2017 Rotation Discussion

[BstHcpr]

If Wright wasn't gone for the season, I think we'd have 5 more in the win column, and that's being conservative. But Pom and ERod have done their part, I agree. It's worth being cautious w/ Price, I'd hate to lose him totally right now. Porcello is the one that has got to step it up in my opinion.

 

Wright isn't that good.

[S5Dewey]

Wright isn't that good.

 

Well, he's not that bad. Career .600 W/L, ERA ~4.00, Whip of 1.3xx. That's not "Ace" material but it's a solid #3-4 for good teams and a #2 for second division teams. Wright's "problem" is that he's a k-ball pitcher and we sometimes lack confidence in the k-ball.

[moonslav59]

I've always been a big fan of Wright. I had very high hopes for him this year. It's hard to imagine him adding 5 wins to this...

 

GS'd (Team Record)

6 Fister 3-3 (4 starts with team scoring 6 or more runs)

5 Johnson 5-0 (5 starts with team scoring 5+ runs/ 3 w 6+)

2 Velazquez 0-2 (No games with 4 or more run support)

2 Kendrick 0-2 (no games with 5 or more run support)

8-7 Total

He'd have to have gone 13-2, assuming the same run support.

[moonslav59]

Well, he's not that bad. Career .600 W/L, ERA ~4.00, Whip of 1.3xx. That's not "Ace" material but it's a solid #3-4 for good teams and a #2 for second division teams. Wright's "problem" is that he's a k-ball pitcher and we sometimes lack confidence in the k-ball.

 

He had a fantastic season last year before the injury.

 

One can imagine him continuing that this year, but nothing in baseball is for certain.

[Nick]

He had a fantastic season last year before the injury.

 

One can imagine him continuing that this year, but nothing in baseball is for certain.

 

I just hope his career won't be remembered as, "yeah he looked to become a good pitcher until that unfortunate incident sliding back to second base".

[Nick]

Can Viagra help Pom last longer?

 

I'm not sure I want to mess with him in any way.

 

Keep giving us 5-6 innings, and I'll be happy.

 

It's Porcello and Price that need to get their act together and start giving us 7-8 innings of solid pitching.

 

Not sure, but he would need a bigger cup.

[Bellhorn04]

Pommy has pitched 67 innings in his last 11 starts with only 2 outings shorter than 6 innings.

[User Name]

Pommy has pitched 67 innings in his last 11 starts with only 2 outings shorter than 6 innings.

 

But who cares about facts?

[a700hitter]

Pommy has pitched 67 innings in his last 11 starts with only 2 outings shorter than 6 innings.

i had watched quite a few of his outings for San Diego last year and the only question for me was whether he could handle Boston. I could see, yes see, that he had really good strike out stuff and that he was a tough customer when runners got on base.

[cp176]

i had watched quite a few of his outings for San Diego last year and the only question for me was whether he could handle Boston. I could see, yes see, that he had really good strike out stuff and that he was a tough customer when runners got on base.

 

I'm glad you posted this. I saw him once last year, and really felt that he had the tools to be very effective. Young, big, left handed.

[Dojji]

Pomeranz has averaged 5 2/3 innings a start over the season. That means about 2/3 of his starts were 6 innings or more. That's not great, but it's not bad either, especially for a guy who went into the season on the bubble.

 

The pitching on the whole has done moderately well for us this year. We had enough depth that we haven't had to rely on third rate talent for more than a handful of starts. If we can get everyone healthy by October we're in OK shape.

Edited August 13, 2017 by Dojji

[Spudboy]

Not sure, but he would need a bigger cup.

 

Given that many Sox Yankees games are over 4 hours the blue pills could be a potential problem.

[User Name]

Pomeranz has averaged 5 2/3 innings a start over the season. That means about 2/3 of his starts were 6 innings or more. That's not great, but it's not bad either, especially for a guy who went into the season on the bubble.

 

The pitching on the whole has done moderately well for us this year. We had enough depth that we haven't had to rely on third rate talent for more than a handful of starts. If we can get everyone healthy by October we're in OK shape.

 

The Sox are 4th in MLB in ERA, 2nd in the AL. They are also 3rd in MLB in fWAR, also second in the AL. Moderately well?

[SoxHop]

The Sox are 4th in MLB in ERA, 2nd in the AL. They are also 3rd in MLB in fWAR, also second in the AL. Moderately well?

 

I still am wondering how this happened.

 

I get that Sale is putting up incredible numbers. And Pom has been incredible this year.

 

But about a month ago I really couldn't tell you who are 4th and 5th pitcher was. We went about a month of who the heck knows what our rotation would be. And some of them would show up and get bombed. But I guess over all they did well.

 

We may have to chalk up our season to Fister, Valazquez and Johnson pulling though just enough times to keep us in a good position.....

 

Oh..... and the bullpen....... definetely the bullpen...

[FredLynn]

The Sox are 4th in MLB in ERA, 2nd in the AL. They are also 3rd in MLB in fWAR, also second in the AL. Moderately well?

 

They are FIRST in the AL in ERA (not by much) and first in SP ERA in the league, second in bullpen ERA. They are THIRD in baseball in ERA overall. Good situation to be in. With the Yankee SP rotation devastated as it is now, it would be an embarrassment not to win the ALE.

