Kurkjian: Sox have #1 rotation

[TheKilo]

Linky

 

Interesting piece, but I think he's expecting a bit too much from Papelbon.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

I don't think he's neccessarily expecting anything out of Papelbon, but moreso pointing out that the ability and talent is there. We all saw what he was capable of last year...I'm chomping at the bit to get out there and have him prove that it wasn't a fluke.

[TheKilo]

I don't think he's neccessarily expecting anything out of Papelbon' date=' but moreso pointing out that the ability and talent is there. We all saw what he was capable of last year...I'm chomping at the bit to get out there and have him prove that it wasn't a fluke.[/quote']

 

I think he's going to have a bit of a rough transition period.

 

I will say that right now, it looks as if the Sox have the best rotation on paper.

 

I'd still take the Tigers' before the Sox though.

[BoSox34]

If Matsuzaka can produce immediate results, Beckett can turn it around completely from last season, and Papelbon can easily switch from the closer role to a starter, then I think our rotation has the potential of being one of the best in the league. I also really like the Angels rotation with Weaver and Santana, especially if Colon returns to his old form.

[Gom]

The Sox have the potential, and the Yankees are not far behind. How anyone can take them over the Tigers is beyond me. Lots of if's...if Papelbon comes back, if Beckett regains his form, if Matsuzaka adjusts, if Schilling is healthy...even more with the Yankees.

 

There are no real ifs with the Tigers. No one has to get better, regain form, stay injury free. Kurkjian is lost.

[ORS]

I think Weaver is in for a pretty big sophmore slump. His stuff is pretty ho-hum, but he's deceptive. That will wear off.

 

I don't see how the Tigers can't be #1 going into the season. Sure, the Sox have the potential to be the best rotation in the league, but the Tigers have actually done it with the crew they have, and it was last year. No brainer.

[god is a redsox FAN]

Yea, it seems as if there are to many ifs or what ifs keepin' Boston back from having the best Pitchin' rotation. We gotta see if Beckett is still going to be trying to just throw it past them with a fast ball, instead of other pitches.

[BoSox34]

I think Weaver is in for a pretty big sophmore slump. His stuff is pretty ho-hum, but he's deceptive. That will wear off.

 

 

I thought he'd slow down towards the end of last season but he stayed fairly consistent. It'll definitely be interesting to see how he pitches his first few starts.

[Gom]

For once, ORS and I agree. The world is ending. Buy lots of SPAM.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Sox have the potential, and the Yankees are not far behind. How anyone can take them over the Tigers is beyond me. Lots of if's...if Papelbon comes back, if Beckett regains his form, if Matsuzaka adjusts, if Schilling is healthy...even more with the Yankees.

 

There are no real ifs with the Tigers. No one has to get better, regain form, stay injury free. Kurkjian is lost.

 

see, I disagree here. The yankees dont have a ton of potential for greatness or for failure (assuming a lack of injuries). They will likely be consistent and eat quality innings. The sox rotation has the potential to be dominant 1-4. The yankees dont have that potential. But I do feel the sox rotation has the highest potential for failure too. They will be the high risk, high reward stock while the yankees would be a safe, low interest stock.

[Rodney Harrison]

If Matsuzaka can produce immediate results' date=' Beckett can turn it around completely from last season, and Papelbon can easily switch from the closer role to a starter, then I think our rotation has the potential of being one of the best in the league. I also really like the Angels rotation with Weaver and Santana, especially if Colon returns to his old form.[/quote']

 

Colon will also be playing for a contract. He's a free agent after this season.

[BSN07]

If Matsuzaka can produce immediate results' date=' Beckett can turn it around completely from last season, and Papelbon can easily switch from the closer role to a starter, then I think our rotation has the potential of being one of the best in the league. I also really like the Angels rotation with Weaver and Santana, especially if Colon returns to his old form.[/quote']

 

 

 

Beckett doesn't need to completely turn it around. I don't understand why people insist upon this. He had 16 wins and over 200 innings, 158 K's, his down fall was the BB, having that many walks is going to lead to a higher ERA hence the 5.01 ERA he tallied up last yr. Beckett needs to work on his BB, changing speeds and he will return to a #1/#2 type pitcher. Give the guy a break, last yr was a throw away yr stat wise, this season will most likely show what Beckett where are going to have or closer to the one we will have. I'd take Beckett over alot of pitchers out there day in and day out.

