Who will go north as the 5th Starter?

[SoxSport]

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' date=' 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.[/quote']

 

Aceves definitely pitched better in relief last year than starting. So we'll see. It may depend on how the other pitchers look. They probably would like him to be a BP mainstay.

[The Boomer]

Prince Felix?

 

I always misspell his last name so I came up with it to save me from looking like a dope.

[Dojji]

Prince Felix is a common nickname for Doubront at Soxprospects.

[The Boomer]

Prince Felix is a common nickname for Doubront at Soxprospects.

 

Great minds think alike - I didn't know that but I'm not expecting any royalties either.

[seabeachfred]

Aceves definitely pitched better in relief last year than starting. So we'll see. It may depend on how the other pitchers look. They probably would like him to be a BP mainstay.

 

No matter how I cut, slice it or dice it, I just feel we are going to need a deep bullpen this season. What I don't want to see is two or three guys carrying most of the load and then be gassed as August turns into September. Keep Aceves in the pen. As much as I am tempted to say PUT HIM IN THE ROTATION BECAUSE HE IS EFFECTIVE, my better judgment, such as it is, tells me we need him in the pen where he can serve as a long man, set-up man or seventh inning man. The guy seems to have a very resilient arm and we certainly can use a few like that.

 

Guys and ladies, root for Padilla and Prince Felix to make it work that way.

[Dojji]

... or Oswalt.

[Spitball]

I can see someone like Barry Zito being released out of spring training and being signed on the cheap. Andrew Bailey's health (and history of injuries) is a big concern. If he is not healthy soon, I doubt Bard and Aceves are both in the rotation.

[Dojji]

I can see someone like Barry Zito being released out of spring training and being signed on the cheap. Andrew Bailey's health (and history of injuries) is a big concern. If he is not healthy soon' date=' I doubt Bard [i']and[/i] Aceves are both in the rotation.

 

I'd get Wake out of retirement before I went to Zito. That's exactly the kind of pitcher you don't bring to Fenway Park.

[SoxSport]

I have good feelings about this team. They have a new manager and something to prove. Plus a lot of talent--enough to go all the way. It's a question of moxie and determination--plus luck. The Champion always has to be lucky.

[a700hitter]

I have good feelings about this team. They have a new manager and something to prove. Plus a lot of talent--enough to go all the way. It's a question of moxie and determination--plus luck. The Champion always has to be lucky.

Quite often in baseball there are game changers-- guys who come out of nowhere or from modest success to be game-changing stars. In 1967, it was Lonborg. He went from a guy with potential to a fierce ace pitcher. In 1972, Luis Tiant came from being buried deep in the Red Sox bullpen to be the team ace and lead the league with a sub-2 ERA. In 1975, two rookies, Lynn and Rice hit the scene as rookies who were top MVP candidates. In 1986, Clemens became the ace that he remained for 15+ years. Bard could be that game-changer in 2012. If he does, that will propel this team. Hey, I can dream... right.?

[Spitball]

I'd get Wake out of retirement before I went to Zito. That's exactly the kind of pitcher you don't bring to Fenway Park.

 

I didn't say I'd advocate such a move. I do think that Zito will be released and signed by someone desperate for a fifth starter. If Bailey is an uncertainty, the Sox will be prime and desperate to find someone to fill the fifth starter role.

[Dojji]

So maybe those who weren't sure we'd seen the last of Wakefield were right to wonder. I can see a scenario where he becomes the least horrible option.

[Spitball]

So maybe those who weren't sure we'd seen the last of Wakefield were right to wonder. I can see a scenario where he becomes the least horrible option.

 

Hmmm...I doubt we see him again...even as a least of the horrible options.

[BSN07]

Zito would get pwned in the AL East. He would be a waste of roster space. I think Padilla is most likely, although i would like to see Prince Felix step up and take the spot.

 

Oswalt will sign eventually when some team SP's get hit with the injury bug.

[a700hitter]

Oswalt will sign eventually when some team SP's get hit with the injury bug.

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

[SoxSport]

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

 

Can't see Wainright 100% first year after surgery. Never happens.

[Spitball]

Can't see Wainright 100% first year after surgery. Never happens.

 

I believe the Marlins Josh Johnson returned after 10 months and was as good as ever. Shaun Marcum did, also. There have been some improvements in the procedure and players are returning quicker than in years gone by.

 

I don't know who did Wainright's operation, but fellow Cardinal Jaime Garcia returned after a year and made their rotation for the first time. Of course, Chris Carpenter (same surgeon?) took nearly two years to come back.

[Palodios]

Zito would get pwned in the AL East. He would be a waste of roster space. I think Padilla is most likely, although i would like to see Prince Felix step up and take the spot.

 

Oswalt will sign eventually when some team SP's get hit with the injury bug.

 

Silva and Miller just got hurt, so I hope you're right:lol:

[SoxFanForsyth]

Silva and Miller just got hurt' date=' so I hope you're right:lol:[/quote']

 

I think he just had a little stiffness in his tricep, not even his elbow, from what I've read today.

 

I actually think that Miller is going to be the 5th man coming out of spring, if only because he has no options and they're going to try to get as much out of him as they can. Doubront to the bullpen along with Padilla (Padilla should be option #2 in terms of SP, 5a/5b with Miller and Padilla).