[User Name]

They are FIRST in the AL in ERA (not by much) and first in SP ERA in the league, second in bullpen ERA. They are THIRD in baseball in ERA overall. Good situation to be in. With the Yankee SP rotation devastated as it is now, it would be an embarrassment not to win the ALE.

 

Fangraphs shows the Guardians as being just decimals higher.

[moonslav59]

ERA- is probably a better measure.

 

76 LAD

79 AZ

80 BOS

83 CLE

87 NYY

89 StL

92 COL

93 Cubs

 

I'd like to add some context to these numbers. Think of past winning Sox teams with Pedro and Schilling (Foulke), Beckett and Schilling (Papelbon), and Lester and Lackey (Uehara). Here are some comparative Sox numbers from 2003 to 2017:

 

ERA- by seasons

80 2017

83 2007- Ring

89 2004- Ring

89 2008

90 2013- Ring

90 2016

93 2009

96 2010

99 2011

100 2014

102 2006

103 2015

105 2005

111 2012

We're way ahead of every other Sox team, except 2007's.

K/BB

3.51 2017

2.78 2016

2.55 2015

2.53 2004

2.47 2013

2.38 2007

 

We are blowing these numbers out of the water!

 

These pretty much too...

WHIP

1.24 2017

1.27 2016

1.27 2007

1.29 2004

1.30 2013

 

Especially, the pen... (Only ring teams listed here)

1.16 2017

1.21 2007

1.31 2007 & 2013

 

Starter ERA-

87 2017

89 2008

90 2007

91 2004

92 2013

 

All three of our previous championship teams had a starter ERA- below 93. 3 of the 4 clubs that had an ERA- that low won it all. This year's team is better than all those teams, so far.

 

 

[Emp9]

I've always been a big fan of Wright. I had very high hopes for him this year. It's hard to imagine him adding 5 wins to this...

 

GS'd (Team Record)

6 Fister 3-3 (4 starts with team scoring 6 or more runs)

5 Johnson 5-0 (5 starts with team scoring 5+ runs/ 3 w 6+)

2 Velazquez 0-2 (No games with 4 or more run support)

2 Kendrick 0-2 (no games with 5 or more run support)

8-7 Total

He'd have to have gone 13-2, assuming the same run support.

 

Wright went 13-2 last season. With Price out most of the season and ERod missing significant time as well, and assuming Wright would've made relief appearances and/or even long relief appearances to rest the BP on top of all that. I'm talking about our record, not games up or games back. But that's fine,I'll revise. I don't think I'd be going out on much of a limb here to say we'd probably have 70 wins by now (we're 67-51).

[moonslav59]

Wright went 13-2 last season. With Price out most of the season and ERod missing significant time as well, and assuming Wright would've made relief appearances and/or even long relief appearances to rest the BP on top of all that. I'm talking about our record, not games up or games back. But that's fine,I'll revise. I don't think I'd be going out on much of a limb here to say we'd probably have 70 wins by now (we're 67-51).

 

Fair enough.

 

I'm a huge Wright fan, by the way.

 

I had him as our #4 this year.

[fxkatt]

It was great to see David Price out on the field leading the celebrations of last night's win. It tells me he is highly motivated in terms of the team, and is very much a part of the team.

[Slasher9]

It was great to see David Price out on the field leading the celebrations of last night's win. It tells me he is highly motivated in terms of the team, and is very much a part of the team.

yeah. as long as none of the liquid from the gatorade shower hit him he will be sunshine and puppy dogs.

#slasherwasright

[SoxnCycles]

yeah. as long as none of the liquid from the gatorade shower hit him he will be sunshine and puppy dogs.

#slasherwasright

 

LOL

Exactly.

[Kimmi]

yeah. as long as none of the liquid from the gatorade shower hit him he will be sunshine and puppy dogs.

#slasherwasright

 

LOL

Exactly.

 

LOL You guys crack me up.

[FredLynn]

Not sure if you guys saw this. Price didn't throw again today, for the third day in a row, because of ongoing stiffness in his elbow:

 

Jason Mastrodonato ✔ @jmastrodonato

Farrell is "hopeful but realistic" about Price coming back this season. Make what you will of that.

[Bellhorn04]

Not sure if you guys saw this. Price didn't throw again today, for the third day in a row, because of ongoing stiffness in his elbow:

 

Jason Mastrodonato ✔ @jmastrodonato

Farrell is "hopeful but realistic" about Price coming back this season. Make what you will of that.

 

Starting to sound like TJ surgery, see you in 2019, and forget about the opt-out.

[moonslav59]

Starting to sound like TJ surgery, see you in 2019, and forget about the opt-out.

 

If he needs it, go ahead and get it over with quickly and jump the return date up.

[mvp 78]

Starting to sound like TJ surgery, see you in 2019, and forget about the opt-out.

 

Yup. I've thought this too. Sad.

 

I know he sucks in the playoffs, but he's better than whoever would replace him.

[Larry Cook]

Price might be effective coming out of the bullpen for us in the playoffs,

 

Gives him less time for his head to nut up and cost us.

[Northern Star]

Price might be effective coming out of the bullpen for us in the playoffs,

 

Gives him less time for his head to nut up and cost us.

 

That's the first time I've seen the words Price, effective and playoffs in the same sentence.

[fxkatt]

To add to starting rotation woes, Pomeranz exits suddenly with either back spasms or some back injury.

 

I think the undisclosed injury in the trade with the Padres was an elbow issue. So no rel.