
He's right. He does have that ability. But he has only managed to hit the century mark once this season, and that came in a 5 1/3-inning outing.
There is no more room for the ups and downs. Roles have to be defined. Results have to be relied on. It's that time of year.
"We need our starters to go deeper. They know that," Cora said. "I’m not saying they have to go seven, but I think they did an amazing job early in the season going five or six. ... We got capable guys now (in the bullpen) – more guys now – so we can play that relay race with the bullpen and be more aggressive. But at the same time, five will be great for us. Today, he didn’t do it."