 

PS expect Matsuzaka to go threw some growing pains too, I just hope everyone doesn't jump him like they have been jumping Beckett.

[BSN07]

Beckett I think will be the ace of the staff this yr followed closely by Matsuzaka, here are my predictions,

 

Schilling 16-9 3.94 ERA 180 innings+

Beckett 18-7 3.65 ERA 215 innings

Matsuzaka 15-6 4.00 ERA 175 innings

Papelbon 15-10 3.87 ERA 175 innings

Wakefield- 12-12 4.53 ERA 200 innings

Lester 12-6 3.78 ERA 120 innings

[elsrbueno]

Beckett doesn't need to completely turn it around. I don't understand why people insist upon this. He had 16 wins and over 200 innings, 158 K's, his down fall was the BB, having that many walks is going to lead to a higher ERA hence the 5.01 ERA he tallied up last yr. Beckett needs to work on his BB, changing speeds and he will return to a #1/#2 type pitcher. Give the guy a break, last yr was a throw away yr stat wise, this season will most likely show what Beckett where are going to have or closer to the one we will have. I'd take Beckett over alot of pitchers out there day in and day out.

 

PS expect Matsuzaka to go threw some growing pains too, I just hope everyone doesn't jump him like they have been jumping Beckett.

 

Beckett was also extremely homer prone last year. He's got to tone that down if he intends to be successful.

 

No doubt the Red Sox have an extremely talented rotation on paper, but the bottom line is that Matsuzaka hasn't done it, Beckett needs to adjust, Wake and Schill are a year older, and Papelbon is converting jobs. Anyone who expects Papelbon's bullpen numbers to carry over to the rotation is crazy.

 

I hate to say this but I think Jacksonian is right. The Red Sox have a high risk, high reward rotation.

[BSN07]

Yes I also agree that we have a high risk high reward pitching staff no doubt. But with Beckett's adjutment yr done with, Schilling in a contract yr, Healthy Wakefield, With Matsuzaka and Paps being wild card I would say our staff is way ahead of where it was last yr.

 

Yes Beckett gave up the bombs on a more then regular basis, but when ML hitters know your gonna come with the heat your in deep at that point. Alot of guys where sitting on his heat because they knew it was coming, that probably won't help your HR numbers. But I expect to see more change ups and curve balls from him this yr and we will see he has made the right adjustments.

[BSN07]

Put it this way even if they all under achieve somewhat, but we can get into the playoffs, theres not many teams out there that would want to see this rotation in a 5 or 7 game set.

[jacksonianmarch]

I can agree with that. Also, Paps looks to be incorporating the curveball into his arsenal. If he gets that thing to plus or even an average MLB pitch, then he will increase his effectiveness by a long shot.

 

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=182655

[He Hate Me]

everytime I hear someone call him Paps, I immediately hear "Paps Smear"

[BSN07]

everytime I hear someone call him Paps' date=' I immediately hear "Paps Smear"[/quote']

 

 

And for some odd reason everytime I hear Jeter, I hear Homo and I think 2nd best SS on his team...LOL weird....

 

This should be a fun season with all the heckling back and fourth, this will be my first yr with Talksox and am looking forward to it guys!

[NomahsHammSammich]

We have the best rotation in baseball..and it is not even close. I understand the question marks..I really do.. However, I believe last year was a fluke where Josh Beckett uis concerned. I fully expect Beckett to be a top 10 pitcher in the AL this year. Add to Beckett Schilling..who will also be a top 10 starter and you have a nice start. Matsuzaka is going to be the best statistical pitcher we have...I think other teams will really struggle against him, especially the 1st time they see his arsenal. Papelbon was already very good as a starter..albeit a small sample size...and then he was utterly dominant as a closer...no reason to think he will not be a top of rotation starter. With Wakefield..we know what we will get...something like a 14-11 record with a 4.85 ERA and a bunch of innings. Not bad for a #5. All in all..I think we have 4 top of rotation starters and a solid 3 or 4 who will be our #5. No staff comes close to this kind of potential.

