Shoring Up the Rotation

[seabeachfred]

Best of luck. Wish you well.

 

Believe it or not Stallion, two of those people who I put on ignore were not on the list of people on the board. Now I wonder where I go from there. They post under those names and the message tells me they are not on the list.

[italstallianion]

Believe it or not Stallion, two of those people who I put on ignore were not on the list of people on the board. Now I wonder where I go from there. They post under those names and the message tells me they are not on the list.

 

 

I only know of 2 posters that I can guess you'd want to ignore and I was able to successfully ignore them.

 

What I do is type in their username slowly and wait for the website to pull it up, then click on that name. And make sure to save changes when you're done.

 

If that still doesn't work, send me a private message of the posters you wish to ignore and I'll try and help you from there.

[a700hitter]

With Aceves on his way out the door and Steve Wright stinking like 3 day old fish, we have one depth option for the rotation--- Webster. I hope the rotation takes their vitamins and stay healthy.

[mvp 78]

And in getting back to actual baseball talk... If Lackey gets injured again, look for Webster to stick up here. None of the retreads in Pawtucket are worth bringing up.

 

Has anyone heard a prognosis for Morales? He'd be our best non-Webster option to fill in once in a while.

[Orange Juiced]

One other long-lost name to mention: Anthony Ranaudo. Obviously very talented, was one of the top prospects in his draft class. But he's pitched poorly ever since he became a professional. I still hold out hope that it'll click with him at some point.

 

Through three games this season, he's looking very good in Portland:

 

3 g, 15.2 ip, 9 h, 2 r, 2 er, 5 bb, 17 k, 1.15 era, 0.89 whip, 9.8 k/9

 

Obviously he has a long way to go still, but maybe, just maybe, he can eventually become what the Sox hoped he'd be. Certainly he has the tools - big frame, excellent stuff.

[SoxSport]

With Aceves on his way out the door and Steve Wright stinking like 3 day old fish, we have one depth option for the rotation--- Webster. I hope the rotation takes their vitamins and stay healthy.

 

Bringing up Wright over Webster was an example of how this organization thinks. They pigeon-hole pitchers--instead of bringing up the best guy. They wanted a middle relief type, so they figured on Wright--even though he is also a starter but not nearly as ready for the big leagues as Webster. The result in a game was predictable. They did bring up Webster for a start, and he was successful. Hopefully he'll get another start Sunday. If he's successful again, he may still be blocked by lesser pitchers.

 

The organization shows a certain regimentation on pitching that may be counterproductive, and could contribute to underachieving performance in recent years. I'm hoping Farrell will correct some of this--his influence is high right now, maybe as high as it will ever be.

[seabeachfred]

One other long-lost name to mention: Anthony Ranaudo. Obviously very talented, was one of the top prospects in his draft class. But he's pitched poorly ever since he became a professional. I still hold out hope that it'll click with him at some point.

 

Through three games this season, he's looking very good in Portland:

 

3 g, 15.2 ip, 9 h, 2 r, 2 er, 5 bb, 17 k, 1.15 era, 0.89 whip, 9.8 k/9

 

Obviously he has a long way to go still, but maybe, just maybe, he can eventually become what the Sox hoped he'd be. Certainly he has the tools - big frame, excellent stuff.

 

This was the guy I held out the most promise for Juiced. Three years ago he had a blowout summer season in the Cape Cod League after being injured part of his last season at LSU. He didn't seem to be making much progress. Maybe he is now. All I can tell you from where I'm sitting is that either Renaudo, Webster, Barnes or Owens must keep improving so that at least two of them can crack into our rotation in a year or two. We all know by now that you win with solid starting pitching.

[seabeachfred]

With Aceves on his way out the door and Steve Wright stinking like 3 day old fish, we have one depth option for the rotation--- Webster. I hope the rotation takes their vitamins and stay healthy.

 

I got in on this late Ted.......was Aceves sent down? That would be terrific news and I would wager that he will raise hell down there because of his demotion and might wind up getting released. To be truthful, though, I hope he goes down there and works his ass off because you never know if we may need a pitcher or two when the dog days hit. It's just too bad Alfredo turned out to be such an *******.

 

Speaking of which I was able to find the ignore button with the help of my friend Italian Stallion. I've got two of them on it and am working to get the third one on. Thank God I won't have to deal with them anymore.

