#5 Starter

[Dana Kiecker]

BTW I would rather not see Squiggy DiNardo start another game in Boston.

 

But I think thats pretty obvious to everyone.. finally.

[Beckett95]

I think if Wells screws up again, Lester should get a shot. He struggled at first in AAA, but now has his ERA down to 3.34. Hes got 35 K's and 13 BB in 8 games started which isnt to bad either.

[Beckett95]

For all of those who are going to reply "Lesters not ready yet"...

 

 

When do we actually know when a guy is ready for the bigs? Only way to find out is to give him an oppurtunity to prove himself. More and more teams are bringing up their young guys under 23 and alot of them have been successful. Think about all the good young pitchers in the game. This many more today than their used to be. That being said, most of the young guys pitching right now, weren't considered to be as good as a prospect as Lester is.

 

http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2006/01/2006_wtny_75_25.php

Lester is 14th on the list and Verlander, whos having a great season for DET is 13th.

 

 

He should be given an oppurtunity this year and if he sucks, send him back down to AAA.

[schillingouttheks]

I know, but I'd rather watch him do well in AAA for a full year and look at other options for our 5th starter before resorting to him. How do we know if he comes to the MLB and gets shelled, then gets sent right back to AAA, it won't shake his confidence? Let him finish the year, and bring him back up when we plan on keeping him on the roster.

 

And also, a list means nothing when it comes to actual performance. They can make as many lists as they want, it doesn't mean those players won't bust when it counts.

[redsoxrules]

we need a solution fast ,if im not mistaken whoever has been our number 5 starter has a total of 1 win this year

[monstah27]

interesting stat redsoxrules.

 

lets just hope wells can get the job done for a while.

[Mr Crunchy]

it sucks knowing we put up the white flag every 5 days with this stiff out there

[mtbykr]

I am sure i am in the minority here--but i have not given completely up on dinardo. Ya yesterday was terrible, but let's all remember that he hadn't pitched in a game in 2 weeks! How would shill or beckett do if they had been on the shelf for 2 weeks and then thrown out there? I wouldn't mind seeing what Abe can do, or Lester later in the year (if he comes up i think it's after the all-star break), but i would rather not see the fatman trying to up his paycheck at our expense because those knees are a bomb waiting to happen.

[Mr Crunchy]

im not a wells guy either but he did win 15 games last year and somehow manages to do that every year

dinardos fast ball tops out at 85......

thats a good fastball for highschool but it will get you nowhere in the major leagues

saying he sucks isnt nice but its the reality

[monty]

I think it was unfair for anyone, here or anywhere else to critize Abe Alverez. He was throw out of his schedule in AAA where he was suppose to pitch, then missed a start due to rain... combine this with Terry putting him in the bullpen for the first time and i think he was doomed from the start.

 

Give the ball to abe!

[Mr Crunchy]

i wouldnt mind seeing abe out there every 5th day,at least give him the ball from the git go

it makes me sick seeing lenny warm up

i know we'll need 8 runs to compete

im not saying abe will do better but i dont see how its possible he could do worse

[jsinger121]

The Red Sox do not want Alvarez to start. As much as everyone hates seeing Dinardo out there Alvarez is a flyball pitcher and having him pitch in fenway park is a recipe for disaster. Wells might also be somewhat of a flyball pitcher but his control is so good where he hits spots to keep hitters off balance and Alvarez is not that type of pitcher at this stage of his career. If Wells cannot make it back then I can see the Red Sox going with either Lester or Hansen before Alvarez.

[monty]

The Red Sox do not want Alvarez to start.

 

What are you talking about? Of course they do? Hell Theo Epstein just said 4 days ago he is calling Abe up because he thinks he can help them and there starters and feels he Abe deserves a shot at the bigs after post 5 wins a league leading era in AAA as a starter.

[jsinger121]

Wells is starting friday against Tampa Bay. Alvarez is heading back to pawtucket. If people think Alvarez will be better than Dinardo then you are kidding yourself. He might have looked good in AAA ball but having an extreme flyball pitcher in your rotation who does not have pinpoint control and it a soft tosser is not going to fare well.

[Mr Crunchy]

if thats the case with alvarez its time to fish or cut bait

is he a serviceable pitcher or not?

his name is never mentioned in trade discussions and hes been in or around pawtucket for 3 years

we know what lenny brings to the table we shouldve given abe the same chance

anyways

its moot with the fatman back,heres hoping hes got 170 innings left

[Ray10]

When it comes to the number 5 guys Lester is a possibility but they can't rush him into starting. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see the Sox go out and try and make a deal for a number 5 guy. There's no way the Sox will convert Papelbon into a starter with the way he has been closing games he's been too lights out and Foulke may be better than he was but he still isn't closer ready. I can't see Papelbon starting this year. If he was to start it would most likely be next year.

