In the playoffs, what is the rotation?

[Spitball]

There is little doubt the Red Sox make the playoffs, but what will be their rotation?

 

Teams have gone with three men rotations, but they are not common in this era. The Sox have virtually been going with a six man rotation lately. Last year, the Giants won with Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, and Bumgarner. The Rangers got to the World Series with Lee, Wilson, Lewis , and Hunter. What will the Red Sox do?

 

Beckett, Lester, and Bedard are obvious, but who pitches next?? And should the Sox split the lefties? I am more than a little worried.

[Palodios]

Beckett, Lester, Bedard, Lackey. People aren't going to be happy about it, but Miller/Wakefield are not better options. They have an equal opportunity to fail, and less chance to be great.

[iortiz]

Well, you know what they say... At drastic problems drastic solutions, so... I would go:

 

Beckett-Lester-Bedard-Aceves

 

Send Lackey to BP and see whether he can do Aceves' job or not at least, If he isn't capable either, Theo should eat his contract and then go to the toilet, he would be useless anyway, and bring a solid SP next season.

Miller? DFA

[Spitball]

Lackey has had success in the playoffs in his career, but he has been bad this year. I agree with you though, the Sox have little chance with the other options. Thank goodness they acquired Bedard.

 

Should the Sox start with Lester in order to break up the left handers?

[iortiz]

mmmm.. I'd wait to see which team is going to play against us... But I would start with Beckett... Starting winning, psychologically is better, and we have better chances with him IMO.

[Palodios]

Aceves hasn't thrown more than 50 pitches since June. It isn't happening. They want him in the pen.

[iortiz]

Agree, not gonna happen since Tito won't give up about Lackey, Tito loooooooves respect "hierarchies/player size-contract" even the guy is 6.0 ERA.

 

Tito should squeeze his balls and say "f*** Lackey, I'll go with Aceves", what else can he lose?, let me see, mmm... besides get pounded, nothing! trust me.

 

But again, not gonna happen in Tito's world.

[redsoxbeatz]

Beckett-Lester-Lackey-Bedard-...Miller?

[TheMeanWalrus]

Agree, not gonna happen since Tito won't give up about Lackey, Tito loooooooves respect "hierarchies/player size-contract" even the guy is 6.0 ERA.

 

Tito should squeeze his balls and say "f*** Lackey, I'll go with Aceves", what else can he lose?, let me see, mmm... besides get pounded, nothing! trust me.

 

But again, not gonna happen in Tito's world.

 

 

you're kidding right??

aceves hasn't started in a game in over two years. and 98% of his appearances at the major league level are in relief and his career ERA is 3

 

So to answer this question . . .

 

 

"f*** Lackey' date=' I'll go with Aceves", what else can he lose?,[/quote']

 

he can lose, arguably, the best 7th inning guy in baseball

did you ever notice there are no great bullpen guys who are also great starters? that aside, getting a guys arm ready to start is miles away from getting a guy ready to pitch outta the f***ing bullpen. the two are rarely successfully interchangeable and if you start Aceves and f*** up his arm,then what?

 

now...

as far as Tim Wakefield goes, hats off to him for a nice long successful career, but if you think he's on the playoff roster, like Guns & Roses said, "you're f***ing craaaaaaaazy"

Wake won't be on the roster

[Spitball]

If the Sox draw Texas in round one, I'd hate to see Lackey with his difficulties (11.00 ERA) pitch in the series. I just don't see a solution in Miller or Wakefield...or Aceves.

 

Thinking outside the box or throwing Lackey/Miller/Wakefield out there and praying really hard? I think the Red Sox will have some troubles getting through the playoffs unless the number four guy can come through.

[Palodios]

you're kidding right??

aceves hasn't started in a game in over two years

 

He made four starts in 2011 and has an ERA of 5.12 during that time. That may be slightly better than the other starters, but by losing him from the bullpen, it is still a net loss.

[TheMeanWalrus]

Spitball the #3 is hardly solidified

Eric Bedard is . .... well, Eric Bedard

And the rumblings around Kenmore Square are saying he's having some knee difficulty

[TheMeanWalrus]

He made four starts in 2011 and has an ERA of 5.12 during that time. That may be slightly better than the other starters' date=' but by losing him from the bullpen, it is still a net loss.[/quote']

 

he did

my bad

 

regardless of that .... i don't see any reason of f***ing around with him cuz he's done so well out of the pen but if he has been stretched as a starter that defeats a lot of what i said.

[example1]

Beckett-Lester-Lackey-Bedard

 

Lackey has been a huge disappointment but they're going to need him to do well if they want to get anywhere in the playoffs.

 

It doesn't bode well for their chances though. I think they need to find another SP for 2012.

[TheMeanWalrus]

hopefully bucholz will be alright for 2012

[jacksonianmarch]

He should be. Stress fractures just need time to heal. There really arent any procedures to be done for them aside from the microfracture stuff which they dont do on vertebrae. And as long as they get time to heal, there typically arent any lingering issues aside from the increased likelihood of another one in the same spot. I think the biggest problem is going to be him building up his strength again and reworking his mechanics. There is no way a guy who was pitching with a fracture was using his normal mechanics. They are going to need to build up his strength and rework his mechanics for him to be effective again. My guess is that he starts 2012 out slowly and by midseason, he's gonna be solid

[SoxSport]

First Wakefield, now Lackey. The Sox continue to be burdened by dead horses they can't get rid of.