 

I don't think Miller will stick as a SP for obvious reasons, so ultimately I think Padilla gets the biggest chunk of starts between April and June, when DiceK comes back and relinquishes the 5th starter role.

[redsoxfan3]

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this. I know that Aceves is doing good so far this Spring. He is my favorite to become the 5th starter, but I honestly think he will be better in the bullpen. We already know that if we lose him from the pen then that will be a big blow. The reason that he has to stay in the pen is because of Bailey's injury history. I hope Bailey stays healthy this year, but if for some reason Bailey were to get hurt, either Melancon or Aceves could temporarily close out games. I am really hoping Doubront can be a decent 5th starter. I think we need Aceves in the pen. He can be in a similar role as he was last year. He can also start some games if we really really need him to. I am really not counting on Padilla or Cook to start for us. Padilla might be better off pitching in relief. Cook I am not so sure about. He pitched two scoreless innings in his first game, but I need to see more. Also with Dice-K coming back, I think we can get by with Doubront as a starter. I like Doubront, Aceves, and Dice-K as potential starters in the 5th role during this season. I do not like Miller, Cook, Padilla, or Silva.

[SoxSport]

I believe the Marlins Josh Johnson returned after 10 months and was as good as ever. Shaun Marcum did, also. There have been some improvements in the procedure and players are returning quicker than in years gone by.

 

I don't know who did Wainright's operation, but fellow Cardinal Jaime Garcia returned after a year and made their rotation for the first time. Of course, Chris Carpenter (same surgeon?) took nearly two years to come back.

 

So far so good for Johnson and Wainright. Miami will be in trouble if Johnson doesn't make it back.

[a700hitter]

Reported yesterday:

The Nationals are taking offers on lefty John Lannan, but they're not desperate to trade him, as his $5MM salary for this season is manageable, tweets Jim Bowden of ESPN.com. The Red Sox have made an offer for Lannan, but it wasn't close, Bowden adds.

[Spitball]

Reported yesterday:

 

Geez, I hope they don't go too hard for Lannan. A 4.7 k/9 rate and a 1.47 whip in the NL explains why the Nats are willing to shop the guy. I pray the Sox pass.

[a700hitter]

Geez' date=' I hope they don't go too hard for Lannan. A 4.7 k/9 rate and a 1.47 whip in the NL explains why the Nats are willing to shop the guy. I pray the Sox pass.[/quote']I agree that it would not be a great move.

[Station 13]

Aceves is winning this poll, but I cannot see a bullpen taking further hit with him in the rotation.

We've been told he is expected to close in the event Bailey isn't performing or is hurt. He's a rubber arm guy who pitch a lot of innings, and been use a ton of back to back games. This is clearly where he fits best.

 

I expect the 1-2-3 to do their jobs. If they do not. Forget about it. No matter who the 5th ends up as.

[a700hitter]

It's very early, but Doubront has done poorly and so has Padilla. Padilla's stuff doesn't look good at all. Silva is out of the running. Cook looked good, but Bobby V said that he will not log enough innings in camp, so he will probably not come north. Ohlendorf is pitching today. He is behind the other pitcher, so he probably can't get enough innings to be ready by April. Aceves has looked good, but taking him from the bullpen would be a big blow to the pen. It doesn't look like they will have much of a choice after Aceves. No one is climbing out of the garbage heap of so-called pitching depth to claim the job yet. It's still early.

[jung]

I guess I am still holding out some hope for Doubront as ill placed as that might be.

 

I have not liked what I have seen from Padilla at all. This guy's MO was "great stuff" and he has not had great stuff at all. Fast ball is flat and straight. Moon ball curve is interesting but even spring hitters don't seem to be having much difficulty with laying off of it or getting a bat on it if they have to swing at it. I am guessing that his fastball is so unimpressive that the real problem lies there.

 

None of the rest of the potential starters have done anything worth talking about. So far have not seen anything that keeps them from bringing Aceves north as the 5. It is still early however. That said I have gotten down to crossing my fingers on Doubront much sooner than I thought I would.

[Dojji]

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.

[Dojji]

Geez' date=' I hope they don't go too hard for Lannan. A 4.7 k/9 rate and a 1.47 whip in the NL explains why the Nats are willing to shop the guy. I pray the Sox pass.[/quote']

 

He reminds me a lot of guys like Jeremy Guthrie. Every now and again you get a guy like that and he just works in this division.

 

I dunno how effective Lannan would be in the Fens, but it might be worth a shot as a bottom of the rotation inning eater type. He's a groundball pitcher (about a 2-1 GB-FB rate which is very high) and that can cover for a lot of sins.

 

Worth considering is the fact that Lannan absolutely murders lefthanded hitting (.589 OPS v. left last year), so even if you couldn't hack it in the rotation with the guy, he could be that lefty out of the pen we need so bad. Having a viable plan B isn't all bad. Besides, NYY is pretty lefthanded, he could be a Yankee killer.

 

If we do have Iglesias on the roster, a lefty who kills lefties and can keep the ball on the ground against righthanders (IE righthanded pull hitters would be the ones doing the damage, and they'd be grounding to the shortstop position a lot) could do pretty well here.

[User Name]

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.

 

You're kidding right?