Shoring Up the Rotation

[Standing Room]

I think Lester will be alright, his strike outs are up from last year, and his walks are at a career low. His ground ball rates are the highest they've been in any year other than 2010, which was a career year for him. And he's keeping hits in the ballpark. He should be good for an ERA around 3.50, which is good enough for a second starter.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Cherries hasn't shown an inclination toward big splashy moves. I don't see him making a deal like this, regardless of the prospects involved.

 

Cherrington was inquiring on Lee during the offseason last year. And Mauer. Neither were available. Just because he didn't land the deal doesn't mean he has no inclination toward them.

 

From MLB Trade Rumors:

 

Cliff Lee could become the prize of the July trade market should the Phillies sell. The Red Sox inquired on Lee before the Winter Meetings but were rebuffed. Given their first-place standing, they could look at Lee as a means to push them toward a World Series run.

[a700hitter]

I think Lester will be alright, his strike outs are up from last year, and his walks are at a career low. His ground ball rates are the highest they've been in any year other than 2010, which was a career year for him. And he's keeping hits in the ballpark. He should be good for an ERA around 3.50, which is good enough for a second starter.

His strikeouts are essentially the same as last year 7.4/9 innings versus 7.3 for 2012.

[a700hitter]

Cherrington was inquiring on Lee during the offseason last year. And Mauer. Neither were available. Just because he didn't land the deal doesn't mean he has no inclination toward them.

 

From MLB Trade Rumors:

Inclination or not, we are still waiting for a big bold splashy move.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Inclination or not, we are still waiting for a big bold splashy move.

 

The splashy move hasn't been there. The comment was about you saying that he hasn't had an inclination to make a big splashy move, which he has, the players were just unavailable.

 

And I would certainly describe the Dodgers trade as splashy.

[Rdsxmbnt]

His strikeouts are essentially the same as last year 7.4/9 innings versus 7.3 for 2012.

 

An oversight but you ignored his other points which are important. I know you have been harping on Lester's decline in K/9 the past couple years but you have to consider other factors as well. In 2010 2011 he was striking out more guys but was also walking over a batter more an inning. Pitchers can change their styles, and cutting down on walks and increasing weaker contact (IE GB%) can make a pitcher more effective.

 

His HR rate is also way down this year which also contributes to his success thus far.

 

And the Dodgers move was probably the biggest splash this franchise has seen in the past decade so I would recommend you stop trying to argue that point because it is an absurd notion.

[a700hitter]

The splashy move hasn't been there. The comment was about you saying that he hasn't had an inclination to make a big splashy move, which he has, the players were just unavailable.

 

And I would certainly describe the Dodgers trade as splashy.

No, it hasn't been there. We are still waiting. I knew a guy that shopped for a house. He looked at hundreds of homes in good markets and bad, when mortgage rates were high and when they were low. Twenty-five years later he still rents. He always had some excuse for not buying. Was he inclined to buy a house, because he looked at hundreds of them? The inclination is debatable. The fact is that he still has not made a big move.

[SoxFanForsyth]

No, it hasn't been there. We are still waiting. I knew a guy that shopped for a house. He looked at hundreds of homes in good markets and bad, when mortgage rates were high and when they were low. Twenty-five years later he still rents. He always had some excuse for not buying. Was he inclined to buy a house, because he looked at hundreds of them? The inclination is debatable. The fact is that he still has not made a big move.

 

What do you call the Dodgers trade??

[a700hitter]

An oversight but you ignored his other points which are important. I know you have been harping on Lester's decline in K/9 the past couple years but you have to consider other factors as well. In 2010 2011 he was striking out more guys but was also walking over a batter more an inning. Pitchers can change their styles, and cutting down on walks and increasing weaker contact (IE GB%) can make a pitcher more effective.

 

His HR rate is also way down this year which also contributes to his success thus far.

 

And the Dodgers move was probably the biggest splash this franchise has seen in the past decade so I would recommend you stop trying to argue that point because it is an absurd notion.

I didn't ignore anything. I was pointing out an incorrect statement of fact regarding his strikeouts. I didn't give an overall analysis of Lester's performance.

 

Earlier, in noting that his strikeouts were at his 2012 levels, I did ask if this was indicative of not finding the 3 inches of movement he had lost on his fastball.

[a700hitter]

What do you call the Dodgers trade??

Not an acquisition is what I would call it. I would call it a huge salary dump.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Not an acquisition is what I would call it. I would call it a huge salary dump.

 

That's not a big splash?

 

And while it was a salary dump, the Sox still got two very high ceiling prospects, both of which are performing extremely well in Pawtucket.

