Jalen Beeks to start Thursday

[jacksonianmarch]

There are plenty of good pitchers who weren’t towering monsters. Short guys without big stuff are another story, though. Beeks doesn’t have big stuff and he doesn’t have the stature to make his stuff play up (like a Jordan Montgomery can with his length, makes 92 look faster). Therefore, Beeks needs to get by on deception and impeccable command. He’s clearly got some of both. Guys with guile and command dominate the minors, but once they hit the majors, their meddle is tested. The degree of difficulty rises and their margin for error becomes razor thin. This is why the road to being a full time big leaguer is littered with guys who were labeled as “crafty”. Beeks has far more chances coming his way, so nobody can say he is a bust after one start. Just that he isn’t going to be able to rely on stuff and he will need to be at his best every start. That’s tough to survive

[SoxHop]

There are plenty of good pitchers who weren’t towering monsters. Short guys without big stuff are another story, though. Beeks doesn’t have big stuff and he doesn’t have the stature to make his stuff play up (like a Jordan Montgomery can with his length, makes 92 look faster). Therefore, Beeks needs to get by on deception and impeccable command. He’s clearly got some of both. Guys with guile and command dominate the minors, but once they hit the majors, their meddle is tested. The degree of difficulty rises and their margin for error becomes razor thin. This is why the road to being a full time big leaguer is littered with guys who were labeled as “crafty”. Beeks has far more chances coming his way, so nobody can say he is a bust after one start. Just that he isn’t going to be able to rely on stuff and he will need to be at his best every start. That’s tough to survive

 

Blah blah blah....... give us your Vegas odds of him making it or be quiet. That way we can rub your face in it or not later on.

[Spudboy]

Well he was not exactly Scott Kazmir but Jacko is right.

 

We will see Beeks again. And it will be this season.

[Youk Of The Nation]

There are plenty of good pitchers who weren’t towering monsters. Short guys without big stuff are another story, though. Beeks doesn’t have big stuff and he doesn’t have the stature to make his stuff play up (like a Jordan Montgomery can with his length, makes 92 look faster). Therefore, Beeks needs to get by on deception and impeccable command. He’s clearly got some of both. Guys with guile and command dominate the minors, but once they hit the majors, their meddle is tested. The degree of difficulty rises and their margin for error becomes razor thin. This is why the road to being a full time big leaguer is littered with guys who were labeled as “crafty”. Beeks has far more chances coming his way, so nobody can say he is a bust after one start. Just that he isn’t going to be able to rely on stuff and he will need to be at his best every start. That’s tough to survive

 

It just wouldn't be a post from you about how unlikely it is for a Red Sox prospect to succeed if it didn't include a reminder of how awesome a Yankees prospect is!

[Maxbialystock]

Horrible 1st, granted, but Beeks in the end was better than I expected in terms of his repertoire. His fastball can get up to 94 or 95. Good curve, good downward break. Changeup needs work, but is workable and crucial for a lefty. Cut fastball maybe used too much. So by my reckoning he already has a better arsenal than Pomeranz. That first inning hopefully taught him something about mixing his pitches from the get go.

[notin]

Seems to me we are auditioning some players also ...Who is on the DL now who is hurt worse or not responding the way they thought ? Answer ? Pedey ....Trade in coming very soon .

 

The Sox might trade for a second baseman, and Scooter Gennett is certainly a candidate, but I doubt anything happens soon unless Cincinnati is blown away. The Reds are in no rush here to make a deal...

[Maxbialystock]

It does make some sense to let Beeks get a feel for pitching in Fenway and setting him up (possibly) for more work later in the season. The added rest for Sale, Price, Porcello won't hurt and is likley a set up for a better rotation when the Mariner series starts up, then Yankees at end of month. Cora is definitely taking advantage of the big win total to avoid overstressing this team early, given the Yankees comparable start.

 

The season may well come down to Mookie Betts fairly prompt return (or not), and Pedroia's ability to play. DD and Cora did not count on 500AB seasons from Holt and Nunez as the difference makers for this team's excellent run. JDM was expected to do well and has exceeded that. Devers needs to stabilize and at leat hit .250/.275 with rbi production. He could have had 10 in the past week that he blew.

 

Hey newbie--newer than me, anyway. Pretty sensible on Beeks and the way I saw it. Sox have done OK without Mookie, but we do need him back. Not so sure about the need for Pedey even though I like him a lot. Devers will come around--he's just a kid.

[jacksonianmarch]

Which Pomeranz are you talking about? The one from last year who was 91-93 with a deadly curve or the 89-90 guy with a homer curve?

 

Beeks may touch 94, but he sits around 90-91. That’s enough to be effective with impeccable command and movement. He didn’t have it last night. Doesn’t mean he won’t, just his margin for error is tighter

[jacksonianmarch]

Blah blah blah....... give us your Vegas odds of him making it or be quiet. That way we can rub your face in it or not later on.

 

I think he’s shown enough in the minors to at least be a back end starter for someone, but I bet it isn’t in Boston. He’s behind the current 5 man for this year and next and I guarantee the Sox will try to fill a hole either this deadline or in the offseason via trade. Beeks is your best trade chip at present, so I’d assume he is the headliner

[Dojji]

If we assume that Wright has won or will win the battle for the current open spot in the rotation, it would take an injury to see Beeks again in more than a spot starter/mopup relief role.

 

As an aside -- I was super impressed with the job Brian Johnson did in relief. That does rate a mention, especially since we're on the subject of starting pitching depth.

[Bellhorn04]

If we assume that Wright has won or will win the battle for the current open spot in the rotation, it would take an injury to see Beeks again in more than a spot starter/mopup relief role.

 

As an aside -- I was super impressed with the job Brian Johnson did in relief. That does rate a mention, especially since we're on the subject of starting pitching depth.

 

Yes, Johnson had a few bad outings that ballooned his ERA and made him look like a man on the way out. But he has rebounded nicely. Good to see, hope it continues.

[Maxbialystock]

Which Pomeranz are you talking about? The one from last year who was 91-93 with a deadly curve or the 89-90 guy with a homer curve?

 

Beeks may touch 94, but he sits around 90-91. That’s enough to be effective with impeccable command and movement. He didn’t have it last night. Doesn’t mean he won’t, just his margin for error is tighter

 

Actually, both of them because in neither year or any other has he displayed a usable changeup, which to me is a fatal flaw for a left starter going up against predominantly righty bats.

 

A 91-92 mph fast ball works fine when the user mixes it with a good curve, which Beeks has, and a usable changeup, ditto. I also like the fact that, when Beeks is on the mound, he is ready to pitch. When Pom is on the mound, his first thought is to get off it and walk around. If he keeps his foot on the mound, his primary impulse is to think about his next pitch because he is terrified of what might happen. Add to all that the fact that he is terrible going to 1B on grounders to the right because his pitching motion--and his recovery from it--take him away from 1B and a little off balance.

 

You are right to cite his stats for last year because they're pretty good, but I have never believed in this guy because of his weak repertoire and his obvious lack of confidence and his inability to field his position.

[CharlieWhigg]

Yes, Johnson had a few bad outings that ballooned his ERA and made him look like a man on the way out. But he has rebounded nicely. Good to see, hope it continues.

 

Yeah Johnson just needed time to adjust to the bullpen. His numbers as a starter actually aren't bad, and he's settled down in the pen