Is the actual rotation the worst in the last 10 Y?

[a700hitter]

Perhaps you didn't call his season a fluke, but you also do not see Porcello as a #2 pitcher based on his last season. If one year is enough to establish a disturbing downward trend, then one year should be enough to establish an upward trend.

 

At the time that Masterson was signed, I don't know if there was any indication that his velocity had returned. However, it is not unreasonable to expect the velocity to return when a pitcher regains his health after an injury.

 

Often times velocity doesn't return after it is lost due to injury or merely wear and tear. If they merely expected it to return, they didn't do their homework.

 

With regard to Porcello, I thought he was a solid acquisition and thought him to be a solid 3 with a potential to be a 2. What I thought was a mistake was paying him on a 4 year contract like he is an established 1/2 when he is still a potential 2. If you are going to use my arguments in making your points, if you get my opinions and statements wrong, it detracts from your argument.

[iortiz]

Perhaps you didn't call his season a fluke, but you also do not see Porcello as a #2 pitcher based on his last season. If one year is enough to establish a disturbing downward trend, then one year should be enough to establish an upward trend.

 

At the time that Masterson was signed, I don't know if there was any indication that his velocity had returned. However, it is not unreasonable to expect the velocity to return when a pitcher regains his health after an injury.

Kim you are the only one here and out there who thinks that Porcello is already a No. 2.

[a700hitter]

The hope for our rotation to improve is that 2 or 3 of the guys in the current rotation get replaced. The process is already underway. Masterson is the first to go. I doubt that he will be anything other than a spot starter going forward. The questions remaining are who is next to follow Masterson and who will replace them. The replacements could both be internal, but more likely one will be internal and the will have to look outside the organization for the second one. Staying pat is not an option, because these guys stink even if they improve from the 6 ERA.

[User Name]

95% of the time, great pitching is what wins championships.

 

No it isn't. 95% of the time it's balance and luck.

[iortiz]

The hope for our rotation to improve is that 2 or 3 of the guys in the current rotation get replaced. The process is already underway. Masterson is the first to go. I doubt that he will be anything other than a spot starter going forward. The questions remaining are who is next to follow Masterson and who will replace them. The replacements could both be internal, but more likely one will be internal and the will have to look outside the organization for the second one. Staying pat is not an option, because these guys stink even if they improve from the 6 ERA.

Probably Buch will be the next head, IDK. On the bright side his last start wasn't that bad. Mediocre but not catastrophic, considering what we've seen. I need to see him one more time, probably a couple more. If he shits the bed, he has to go.

[Spudboy]

Probably Buch will be the next head, IDK. On the bright side his last start wasn't that bad. Mediocre but not catastrophic, considering what we've seen. I need to see him one more time, probably a couple more. If he shits the bed, he has to go.

 

You will get to see him for the remainder of the season and you will always be disappointed. Pitching a good game occasionally does not nullify sucking ass in most of your starts.

 

I'll be very glad to see him gone after this year. Maybe as glad as seeing Dice-K gone.

[iortiz]

You will get to see him for the remainder of the season and you will always be disappointed. Pitching a good game occasionally does not nullify sucking ass in most of your starts.

 

I'll be very glad to see him gone after this year. Maybe as glad as seeing Dice-K gone.

 

If he earns 5+ Rs in his next 2 starts, I will not be surprised if he hits the DL or goes to the BP or is DFAed, hopefully he keeps at least what he showed in his last start.

[Kimmi]

Often times velocity doesn't return after it is lost due to injury or merely wear and tear. If they merely expected it to return, they didn't do their homework.

 

With regard to Porcello, I thought he was a solid acquisition and thought him to be a solid 3 with a potential to be a 2. What I thought was a mistake was paying him on a 4 year contract like he is an established 1/2 when he is still a potential 2. If you are going to use my arguments in making your points, if you get my opinions and statements wrong, it detracts from your argument.

 

I will go out on a limb here and say that the Sox staff went over Masterson's medicals and had every reason to believe that his velocity would return.

 

With regard to Porcello, my opinion that he was/is a #2 pitcher has nothing to do with your opinion. It's based on facts. He has not pitched like one so far this season, but he was a #2 pitcher last season. I was just pointing out the discrepancy that you are not ready to acknowledge Porcello as a #2 based on last season alone, which is fine, but you are ready to assume a disturbing downward trend based on last season alone.

[Kimmi]

Kim you are the only one here and out there who thinks that Porcello is already a No. 2.

 

The cheese stands alone.

[Kimmi]

Probably Buch will be the next head, IDK. On the bright side his last start wasn't that bad. Mediocre but not catastrophic, considering what we've seen. I need to see him one more time, probably a couple more. If he shits the bed, he has to go.

 

Buchholz looked doggone good last night. Dare we get excited?

[Spudboy]

Buchholz looked doggone good last night. Dare we get excited?

 

No.

[iortiz]

Buchholz looked doggone good last night. Dare we get excited?

 

A flower doesn't make spring, but will be great if he comes back.

[User Name]

Come back from what? There's nothing to come back to. He is what he is. He will stretches of utter dominance followed by stretches of unsightly stat lines.

[a700hitter]

Everyone has pitched well against the Mariners. That may say more about the Mariners than it does about our starters turning a corner. Let's see how the next 2 turns go before we get excited.

[SoxHop]

Come back from what? There's nothing to come back to. He is what he is. He will stretches of utter dominance followed by stretches of unsightly stat lines.