 

If you want to argue that the Sox haven't made a big name acquisition, that's different, and its also only been 1.5 years. Big name acquisitions via trade are few and far between.

 

The Red Sox haven't been 1 player away from being a contender while under Cherringtons watch until now, and even now, they probably don't even really need another player to be a contender.

[Standing Room]

His strikeouts are essentially the same as last year 7.4/9 innings versus 7.3 for 2012.

 

But his walk rates and groundball rates are both near career bests.

[a700hitter]

But his walk rates and groundball rates are both near career bests.

And I didn't correct those facts.

[a700hitter]

That's not a big splash?

 

And while it was a salary dump, the Sox still got two very high ceiling prospects, both of which are performing extremely well in Pawtucket.

 

If you want to argue that the Sox haven't made a big name acquisition, that's different, and its also only been 1.5 years. Big name acquisitions via trade are few and far between.

 

The Red Sox haven't been 1 player away from being a contender while under Cherringtons watch until now, and even now, they probably don't even really need another player to be a contender.

Yep, let's narrow it down to big acquisitions. None yet. Let's stop jerking off each other with semantics and get down to a real baseball issue. Does Lester's k/9 rate indicate that he has not found the lost 3 inches of movement on his cutter?

[Standing Room]

And I didn't correct those facts.

 

You didn't correct any facts.

[a700hitter]

You didn't correct any facts.

You bore me.

[Standing Room]

You bore me.

 

If that's true, then don't respond.

[a700hitter]

If that's true, then don't respond.

I thought you should know.

[Standing Room]

I thought you should know.

 

Guess I don't bore you then. Stop censoring me!

[a700hitter]

Guess I don't bore you then. Stop censoring me!

You are free to say what you want. It won't be long before you start sending around the gross pictures.

[Standing Room]

You are free to say what you want. It won't be long before you start sending around the gross pictures.

 

All I've seen you do is pick fights with people on this site.

[a700hitter]

All I've seen you do is pick fights with people on this site.

I have had my share of disagreements with all of your previously banned identities.

[Standing Room]

I have had my share of disagreements with all of your previously banned identities.

 

You bore me. And I mean it when I say that, I'm not just whining. I'm done responding to you.

[a700hitter]

You bore me.

Cue the gross pictures.

[Behindenemylines]

With the second wild card more and more teams are in the playoff race a lot longer and the ability to get a difference making starting pitcher at the trade deadline becomes harder and harder.

[rjortiz]

With the second wild card more and more teams are in the playoff race a lot longer and the ability to get a difference making starting pitcher at the trade deadline becomes harder and harder.

 

How many teams think they can seriously compete at this time of the season? I think 12 can be classified as sellers. It should be 14, but the Angels and Dodgers aren't going to sell. The Dodgers will probably land Cliff Lee for the rest of their farm system, and still miss the playoffs.

 

The Marlins, Astros, Brewers, Blue Jays, Mariners, Mets, White Sox, Phillies, Royals, Twins, Padres, and Cubs are not going to compete for anything. The Blue Jays bet big with a bad hand, so they might be committed to see things out, and the Royals bet big with an even worse hand. It's a shame, because they could make some of the better pitchers available. It would be interesting to see what they could fetch for Dickey, but they probably won't trade him. The Royals could try to salvage something out of the Shields trade, but also doubtful. The rest of the potential sellers, with the exception of Cliff Lee, don't have any front line starters. They have some interesting depth options though.

 

The Astros, Brewers, Padres, and Mariners have no one anyone wants. The Marlins will probably trade Nolasco and Slowey. The Mets could make Marcum available. The White Sox have Peavy and Floyd. The Twins have Kevin Correia. The Cubs have the most to offer in Garza, Feldman, and Villanueva.

 

Those are probably the options that we are looking at. Lee will cost too much in prospects and money. I would see what it would take to land Peavy. He pitches pretty well in the AL and in a bandbox. He's cheaper than Lee, and we'd control him for two more years. He's also a better third option in the postseason than Lackey. If that falls through, I'd look at renting Garza, Feldman, or Marcum.

[Standing Room]

Four straight quality starts for Felix Doubront. Pitch f/x had him averaging 91.47 and hitting 93.71 mph on his fastball. That's the best velocity he's had this year.

[rjortiz]

I forgot to add Josh Johnson to that list. Would Toronto trade him to us? Do we even want him?

[Rdsxmbnt]

I forgot to add Josh Johnson to that list. Would Toronto trade him to us? Do we even want him?

 

Zero interest in him. Much rather go with Webster

[User Name]

JJ is injury prone, his velocity is diminishing and he's still about to get real expensive and would cost significant pieces to acquire.

 

There is literally zero reason for the Sox to even inquire about him.