2016 Starting Rotation

[Elktonnick]

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

 

The serious part of spring training doesn't really start until two weeks before opening day. So in that sense Vazquez has enough time to show whether he is ready. In any case, either Swihart or Vaz start the year in Pawtucket. I don't see the Sox carrying three catchers.

[Bellhorn04]

The serious part of spring training doesn't really start until two weeks before opening day. So in that sense Vazquez has enough time to show whether he is ready. In any case, either Swihart or Vaz start the year in Pawtucket. I don't see the Sox carrying three catchers.

 

It'll be Vaz in Pawtucket. They're obviously being cautious with him.

[Dojji]

I really want to believe that Vazquez makes the roster. I think that that arm will save a lot of runs.

[User Name]

How does he make the roster? He needs more reps because he's called up. Hanigan and he have the same skillset (as MVP noted) and he's on target preparation wise.

[mvp 78]

How does he make the roster? He needs more reps because he's called up. Hanigan and he have the same skillset (as MVP noted) and he's on target preparation wise.

 

Nobody listens to me.

[Kimmi]

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.

 

No one's concerned about it because there isn't a need to worry about it at the moment. But if a mid-rotation starter were signed, and Rodriguez or Kelly were sent down while pitching very well because they had options, there would be an outrage here.

 

Whether you want to admit it or not, roster crunch does have to be taken into account before signing another player. Not only the 25 man roster, but the 40 man roster as well.

[a700hitter]

No one's concerned about it because there isn't a need to worry about it at the moment. But if a mid-rotation starter were signed, and Rodriguez or Kelly were sent down while pitching very well because they had options, there would be an outrage here.

 

Besides being baseless speculation, you are engaging in what my grandmother used to call "borrowing trouble."

[Kimmi]

When there are unused options, there is no crunch.

 

Unless the player with options is outplaying a player without options.

 

Are you okay with a player with options being sent down, even though he's playing better than the player without options? I'm okay with that in some cases. Most people aren't. We have a very strong "play the best players no matter what" crowd here.

[Kimmi]

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.

 

Hanigan must not be traded!

 

And case in point about the options/roster crunch thing. I would much rather send Vazquez or Swihart down, probably Vazquez until he gets some more at bats, than lose Hanigan.

[mvp 78]

Unless the player with options is outplaying a player without options.

 

Are you okay with a player with options being sent down, even though he's playing better than the player without options? I'm okay with that in some cases. Most people aren't. We have a very strong "play the best players no matter what" crowd here.

How often is an "outstanding" player sent down? I can't think of one that was producing at a high level and sent down.

 

If a player has options but is far outpacing the veteran, you move or DFA the veteran.

[Kimmi]

I really want to believe that Vazquez makes the roster. I think that that arm will save a lot of runs.

 

His arm is nice, but his real value comes in pitch framing and handling of the staff.

[a700hitter]

I dunno. I am sitting here and fretting about the inevitable roster crunch where we have too many good pitchers and not enough spots. I can't remember the last time we had that luxury. Usually, we are picking guys off the garbage heap to fill spots.

[Kimmi]

How often is an "outstanding" player sent down? I can't think of one that was producing at a high level and sent down.

 

If a player has options but is far outpacing the veteran, you move or DFA the veteran.

 

I didn't say "outstanding" or "far outpacing".

 

The whole point came up with talk of signing a mid-rotation pitcher. When Rodriguez is healthy, another mid-rotation pitcher would mean DFAing one of Price, Porcello, or Buchholz, or sending Kelly or Rodriguez to AAA. Not a problem if Kelly stinks. It would be a problem if he's pitching like he has been.

 

Personally, I say that if the rotation is holding its own, keep Rodriguez in AAA for a 2-3 months.

[mvp 78]

Well, I want Kelly in the pen anyway... Erod should spend some time in AAA with managed innings (easier to do down there). Plus, Buchholz will be on the DL by the AS break anyway.

[a700hitter]

Kimmi, you are worrying about something that is never going to happen, and you are worrying about how others will react. What a waste of worrying.

[Spudboy]

Unless the player with options is outplaying a player without options.

 

Are you okay with a player with options being sent down, even though he's playing better than the player without options? I'm okay with that in some cases. Most people aren't. We have a very strong "play the best players no matter what" crowd here.

 

I beg to differ. I have been ringing this bell over Shaw all week.

[jung]

Price was not finishing his pitches today and gave up 5 walks as a result. However he was still able to hold the Pirates for the most part at bay even giving up a walk an inning.

 

However, I have seen a number of these spring games now.....maybe 30 games or so. It looks like they are really serious about this higher strike this time presuming they are going to call the same strike zone during the regular season. There are a number of guys in the league that just won't be able to pitch successfully if they are forced up in the zone.

 

The Pirates Vogelsong was forced up in the zone today and just got tagged all over the place. He simply does not have the juice to pitch up there. Porcello won't be able to pitch successfully up there either...nor Owens for that matter if we ever see him again.

