Sox Pitching Staff Discussion

[Spudboy]

Most of us wanted starting pitching in the offseason too. Some of us told the rest of us to just be patient.

 

I don't believe we will get a substantial addition to the rotation during the season. This team has spent the past few years twiddling its thumbs while the obvious need was for better starting pitching. They dumped Lackey for nothing. They lowballed Lester. They could have paid Scherzer, but ignored one of the best pitchers in the game when he was available.

 

I have no confidence that the rotation will be fixed this year. The offense is good enough to be WC contenders, but the pitching is very suspect.

 

If Wright comes back to earth, look out...

 

I've been waiting for 2 years for the Sox to build the rotation back to what it was before Ben f***ed it all up.

 

The idea that a pitcher would be acquired at the deadline is an old one. I heard that all last season, too.

 

Here comes .500

[mvp 78]

I've been waiting for 2 years for the Sox to build the rotation back to what it was before Ben f***ed it all up.

 

The idea that a pitcher would be acquired at the deadline is an old one. I heard that all last season, too.

 

Here comes .500

 

Who was the last decent starting pitcher the Sox obtained midyear? Mike Boddicker?

[Bellhorn04]

Who was the last decent starting pitcher the Sox obtained midyear? Mike Boddicker?

 

Holy crap, you're right.

[Jack Flap]

I think 2013 Jake Peavy meets the bar for "decent."

[Bellhorn04]

I think 2013 Jake Peavy meets the bar for "decent."

 

Fair enough. But I think Boddicker is the last guy resembling a #2 starter, which is what most people think we need now.

[mvp 78]

I think 2013 Jake Peavy meets the bar for "decent."

 

99 ERA+, .9 WAR... Yuck. Those guys grown on trees. I said "decent" not "markedly average."

[Eddy Ballgame]

I think 2013 Jake Peavy meets the bar for "decent."

 

At worst, bringing in a guy like Peavy gives a team a huge mental boost & tells the players that they are trying to win now.

 

Peavy was supposedly like having another pitching coach in that dugout, too. He actually gave them a lot of solid innings when Buchholz went down as well. Sometimes that's all you need.

[mvp 78]

I'm convinced. Bring in Jake Peavy and I'll prepay for the playoff tickets.

[Eddy Ballgame]

I'm convinced. Bring in Jake Peavy and I'll prepay for the playoff tickets.

 

Ha! This team probably needs more than a Peavy type unless Rodriguez and or Buchholz figure it out.

[mvp 78]

Ha! This team probably needs more than a Peavy type unless Rodriguez and or Buchholz figure it out.

 

ERod is just a pitch tipping situation. We just have to wait for good Clay to come around. Easy peasy!

[jacksonianmarch]

I think everyone is in agreement that we need starting pitching help. Most of us are confident that we will get it.

 

However, your suggestion that if the Sox don't go all in this year, they will have missed their opportunity is off base. This team is set up to contend for the foreseeable future. If it doesn't happen this year, we will have a good shot next year, Papi or no Papi.

 

Sigh. Read what I said again. Your offense becomes far more mortal when your DH isn't OPS'ing 1.100. Are you going to disputed that?

[Eddy Ballgame]

Sigh. Read what I said again. Your offense becomes far more mortal when your DH isn't OPS'ing 1.100. Are you going to disputed that?

 

So teams that don't have a DH with an OPS of 1.100 can't win?

[jacksonianmarch]

It seems like there's an epidemic of illiteracy

[Eddy Ballgame]

It seems like there's an epidemic of illiteracy

 

Not sure what your point is. David Ortiz helps the Sox offense?

[jacksonianmarch]

My point is that your offense is aided to a tremendous degree by your DH hitting like he is. He won't be there next year. If you're to take advantage of his immense offensive impact, you should probably make some moves to strengthen your team. Your offense will still be good, but right now, I'm insinuating that your offense is immortal

[moonslav59]

Encarnacion will be DH'ing for the Sox next year. It just makes too much sense.

 

He would be a nice addition, but I think his cost would lessen what we could do to build the pitching staff.

 

Also, I thought you frowned on speaking in absolutes.

[Eddy Ballgame]

My point is that your offense is aided to a tremendous degree by your DH hitting like he is. He won't be there next year. If you're to take advantage of his immense offensive impact, you should probably make some moves to strengthen your team. Your offense will still be good, but right now, I'm insinuating that your offense is immortal

 

Right now this team has a lot of young talent & seems to have a bright future, so doing something just because Ortiz is retiring is short-sighted at best.

 

It's obvioulsly a seller's market for starting pitching right now, so there will likely be an overpay. It probably makes more sense to try to shorten games with bullpen help.

 

I'm sure the Sox will do something, but it won't be because Ortiz won't be here next year.

[Bellhorn04]

John Henry did say he thought it would be a 'big disaster' if the Sox missed the playoffs in Ortiz's final year.

[User Name]

He would be a nice addition, but I think his cost would lessen what we could do to build the pitching staff.

