2017 Rotation

[Bellhorn04]

LOL

 

I agree!

 

Kimmi!

[moonslav59]

Pom and Erod are not depth. They are behind our front three. I forgotten Wright, he might be better suited as a long man.

 

One of the three are depth.

 

Wright is much better as a starter than RP'er, so we clearly are strong one deep. After that it gets sketchy.

[moonslav59]

If you need more than 8 SP's as depth, you're f***ed. Elias has a better chance at a spot start than Owens or Johnson. It's not that hard to find a AAAA pitcher.

 

Well, last year Pomeranz was number ten...

 

5: Price, Porcello, Buch, Erod & Kelly

6: Wright (needed right away)

7: Owens (needed after just 18 games)

8: O'Sullivan (needed after 32 games and probably leep-frogged Johnson and Elias on the original depth chart order)

9: Elias (after 52 games)

10: Pomeranz (started first BOS game on July 20th)

 

[moonslav59]

Well, last year Pomeranz was number ten...

 

5: Price, Porcello, Buch, Erod & Kelly

6: Wright (needed right away)

7: Owens (needed after just 18 games)

8: O'Sullivan (needed after 32 games and probably leep-frogged Johnson and Elias on the original depth chart order)

9: Elias (after 52 games)

10: Pomeranz (started first BOS game on July 20th)

 

 

In 2013, we used 11 starters (9 with 3 or more starts) and ended up having to trade for Peavy.

 

In 2007, we had 5 starters with over 23 starts, but still used 9 starters, including Kason Gabbard for 7.

 

In 2004, we had 4 starters with 29 or more GS'd. Fossum 14, Kim 5, Mendoza 5, Chen 2 and Rupe 1. Suppan was acquired and gave us 10 as our 9th or 10th starter.

 

[Slasher9]

LOL

 

I agree!

 

LOL. i was hoping you would catch that. you know i love you.

[Kimmi]

If you need more than 8 SP's as depth, you're f***ed. Elias has a better chance at a spot start than Owens or Johnson. It's not that hard to find a AAAA pitcher.

 

The truth of the matter is that most teams do use more than 8 starting pitchers to get through the season. They might not use their #9 and #10 guys for a lot of starts, but they do go that far down the depth chart.

[harmony]

As a practical matter, it doesn't make a ton of sense for team to designate a pitcher as its No. 5 starter. A club needs three or four pitchers who can take the mound every fifth day but beyond that a mix is the typical result, whether planned or not.

 

Because of days off in the first week of the season the so-called fifth starter often is not needed until mid-April.

 

If I'm not mistaken, only one team -- the 2003 Seattle Mariners -- made it through an entire season with only a five-man rotation.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SEA/2003.shtml

 

That Seattle team won 93 games but missed the postseason in those days before a second Wild Card slot.

[Kimmi]

Kimmi!

 

Just messin'. I've already stated that I expect a nice rebound from Price.

 

I think he will pitch like an ace this year.

 

I do agree with the rest of that post, however.

[Kimmi]

LOL. i was hoping you would catch that. you know i love you.

 

As I stated recently, you crack me up.

 

While I think that some of your opinions are a little more extreme than mine (not that there is anything wrong with that), I do agree with many of your basic premises.

 

And I do think Price has something to prove this season.

[Slasher9]

just saw a clip on IG of panda working out/boxing. dude looks in really good shape. looks like the Christmas home with Mama didnt get him an extra 40 pounds this year. i am optimistic he will have a monster year. calling it.

[Bellhorn04]

And I do think Price has something to prove this season.

 

He got randomized last year!

[Slasher9]

he got randomized last year!

 

babip! Babip! Babip!

[moonslav59]

just saw a clip on IG of panda working out/boxing. dude looks in really good shape. looks like the Christmas home with Mama didnt get him an extra 40 pounds this year. i am optimistic he will have a monster year. calling it.

 

What a turn around for Panda on fan opinions and expectations from last spring to now.

 

I remember I caught a lot of flack last fall for just mentioning Pablo being "in the mix" at 3B or DH for 2017.

 

Now, he's basically all we've got, and posters are beginning to believe he can be productive again.

 

A "monster year" might be pushing it, but my expectations are certainly growing every time I see a new pic of him.

[a700hitter]

just saw a clip on IG of panda working out/boxing. dude looks in really good shape. looks like the Christmas home with Mama didnt get him an extra 40 pounds this year. i am optimistic he will have a monster year. calling it.

He hasn't had a monster year since 2011. I'll settle for above replacement level.

[mvp 78]

What a turn around for Panda on fan opinions and expectations from last spring to now.

 

I remember I caught a lot of flack last fall for just mentioning Pablo being "in the mix" at 3B or DH for 2017.

 

Now, he's basically all we've got, and posters are beginning to believe he can be productive again.

 

A "monster year" might be pushing it, but my expectations are certainly growing every time I see a new pic of him.

 

Honestly, for Pablo there was nowhere to go but up.

[Spudboy]

He hasn't had a monster year since 2011. I'll settle for above replacement level.

 

Yup. League average or replacement level is a reasonable expectation.

 

The guy just has never been that good a player. Period.

[mvp 78]

Yup. League average or replacement level is a reasonable expectation.

 

The guy just has never been that good a player. Period.

 

Wrong!

