Sox starting pitching thread

[S5Dewey]

 

I was thinking of this thread as I watched ERod paint the corners all night in his first start in a month and a half. What a fantastic performance.

 

In his start at Portland he went out and destroyed the Y's AAA team in what he knew was going to be his last inning on the mound. 3 overpowering K's sandwiched around a 2-strike opposite field hit.

 

As I was thinking about it later it became obvious that he was nibbling, seeing what he had and what he could do during the early part of the game but wanted to make a statement in his last inning.

[Kimmi]

Price has never been a good playoff pitcher and that was when he was a dominant in the regular season' date=' since coming to Boston he has been inconstant and still holds that playoff label. I love ERod but he has never recorded an out in the playoffs and is unproven, he is also our 4th-5th starter when everyone is healthy..[/quote']

 

I posted this earlier in the season, but for some reason, I think that Price will be more dominant in the postseason than Sale will be. Just a gut feeling.

[S5Dewey]

I posted this earlier in the season, but for some reason, I think that Price will be more dominant in the postseason than Sale will be. Just a gut feeling.

 

I hope you're right. We've got a lot of eggs in that basket named David Price, and if he pitches better than Sale (assuming Sale doesn't spit the bit!) then we've got a lights out starting staff.

[moonslav59]

I'm very optimistic about playoff rotation of Sale, Price, ERod and, if needed, Porcello.

[S5Dewey]

Really? You're putting ERod ahead of Porcillo?

[moonslav59]

Really? You're putting ERod ahead of Porcillo?

 

I had him there before his last outing.

 

I really feel his knee issues were what was keeping him down for years. As long as the knee is okay, he's an awesome pitcher.

 

Nothing against Porcello. I'd be happy with him as our #3, too, but I like ERod more. Plus, we win with ERod.

 

We're 17-3 in his starts (5.9 run support).

 

We're 18-10 in Porcello's starts (5.91 run support).

 

(Not that this is all I look at.)

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

This Sale thingy is really starting to piss me off. Really could use a stopper right about now.

[Kimmi]

This Sale thingy is really starting to piss me off. Really could use a stopper right about now.

 

Well it sounds like Sale is going to be our 'Opener' for his first couple of starts back.

 

It also sounds like both Sale and Price could return next weekend.

[moonslav59]

This Sale thingy is really starting to piss me off. Really could use a stopper right about now.

 

I just want him to start the playoff opener and be as sharp as he was the last time he came off the DL.

[devildavid]

Well it sounds like Sale is going to be our 'Opener' for his first couple of starts back.

 

It also sounds like both Sale and Price could return next weekend.

 

Borrowing from Kevin Cash. Cash is a really good manager. I thought so last season and now look what he has the Rays doing.

[devildavid]

I posted this earlier in the season, but for some reason, I think that Price will be more dominant in the postseason than Sale will be. Just a gut feeling.

 

As long as that wrist contusion doesn't bother him. Price has been the ace of the staff since Sale went down.

[Kimmi]

Borrowing from Kevin Cash. Cash is a really good manager. I thought so last season and now look what he has the Rays doing.

 

Cash is doing a really good job. I'm not sure I'm on board with the 'Opener' thing and the regular bullpen days, but it's been working pretty well for the Rays of late.

[jacksonianmarch]

Cash is doing a really good job. I'm not sure I'm on board with the 'Opener' thing and the regular bullpen days, but it's been working pretty well for the Rays of late.

 

It's a smart idea. The premise behind it isn't a bullpen day, per se. Typically, he starts the 2nd inning off with a guy who can go 5 or 6 innings. The premise is based on how many times a lineup sees a pitcher. Typically, a team places its best hitters in the 1-4 spot. Well, if a reliever gets through the first facing 4 batters, then the starter can run from there. By the time the lineup turns over to the third go round (when batters usually have the advantage), the pitcher will be facing the 5-9 part for a third time first rather than the 1-4 guys, who are better hitters.

[Bellhorn04]

It's a smart idea. The premise behind it isn't a bullpen day, per se. Typically, he starts the 2nd inning off with a guy who can go 5 or 6 innings. The premise is based on how many times a lineup sees a pitcher. Typically, a team places its best hitters in the 1-4 spot. Well, if a reliever gets through the first facing 4 batters, then the starter can run from there. By the time the lineup turns over to the third go round (when batters usually have the advantage), the pitcher will be facing the 5-9 part for a third time first rather than the 1-4 guys, who are better hitters.