[italstallianion]

I got in on this late Ted.......was Aceves sent down? That would be terrific news and I would wager that he will raise hell down there because of his demotion and might wind up getting released. To be truthful, though, I hope he goes down there and works his ass off because you never know if we may need a pitcher or two when the dog days hit. It's just too bad Alfredo turned out to be such an *******.

 

Speaking of which I was able to find the ignore button with the help of my friend Italian Stallion. I've got two of them on it and am working to get the third one on. Thank God I won't have to deal with them anymore.

 

 

Did you get the message back? Did it work?

[User Name]

Bringing up Wright over Webster was an example of how this organization thinks. They pigeon-hole pitchers--instead of bringing up the best guy. They wanted a middle relief type, so they figured on Wright--even though he is also a starter but not nearly as ready for the big leagues as Webster. The result in a game was predictable. They did bring up Webster for a start, and he was successful. Hopefully he'll get another start Sunday. If he's successful again, he may still be blocked by lesser pitchers.

 

The organization shows a certain regimentation on pitching that may be counterproductive, and could contribute to underachieving performance in recent years. I'm hoping Farrell will correct some of this--his influence is high right now, maybe as high as it will ever be.

 

I'm sorry, but this may be the dumbest thing i've ever read.

[italstallianion]

I'm sorry, but this may be the dumbest thing i've ever read.

 

 

....not said by Suns.

[seabeachfred]

Did you get the message back? Did it work?

 

Yes and Yes. Thanks again....I owe you big time.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[User Name]

....not said by Suns.

 

Touche.

[redsoxfan3]

And in getting back to actual baseball talk... If Lackey gets injured again, look for Webster to stick up here. None of the retreads in Pawtucket are worth bringing up.

 

Has anyone heard a prognosis for Morales? He'd be our best non-Webster option to fill in once in a while.

 

Webster is the only healthy option right now. RDLR still has a lot to prove. Wright is not remotely close.

 

On April 23rd there was an article saying Morales had pectoral soreness. His rehab is going to be delayed a few more days. Realistically, he is probably not an option until mid-to-late May at the earliest. I am sure we will hear more about him within a week or two so we know for sure. They are going to stretch him out as a starter. So when he is healthy, at least we have him and Webster.

[VA Sox Fan]

I'm sorry, but this may be the dumbest thing i've ever read.

 

I'm surprised it didn't include some random incoherent rant about the NYY.

[mvp 78]

Webster should never pitch out of the bullpen. If he's not in the rotation, he should stay in Pawtucket. They needed a few innings from Wright in the bullpen, having Webster pitch in the Aceves game would have been horrible as he just started a game and didn't have enough rest.

[Bellhorn04]

One other long-lost name to mention: Anthony Ranaudo. Obviously very talented, was one of the top prospects in his draft class. But he's pitched poorly ever since he became a professional. I still hold out hope that it'll click with him at some point.

 

Through three games this season, he's looking very good in Portland:

 

3 g, 15.2 ip, 9 h, 2 r, 2 er, 5 bb, 17 k, 1.15 era, 0.89 whip, 9.8 k/9

 

Obviously he has a long way to go still, but maybe, just maybe, he can eventually become what the Sox hoped he'd be. Certainly he has the tools - big frame, excellent stuff.

 

Good news. Plenty of pitchers take a few years to develop. We're just so conditioned to be impatient now.

[BSN07]

Morales had a nice start in Portland, 56 pitches(39 strikes) 4IP, 4H, R, 0 ER, BB 2 SO

[a700hitter]

Morales had a nice start in Portland, 56 pitches(39 strikes) 4IP, 4H, R, 0 ER, BB 2 SO

Most people would acknowledge that he has good stuff. The issue with him has always been durability. I don't see him holding up as a starter over the course of a season. I don't think that he has had any seasons where he went more 60 innings. I haven't looked it up in a while, but he hasn't done a lot of work, yet he has been DL'd several times.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Most people would acknowledge that he has good stuff. The issue with him has always been durability. I don't see him holding up as a starter over the course of a season. I don't think that he has had any seasons where he went more 60 innings. I haven't looked it up in a while, but he hasn't done a lot of work, yet he has been DL'd several times.

 

Couple things -

 

First - he threw 76.33 IP last year, which was his career high. You're supposed to bump by ~30% to avoid risk of injury, so that would put him at around 100 IP this year (99.33 IP to be exact).

