Sox starting pitching thread

[sk7326]

Eovaldi picked up a decent second pitch - which had been his undoing in his other career stops. Considering the Yankees, Astros and Guardians numbers against lefthanders, it doesn't make a lot of sense keeping a quality righthanded starter out of the rotation.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yankees are best in baseball vs LH pitchers with a .828 OPS. The Stros are 4th and CLE is 5th. Seattle and Oakland are 15th and 16th respectively.

 

Now, vs RHers, the Guardians are 3rd in OPS, the Yanks 6th, Oakland 7th and Houston 9th. Seattle is 18th.

[mvp 78]

Yankees are best in baseball vs LH pitchers with a .828 OPS. The Stros are 4th and CLE is 5th. Seattle and Oakland are 15th and 16th respectively.

 

Now, vs RHers, the Guardians are 3rd in OPS, the Yanks 6th, Oakland 7th and Houston 9th. Seattle is 18th.

 

So what you're saying is that the best hitting ball clubs are good against LHP and RHP? Inconceivable!

[sk7326]

So what you're saying is that the best hitting ball clubs are good against LHP and RHP? Inconceivable!

 

wRC+ for the 6 playoff contenders

 

Red Sox (97 vs Lefties, 118 vs Righties)

Yankees (124 vs Lefties, 107 vs Righties)

Guardians (108 vs Lefties, 107 vs Righties)

Astros (118 vs Lefties, 108 vs Righties)

Mariners (103 vs Lefties, 100 vs Righties)

A's (101 vs Lefties, 108 vs Righties)

 

The Guardians have had the most balanced performance. The Astros and Yankees have shown meaningful differences. The Red Sox by contrast are extreme in the other direction. Of course the Red Sox don't have to worry about facing Sale in the postseason

[Bellhorn04]

So what you're saying is that the best hitting ball clubs are good against LHP and RHP? Inconceivable!

 

Excellent word.

[Kimmi]

He has dominated the Yankees a couple times now. He is in your playoff rotation if you clinch the 1 seed and we win the play in game. I'd be willing to bet my sig on it

 

I tend to agree, but it's too early to say for certain.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Who?

 

The guy who once worked for the Red Sox. He was a frequent poster on SOSH, but left the forum for some reason (probably because the forum sucks) and now posts on soxprospects.com.

 

Eric gets things wrong (as we all do) but he is a sabermetric guy and it is kind of interesting to get a perspective from someone who actually worked for the Red Sox front office.

[a700hitter]

Per Pete A:

 

#RedSox have sent Drew Pomeranz to the bullpen.

[Bellhorn04]

Per Pete A:

 

#RedSox have sent Drew Pomeranz to the bullpen.

 

A sound, rational and timely move.

[Spudboy]

So what magic will no occur that will transform Pom into a useful pen arm?

 

"Oh, he was a reliever before so he will be good this time too".

[Bellhorn04]

So what magic will no occur that will transform Pom into a useful pen arm?

 

"Oh, he was a reliever before so he will be good this time too".

 

I think it's more like an audition to see if he's worth keeping around for the playoffs. He's definitely on thin ice.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

So what magic will no occur that will transform Pom into a useful pen arm?

 

"Oh, he was a reliever before so he will be good this time too".

 

The belief that he is a lost cause as a starter. Move him to the bullpen to see if he can succeed there. If he doesn't succeed in the bullpen, you lose nothing that you haven't already lost.

[greenwell]

Per Pete A:

 

#RedSox have sent Drew Pomeranz to the bullpen.

 

part of me hopes that means he's sitting alone in the bullpen at Fenway while the sox are in Toronto and Baltimore

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Also, just to be clear, Brian Johnson stays in as the fifth starter. Alright! The Brian Johnson supporters (me included) are finally happy. Johnson will get his next start against the Phillies.

https://nesn.com/2018/08/drew-pomeranz-to-bullpen-brian-johnson-remains-fifth-red-sox-starter/

 

I suppose Johnson stays in the rotation until E-Rod comes back.

Edited August 9, 2018 by Fan_since_Boggs

[Kimmi]

I know this news will make a lot of people happy.

 

I am good either way.

[notin]

So what magic will no occur that will transform Pom into a useful pen arm?

 

"Oh, he was a reliever before so he will be good this time too".

 

Not having to pace himself might add a couple ticks to his fastball...

[kenmeister]

Well it’s short-lived because E-Rod will be back soon. But I’m super excited for the next Eovaldi start!

[cp176]

So what magic will no occur that will transform Pom into a useful pen arm?

 

"Oh, he was a reliever before so he will be good this time too".

 

Moving Pomeranz to the bullpen accomplishes nothing if he continues to struggle finding the plate.

[moonslav59]

Moving Pomeranz to the bullpen accomplishes nothing if he continues to struggle finding the plate.