[Slasher9]

What a turn around for Panda on fan opinions and expectations from last spring to now.

 

I remember I caught a lot of flack last fall for just mentioning Pablo being "in the mix" at 3B or DH for 2017.

 

Now, he's basically all we've got, and posters are beginning to believe he can be productive again.

 

A "monster year" might be pushing it, but my expectations are certainly growing every time I see a new pic of him.

 

Monster.

and personally, i have never given up on the butterball. guess i can put that nickname to rest.

Kung Fu Panda is back baby. BACK!

Cannot wait to see mid June when all the youngsters at the Fens have there panda hats on. #hype.

[moonslav59]

Honestly, for Pablo there was nowhere to go but up.

 

Or "out".

[moonslav59]

Yup. League average or replacement level is a reasonable expectation.

 

The guy just has never been that good a player. Period.

 

He's had an OPS over .900 twice in his career, and ended up with an .811 OPS in 7 seasons with the Giants.

 

That's good. That actually very good.

 

What many may not realize is that he also had a plus UZR/150 in those 7 years with SF! (+2.2), but to be fair, he's listed as being -2 in DRS. He was +3.5 in 2014 with a +4 in DRS that year before signing with BOS. Anyways, he was at least close to average on defense, before putting up one of the worst fielding shows (2015) at 3B in my lifetime.

 

Then, there's the playoff heroics...

Edited January 11, 2017 by moonslav59

[Spudboy]

Wrong!

 

lol

[S5Dewey]

What a turn around for Panda on fan opinions and expectations from last spring to now.

 

I remember I caught a lot of flack last fall for just mentioning Pablo being "in the mix" at 3B or DH for 2017.

 

Now, he's basically all we've got, and posters are beginning to believe he can be productive again.

 

A "monster year" might be pushing it, but my expectations are certainly growing every time I see a new pic of him.

 

The turnaround on fan opinions was directly related to his belt size. After blessing us with an OPS of ~.650 in 2015 and then coming into 2016 ST looking like The Michelin Man fans had every right to have low expectations for him.

 

Many fans, myself included are beginning to believe that he can be productive again but it's because he is all we've got and as my mom used to say, you may as well laugh as cry because neither of them will do you any good. He's given us reason to hope by losing the weight and getting himself into playing shape but it's been three years since he had even a mediocre OPS of .750 and he's not getting any younger.

 

My optimistic expectation for him now is for him to be mediocre, which in itself will be an overpay. But, as you said, he's all we've got so we may as well hope for the best.

[Kimmi]

He got randomized last year!

 

LOL In fairness to him, he largely did.

[Kimmi]

What a turn around for Panda on fan opinions and expectations from last spring to now.

 

I remember I caught a lot of flack last fall for just mentioning Pablo being "in the mix" at 3B or DH for 2017.

 

Now, he's basically all we've got, and posters are beginning to believe he can be productive again.

 

A "monster year" might be pushing it, but my expectations are certainly growing every time I see a new pic of him.

 

It seems that Pablo is determined this year. Things can change quickly, of course. And even if he keeps the weight off and stays in good condition, that is no guarantee that he will be able to rebound to his 2014 numbers. I remain hopeful though.

[Kimmi]

Yup. League average or replacement level is a reasonable expectation.

 

The guy just has never been that good a player. Period.

 

That's not really true. He was not worth the contract that he was given, but he was a pretty good player and he had two very good seasons.

 

That said, I think that league average is a reasonable expectation.

[a700hitter]

That's not really true. He was not worth the contract that he was given, but he was a pretty good player and he had two very good seasons.

 

That said, I think that league average is a reasonable expectation.

And as I pointed out, the latter of those 2 very good seasons was 2011. Five seasons have passed since then. I don't expect him to turn back the clock 5 years.

[moonslav59]

It seems that Pablo is determined this year. Things can change quickly, of course. And even if he keeps the weight off and stays in good condition, that is no guarantee that he will be able to rebound to his 2014 numbers. I remain hopeful though.

 

In 2014, Pablo posted a .739 OPS. That seems like a fair expectation for 2017.

[cp176]

Sandoval is just 30 years old. Has he ever been in better shape than he looks to be in right now? The potential for him to be a productive player over the next 3, 4, 5 years is a real possibility. Don't you have to be just a little bit excited for him and for what he might be able to do? He has clearly done the work that he needed to do.

[Slasher9]

Sandoval is just 30 years old. Has he ever been in better shape than he looks to be in right now? The potential for him to be a productive player over the next 3, 4, 5 years is a real possibility. Don't you have to be just a little bit excited for him and for what he might be able to do? He has clearly done the work that he needed to do.

love this post.

[Dojji]

What a turn around for Panda on fan opinions and expectations from last spring to now.

 

I remember I caught a lot of flack last fall for just mentioning Pablo being "in the mix" at 3B or DH for 2017.

 

Now, he's basically all we've got, and posters are beginning to believe he can be productive again.

 

A "monster year" might be pushing it, but my expectations are certainly growing every time I see a new pic of him.

 

Opinions really haven't changed at all Moonslav. We just know the team has gone all in on the guy this year and are pulling for him to prove them right because there aren't a ton of options. In other words we realize we're stuck with Pablo and want him to make good. Our opinions of the guy really haven't changed that much, but now we're forced to go all in on hope.