April 10 Baltimore at Boston

[moonslav59]

Sad to say, but I'm with moonslav on the pitching. Yes, absolutely, it's just 11 games.

But a year ago we didn't have a rotation. Bello led everyone with a paltry 157 IP. Our pros from Dover--Sale, Paxton, and Kluber--pitched 103, 96, and 55 innings. So Pivetta, Crawford and House--all of whom relieved last year as well as started--filled in with 143, 129, and 106 IP.

This year the rotation has been unbelievably good. The laggard is Bello, but yesterday he went 5.1 innings with just 1 ER. Yes, Pivetta dropped out, but it looks like for just 15 days and 3 starts. The other four still look good, as does the bullpen because the team ERA is still the lowest in MLB and the WHIP second lowest.

We should be shouting that from the rooftops, but instead we are predicting catastrophic failure.

Why do we know this rotation is going to fail miserably?

It's pretty much the same rotation as last year. It's not unusual to expect pitchers to no go from bad/ok to great, all at once.

2023 Games started:
28 Bello (team was 17-11 in his starts)
23 Crawford (9-14)
21 Houck (9-12)
20 Sale (12-8)
19 Paxton (8-11)
16 Pivetta (7-9)
10 Whitlock (6-4)
9 Kluber (3-6)

Our 5 starters had a team W-L record of 48-50 in their starts (49% win,) and in starts by others, many by Kluber and "openers," the team went 30-34 (47%.)

I'm trying to remain optimistic about this rotation. I have posted how all of them have had some rather long stretches of pitching very well as SP'ers, but none have ever put a full season together.

It should be viewed as long odds that 4 or 5 of them put it all together at the same exact time.

(I'm not trying to rain on their or your parade. They can do it. I'm just saying it's not illogical to expect things won't end up all that great for these 5 starters, combined.

[moonslav59]

Let's give Romy Gonzalez a chance to prove he can field and otherwise make plays at SS without costing the pitchers extra "outs". If after a week of games , he cannot show this board what he can do to secure a spot in the Nation annals , then I'm sure we will inform Breslow accordingly and changes will be made.then

It would also be a plus if he can hit .250 at the MLB level, or otherwise be an OBP star.

The thing about fielding is that it is pretty much known before a guy ever plays in the bigs.

Very few players proved themselves on D after leaving the minors.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Does anyone here believe the SOX FO will beat the bushes for a real SS or will they give HAMILTON a long run on Causeway?

[moonslav59]

Does anyone here believe the SOX FO will beat the bushes for a real SS or will they give HAMILTON a long run on Causeway?

If they did not, last year, while the sham was in bloom, (pun intended) why would they do it for an obvious punt season?

What I don't get is why can't we just get a min wage glove SS?

[Old Red]

If they did not, last year, while the sham was in bloom, (pun intended) why would they do it for an obvious punt season?

What I don't get is why can't we just get a min wage glove SS?

As MVP will tell you the Red Sox had a Fuckton of holes to fill.

[moonslav59]

1. Duran
2. O'Neill
3. Devers
4. Casas
5. Romy
6. Reyes
7. Yoshida
8. Wong
9. Rafaela

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I believe Story will eventually play 150-155 games. Unfortunately, it will be the total games he plays for the SOX under his contract. Only kidding, I think.

[notin]

The thing about fielding is that it is pretty much known before a guy ever plays in the bigs.

Very few players proved themselves on D after leaving the minors.

Billy Hamilton…

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

As MVP will tell you the Red Sox had a Fuckton of holes to fill.

More holes than it takes to fill The Albert Hall.

[notin]

If they did not, last year, while the sham was in bloom, (pun intended) why would they do it for an obvious punt season?

What I don't get is why can't we just get a min wage glove SS?

Is a good field/no hit SS a step up, down or the same as Pablo Reyes?

[notin]

More holes than it takes to fill The Albert Hall.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...hallal02.shtml

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1. Duran
2. O'Neill
3. Devers
4. Casas
5. Romy
6. Reyes
7. Yoshida
8. Wong
9. Rafaela

Btw, Moon, good job covering the sun on Monday.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...hallal02.shtml

Well played.

[Old Red]

Is a good field/no hit SS a step up, down or the same as Pablo Reyes?

Depends if it’s a Mark Belanger type, or not.🙈🤭

[moonslav59]

Billy Hamilton…

Boggs.

It's rare.