 

Also, I thought you frowned on speaking in absolutes.

 

It's a firm hyperbolic prediction. Not an "if you say otherwise you're the devil" argumentative affirmation. It's obvious the Blue Jays may keep him.

[Nick]

No one in Sox organization can replace Ortiz......Hanley isn't the guy....he's got no power....$20M guy hitting singles. We'll need more pop in our offense. We've cleared cap space with Castillo's $10M and add that to Oriz' $16M, Luxury tax limit should go up. Signing a guy like Encarnacion will allow the Sox to figure out 1B/3B/C/LF positions going foward. We have a great start with Betts, Xander, Bradley and Pedy.

 

SP issue will need to be addressed via a trade. WE WILL NEED TO GIVE UP SOME HIGH LEVEL MINOR LEAGUE GUYS TO GET THAT DONE.

Edited June 22, 2016 by Nick

[Jack Flap]

99 ERA+, .9 WAR... Yuck. Those guys grown on trees. I said "decent" not "markedly average."

 

4.28 ERA, 1.14 WHIP at time of trade, 4.04/1.16 after (and also coming off a 3.37 ERA, 5.2-win 2012 season), but I won't get into a debate about what "decent" means in this context. Your basic point stands.

[mvp 78]

4.28 ERA, 1.14 WHIP at time of trade, 4.04/1.16 after (and also coming off a 3.37 ERA, 5.2-win 2012 season), but I won't get into a debate about what "decent" means in this context. Your basic point stands.

 

His prior season was great. He wasn't great during 2013. I remember the talk surrounding that trade was "he can just turn the corner and pitch like last year." He was fine for what he was.

 

I think the prevailing thinking is that they need to do better than a 2013 Jake Peavy this time around. The last pitcher they acquired that would fit the bill this year would be Mike Boddicker, imo.

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier Farrell said nothing to announce tonight on Uehara role. He said the team would have to examine if there are internal alternatives.

[Kimmi]

Most of us wanted starting pitching in the offseason too. Some of us told the rest of us to just be patient.

 

I don't believe we will get a substantial addition to the rotation during the season. This team has spent the past few years twiddling its thumbs while the obvious need was for better starting pitching. They dumped Lackey for nothing. They lowballed Lester. They could have paid Scherzer, but ignored one of the best pitchers in the game when he was available.

 

I have no confidence that the rotation will be fixed this year. The offense is good enough to be WC contenders, but the pitching is very suspect.

 

If Wright comes back to earth, look out...

 

I know that most of you wanted more pitching in the offseason. I was one who thought that it made sense to wait until midseason to see what our true needs were. We might not add an ace or a #2, but IMO, we don't need a top of the rotation starter. We need a solid, consistent #3/4 type pitcher. I think that can be done.

 

Dombrowski will have no problem pulling the strings to acquire a pitcher. In fact, the thought of what he might do scares me.

 

You say 'If Wright comes back to earth, look out...' . I say, 'If Buchholz returns to last year's form, look out...' .

[Kimmi]

At worst, bringing in a guy like Peavy gives a team a huge mental boost & tells the players that they are trying to win now.

Peavy was supposedly like having another pitching coach in that dugout, too. He actually gave them a lot of solid innings when Buchholz went down as well. Sometimes that's all you need.

 

Agreed. Acquiring Peavy sent a strong positive message to the team. Also, acquiring Peavy deepened the pen by allowing Workman to pitch in relief.

[User Name]

I know that most of you wanted more pitching in the offseason. I was one who thought that it made sense to wait until midseason to see what our true needs were. We might not add an ace or a #2, but IMO, we don't need a top of the rotation starter. We need a solid, consistent #3/4 type pitcher. I think that can be done.

 

Dombrowski will have no problem pulling the strings to acquire a pitcher. In fact, the thought of what he might do scares me.

 

You say 'If Wright comes back to earth, look out...' . I say, 'If Buchholz returns to last year's form, look out...' .

 

The problem here is that one is a lot more likely than the other.

[Kimmi]

Sigh. Read what I said again. Your offense becomes far more mortal when your DH isn't OPS'ing 1.100. Are you going to disputed that?

 

No I'm not disputing that, but that's not all you said.

 

This is Papi's final year, and with his offense gone, this team looks much more mortal offensively, even if you snag Bautista in the offseason. The time is now.

 

To me, that sounds like you're saying if we don't go for it this year, we will have missed our chance for the next few years.

[Kimmi]

John Henry did say he thought it would be a 'big disaster' if the Sox missed the playoffs in Ortiz's final year.

 

It would be a shame, to say the least. I want to win this year as much as anyone, but I really hope Dombrowski does not take a 'win now at any cost' mentality to the detriment of our future.

[Kimmi]

The problem here is that one is a lot more likely than the other.

 

Based on what?

[User Name]

Based on what?

 

Volatility of knuckeballers and Buchholz' overall health and performance history. After all, the best way to project future performance is past performance right?