[jacksonianmarch]

that is what I have been saying. No rotation has that kind of potential.

[rician blast]

that is what I have been saying. No rotation has that kind of potential.

 

 

I'm not so sure about that. All the Yanks have is potential:

 

Wang could be a 20 game winner...or hitters may catch up to him now

 

Mike Mussina is still effective and I could see winning 16 games...or pitching like a 38 yr old

 

Igawa is loaded with the "P" word...then again, who the fk knows?

 

Pettitte has pitched in big games and will only turn 36 this June so he could be effective...or he could find that last year's 4.20 ERA and 27 HRs allowed were an indication he should've stayed in the NL or maybe retired.

 

And if his gynecologist gives him the go-ahead Pavano may actually pitch in some games this year.

 

Sox have potential, but NO team can claim that there hopes ride on potential more than the Yanks.

[jacksonianmarch]

no rician, last season they showed what they could do.

 

Wang, Mussina, and Pettitte went to or above 200 innings. All three were pitching well to conclude the season. The sox dont have a top 3 they can bank on being 600IP or more, nor do they have a top three that has done it previously in the same season.

[jacksonianmarch]

but if everything breaks right for the sox, they could get 1000IP out of that rotation and it could contain 4 aces.

[NomahsHammSammich]

The Yankees staff is decrepid and tired. The Red Sox have three possible aces in their mid-20's..so let's stop with the potential crap. The Red Sox 3 young guns all have the potential to be aces for the next 5-8 years....the Yankees vets are running on fumes. Their potential is MUCH lower than Paps/Beckett/Matsuzaka.... Even if they(Mussina/Pettite/Pavano) MAX out this year, they cannot touch the potential of our Young Guns. Papelbon/Beckett/Matsuzaka is potentially the best young tandem to come along since Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz... Please stop with the idiocy. And Igawa? LOL! He is a #5 over here..most scouts cannot believe the Yankees paid him what they did.

[SuperManny]

Don't forget that the Yankees have Hughes waiting in the wings. I wouldn't be surprised to see him called up midseason after Pavano injures himself getting out of bed. Hughes has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in baseball one day.

[rician blast]

no rician, last season they showed what they could do.

 

Wang, Mussina, and Pettitte went to or above 200 innings. All three were pitching well to conclude the season. The sox dont have a top 3 they can bank on being 600IP or more, nor do they have a top three that has done it previously in the same season.

 

I agree they showed what they COULD do....but will they do it again?

 

What makes you think Pettitte will be such a plus? Wasn't he like 14-13 with a an ERA slightly south of 5? yes he has POTENTIAL.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree they showed what they COULD do....but will they do it again?

 

What makes you think Pettitte will be such a plus? Wasn't he like 14-13 with a an ERA slightly south of 5? yes he has POTENTIAL.

 

No, his ERA was 4.2 for the yr and 2.8 in the last half of the season.

[BudLight]

I still fail to see the "greatness" in Beckett. A #1 or #2, not in the AL East. He has pitched 200 or more innings only once in his career, that was last year. Along with those innings pitched his ERA ballooned, number of hits allowed increased significantly and his SO ratio took a nosedive. As for the current starting 5 pitching 1000 innings, I don't see how that could happen. The Sox rotation if solid, but by no means is better than the Tigers and maybe even a little short of Anaheim's.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

I still fail to see the "greatness" in Beckett.

 

That's exactly how I feel about Wang. Living in Syracuse, I get eeeeeevery Yanks game on YES so I've watched him consistently the past two seasons or so...and I don't get it. I know his numbers were impressive last season, and Yankee fans are really high on his potential...I just don't see it. I don't get why this guy, if this guy, will be so good. I've seen some decent stuff from him, but I'm not sold on him like a lot of other people are.

 

Both rotations are good with 2 solid veterans and three young (moreso young in the Sox situation) arms...should be a fantastic season.