 

Second - he likely won't be back until early to mid June, so he could be inserted into the rotation and give the Sox ~15 starts before he runs into an innings limit. Or, more likely, he throws about 35-40 IP out of the pen in long relief (adios, Mortensen), and picks up about 10 spot starts for DL stints and the such.

[Station 13]

It's time for a real long man in the BP. Mortensen is just a white flag these days. He's a 2 inning blow out reliever, not an actual long reliever such as last night game he enter with just a 2 run deficit that turns into a blowout. Morales/De La Rosa, just get them here soon.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dempster is imploding. The guy looked to be pitching well through April, although his peripherals were a little interesting. ERA of 3.30 in April with an insane 43K in 30IP, but his walk rate was over 4 for that month. Fast forward to May where he is getting hit a little more (29H in 25.2IP), but the walk rate has multiplied. He's walked 24 in 25.2IP this month. Its strange since he's generally a pretty good control guy with a walk rate generally in the mid 3's per 9 innings. I wonder if it is mechanical, the league adjusting or an injury

[User Name]

Probably mechanical. He has no idea where the ball is going, which is pretty much the opposite of the type of pitcher he's been throughout his career.

[Station 13]

Dempster is imploding. The guy looked to be pitching well through April, although his peripherals were a little interesting. ERA of 3.30 in April with an insane 43K in 30IP, but his walk rate was over 4 for that month. Fast forward to May where he is getting hit a little more (29H in 25.2IP), but the walk rate has multiplied. He's walked 24 in 25.2IP this month. Its strange since he's generally a pretty good control guy with a walk rate generally in the mid 3's per 9 innings. I wonder if it is mechanical, the league adjusting or an injury

 

He was getting a lot of swing and miss with his splitter and slider. Right now it is nowhere to be found in addition to not throwing his fastball for enough strikes. I think he'll figure it out soon. But no way he is a sub 4ERA in the AL East.

[jacksonianmarch]

Probably mechanical. He has no idea where the ball is going, which is pretty much the opposite of the type of pitcher he's been throughout his career.

 

The weird thing is that he's been so consistently horrendous over his last 3 starts. It's almost like he got his ass handed to him vs Toronto then got bat shy. It's strange to see good control veteran pitchers lose it for more than one start. Every pitcher can have a bad game or have no control one day, but the veterans typically don't allow themselves to go out there for a second consecutive start and miss the plate again as badly as Dempster has.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Probably mechanical. He has no idea where the ball is going, which is pretty much the opposite of the type of pitcher he's been throughout his career.

 

Plus missing his side session because he threw nearly 130 pitches last outing really hurt him. Couldn't work on his mechanics at all.

 

Missing up is generally a sign of your legs being in front of your arm in terms of mechanics, or lower back problems in terms of injury. Not sure which (if either) it is, but he's missing up. A lot.

[a700hitter]

Couple things -

 

First - he threw 76.33 IP last year, which was his career high. You're supposed to bump by ~30% to avoid risk of injury, so that would put him at around 100 IP this year (99.33 IP to be exact).

 

Second - he likely won't be back until early to mid June, so he could be inserted into the rotation and give the Sox ~15 starts before he runs into an innings limit. Or, more likely, he throws about 35-40 IP out of the pen in long relief (adios, Mortensen), and picks up about 10 spot starts for DL stints and the such.

This 30% figure is far from scientific. It's based on anectodotal experience, not physiological responses. Although he threw 76 inning last season, he didn't take more than 3 turns in a row as a starter. I don't think he can hold up for 12-15 starts in a row.

[redsoxbeatz]

De La Rosa is not meant for the pen and should not go there. Stretch him out. Webster, Rosa, Ranaudo (sp?) are capable of being wicked in the rotation.

[italstallianion]

I'd be curious to see what options are available via trade. I imagine we could use another reliable starter because it's tough to count on Dempster/Lackey/Doubront week in and week out. I think we have the prospects and cash for a deal.

[a700hitter]

De La Rosa is not meant for the pen and should not go there. Stretch him out. Webster, Rosa, Ranaudo (sp?) are capable of being wicked in the rotation.

I think you are letting your optimistic imagination run wild a bit. I'd be happy if one of them became a reliable, productive major league starter.