The Rotation We've Been Waiting For

[Rdsxmbnt]

Finally all the guys are healthy and in place to make a serious run. The lineup:

 

1. Lester 11-5 2.92. Speaks for himself, a top 3 pitcher in baseball

 

2. Beckett 2-1 6.63. Very rough start and injury but he looks like he's back and if he is then he's a top pitcher in baseball

 

3. Buchholz 11-5 2.71. Possibly due for some regression but has ace stuff so expect him to maintain a high level.

 

4. Lackey 10-5 4.26. Former ace of the Angels, and a second half pitcher historically. Been very good over the past few weeks

 

5. Matsuzaka 7-3 4.09. Wild card, but has posted a 2.92 ERA since Jun 1st.

 

So there ya have it, 5 guys who could all potentially post ERA's under 4 in the AL East. I like how we're shaping up for the stretch run. Res ipsa loquitur. Let the good times roll!

[Palodios]

I think Dice-k and Buchholz deserve a ton of credit this season. Lester has done what everyone expected-- fighting for a cy young with Cliff and Felix, Beckett lost half a season, and Lackey has had his ups and downs. But Buch and Dice-k have pitched far better than anyone should have expected them to, and they've done so much towards keeping the team together.

[Yaz Sideburn]

the rotation has finally rounded into form which bodes well for the next 2 months. i'm sure a certain someone will come in here and say how any pitching staff looks good against the a's and the m's but we also faced the rangers and rays this month and our overall era for the month is the best we've had all year

[alphilip77]

the rotation has finally rounded into form which bodes well for the next 2 months. i'm sure a certain someone will come in here and say how any pitching staff looks good against the a's and the m's but we also faced the rangers and rays this month and our overall era for the month is the best we've had all year

 

In our last series against the Rays, only Dice-K pitched. The other starters were Wakefield and Doubront. You are right, though, about the Rangers series.

[RWTP24]

If the Sox make the playoffs and it was today, I think I would want Buchholz number one. He has been pretty amazing all year long. With all this being said, I really hope they can find a way to get into the playoffs because these starting 5 could shut down almost anyone if they are all on.

 

1.Buchholz

2. Lester

3. Dice-K (Only becuase he has really been lights out for a while now)

4. Lackey

5. Beckett (I hope he keeps it up because the Sox need him)

[bsox0407]

I would Disagree completely.

 

Lester

Beckett (history)

Buch

Lackey

Dice-K(Puts a lot of strain on Bullpen. cause he throws a lot of pitches.

[RWTP24]

I would Disagree completely.

 

Lester

Beckett (history)

Buch

Lackey

Dice-K(Puts a lot of strain on Bullpen. cause he throws a lot of pitches.

 

 

We have seen History before. Last year and most of this year, Beckett has been horrible. Unless he proves otherwise, we cannot believe he will be the old Beckett.

[bsox0407]

Beckett had been hurt. Would rather him than Dice-k By a long shot.

[RWTP24]

Beckett had been hurt. Would rather him than Dice-k By a long shot.

 

Yes he has been, but we cannot blame everything on that. Dice-K since June 1 has an ERA under 3.

[bsox0407]

Yes he has been' date=' but we cannot blame everything on that. Dice-K since June 1 has an ERA under 3.[/quote']

 

since june 1 Dice-k has been good. But will he keep it up. Still, rather go with Beckett. 2 Solid starts since coming off DL.

[Palodios]

I would Disagree completely.

 

Lester

Beckett (history)

Buch

Lackey

Dice-K(Puts a lot of strain on Bullpen. cause he throws a lot of pitches.

 

Dice-k is averaging 5.97 innings this season. Beckett is averaging 5.70 this season.

[bsox0407]

Dice-k is averaging 5.97 innings this season. Beckett is averaging 5.70 this season.

 

Beckett also had been on the DL a lot longer. one start with pitch count limit. Today went 7. more starts early when he wasn't 100%

[ORS]

Color me absolutely shocked that Jacko would let such a love-fest simmer for so long without taking a dump in the sauce pan. Must be a butt-load of bedpans at the hospital tonight.

 

ON TOPIC: With the return of the starters, followed by the regulars on the offense, this team has a shot.....at it all.

[Will617]

I'm not sure about Buchholz as number 1. His advanced metrics don't support the numbers he's posting. But I've heard that, for some inexplicable reason, he's been going to his fastball and slider more in two-strike counts, instead of his curveball and changeup (which are dirty out pitches). So, perhaps that strikeout rate may be rising given a change in approach (he destroyed the Angels a couple days ago on his changeup); until that happens, I won't be convinced he's a low-3's ace pitcher.

[Jasonbay44]

I'm very happy with the way the rotation has been pitching lately, Lackey has been great of late.

 

Oh and I don't mean to cherry pick but I don't think Lester is top 3 pitcherl in baseball, right now its gotta be Josh Johnson, Cliff Lee and Halladay as top 3

[RWTP24]

Dice-k is averaging 5.97 innings this season. Beckett is averaging 5.70 this season.

 

Wow, that is a great stat. I would have never guessed.

 

Beckett also had been on the DL a lot longer. one start with pitch count limit. Today went 7. more starts early when he wasn't 100%

 

Dice-K has been injured as well. We all love Beckett, but he really has to turn it around to be the ace again. I would put at least 2 in front of him now.

[bsox0407]

Wow, that is a great stat. I would have never guessed.

 

 

 

Dice-K has been injured as well. We all love Beckett, but he really has to turn it around to be the ace again. I would put at least 2 in front of him now.

 

Dice-k Didn't try and pitch hurt like Beckett did. But Beckett has looked good in the starts he as had coming back from injury. His per inning stats this year have been bad because he was hurt.

 

Beckett has had 10 starts and Dice-k has had 14. Of those 10 ten how many was he completely healthy. Dice-k Had one stint on the 15 day. Plus if Beckett had tightness in his arm he still would have pitched.

[bsox0407]

I would much rather go into a series without Dice-k than without Beckett. Beckett has been hurt lately and finally looks to be back on track. Dice-k is like a elevator ride.

[Space Man]

I'm very happy with the way the rotation has been pitching lately, Lackey has been great of late.

 

Oh and I don't mean to cherry pick but I don't think Lester is top 3 baseball in baseball, right now its gotta be Josh Johnson, Cliff Lee and Halladay as top 3

 

Put Lester in the NL, and he's the man. These guys don't pitch in the AL East. I know Halladay did, but we have knocked him around a few times, and they guy is definitely human. I would take Lester over any of these three.

 

I don't know what it is about Cliff Lee, but I am always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[Will617]

Um, Halladay is generally considered the best pitcher in baseball. He got knocked around in 06 and 07 (I don't know enough about Halladay then to know why), and posted ERAs of 3.2 and 3.7. In 08 and 09, Halladay posted ERAs of 2.8. Lester has put up marks of 3.2 and 3.4 in 08 and 09, and threw far fewer innings. Josh Johnson is arguable - he was a similar pitcher to Lester until this year, but his ERA is probably deflated due to his park, division's offenses, being in the NL, etc. Now, in terms of long term value you would take Lester over Halladay because of age, and Lester over Johnson because of his spectacular contract.

Lee has excellent control. His fastball is actually one of the best pitches in the league in terms of how it's performed, despite the fact that it sits around 90-91. However, his fly ball rate actually exceeds his ground ball rate this season; I'd wait to see how he does pitching in Texas before I proclaim him better than Lester. Lester is probably a safer bet.