Pl*yoff Rotations - Don't Jinx It!

[YanksHater213]

Schilling MUST pitch game one, end of story. He is our only guy capable of going out there on short rest and still pitching well. All we have to do it take one game in Minnesota (assuming we play them), and take one at home. As long as we are in a 2-1 position after three, we WILL win the series. We would have to face Santana in one of those games on short rest, so the other one will be easy.

 

Pedro MUST pitch game two. Again, we need him for the 2nd series, and you always want to align the rotation so your two best pitchers pitch the most. Pedro hasnt been great, but hes been solid, and that is what we need. The way they are hitting, we can afford pitchers giving up 4 or 5 runs in a game.

 

Bronson and Lowe/Wake pitch 3-4. I think that only a 4 man rotation would be great. Because if we are forced to a game 5, we would have Schilling then, and still get to start off the ALCS with Pedro, who we must not forget is a Cy Young winner. I think that if we aligned the rotation like this, it would give us the best chance to win. Lowe and Wakefield is a toss up, but I would like to see it be Lowe in the ALDS, and if we play the Yankees in the ALCS I would like to see Lowe in the pen and Wakefield starting, because he usually pitches well against them

 

wow... my 1400th post was pimp

[elsrbueno]

Mosox: on WEEI last night they were saying that Francona's preference (between setting up the rotation and winning the division) is setting up the rotation. If they are right, it may not become an issue.

 

It's a tough decision, especially since losing the division DOESN'T mean not being in the playoffs. Home field advantage is something the Red Sox would really benefit from... BUT there's no use burning out your pitchers on what is still a very unlikely senario: Overtaking the MFY for the division.... especially because we have a fallback plan.

 

Will it hurt to finish second to the MFY AGAIN? Yes

Would it hurt even more to take the division, just to see a tired team get their a$$ handed to them in the first round? Yes.

 

The goal here is to win the World Series. Wild Card teams have done it before, and let's not forget that this team is GUARANTEED to win the Wild Card (at least). This doesn't mean they should stop trying, but the Red Sox should set up the playoff rotation FIRST, and deal with trying to catch the Yankees as an afterthought.

[sarasoxfan]

I agree els, but luckily most of this comes down to business as usual. Tony is way too stupid to do anything different , and some of our pitchers are way too bad to really make this too complitated.

 

Lowe by tanking it last night really put the hurt on the buillpen--but I noticed he didnt use laskanic or timlin so if he plays his cards just right like that we'll be fine.

 

And the other point is that francone's impact on the team is so incosequential, it doesnt matter. This team runs itself and they are playing such limited competition that any line-up can be explosive. So my point is that no matter francona does or doesnt do, we can take the yankees--beacuse all we can do is keep winnnig and we have the horses to do that no matter what Tony is trying to do with the pitchers.

[Bren25x]

IMO, i think it is going to go:

 

1. Pedro

2. Schilling

3. Wakefield

4. Lowe

5. Pedro

 

Bullpen: Arroyo

 

They kiss Lowe's ass so badly I cant see him not making the starting rotation. Arroyo is more deserving than Wake and Lowe but knowing how s***** francona is, i can definately see them giving it to the two longer tenured sox players, including Pedro over Schilling out of respect for Pedro.

 

Personally, I see that as stupid. The Game 4 starter is critical because Lowe cannot pitch against contact (angels and twins) and flat out would get ripped by oakland (patience). If the twins host us, could wakefield possibly start game 2 because of his record in the dome? If Lowe is pitching game 4, him vs Santana isnt a favorable matchup. It should be Arroyo, no doubt.