 

That is exactly what my wife said I was like in bed!!!

[Kimmi]

Everyone has pitched well against the Mariners. That may say more about the Mariners than it does about our starters turning a corner. Let's see how the next 2 turns go before we get excited.

 

Too late. I'm already excited.

 

I realize that the Mariners have not been an offensive powerhouse this season, but give credit where credit is due.

 

As far as Porcello goes, take away his one bad start, and he has a 3.19 ERA.

 

Peter Gammons

6m

Porcello's last 4 GS:25.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 BB, 21K. 7.8 K/9, 3.45 K/BB best of carerer, now beaten Felix, Kasmir, Dickey, Smyly on this run

 

That's a 2.10 ERA and a 21/5 K/BB ratio.

[a700hitter]

Too late. I'm already excited.

 

I realize that the Mariners have not been an offensive powerhouse this season, but give credit where credit is due.

 

As far as Porcello goes, take away his one bad start, and he has a 3.19 ERA.

 

 

 

That's a 2.10 ERA and a 21/5 K/BB ratio.

Porcello is needed to anchor this staff. He is not a concern. The other 4 are a concern.

[sk7326]

Porcello has been fine - in a way it was expected. Miley has been weirdly terrible at fenway but ok on the road. Masterson I think it has been a stuff problem clearly - which is harder to fix than the issues Buchholz has had.

[SoxnCycles]

Porcello has been fine - in a way it was expected. Miley has been weirdly terrible at fenway but ok on the road. Masterson I think it has been a stuff problem clearly - which is harder to fix than the issues Buchholz has had.

 

But,... but, he's not a "#2"!!

 

I'm still trying to figure out why a rotation number is so important.

[mvp 78]

Because 3 is an unlucky number and 5 is right out...

[SoxHop]

Only 3.5 back and we can't hit or pitch.........

[SoxHop]

Because 3 is an unlucky number and 5 is right out...

 

Ahahah ... no way........ great quote.....

[SoxnCycles]

Only 3.5 back and we can't hit or pitch.........

 

Not totally accurate.

The Sox have knocked a full ERA point of the the team ERA so far this month.

Team ERA for April was 5.04, good for dead last in both leagues.

 

Team ERA for May is 4.07, middle of the pack.

 

The offense has been absolutely brutal.

They need to snap out of whatever is causing the funk, before another AL East team gets hot.

[Kimmi]

Not totally accurate.

The Sox have knocked a full ERA point of the the team ERA so far this month.

Team ERA for April was 5.04, good for dead last in both leagues.

 

Team ERA for May is 4.07, middle of the pack.

 

The offense has been absolutely brutal.

They need to snap out of whatever is causing the funk, before another AL East team gets hot.

 

The team's pitching in May is more along the lines of what we thought we were getting. I currently have no confidence in this offense. None. It's worse than last year.

[cp176]

The team's pitching in May is more along the lines of what we thought we were getting. I currently have no confidence in this offense. None. It's worse than last year.

 

No confidence? Really- Now that concerns me. Give me some data that tells me these guys will snap out of it. Come on - it can only get better right. For you to post something that could be perceived as remotely negative is a little unusual and it is a concern. I hope they hit as advertised they would and your confidence is restored.

[mvp 78]

Papi has started slow before. Betts has good AB's. Pedroia is destined to hit DL so the Brock Holt can win the triple crown. Panda will stop switch hitting. Napoli will be replaced by a streaking Allen Craig. Xander will end the season hitting .275 with 20HRs. JBJ will hit .250 with GG defense.

[Kimmi]

No confidence? Really- Now that concerns me. Give me some data that tells me these guys will snap out of it. Come on - it can only get better right. For you to post something that could be perceived as remotely negative is a little unusual and it is a concern. I hope they hit as advertised they would and your confidence is restored.

 

LOL Key word being "currently". If it makes you feel any better, I still think the Sox will win the division. Yes, the hitting has to get better, and it will. Good news - Victorino has looked better at the plate.

[Kimmi]

Papi has started slow before. Betts has good AB's. Pedroia is destined to hit DL so the Brock Holt can win the triple crown. Panda will stop switch hitting. Napoli will be replaced by a streaking Allen Craig. Xander will end the season hitting .275 with 20HRs. JBJ will hit .250 with GG defense.

 

I'm glad you're back. I missed you!

[wyo-sox]

I'm very frustrated with the offense, but am generally confident it will turn around. The one piece that concerns me most is Napoli. I'm afraid he's not just in a slump, I fear this is just where he is at. We will need one of our 6-9 hitters to hit better than they should to compensate for him.. if he stays in the lineup, which I don't think he should. He hasn't looked like a MLB hitter at all this year. From what I've seen, he''ll continue to swing hard and accidentally hit 15 or so homers this year. I hope I'm wrong... and the good news for Sox fans is that I usually am wrong.

[a700hitter]

I'm very frustrated with the offense, but am generally confident it will turn around. The one piece that concerns me most is Napoli. I'm afraid he's not just in a slump, I fear this is just where he is at. We will need one of our 6-9 hitters to hit better than they should to compensate for him.. if he stays in the lineup, which I don't think he should. He hasn't looked like a MLB hitter at all this year. From what I've seen, he''ll continue to swing hard and accidentally hit 15 or so homers this year. I hope I'm wrong... and the good news for Sox fans is that I usually am wrong.

His bat looks so slow that it looks like he is swinging a tree trunk. Maybe he should try a lighter bat.