 

It is a smart idea, that seems to be clear. The only problem is that within a few years everyone will be doing the same thing, which sort of neutralizes any advantage and arguably makes the games a little less enjoyable, much like defensive shifts.

[jacksonianmarch]

It is a smart idea, that seems to be clear. The only problem is that within a few years everyone will be doing the same thing, which sort of neutralizes any advantage and arguably makes the games a little less enjoyable, much like defensive shifts.

 

It's smart baseball. Teams that have no financial advantage and are effectively burning dumpster fires that players cannot wait to eject from, you have to think outside the box or be everyone's punching bag. That Tampa roster is absolutely awful, yet somehow they are 10 games over .500.

[Kimmi]

It's a smart idea. The premise behind it isn't a bullpen day, per se. Typically, he starts the 2nd inning off with a guy who can go 5 or 6 innings. The premise is based on how many times a lineup sees a pitcher. Typically, a team places its best hitters in the 1-4 spot. Well, if a reliever gets through the first facing 4 batters, then the starter can run from there. By the time the lineup turns over to the third go round (when batters usually have the advantage), the pitcher will be facing the 5-9 part for a third time first rather than the 1-4 guys, who are better hitters.

 

In theory, it definitely sounds like a smart idea. In addition to what you have said, it makes things much more difficult for the opposing team to prepare for the game, and for the opposing manager to set a line up in terms of platoons.

 

I still don't know if I'm on board with it. It will be interesting to see how much this idea catches on with other teams.

[moonslav59]

It's a smart idea. The premise behind it isn't a bullpen day, per se. Typically, he starts the 2nd inning off with a guy who can go 5 or 6 innings. The premise is based on how many times a lineup sees a pitcher. Typically, a team places its best hitters in the 1-4 spot. Well, if a reliever gets through the first facing 4 batters, then the starter can run from there. By the time the lineup turns over to the third go round (when batters usually have the advantage), the pitcher will be facing the 5-9 part for a third time first rather than the 1-4 guys, who are better hitters.

 

It's a great strategy.

 

It also puts a RP'er in when there is no pressure (opening the game) and allows the starter to reach later into the game, thereby lessenng the need for more than 2-3 set-up men.

[Spudboy]

You still need effective pitching for it to work.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm very optimistic about playoff rotation of Sale, Price, ERod and, if needed, Porcello.

 

Wright just might sneak into that 4th slot, which i do think will be needed.

[Bellhorn04]

Wright just might sneak into that 4th slot, which i do think will be needed.

 

Wright would have to do a lot this month to sneak ahead of Porcello.

[Slasher9]

It is a smart idea, that seems to be clear. The only problem is that within a few years everyone will be doing the same thing, which sort of neutralizes any advantage and arguably makes the games a little less enjoyable, much like defensive shifts.

 

when that happens do managers put their worst hitters 1-3 in the lineup and switch their best hitters to 4-7???

[S5Dewey]

when that happens do managers put their worst hitters 1-3 in the lineup and switch their best hitters to 4-7???

 

Maybe move JBJ to the leadoff spot?

[moonslav59]

Wright just might sneak into that 4th slot, which i do think will be needed.

 

I was surprised they only used Wright for one inning yesterday.

[mvp 78]

I was surprised they only used Wright for one inning yesterday.

 

It's not like he was pitching a ton of innings during rehab.

[moonslav59]

It's not like he was pitching a ton of innings during rehab.

 

It was the perfect time to let him go 3-4 innings and "build up" to be a starter, if needed.

[Bellhorn04]

It was the perfect time to let him go 3-4 innings and "build up" to be a starter, if needed.

 

Maybe the plan is to keep him in the pen.

[d-money]

Sale and Price have a lot to prove after last season in the playoffs. Price has been an awful pitcher in the postseason. I think sale needs at least 3 starts before the playoffs.

[moonslav59]

Maybe the plan is to keep him in the pen.

 

It probably is, but being a long man works there, too.

 

I do think Wright has a chance to win the 5 slot from Eovaldi/Johnson.

[mvp 78]

It probably is, but being a long man works there, too.

 

I do think Wright has a chance to win the 5 slot from Eovaldi/Johnson.

 

It's September. The 5 slot doesn't matter come the playoffs.

[sk7326]

Sale-Price-Porcello-Rodriguez ... I'd be inclined for flip flop Porcello and Rodriguez if we were down 0-2 or something ... otherwise it is good to have Rodriguez with a day off behind him given that he normally has not pitched deep into games.

 

I do think the swing-man position is very much up in the air. Wright absolutely could fit in there if he shows he is healthy.