How will this team finish the season?

[TheBabeStrikesBack]

I see the point Babe. Yes, Price should be playing better. That being said, he guy has won his fair share of games, and although this has had a bad half season to this point, he's effectively allows the offense to win a few. The sox problem is that they basically get a bullpen game twice in the rotation. This team is sinking fast, mostly because, as has been proven year after year, an all offense only team does not win consistently.

 

You don't pay that type of money for a guy you hope the offense will bail out. That's not an ace.

[a700hitter]

Swing and a miss , Skippy.

 

You missed the point entirely.

pretty sure you missed the point, because it was my point that you had commented about. The point is that Price is not the problem/ weakness on the Red Sox. He may not perform up to his contract, but this team has some real holes that need to be addressed.

[User Name]

On a day when the Red Sox scored a big goose egg, Price had an off day giving up 4 runs and striking out 10 in 6 1/3 inning. He had a bit of an off day. He didn't blow up on the mound. On most days for the Red Sox that is a good enough performance to win the game. People are really getting hysterical about the one really solid pitcher on the staff. You all must want to throw yourselves off a roof when Buch and random #5 pitches.

 

No, a lot of people here defend Buchholz, to a bewilderment that has actually become frustration.

[a700hitter]

No, a lot of people here defend Buchholz, to a bewilderment that has actually become frustration.

Well, they can side with the Bambino about Price. The Bambino here just to poke prod and troll. They are on good company.

[a700hitter]

No, a lot of people here defend Buchholz, to a bewilderment that has actually become frustration.

They preach patience for Buch but s*** all over Price before half the season has been completed. Then they will complain about the win it now mentality forcing the FO to make ill advised moves. Their patience is non existent for Price or Kimbrel who are genuine top talents. They deserve a roster full of Craig Hansens and other great Home grown pitchers.

[Slasher9]

1 is on a 1 year $13mm option and the other signed a 7 year $217mm contract. Is that too difficult for you to understand? Edited June 30, 2016 by Slasher9

[a700hitter]

1 is on a 1 year $13mm option and the other signed a 7 year $217mm contract. Is that too difficult for you to understand?

The pay is irrelevant to the comparison of their performances for the 2016 team. Is that too difficult for you to understand? Maybe this pop quiz will clear up the issue. Who would you rather have on the mound for the Red Sox in an important game== Price or Buchholz? it is really that simple. Edited June 30, 2016 by a700hitter

[yankthis]

Price just put up what... 2 shaky starts? How many times in a row has he pitched 6, 7, 8 innings and barely given up two runs? This poor guy is afflicted with The Curse Of The Pedro; he could pitch nine innings and get 17 strikeouts while giving up only one run, but still get saddled with a loss.

[iortiz]

If Price is the problem we are done guys. Price is not pitching at his norms, but he is the least of our problems.

 

We need a solid pitcher (No. 1-2) and a decent No. 4-5. The lack of this my friends is the real problem. We are only competitive in 3 out of 5 days every week -- and sometimes only 1 or 2. You won't go anywhere like this unless your offense make 10+ Rs in those days --like they did in April and May.

[mvp 78]

2 years from now, Price will still be a top level talent while Buchholz is out of baseball.

[Jack Flap]

Price has the track record of an ace, which is why he's paid that salary. I'm as nonplussed by his performance so far as anyone else (though he's been a lot better than his ERA would indicate, and equating him with Buchholz this year in any way is kind of a joke), but there is every reason to show him patience.

 

Clay, on the other hand, has a track record that says even if you get a few good, if not great, starts from him at some point, that's just how you know he is about to fall apart or go on the DL for the rest of the year...guaranteed. I used to defend him 2-3 years ago, but I've been around that carousel too many times. As the song goes, he will let you down...he will make you hurt.

Edited June 30, 2016 by Jack Flap

[Bellhorn04]

Setting aside ERA for a moment, Price has given up a .735 OPS this year compared to .621 last year.

[Slasher9]

The pay is irrelevant to the comparison of their performances for the 2016 team. Is that too difficult for you to understand? Maybe this pop quiz will clear up the issue. Who would you rather have on the mound for the Red Sox in an important game== Price or Buchholz? it is really that simple.

 

the pay is completely relevant. 1 is expected to be an ACE, the other is expected to pitch 130 innings.

Buchholz option wasnt picked up for him to be the "Ace". here's a pop quiz: do you want a guy with a 4.8 ERA making $31MM x 7 years? to answer yours: i would take the knuckleballer or Porcello over either of them.

[Slasher9]

2 years from now, Price will still be a top level talent while Buchholz is out of baseball.

 

2 years from now Price will still have 4+ years left on his $217MM contract and Buchholz will not be under Boston contract.

[Slasher9]

Setting aside ERA for a moment, Price has given up a .735 OPS this year compared to .621 last year.

 

Dont worry, be Happy. apparently.

[SoxnCycles]

Dont worry, be Happy. apparently.

 

Price just needs to adjust to his new team.

[Slasher9]

Price just needs to adjust to his new team.

 

Hey SnC. i thought about this.

there are players that thrive elsewhere but crumble under the spotlight that is Boston Red Sox. i am starting to fear the Price is one of these.

[Jack Flap]

I don't really get the argument you're trying to make, Slash. I don't think anyone denies that Price's results so far haven't matched expectations.

 

I guess we don't agree that a $31 million guy currently pitching more like a mid-rotation starter (with plenty of encouraging peripherals) and a $13 million guy who is, at this point, barely worthy of being on an MLB roster are on similar levels of bad.

