Who will go north as the 5th Starter?

[Dojji]

Wish I was.. You've got a situation where NO ONE is stepping up so the question needs to be asked.

[User Name]

Wakefield is not the answer, and it's early in spring.

[a700hitter]

OK let's ask the obvious question:

 

Aceves in the rotation and a shaky pen, or Wakefield in the rotation and Aceves ballasting the pen? I really doubt it would take Wake long to get back into playing shape.

I hope you realize how many people's day you just ruined. It is not out of the realm. I hate to admit it, but if someone doesn't step up...

[Dojji]

Wakefield is not the answer' date=' and it's early in spring.[/quote']

 

So to confirm, you'd rather see Aceves go to the rotation and risk Melancon being our only healthy, effective reliever than see Wake in a Red Sox uniform ever again.

[User Name]

So to confirm' date=' you'd rather see Aceves go to the rotation and risk Melancon being our only healthy, effective reliever than see Wake in a Red Sox uniform ever again.[/quote']

 

What is it with you and making up points of views for people you are arguing with? Where did i say i wanted Aceves in the five spot?

 

What i am saying is that it's still early, and even if someone didn't "step up", simply having someone who can actually eat innings renders a 45-year old, ineffective Wakefield an afterthought.

[Dojji]

Sorry, I was under the umpression that since you were responding to the question I asked, you were *actually* responding to the question I asked. My bad.

[User Name]

I was referring specifically to the idea of bringing Wakefield back from retirement......just no.

 

Also, Aceves or Wakefield in the 5 spot are not the only two options obviously.

[Dojji]

Right now Aceves is the only man who's made himself an option.

 

It might be early in spring, but that doesn't mean you can't think about the implications of what's happened so far. If things change and a guy steps up, rock on, but does that mean that in the meantime we're not allowed to think?

[Bellhorn04]

Jeez, none of the candidates have even thrown 5 innings in spring training games yet, so it's a bit early.

 

Hey, Cook, Miller, Ohlendorf and Tazawa all have spring ERA's of 0.00, so I'd say we're overflowing with good options.

[Dojji]

I kinda don't want my point on Lannan to be lost in the other discussion so I'm going to bring it up again on the new page.

 

Lannan is not Zito. He has some signs of effectiveness that I think might make him worth pursuing, even with the high WHIP as a factor

 

For one thing, Lannan keeps the ball on the ground. His GB/FB rate is about 2 to 1. (career 1.9, which is an extreme ground ball pitcher). If you can squeeze Iglesias into the lineup, our infield defense ought to be tight enough to make a ground ball pitcher an asset.

 

For another, he's death on lefthanders, which we tend to see a lot of, especially when NYY is in town. The Yankees aren't exaggeratedly lefty heavy like they used to be (or like we kind of are now) but still, neutralizing Granderson and Cano makes some sense if you can do it, and making it harder for their lefthanded pull hitters to take advantage of that short wall in NYS only makes sense. And if he does fall out of the rotation due to bad performance, with Lannan's platoon splits you have a chance at a good LOOGY.

 

I think there would be some things to recommend Lannan if he can be gotten cheaply, at any rate. I wouldn't count on him for ace type performances, but as a bottom of the rotation guy, he's got some assets I'd consider useful.

[jacksonianmarch]

Good luck neutralizing Grandy and Cano, two guys who hit lefties pretty well last yr. And Cano always hits lefties well.

[a700hitter]

Doubront and Padilla pitch against the Yanks in Tampa tonight.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Good luck pitching to the first six players on the Red Sox.

[Spitball]

My bet is that Oswalt will sign with the Cardinals as soon as Wainright experiences a setback.

 

Carpenter has a bulging disc in his neck. I wonder if we will see that signing soon.

[Bellhorn04]

Good luck neutralizing Grandy and Cano' date=' two guys who hit lefties pretty well last yr. And Cano always hits lefties well.[/quote']

 

For whatever reason Grandy didn't hit well against the Red Sox last year-.188 with a .717 OPS. Cano I'd rather not discuss.

[redsoxfan3]

Doubront and Padilla pitch against the Yanks in Tampa tonight.

 

This should be an interesting game to watch. We are obviously playing without a bunch of our starters, we only have Pedroia, Ells, Aviles, and Salty going tonight that are probably all starters for us this year. I am excited to see Doubront start. This could be huge for Doubront and him winning the 5th spot this year. This might also be good for Padilla as well if he wants a shot at even possibly becoming a starter or having a role in the pen after his last performance. I know it is only a Spring Training game, but if we win I will be extremely happy because I feel the Yanks have the better lineup out there tonight.

