Who will go north as the 5th Starter?

[a700hitter]

In answering this poll, please select the pitcher who you think will win th job, not who you want to win the job.

[Dojji]

I think Prince Felix has a legit chance.

 

Unfortunately he also has a chance of being Abe Alvarez, but there ya go, that's the chance you take.

[a700hitter]

I apologize for the extra thread.

[redsoxfan3]

From the other thread, this is what I said:

 

From what I have heard at Spring Training, I think it will be either Aceves or Doubront. The Spring games haven't started yet, but Doubront and Aceves both have been impressive in their bullpen sessions. Silva, Cook, and Padilla all have a realistic shot, but if I were to choose right now, I would say it is Aceves if he does well pitching in the Spring and if the organization is comfortable with losing him out of the pen. They would have to find someone to replace him. I think that if they don't want to lose him out of the pen, then it will be Doubront. Like I said, it depends on what happens in the Spring Training games and what the organization wants to do in terms of the pen. I haven't really heard much about Padilla other than if he gets the ball every 5th day that he could be a problem with his attitude. I watched Silva yesterday pitching live batting practice and I was not overly impressed.

[Dojji]

I love Aceves in the role he's in. If he can reprise it he's incredible valuable. How many releivers in the game can consistently go out there and pitch 3 shutout innings when called upon? Not too freaking many. He was the ultimate long man and if he can recapture that, I don't move him to the rotation where he's maybe a 5-6 innings guy, I keep him where he is as the only truly dependable old-school throwback 3 inning releiver in baseball.

 

With Bard transitioning from the bullpen, having an elite longman would be incredibly valuable. There's going to be times Bard barely goes 5 if that. Having Aceves pretty much piggyback Bard would make greater than zero sense for most of the early season. I give Doubront every chance to be the guy.

[a700hitter]

I think Aceves really wants the job and he will outpitch the field. I hate to lose him from the bullpen. Felix will take his spot in the pen as a swingman. They will start off the season with Padilla, Silva and Cook et al in the minors as insurance.

[redsoxfan3]

I love Aceves in the role he's in. If he can reprise it he's incredible valuable. How many releivers in the game can consistently go out there and pitch 3 shutout innings when called upon? Not too freaking many. He was the ultimate long man and if he can recapture that, I don't move him to the rotation where he's maybe a 5-6 innings guy, I keep him where he is as the only truly dependable old-school throwback 3 inning releiver in baseball.

 

With Bard transitioning from the bullpen, having an elite longman would be incredibly valuable. There's going to be times Bard barely goes 5 if that. Having Aceves pretty much piggyback Bard would make greater than zero sense for most of the early season. I give Doubront every chance to be the guy.

 

I agree with you on Aceves, but like a700hitter said, he really really wants that 5th spot in the rotation. I think that he has earned a chance. Losing him from the pen would be a big blow, but I think he would be a great option for the rotation. Moving him to the rotation might not make much sense to some, but it could realistically make this team have one a great rotation. Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, Bard, and Aceves would be a great rotation. We know we would get solid innings out of all of those guys. Doubront is also not a bad option and if he were to get it, I love the scenario you provided with Bard and Aceves. That would be a good combo in games. They do have Aceves actually pitching after Bard in their first game pitching, so maybe that is what they are thinking?

 

I think Aceves really wants the job and he will outpitch the field. I hate to lose him from the bullpen. Felix will take his spot in the pen as a swingman. They will start off the season with Padilla' date=' Silva and Cook et al in the minors as insurance.[/quote']

 

Doubront might not be a bad option for the swingman role. I am really concerned about the pen if we lose Aceves to the rotation, but our rotation would be good. If we can get some good production from Doubront in the pen, then that would be really good. We need some relievers to really take a step forward and replace some of the production lost in the pen. We can't have any more of these little injuries from Bailey either.

[jacksonianmarch]

It's going to come down to who does well in ST. I think Aceves is going to thrive in his shorter stints early then get by as his pitch count grows seeing as most teams still pull their starters after 2ABs. I think he is the sure shot #5 if he is in the conversation during ST. I dont think he lasts there, though

[User Name]

Padilla, if he can keep it together. He has the best stuff out of anyone in the bunch.

[redsoxfan3]

Padilla' date=' if he can keep it together. He has the best stuff out of anyone in the bunch.[/quote']

 

The concerns with Padilla though are his attitude, if he can keep his composure, and if he can stay healthy. He is a realistic shot at the 5th spot, but he brings some big concerns.

[Dojji]

Padilla is this year's Millwood. Expect him to put up gaudy numbers in Pawtucket and never see a single big league inning.

[User Name]

Not promoting Millwood when the wheels were falling of the wagon was probably one of the Sox' biggest mistakes last year. Don't expect that to happen this year. They have built depth to use it.

[kapsis21]

^^ agreed. bringing back Milwood we would have had a better chance then Bedard crapping every 3 innings with injurry.

[kapsis21]

voted for Padilla but i think Doubront and Aceves are excellent candidates too. but with Padilla his stuff is explosive if he gets it going.. big if though..

[SCM33]

OTHER as it will be Bard.

 

Bard will be on a strict innings/pitch count limit.

 

Padilla will be the #4 starter.

[RonVermette]

I still think Oswalt may not want to sit around for 3 months.