And now they may even have another in Jenks. You can't improve your pitching unless you create spots for new blood with some upside.

[jacksonianmarch]

The problem is, your "new blood" has either been injured this season or isnt coming down the pipe. The sox pitching cupboard at the upper levels is bare

[SoxSport]

Beckett down today. Sprained ankle on a pitch? Bedard skipping a start because of knee.

 

Why the hell can't Lackey and Wakefield get hurt? Why the good starters?

You can replace crap with crap. But you can't replace cream.

[BecKett]

Missing Clay is going to be really hard to overcome. There's really no way around that. Lackey is consistently average to bad. Bedard is consistently average.

 

Lester-Beckett-Bedard-Lackey should be the rotation. Love 1 and 2, but I don't know how confident I am in the group overall. The bats better show up more than they have lately if we're looking to win another WS.

[Spitball]

Spitball the #3 is hardly solidified

Eric Bedard is . .... well, Eric Bedard

 

Unfortunately, you are right. It is just that Lackey, Miller, and Wakefield have been so bad, I didn't see the need to bring up Bedard.

 

And the rumblings around Kenmore Square are saying he's having some knee difficulty

 

Ugh! Things are bad enough already...and now Beckett is hurting.

[Spitball]

Beckett has returned to Boston to see a specialist about his ankle. This injury could be serious, and that would put the Red Sox in big trouble.

 

It is the ankle of his power leg so I assume he misses at least a start or two.

[BecKett]

Does this mean the division race is over? With Lackey, Weiland, Miller, and Wakefield all due to see even more time, I don't see how the Sox could take the division. Although, getting healthy for the postseason is much more important.

[Spitball]

I wish the Sox had called Kevin Millwood up when they had him. He has pitched better than Lackey, Miller, and Wakefield. With Colorado, he has a 1.11 WHIP, 3.34 ERA, and only 4 bases on balls in 32.1 innings.

[iortiz]

you're kidding right??

aceves hasn't started in a game in over two years. and 98% of his appearances at the major league level are in relief and his career ERA is 3

 

So to answer this question . . .

 

 

 

 

he can lose, arguably, the best 7th inning guy in baseball

did you ever notice there are no great bullpen guys who are also great starters? that aside, getting a guys arm ready to start is miles away from getting a guy ready to pitch outta the f***ing bullpen. the two are rarely successfully interchangeable and if you start Aceves and f*** up his arm,then what?

 

now...

as far as Tim Wakefield goes, hats off to him for a nice long successful career, but if you think he's on the playoff roster, like Guns & Roses said, "you're f***ing craaaaaaaazy"

Wake won't be on the roster

 

 

Well, as I just said in another thread, if Bedard and Lackey fail in Sep... They should try with Aceves or at least give him 4 innings and 3 to Lackey, but you have to try something different, you just can't give up an entire game, no way...

[a700hitter]

Well' date=' as I just said in another thread, if Bedard and Lackey fail in Sep... They should try with Aceves or at least give him 4 innings and 3 to Lackey, but you have to try something different, you just can't give up an entire game, no way...[/quote']This knee issue will probably continue to hinder Bedard. He's following in the footsteps of Mark Prior as a permanent DL resident. Prior's career was a little bit better than Bedard's.

[SoxSport]

I wish the Sox had called Kevin Millwood up when they had him. He has pitched better than Lackey' date=' Miller, and Wakefield. With Colorado, he has a 1.11 WHIP, 3.34 ERA, and only 4 bases on balls in 32.1 innings.[/quote']

 

One of a number of mistakes the front office has made this year. You'll hear about it after they've been bounced out of the playoffs. Their only chance, really, is if Lester, Beckett and Buchholz are healthy.

 

This was supposed to be the best team in baseball pre-season. They are clearly underachieving up to this point. It isn't all Tito's fault, but you have to ask whether it's time to get some new blood in the management on the field. Injuries continue to be a big problem with this team. Are they conditioned well enough to sustain a season?

[jacksonianmarch]

You lose Buchholz, DiceK, and Beckett and you're gonna struggle into the finish.

[iortiz]

You lose Buchholz' date=' DiceK, and Beckett and you're gonna struggle into the finish.[/quote']

 

Sad but true.

 

I don't take for granted the POs anymore, do you?

[jacksonianmarch]

I think the Yanks are in the playoffs for sure. The sox have an excellent chance, but their injuries make them just short of a lock. Thing is, the sox had everything go right offensively (even with Drew down, Reddick came up and was the balls) and everything go wrong on the mound. Lester and Paps have been awesome. Beckett was great but is hurt. Lackey is the worst pitcher in the AL. DiceK is out for the yr. Buchholz is out for the yr. Wakefield should retire. Miller aint the answer. Etc, etc, etc.