 

I would bet that by the end of the season, you would take Price over Wright or Porcello in a must-win game.

[User Name]

Setting aside ERA for a moment, Price has given up a .735 OPS this year compared to .621 last year.

 

Hard contact is a problem with this entire pitching staff. At what point does it become a problem with the pitching coaching staff?

[SoxnCycles]

Hey SnC. i thought about this.

there are players that thrive elsewhere but crumble under the spotlight that is Boston Red Sox. i am starting to fear the Price is one of these.

 

I guess it's possinble, but I don't think that's it.

He did well in Toronto last year during a playoff run. Granted, Toronto isn't boston, but a division race and p,layoff appearances are no picnics.

 

I think it's his mechanics. He seems to be having a tough time being consistent.

If he can't fix it and become the stopper this team desperates needs, you can DFA Buchh and fire Farrell and it wont make a bit of difference.

[mvp 78]

Price is a better bet over the next few years than Buchholz. Buchholz is the easiest guy to replace since he's not expected to be a TOTR guy. Bringing him back was dumb. Signing Price was worth the risk. The results have been not great though.

 

I'm not sold that Cueto or Shark would perform any better in Fenway though.

 

They should have resigned Lester and we would not be having this convo in the first place.

[User Name]

This is something we agree on. If Price doesn't get his s*** together, this team is done.

[mvp 78]

This is something we agree on. If Price doesn't get his s*** together, this team is done.

 

But that doesn't mean you don't make other moves to be better the other 4 out of 5 games...

[Spudboy]

I guess it's possinble, but I don't think that's it.

He did well in Toronto last year during a playoff run. Granted, Toronto isn't boston, but a division race and p,layoff appearances are no picnics.

 

I think it's his mechanics. He seems to be having a tough time being consistent.

If he can't fix it and become the stopper this team desperates needs, you can DFA Buchh and fire Farrell and it wont make a bit of difference.

 

I think so too.

[Kimmi]

He will do better. Where is the patience that you preach? You have one stud in the rotation and you are all over him after 3 months of a 7 year contract. The problem is not Price, Wright or Porcello. We will not win every one of their games, but they give us a chance. The other 2 spots are like putting gas cans on the mound. They are the problem. The problems are what needs to be addressed. This reminds me of your argument last year how our offense (which ended up as one of the top offenses in baseball) was responsible for the Red Sox not being in first place when it was clearly the entire pitching staff that was broken.

 

I am not 'all over' Price. I have stated that he is not the problem. I am simply saying that, as our ace and leader of the staff, he needs to pitch better. Can you deny that?

 

As far as being patient with him, here is what I posted to UN before the first time you questioned my patience:

 

I'm not saying that he's a sunk cost or anything. He gets more time to become acclimated. I'm just saying as our ace, he will need to do better.

 

It's not like I'm calling for him to be DL'd or DFA'd, or calling his contract a huge mistake. FTR, I am confident that he will find his ace level pitching soon.

 

Also FTR, it is my opinion that the offense is largely to blame for our record in June. They weren't as bad as they were in May of last year, but there were several games where the pitching was good enough to keep us in the game, and the offense came up empty.

[SoxnCycles]

Price is a better bet over the next few years than Buchholz. Buchholz is the easiest guy to replace since he's not expected to be a TOTR guy. Bringing him back was dumb. Signing Price was worth the risk. The results have been not great though.

 

I'm not sold that Cueto or Shark would perform any better in Fenway though.

 

They should have resigned Lester and we would not be having this convo in the first place.

 

"Better bets" isn't going to win this team s*** this year.

Buchholz is the easier player to replace. But, not right now.

Either DD is finding the asking price for a replacement #5 guy is too high, or he's a complete idiot.

[mvp 78]

"Better bets" isn't going to win this team s*** this year.

Buchholz is the easier player to replace. But, not right now.

Either DD is finding the asking price for a replacement #5 guy is too high, or he's a complete idiot.

 

I'm more concerned about the Sox franchise long term than what happens this year. If they don't make the playoffs, it's not a big deal to me. I'd rather not mortgage the future for one final Ortiz year when we still have 3 rings in a back pockets from recent years.

[SoxnCycles]

I am not 'all over' Price. I have stated that he is not the problem. I am simply saying that, as our ace and leader of the staff, he needs to pitch better. Can you deny that?

 

As far as being patient with him, here is what I posted to UN before the first time you questioned my patience:

 

I'm not saying that he's a sunk cost or anything. He gets more time to become acclimated. I'm just saying as our ace, he will need to do better.

 

It's not like I'm calling for him to be DL'd or DFA'd, or calling his contract a huge mistake. FTR, I am confident that he will find his ace level pitching soon.

 

Also FTR, it is my opinion that the offense is largely to blame for our record in June. They weren't as bad as they were in May of last year, but there were several games where the pitching was good enough to keep us in the game, and the offense came up empty.

 

Yup, it would've been nice if the rotation had picked it up a little, to compensate for the inevitable decline in offense.

The pitching hasn't really improved and the offense has fallen off a cliff.

[SoxnCycles]

I'm more concerned about the Sox franchise long term than what happens this year. If they don't make the playoffs, it's not a big deal to me. I'd rather not mortgage the future for one final Ortiz year when we still have 3 rings in a back pockets from recent years.

 

Farrel and Buchh are both gone after this year, so what's the problem?

[User Name]

But that doesn't mean you don't make other moves to be better the other 4 out of 5 games...

 

This is a good point. A lot of people are fixated on getting guys for the top of the rotation, when that's clearly not the problem. Give the team a chance to win on nights Price/Wright/Porcello don't start and we're in business.