4/19 vs Rays

[SoxHop]

Rockin Robbie Ross!!!!

[Northern Star]

So let me understand: those statistics are meaningless in comparison to your opinion. Is that correct? Statistics are meaningless in evaluating performance. If thats not true, what stats would be consistent with a #2 SP? You said he "was never" a #2 SP. His performance in 2014 disagrees with you.....statistically. Do you have to throw the ball at 95+ to be a #2? What about Greg Maddux?

 

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[Jasonbay44]

Heath Hembree and Robbie Ross have been outstanding.. Things I never thought I'd say

[a700hitter]

So let me understand: those statistics are meaningless in comparison to your opinion. Is that correct? Statistics are meaningless in evaluating performance. If thats not true, what stats would be consistent with a #2 SP? You said he "was never" a #2 SP. His performance in 2014 disagrees with you.....statistically. Do you have to throw the ball at 95+ to be a #2? What about Greg Maddux?

2014 was an outlier. His bread and butter pitch was his sinker. He doesn't throw it anymore or he doesn't have it anymore. Without his bread and butter out pitch, he has no chance of being a #3. Is that clear enough for you Freddie? If you are so convinced of his aptitude, pick him up in your Fantasy league.

[Northern Star]

Rockin Robbie Ross!!!!

 

Who replaced Ross with a competent reliever??

[a700hitter]

Who replaced Ross with a competent reliever??

This lineup could make Porcello look like a #1.

[Bellhorn04]

Who replaced Ross with a competent reliever??

 

Ross is your basic Jekyll-and-Hyde type.

[mvp 78]

Who replaced Ross with a competent reliever??

 

He was one of the better arms last year.

[User Name]

Jamie Moyer was not my idea of a #2 either, but that is just me. Porcello is just never going to be a #2 imo. His bread and butter i.e. his sinker deserted him before he could establish any consistent top of rotation results with his sinker. He had one good season. It looks like an outlier.

 

Other than his sinker, the rest of his arsenal is meh ,and he can't get #2 results with it.

 

Results is the point. I need to see results from his approach over a larger sample. He's clearly not as bad this year as he was the first half of last year.

[FredLynn]

2014 was an outlier. His bread and butter pitch was his sinker. He doesn't throw it anymore or he doesn't have it anymore. Without his bread and butter out pitch, he has no chance of being a #3. Is that clear enough for you Freddie? If you are so convinced of his aptitude, pick him up in your Fantasy league.

 

Just to refresh your memory, here is what you wrote:

 

"He has never been anyone's #2. Last year, he pitched like a #6. He can fill a very useful role as a #4 who eats innings, spells the bullpen and puts up a few wins along the way. If everything breaks right for him and he pitches like a #3, I will genuflect, bless myself and give thanks. He is not a #2. He just doesn't have that kind of stuff, never has and that will not change in his 7th full major league season"

 

Doesn't 2014 count? Or don't you think he performed like a #2 that year. I never said he WILL do that this year, but he has done it before and might do it again.

[cp176]

What happened to the real robbie boy? I'm wondering if a family member has reported him missing yet. robbie is rollin.

[User Name]

Jesus, Smyly is channeling his inner Koufax tonight, goddamn.

[a700hitter]

Results is the point. I need to see results from his approach over a larger sample. He's clearly not as bad this year as he was the first half of last year.

True, and if he is consistent, I think he could be a #3. Without the quality sinker that we expected him to have when we got him, he is not a #2. I haven't seen him pitch consistently low in the zone since we got him. IMO, he can't be consistently successful up in the zone.

[Jasonbay44]

A good ole fashion pitching duel involving Drew Smyly, Robbie Ross and Heath Hembree, just what I was expecting.

[FredLynn]

Results is the point. I need to see results from his approach over a larger sample. He's clearly not as bad this year as he was the first half of last year.

 

Actually, he has only had two starts. He might be every bit as bad this year as he was last year. Its unlikely, but right now, nothing is "clear". The Sox have the personnel to make the playoffs this year.....if they can perform up to their capabilities.