 

True, but being a RP'er brings a different approach. Maybe it will help.

 

We all know he needs to do better to hold any job in the pen or anywhere else.

 

I might be the last guy holding out hope he can turn things around in time to help us this year, but he better start real soon, or else he'll have nobody left holding any hope.

 

 

[cp176]

True, but being a RP'er brings a different approach. Maybe it will help.

 

We all know he needs to do better to hold any job in the pen or anywhere else.

 

I might be the last guy holding out hope he can turn things around in time to help us this year, but he better start real soon, or else he'll have nobody left holding any hope.

 

 

 

I've always supported the guy. I just liked him a lot better when he could throw the the ball about 3 miles per hour faster.

[oldtimer]

True, but being a RP'er brings a different approach. Maybe it will help.

 

We all know he needs to do better to hold any job in the pen or anywhere else.

 

I might be the last guy holding out hope he can turn things around in time to help us this year, but he better start real soon, or else he'll have nobody left holding any hope.

 

 

 

Actually Pom did a better job last time out than we got from Porcello. What's up with him?

[moonslav59]

Actually Pom did a better job last time out than we got from Porcello. What's up with him?

 

It's one game.

 

Nothing is wrong.

[SoxnCycles]

The Jays give Porcello problems for some reason.

[notin]

Actually Pom did a better job last time out than we got from Porcello. What's up with him?

 

I guess its time to move Porcello to the bullpen too...

[Station 13]

When Porcello sucks he bombed instead of finding ways to grinds it out.

[kenmeister]

When Porcello sucks he bombed instead of finding ways to grinds it out.

 

Last start sooo good, this one sooo bad. An enigma.

[Bellhorn04]

The Jays give Porcello problems for some reason.

 

Yep. 5.47 career ERA at Rogers Center.

[FredLynn]

True, but being a RP'er brings a different approach. Maybe it will help.

 

We all know he needs to do better to hold any job in the pen or anywhere else.

 

I might be the last guy holding out hope he can turn things around in time to help us this year, but he better start real soon, or else he'll have nobody left holding any hope.

 

 

 

I see. And just who is Pomeranz going to replace in the pen? Who exactly is he better than?

[sk7326]

I see. And just who is Pomeranz going to replace in the pen? Who exactly is he better than?

 

That is a fair question. I think you have to look at the pitching staff this way for October.

 

1. Sale. You expect to get 6+ good innings from him. If you don't, you're not winning much of anything.

2/3. Porcello and Price. You'd like to get 6 innings - but you're really planning for two trips through the order.

4. Eovaldi. You want to get 2 trips through the order, but you plan for 1.

 

5-6. Rodriguez, Johnson as multi-inning bridges. They are there to back up a bad performance. More helpfully, you'd like to have him ready for being able to get through the order once and then on to the 1-inning dudes.

 

7. Kimbrel is the closer

8-11. Barnes, Kelly, Velasquez and Workman

 

Now looking at the position players

 

OF: Benintendi, Betts, Bradley, Martinez

SS: Bogaerts

2B: Kinsler, Holt

1B: Moreland, Pierce

3B: Devers, Nunez

C: Leon, Vaszquez/Swihart

 

So we have 13 position players. The question becomes whether you want to carry another pitcher - or do you add a 14th position player. Do you make a trade for a Quinton Berry designated PR sort? Or do you try to find another outfielder for defensive flexibility? Would you rather add, say, Rusney Castillo in pursuit of both goals?

[FredLynn]

That is a fair question. I think you have to look at the pitching staff this way for October.

 

1. Sale. You expect to get 6+ good innings from him. If you don't, you're not winning much of anything.

2/3. Porcello and Price. You'd like to get 6 innings - but you're really planning for two trips through the order.

4. Eovaldi. You want to get 2 trips through the order, but you plan for 1.

 

5-6. Rodriguez, Johnson as multi-inning bridges. They are there to back up a bad performance. More helpfully, you'd like to have him ready for being able to get through the order once and then on to the 1-inning dudes.

 

7. Kimbrel is the closer

8-11. Barnes, Kelly, Velasquez and Workman

 

Now looking at the position players

 

OF: Benintendi, Betts, Bradley, Martinez

SS: Bogaerts

2B: Kinsler, Holt

1B: Moreland, Pierce

3B: Devers, Nunez

C: Leon, Vaszquez/Swihart

 

So we have 13 position players. The question becomes whether you want to carry another pitcher - or do you add a 14th position player. Do you make a trade for a Quinton Berry designated PR sort? Or do you try to find another outfielder for defensive flexibility? Would you rather add, say, Rusney Castillo in pursuit of both goals?

 

Hembree is also in the mix, as is Brasier. All of those guys are more deserving than Pomeranz both then and now. Pomeranz is like an appendix; a useless appendage who should most certainly be removed. I don't understand why he was put in the pen rather than just given his walking papers.