[monty]

if thats the case with alvarez its time to fish or cut bait

is he a serviceable pitcher or not?

his name is never mentioned in trade discussions and hes been in or around pawtucket for 3 years

we know what lenny brings to the table we shouldve given abe the same chance

anyways

its moot with the fatman back,heres hoping hes got 170 innings left

He is back... but for how long? I think Wells will find out his weight is going to hurt he knees more then he thinks, and i think he will be done this season. I will be shocked if he pitches more thena couple starts.

[Texas_Red_Sox_Fan]

I say bring up Abe 5-0 2.18 ERA

[yeszir]

I say bring up Abe 5-0 2.18 ERA

...a litte slow there? He pitched yesterday...it didn't go so well.

[monty]

Sure... out of the Pen with 2 weeks off. 5.0 2.18 era as a starter... which is how we should value him, not as a RP with 2 weeks off.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Sure... out of the Pen with 2 weeks off. 5.0 2.18 era as a starter... which is how we should value him, not as a RP with 2 weeks off.

 

I agree the odds were against him and he did get out of a tough jam in the beginning. Perhaps he deserves another shot but if David Wells can pitch well....then what? I still think the one pitcher in the minors who should be on the Red Sox is Manny Delcarmen. He can clearly dominate the minors and improved with every game he had with the Red Sox.

[Mr Crunchy]

manny had some decent innings with us last summer as well

wells is the question at hand

can he give us 150 innings for the rest of the year

if so this conversation doesnt matter

if not?

in my opinion we need to determine who's ready

alvarez doesnt get a lot of league wide respect,why not make him worth something by showcasing him for the rest of the league??

either he can or he cant....he isnt worth s*** beating up columbus and ottowa while in pawtucket

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

manny had some decent innings with us last summer as well

wells is the question at hand

can he give us 150 innings for the rest of the year

if so this conversation doesnt matter

if not?

in my opinion we need to determine who's ready

alvarez doesnt get a lot of league wide respect,why not make him worth something by showcasing him for the rest of the league??

either he can or he cant....he isnt worth s*** beating up columbus and ottowa while in pawtucket

 

I was actually thinking the same thing. Perhaps the Red Sox are showcasing Alvarez and Delcarmen for potential trades this summer. Adam Stern was another player along with Van Buren.

[SuperManny]

I don't know how much value Alvarez will have given he is blind in one eye and throws in the low 80s. Alvarez has to be in the majors next year becaues his options are up so they are probably wanting to see if he's worth hanging onto next year.

[Mr Crunchy]

abes got 1 eye?

wow

the mans a gamer

lefties get special treatment,heres hoping he develops an out pitch and can make a living in the big boy show

[AgentAnni008]

we need to give him a legit shot at the rotation not just one or 2 relief outing...he does us no good being the AAA pitcher of the year...i think he will never have trade value...if he is good enough to be our #5 started then great lets keep him...but if he isnt good enough then we will have to dump him for NOTHING because nobody is going to want a blind soft throwing pitcher that cant make it in the bigs!!!

[Beckett95]

im hoping we either trade for 1 or use Lester.

 

id like

 

Roger

Schilling

Beckett

Wake

Lester

 

Clement sucks and needs to go and Wells is most likely done for the season.

[rbreg7]

I think that the Sox should shy away from the big names when it comes to the trading deadline. The Marlins will be asking insane deals for Willis, and the A's will be too for Zito. I think the Sox should start getting in contact with the Twins for Brad Radke. Although Radke is having a really tough season so far, I believe a change of ballparks will bring him back to his 4.00 ERA level and he'd make a good five starter.

 

Another option could be the Giant's Jason Schmidt.

[Papelbon58]

I think that the Sox should shy away from the big names when it comes to the trading deadline. The Marlins will be asking insane deals for Willis, and the A's will be too for Zito. I think the Sox should start getting in contact with the Twins for Brad Radke. Although Radke is having a really tough season so far, I believe a change of ballparks will bring him back to his 4.00 ERA level and he'd make a good five starter.

 

Another option could be the Giant's Jason Schmidt.

 

I basically agree with that, although I don't like the Radke idea. If we can hold until the Giants fall out of contention, a deal with one of our RFs, JT Snow and a prospect might get us Schmidt

[rbreg7]

Brad Radke's stats in Fenway Park, year-by year.

 

2001: 1-0, 7 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, .296 BAA

2004: 1-0, 6.2 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .286 BAA

2005: 0-0, 7 IP, 3.86 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, .240 BAA

 

A very small sample size, but not bad numbers in three starts.