[Dojji]

I think we have a big need to have our long man be a great one. I think Aceves is the best long man we've had in a long, LOOOONG time and with op to 2 untried starters and 2 more injury prone guys. The only guy I'd count on to start and finish the year is Lester. I'd like to be able to start Aceves in the bullpen to create the illusion of depth.

[a700hitter]

So with Silva out of the mix, Aceves, Padilla, Doubront and Cook remain to compete for the 5th spot. Cook is cooked. He has more physical problems than Silva. Aceves is the best of the rest, but we really need him more in the pen. I hope Doubront can take a big step forward, because Padilla is a walking MASH unit. Last year, he had arm and neck surgeries.

[a700hitter]

There was one vote in this poll for "other.". I am curious whether that person had a particular pitcher in mind.

[SoxSport]

From what I've heard and seen, Miller still has a shot. Padilla next. Aceves is a fallback.

Doubront is Lowrie 2.

[ORS]

OTHER as it will be Bard.

 

Bard will be on a strict innings/pitch count limit.

 

Padilla will be the #4 starter.

Your answer is Padilla, then, since Bard was clearly intended to be part of the 4 that will definitely be in the rotation, regardless of what number you assign to them.

[a700hitter]

Your answer is Padilla' date=' then, since Bard was clearly intended to be part of the 4 that will definitely be in the rotation, regardless of what number you assign to them.[/quote']Thanks. It's difficult to scroll back on the Blackberry on the train.

[seabeachfred]

Padilla would be a good choice if he could stay in one piece and avoid any cranal meltdowns, but I also believe it is about high time Doubrant either puts up or shuts up. We've been talking about this guy being a comer now for three years and he is still locked in the outhouse. Time for him to stand up since his coming of age could enable us to keep Aceves as long man in the bullpen where he can eat up innings and give a solid man there. Needless to say we are going to need a solid bullpen this year no matter how well our "Big Three" pitch. I agree totally with Ted on Cook, though. The guy is used up and is falling apart day by day. I don't see how he can suddenly regain the fountain of y outh any time in this lifetime.

[RedSoxNC84]

Padilla would be a good choice if he could stay in one piece and avoid any cranal meltdowns' date=' but I also believe it is about high time Doubrant either puts up or shuts up. We've been talking about this guy being a comer now for three years and he is still locked in the outhouse. Time for him to stand up since his coming of age could enable us to keep Aceves as long man in the bullpen where he can eat up innings and give a solid man there. Needless to say we are going to need a solid bullpen this year no matter how well our "Big Three" pitch. I agree totally with Ted on Cook, though. The guy is used up and is falling apart day by day. I don't see how he can suddenly regain the fountain of y outh any time in this lifetime.[/quote']

 

I agree with you here, I think Doubront has the best chance out of the Pawtucket crew to gain the 5th starter's spot. I feel as though guys like Tazawa or Bowden could end up being bullpen pieces if anything, but I don't know about much more than that. I would like to keep Aceves as our long man as much as the next guy, he's certainly a better option for that than anyone else on the roster.

[The Boomer]

Padilla would be a good choice if he could stay in one piece and avoid any cranal meltdowns' date=' but I also believe it is about high time Doubrant either puts up or shuts up. We've been talking about this guy being a comer now for three years and he is still locked in the outhouse. Time for him to stand up since his coming of age could enable us to keep Aceves as long man in the bullpen where he can eat up innings and give a solid man there. Needless to say we are going to need a solid bullpen this year no matter how well our "Big Three" pitch. I agree totally with Ted on Cook, though. The guy is used up and is falling apart day by day. I don't see how he can suddenly regain the fountain of y outh any time in this lifetime.[/quote']

 

I voted for Padilla because the question was literally who will be the 5th starter coming out of ST, but I also speculate that Padilla will melt down sometime in May and Prince Felix will get his shot at that time.

[mvp 78]

I voted for Padilla because the question was literally who will be the 5th starter coming out of ST' date=' but I also speculate that Padilla will melt down sometime in May and Prince Felix will get his shot at that time.[/quote']

 

Matt Young melt down or Carl Everett melt down?

[seabeachfred]

I voted for Padilla because the question was literally who will be the 5th starter coming out of ST' date=' but I also speculate that Padilla will melt down sometime in May and Prince Felix will get his shot at that time.[/quote']

 

Well we're in agreement on that. Is that a first or a second Boomer. I would like to see Padilla get the nod because of his experience and competitive fire---just so long as he can keep that fire under some control and not start head hunting. I still hold to what I said about Doubrant. It is high time he starts showing the promise everyone seems to have predicted for him. Fortunately for me, I haven't committed any prediction for the guy so if he makes it big I can't claim a damn thing and if he flops I'm clear there too. I would prefer the former for the young lefthander, though.

[The Boomer]

Matt Young melt down or Carl Everett melt down?

 

With Padilla it's probably going to be some of both. I'll bet he throws behind someone's head and gets suspended though. The talent is there but he's a mean SOB.

[SoxSport]

I still think Oswalt may not want to sit around for 3 months.

 

At this point, I doubt anyone cares. That goes for the other teams, too.

[SoxSport]

I voted for Padilla because the question was literally who will be the 5th starter coming out of ST' date=' but I also speculate that Padilla will melt down sometime in May and Prince Felix will get his shot at that time.[/quote']

 

Prince Felix?