2016 Starting Rotation

[a700hitter]

Kelly also finished strongly last year.

 

That said I agree that he's made of glass.

 

I'm certainly not oozing with comfort about our rotation, but I think our overall staff is a lot better than it was last year at this time.

 

 

Last year's rotation was a big steaming pile of garbage. A big improvement would take us to mediocre compared to last year.

[Bellhorn04]

It is, but how long until Buch and Kelly need time off?

 

Probably not very long.

[Kimmi]

Hindsight is 20/20.

 

My bad, I was talking about trying to add another mid-rotation starter now, not during the offseason.

[Kimmi]

Who would have thought he'd be pitching like he is in ST? It's hindsight to say "well he's pitching awesome now, so grabbing an arm would have been a bad idea and created a roster crunch". Even if he pitches well though, he and Buch are both made of glass, so further MLB rotation depth for this team was not a luxury, it was a need.

 

FTR, that's not what I was saying.

 

That aside, Kelly pitched very well at the end of last season. So I'm not sure why it would have been so surprising to thing he'd be pitching like he is in ST.

[Kimmi]

We will have plenty of holes in our rotation throughout the season whether by under performance and/or injury. I would not bet anything that Buch and Kelly can stay in the rotation and take 30 starts each. Now, with ER's knee issue our depth will be taxed right from the beginning of the season. The last thing we need to worry about is a roster crunch.

 

But you do have to worry about a roster crunch if adding another mid rotation pitcher means DFAing some other mid rotation starter, or sending someone like Rodriguez or Kelly (if he's pitching well) to AAA.

 

Personally, I would have no problem with stowing a good pitcher away at AAA for quality depth purposes, and suggested doing so many times during the offseason. That idea did not sit well with anyone else.

[User Name]

FTR, that's not what I was saying.

 

That aside, Kelly pitched very well at the end of last season. So I'm not sure why it would have been so surprising to thing he'd be pitching like he is in ST.

 

Because he's had bursts of brilliance sandwiched with bouts of mediocrity in STL. He has top-notch stuff, but physical and sequencing issues make him a wildcard. He has the stuff to succeed, but you can never have enough pitching in case he doesn't or get injured, just like Buch.

[Orange Juiced]

Last year's rotation was a big steaming pile of garbage. A big improvement would take us to mediocre compared to last year.

 

The good news is that it really shouldn't take much for the Sox to have a significant improvement over last year's steaming pile of garbage.

[a700hitter]

But you do have to worry about a roster crunch if adding another mid rotation pitcher means DFAing some other mid rotation starter, or sending someone like Rodriguez or Kelly (if he's pitching well) to AAA.

 

Personally, I would have no problem with stowing a good pitcher away at AAA for quality depth purposes, and suggested doing so many times during the offseason. That idea did not sit well with anyone else.

I think that you were the only one here expressing a concern about roster crunch. And now you are saying that you would have no problem with it. Straw man?

[SoxHop]

So what do we have so far?

 

Price doing his thing.

Buchholtz....... looking ok. In form as about where he should be right now.

Kelly..... Looking good.

 

Porcello......Not doing so well.

E-Rod, out till the end of April at the least.

Johnson..... Minor injury. He's supposed to be back soon though correct?

Owens. Hasn't looked so great other than today. Control issues. I'm kind of disappointed by this.

Wright. Looking like a 5th starter looks.

Elias. Looking about the same as Wright.

 

Does that sound about right?

[Kimmi]

I think that you were the only one here expressing a concern about roster crunch. And now you are saying that you would have no problem with it. Straw man?

 

Just making the point that it is something to keep in mind. It's easy enough to say that we should sign a mid-rotation pitcher. Deciding whose spot he takes is something else.

 

I'm all about keeping as much depth and flexibility as reasonably possible. I would have no problem with signing a mid-rotation starter and stashing Rodriguez in AAA, if that meant not having to DFA another mid-rotation starter.

 

However, that idea would not be accepted well here by anyone else. So, if you're not willing to send a Rodriguez down, roster crunch is a problem.

[Kimmi]

So what do we have so far?

 

Price doing his thing.

Buchholtz....... looking ok. In form as about where he should be right now.

Kelly..... Looking good.

 

Porcello......Not doing so well.

E-Rod, out till the end of April at the least.

Johnson..... Minor injury. He's supposed to be back soon though correct?

Owens. Hasn't looked so great other than today. Control issues. I'm kind of disappointed by this.

Wright. Looking like a 5th starter looks.

Elias. Looking about the same as Wright.

 

Does that sound about right?

 

Porcello had a much better outing today. It was against a minor league team, but the point stands nonetheless. IMO, he's the one who is "struggling" the most out of the starting 5 at this point.

 

The rest of the rotation looks to be coming along rather pretty nicely.

[a700hitter]

Just making the point that it is something to keep in mind. It's easy enough to say that we should sign a mid-rotation pitcher. Deciding whose spot he takes is something else.

 

I'm all about keeping as much depth and flexibility as reasonably possible. I would have no problem with signing a mid-rotation starter and stashing Rodriguez in AAA, if that meant not having to DFA another mid-rotation starter.

 

However, that idea would not be accepted well here by anyone else. So, if you're not willing to send a Rodriguez down, roster crunch is a problem.

There is plenty of flexibility with other pitchers that ER would not be affected. Roster crunch is not a worry for anyone here but you.

[cp176]

So what do we have so far?

 

Price doing his thing.

Buchholtz....... looking ok. In form as about where he should be right now.

Kelly..... Looking good.

 

Porcello......Not doing so well.

E-Rod, out till the end of April at the least.