[YanksHater213]

The problem with yours, Bren25x, is the fact that Pedro doesnt pitch well on short rest, Schilling does, and he has proven that over his career. Schilling should definitely be first

[elsrbueno]

Originally posted by YanksHater213@Sep 29 2004, 01:40 PM

The problem with yours, Bren25x, is the fact that Pedro doesnt pitch well on short rest, Schilling does, and he has proven that over his career. Schilling should definitely be first

I agree. Because in a 5 game set the #1 pitcher is the only guy who can potentially pitch twice, I like going with Schilling in game 1 and 5. Then if Pedro goes #2 (or #3 as I had suggested) he's fresh for game 1 of the ALCS and Schilling can come back in game 3 (meaning he'd pitch a potential game 7 situation in the ALCS).

 

Assuming we open the playoffs on the road, this is STILL my rotation:

ALDS

Schilling

Arroyo

Martinez

Wakefield (if necessary)

Schilling (if necessary)

 

ALCS (if we get there)

Arroyo

Martinez

Schilling

Wakefield

Arroyo (if necessary)

Martinez (if necessary)

Schilling (if necessary)

 

This sets you up so your guys who go more than once are your top 3 pitchers. Again, assuming we get in on the Wild Card, Arroyo throws on the road in the ALDS, and starts it on the road in a potential ALCS.

 

This makes the most sense to me.

[EvilEmpire32]

Actually if your smart, and wind up playing the Yankees:

 

You go with a 3 man like Arizona..

 

You hit us with:

 

Schilling

Pedro

Either Lowe or Aroyo

 

Then back to Schilling and Pedro for 4 & 5 if it gets that far. Just a Yankee fan oppinion though.

[elsrbueno]

Originally posted by EvilEmpire32@Sep 29 2004, 04:12 PM

Actually if your smart, and wind up playing the Yankees:

 

You go with a 3 man like Arizona..

 

You hit us with:

 

Schilling

Pedro

Either Lowe or Aroyo

 

Then back to Schilling and Pedro for 4 & 5 if it gets that far. Just a Yankee fan oppinion though.

I don't think Pedro would hold up under that kind of workload.

 

He's been fragile in the past...

 

You're talking using BOTH Pedro AND Schilling both on short rest... twice?!? That's asking for trouble if you ask me.

[YanksHater213]

Hey, hes a Yankee fan, hes supposed to think that

[Bren25x]

pedro is getting his ass handed by the devil rays and very well could be 0-4 in his last 4 starts heading into the post season. Teams are figuring out to swing at him early with his 89 mph fb and attack him. this sucks.

[ahhchon]

wtf is going on with pedro. this is driving me absolutely insane.. i'm still on the pessimistic side and thinks he'll be fine once we start the playoffs.

 

john

[Sizzlin22]

Pedro will be fine and Schill should be the #1 starter hands down he's just more durable. I will puke if Kim makes the roster.

[noonanberg]

Don't worry, Kim is not eligible to be on the playoff roster.

[stocker323]

Actually he is eligible since he has been on the 40 man roster before September 1. He still has zero chance of making it though.

[CrespoBlows]

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bo...s_bos&fext=.jsp

[stocker323]

I'm really surprised that Tito had the guts to make the decision that he did. I do think that Lowe belongs in the bullpen especially in that last start against the Tampa Bay freakin Devil Rays. The thing about this team though is that even if one of our starters have a bad start, our offense is good enough to dig out of most holes.

[sarasoxfan]

thank the Lord, Lowe has seen his last game in a redsox uniform, and I cant say I am sorry to see him to go. He has been a headache since before he was reliever.

 

I think he has a pretty good sinker when he's on, but he has proven time and time again that he simply doesnt have the temperment to be a really good major league pitcher.

 

I cant say I am upset by the fact that with every s***** inning he has given us over the last month, he probably loses another million off his next contract.

 

I'm sure someone will be stupid enough to take a try with him..just as long as it aint us.

 

See ya, putz.

[ARod2212]

Damn, I was hoping to face Lowe. He really sucks big time. Arroyo has looked real good against the Bombers, and you never know what you'll get with Wakefield. I think we have the best chance against Pedro. He's simply been below average this month.

[schillingouttheks]

pedro will be pedro come playoffs. if only some good management will go with it.