 

Should be interesting to see how this plays out if in fact they are serious about this strike zone.

 

Hanley had a couple more DD type AB's today. If he carries that into the regular season he should be able to hit enough to be a contributor.

 

Pitching still looks like an issue for this team not because of Price but because of the rest of them with the exception of Kelly.....MAYBE.

[User Name]

Just a whole bunch of nonsense, except for the high strike part, I have noticed that and it's been commented in sports programs here.

[Kimmi]

Well, I want Kelly in the pen anyway... Erod should spend some time in AAA with managed innings (easier to do down there). Plus, Buchholz will be on the DL by the AS break anyway.

 

If Kelly continues to pitch like he did at the end of last season and so far in ST, why would you want him in the BP rather than the rotation? Barnes has quietly been putting together a very strong spring and could fill Smith's spot in the BP very nicely. He can also pitch more than one inning.

 

I posted during the offseason that starting Rodriguez in AAA wouldn't be a bad idea, for many reasons. Not one person agreed with me.

 

Anyone (besides me) saying they would be okay with picking up a mid-rotation pitcher and having Rodriguez or Kelly benched is only kidding himself. Roster space is a very real and valid consideration to take into account when deciding whether to add another player.

[Kimmi]

I beg to differ. I have been ringing this bell over Shaw all week.

 

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying, I think you're making my point.

[Station 13]

Well, I want Kelly in the pen anyway... Erod should spend some time in AAA with managed innings (easier to do down there). Plus, Buchholz will be on the DL by the AS break anyway.

 

I want neither of those things. Kelly belongs in the rotation till prove otherwise.

 

E-Rod would be wasting time in AAA, and he is the team's best starter at the end of 2015. An easy way to mange his innings is to take advantage of the break in July. Allow him anywhere from 7-10+ days if they maneuver it correctly.

[User Name]

If Kelly continues to pitch like he did at the end of last season and so far in ST, why would you want him in the BP rather than the rotation? Barnes has quietly been putting together a very strong spring and could fill Smith's spot in the BP very nicely. He can also pitch more than one inning.

 

I posted during the offseason that starting Rodriguez in AAA wouldn't be a bad idea, for many reasons. Not one person agreed with me.

 

Anyone (besides me) saying they would be okay with picking up a mid-rotation pitcher and having Rodriguez or Kelly benched is only kidding himself. Roster space is a very real and valid consideration to take into account when deciding whether to add another player.

 

Not me. I think Kelly to the pen isn't such a bad idea, considering his health history and wipeout velocity.

[a700hitter]

If Kelly continues to pitch like he did at the end of last season and so far in ST, why would you want him in the BP rather than the rotation? Barnes has quietly been putting together a very strong spring and could fill Smith's spot in the BP very nicely. He can also pitch more than one inning.

 

I posted during the offseason that starting Rodriguez in AAA wouldn't be a bad idea, for many reasons. Not one person agreed with me.

 

Anyone (besides me) saying they would be okay with picking up a mid-rotation pitcher and having Rodriguez or Kelly benched is only kidding himself. Roster space is a very real and valid consideration to take into account when deciding whether to add another player.

You are tilting at windmills here. You are worried about the Red Sox having so much good starting pitching that we have no room on the roster for all of it? Seriously? Do any of the old-timers like me remember that problem in the team's long history?

[Bellhorn04]

Not me. I think Kelly to the pen isn't such a bad idea, considering his health history and wipeout velocity.

 

It's not a bad idea, but for now he's being treated as a starter and he's been our best one this spring.

[Station 13]

If there is one candidate to be expel from this rotation, I nominate Clay Butthead. Permanently. Let somebody hold down a rotation spot without smearing up the prep-H all the time.

[mvp 78]

Kelly's career has proven that he's not a rotation guy.

[Elktonnick]

Kelly's career has proven that he's not a rotation guy.

 

Kelly has been as much an enigma as Buccholtz. One never knows how either of them will be on a consistent basis.

[Kimmi]

Not me. I think Kelly to the pen isn't such a bad idea, considering his health history and wipeout velocity.

 

If he were struggling as a starter, absolutely. If he is pitching like a #2, then moving him to the pen would not make much sense, unless the pen was completely decimated. And even then, moving a top starter to the pen doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

I realize that Kelly has a long way to go before establishing himself as a number 2. But you know as well as I do that people here would not take well to moving our 2nd best starting pitcher (hypothetically) to the pen to make room for a lesser starting pitcher.

[Kimmi]

You are tilting at windmills here. You are worried about the Red Sox having so much good starting pitching that we have no room on the roster for all of it? Seriously? Do any of the old-timers like me remember that problem in the team's long history?

 

Is any of what I said untrue? No. Stick to the point of the argument.

[mvp 78]

Kelly isn't a #2 or top starter.