Johnson..... Minor injury. He's supposed to be back soon though correct?

Owens. Hasn't looked so great other than today. Control issues. I'm kind of disappointed by this.

Wright. Looking like a 5th starter looks.

Elias. Looking about the same as Wright.

 

Does that sound about right?

 

Looks right but does't sound all that good- lol

Losing your arguably 2nd best man in the rotation for any length of time isn't good but with what the Sox have to yard out to the mound after Price right now doesn't make me feel good about my 86 win projection. I would add that our possible young number 2 guy most people think has close to top of the rotation potential.

[iortiz]

So what do we have so far?

 

Price doing his thing.

Buchholtz....... looking ok. In form as about where he should be right now.

Kelly..... Looking good.

 

Porcello......Not doing so well.

E-Rod, out till the end of April at the least.

Johnson..... Minor injury. He's supposed to be back soon though correct?

Owens. Hasn't looked so great other than today. Control issues. I'm kind of disappointed by this.

Wright. Looking like a 5th starter looks.

Elias. Looking about the same as Wright.

 

Does that sound about right?

 

I haven't had the opportunity to follow the team as I would like this ST, and while this is still ST, IDK what to think.

[Kimmi]

There is plenty of flexibility with other pitchers that ER would not be affected. Roster crunch is not a worry for anyone here but you.

 

Roster crunch is not a worry for me, because I understand the reality of players who have options being sent down.

 

It's the rest of you guys I worry about.

[a700hitter]

Roster crunch is not a worry for me, because I understand the reality of players who have options being sent down.

 

It's the rest of you guys I worry about.

That's funny, because no one seems very concerned about it and I am pretty sure that we can all count to 25 despite not being math majors.

[Spudboy]

I'm more concerned about the crunch at catcher.

[jacksonianmarch]

Spud, it is a good problem to have. Hanigan isn't going anywhere. Neither catcher has reached up and grabbed the spot for the long term. They'll probably give Vasquez some time to re-acclimate offensively in the minors with Hanigan staying up as the veteran caddy for Swihart should he falter. If one of the kids comes up and really grabs the spot and takes the mantle of catcher of the Red Sox future, then Hanigan will be gone and the other kid will be the caddy

[mvp 78]

I'm more concerned about the crunch at catcher.

 

When there are unused options, there is no crunch.

[Bellhorn04]

When there are unused options, there is no crunch.

 

Good line.

[cp176]

I'm more concerned about the crunch at catcher.

 

roster crunch aside - I'm more concerned with having the right guy behind the plate for this current pitching staff. It is very likely I guess that Vazquez gets some time at the AAA level to recover fully. But, if he progresses toward a full recovery and it looks like he is needed in Boston, he will be back with no thought toward contract size or options or anything other than who is the best guy for the job.

[mvp 78]

roster crunch aside - I'm more concerned with having the right guy behind the plate for this current pitching staff. It is very likely I guess that Vazquez gets some time at the AAA level to recover fully. But, if he progresses toward a full recovery and it looks like he is needed in Boston, he will be back with no thought toward contract size or options or anything other than who is the best guy for the job.

 

There is no roster crunch at catcher. Vazquez is coming back from injury and will start in AAA. When he's ready, he'll be called up. If Swihart starts the season the way he ended last season, he'll stick around. If he struggles, he'll go back down to AAA. When Vazquez is healthy and Swihart shows he's ready to stay in Boston, Hannigan is traded.

[a700hitter]

There is no roster crunch at catcher. Vazquez is coming back from injury and will start in AAA. When he's ready, he'll be called up. If Swihart starts the season the way he ended last season, he'll stick around. If he struggles, he'll go back down to AAA. When Vazquez is healthy and Swihart shows he's ready to stay in Boston, Hannigan is traded.

Hanigan could bring back a nice bullpen arm, imo.

[Dojji]

Hate to lose Hanigan, he's a very good veteran backup, and there's a large sense that we don't necessarily have to lose him since Swihart and Vazquez both have options.

[mvp 78]

No reason to have Hannigan and a healthy Vazquez on the same roster since they have the exact same skill set and can't play on the field at the same time.

[cp176]

The issue here I think really is what about Swihart? If he proves to be a capable ml level catcher who can hit, sending him back down to AAA just doesn't make any sense. Options or not, if he healthy and can do the job, that would suck big time. Hannigan really fits the role of backup catcher pretty well. If he hits, will the Sox get Swihart to a different position? Will they trade one of the two young guys? Not a problem yet and may never become one. If it does, it might be one of those good problems to have.

[Bellhorn04]

Hate to lose Hanigan, he's a very good veteran backup, and there's a large sense that we don't necessarily have to lose him since Swihart and Vazquez both have options.

 

I seriously doubt they trade Hanigan and go with 2 rookie catchers.

[mvp 78]

The issue here I think really is what about Swihart? If he proves to be a capable ml level catcher who can hit, sending him back down to AAA just doesn't make any sense. Options or not, if he healthy and can do the job, that would suck big time. Hannigan really fits the role of backup catcher pretty well. If he hits, will the Sox get Swihart to a different position? Will they trade one of the two young guys? Not a problem yet and may never become one. If it does, it might be one of those good problems to have.

 

I think they give Swihart the chance to learn how to be a professional catcher. If that doesn't work out, then they move him to 3b or elsewhere.

[mvp 78]

I seriously doubt they trade Hanigan and go with 2 rookie catchers.

 

Well it's a good thing they have no rookie catchers to worry about at the moment.

[Bellhorn04]

Vazquez has only seen very limited duty in spring games. He has to be starting the year in Pawtucket.