[Northern Star]

This lineup could make Porcello look like a #1.

 

I might like my own chances against this crew.

[a700hitter]

Just to refresh your memory, here is what you wrote:

 

"He has never been anyone's #2. Last year, he pitched like a #6. He can fill a very useful role as a #4 who eats innings, spells the bullpen and puts up a few wins along the way. If everything breaks right for him and he pitches like a #3, I will genuflect, bless myself and give thanks. He is not a #2. He just doesn't have that kind of stuff, never has and that will not change in his 7th full major league season"

 

Doesn't 2014 count? Or don't you think he performed like a #2 that year. I never said he WILL do that this year, but he has done it before and might do it again.

2014 looks to be an outlier for him. His performance before and after has not closely approached that in 5 other full seasons. If he can't keep the ball down (and he hasn't been able to do that consistently), he will not have a 2014 type season. And he wasn't the #2 on that team. He was the #4.

[a700hitter]

Actually, he has only had two starts. He might be every bit as bad this year as he was last year. Its unlikely, but right now, nothing is "clear". The Sox have the personnel to make the playoffs this year.....if they can perform up to their capabilities.

And they fire their manager.

 

Plus, there is a wide chasm between last year's performance and a #2 performance. I'll take a nice steady #4 performance from him.

[User Name]

True, and if he is consistent, I think he could be a #3. Without the quality sinker that we expected him to have when we got him, he is not a #2. I haven't seen him pitch consistently low in the zone since we got him. IMO, he can't be consistently successful up in the zone.

 

You are not correct though. Check pitch/fx. The sinker is down in the zone. He is conciously working the middle and high quadrant of the strike zone with breaking balls, changeups and four seamers. It is a difference in approach.

[cp176]

did somebody just say Koufax? In his prime years - the best I ever saw.

[FredLynn]

2014 looks to be an outlier for him. His performance before and after has not closely approached that in 5 other full seasons. If he can't keep the ball down (and he hasn't been able to do that consistently), he will not have a 2014 type season. And he wasn't the #2 on that team. He was the #4.

 

I agree: to be a #2 or 3 SP he will need to keep the ball down. He can do that; I don't know if he will, nor do you. What stats does a pitcher need to have to be consistent with a #2 SP? If you have Verlander and Scherzer on your team, both aces, and Sanchez whose stats were nearly identical to Porcello's that year, that doesn't mean you don't have #2 stuff. It means the rest of the staff is great too.

[Bellhorn04]

did somebody just say Koufax? In his prime years - the best I ever saw.

 

I got to see him when I was a kid. '65 World Series was the first I saw.

[Northern Star]

He was one of the better arms last year.

 

That's not saying a whole lot. 1.30 WHIP/3.86 ERA and not very good slashline in 147 ABs against RHBs. Not sure why we traded for him off a 1.70/6.20 season. Must have been desperate for a lefty. Thanks, Ben.

[Northern Star]

A good ole fashion pitching duel involving Drew Smyly, Robbie Ross and Heath Hembree, just what I was expecting.

 

lolz.

[cp176]

I got to see him when I was a kid. '65 World Series was the first I saw.

 

good for you. what a memory!

[Northern Star]

I got to see him when I was a kid. '65 World Series was the first I saw.

 

Wish I could afford an autographed or jersey card. They go for insane prices on ebay.

[Station 13]

Don't let Longora beat you.

[FredLynn]

Don't you IBB Longoria here??

[a700hitter]

You are not correct though. Check pitch/fx. The sinker is down in the zone. He is conciously working the middle and high quadrant of the strike zone with breaking balls, changeups and four seamers. It is a difference in approach.

I did say that either he is not throwing it or that he has lost it. It is just not there consistently low in the zone. How do we know from pitch/fx if some of those pitches that are up are not miss-located sinkers. I am not being sly, but how would we know. Yes, we can differentiate the breaking stuff and maybe the 4-seamers, but what about the other pitches?

[Jasonbay44]

Nicely done, Taz.