[SoxSport]

I think they'll rank these guys as potential starters, and bring at least 3 of them north. The guys with no options will get preference. I guess Aceves 5, Miller 6, Dubront 7, Padilla 8. They'll want at least 7 starters in case of injuries. Padilla has a tougher road because his contract says he can leave if he doesn't start. He didn't look that good to me the other day. Got hit his 2nd inning.

[redsoxfan3]

I think they'll rank these guys as potential starters' date=' and bring at least 3 of them north. The guys with no options will get preference. I guess Aceves 5, Miller 6, Dubront 7, Padilla 8. They'll want at least 7 starters in case of injuries. Padilla has a tougher road because his contract says he can leave if he doesn't start. He didn't look that good to me the other day. Got hit his 2nd inning.[/quote']

 

I think Aceves, Doubront, and Miller will be on the opening day roster, if I had to guess (Aceves is a no brainer). I am hoping that with the 5th spot that one of those three guys will win it. I am not big on Cook or Padilla. I woud rather either Miller or Doubront hold down the 5th spot unti Dice-K can come back. I think Padilla might have a realistic shot to make the pen if he does not have a s***** performance like he did his last outing. We have options for the rotation, that is not the problem. The problem is finding a reliable starter from a group of not very good candidates. Padilla, Cook, and Silva are all washed up and I could care less if they are a part of this team. As much as I just wish for Aceves to start, I don't think it is realistic, which is why I am hoping that Doubront can make it happen. Miller could be an innings eater and a spot starter out of the pen and we will always have Aceves who will be in an extremely versatile role if he is in the pen. We might see him start some games and even close some games depending on what happens with injuries.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Tonight will be an interesting spot for Doubront. It will be good to see how he performs against a fairly regular Yankee lineup.

 

He'll be facing the likes of ARod, Gardner, Tex, Ibanez, Martin, Andruw Jones, Nunez, and then a non-regular of Bill Hall.

 

This will likely be his biggest test of the spring thus far. I think he will do well myself, but I may be overconfident with him.

[Station 13]

Streamtorrent has gone dead. Anyone know of a site that still update?

[SoxFanForsyth]

Streamtorrent has gone dead. Anyone know of a site that still update?

 

Game is on the MLB Network on tv

[Station 13]

Game is on the MLB Network on tv

 

Don't got it. I want to see how Doubront look.

[redsoxfan3]

I didn't watch him pitch that inning, but I am still impressed he got out of that inning without giving up a run.

[jung]

He pitched decently in the first.Pretty good breaking ball. Got to much of the plate with one to a right handed hitter and that was the hit. Was tough on the guys hitting from the left side. Gave up another walk though, this one to Alex. I hope this does not turn into a walk per inning game for him.

[SoxFanForsyth]

He pitched decently in the first.Pretty good breaking ball. Got to much of the plate with one to a right handed hitter and that was the hit. Was tough on the guys hitting from the left side. Gave up another walk though' date=' this one to Alex. I hope this does not turn into a walk per inning game for him.[/quote']

 

Well if he's a 9bb/9 guy, he's not going to be a SP for long.

 

But his offspeed stuff looks good. He has to get better control of his fastball though. He may be overthrowing a little bit.

 

A lot of weak contact though. Very good sign. Lester needs to teach him how to throw a cutter.

[jung]

Very good second inning. Got the right handed hitters off balance and out ahead. Two ground ball outs bookend a K. Got ahead of the last batter of the inning. Had been getting behind before that but seems to have settled in. Very nice inning.

[jung]

Wow what a nice 3 inning stretch for Doubront. Little shaky in the 1st but not unusual for a pitcher as we all know. Really has the right handers off balance at this point.

 

Might we see more of this from him?

 

Feverishly knocking on wood at the moment.

[VA Sox Fan]

FYI guys, there is a Spring Training game thread if you are interested.

[redsoxfan3]

I never would have thought that the starting pitching race would actually be this close. I thought that Bard would lock down the #4 spot and that Aceves and Doubront would fight for the #5 spot with Cook and Padilla falling off of the radar. Cook and Padilla have had some decent results and have made their case for a starting spot. I really hope Doubront locks up a starting spot, but I must say I am happy with the competition going on in camp. I just hope that Bard does not mess his chances up, I guess if he does then he will be back in the pen, which I would be fine with.

[Station 13]

Miller been told to ditch his windup. So he isn't going to make any starts.