Eovaldi to be closer

[oldtimer]

I had earliier suggested that Eovaldi should have gotten his arm surgery done in the off season but others said I was off base so I went back and read the available material. It appears I was incorrect, as his Dr. Ahmad cleared him in November with an examination and an MRI. No problems at that point. It wasn't until throwing 6 innings against the Yankees that he came away unable to straighten his arm and with pain. At that time, he throught 2 weeks after the surgery he could resume activities and be back in a short time. Its now been 10 weeks, presumably because he also strained an arm muscle. He is throwing again, but his game is the high velocity fastball with movement. You have to wonder whether he can remain sound for long when he returns. I hope so but fireballers often go on the IL.

[SoxnCycles]

A week or 2? He’s basically got to go through spring training again, and so far as we know, he’s not throwing at all yet. It would be a month minimum.

 

"Eovaldi, who last pitched on April 17, is on the 60-day injured list after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on April 23 to address loose bodies in his right elbow. He's been on a conservative throwing program after a bout with right biceps tendinitis prolonged his recovery from the surgery, but Eovaldi threw off a mound on Monday and is scheduled to do so again Wednesday."

 

https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/nathan-eovaldi-possible-red-sox-closer-injured-list-return

[jacksonianmarch]

If he is throwing off a mound and will return in the pen, he will be an option for the sox out of the ASB

[SoxnCycles]

I agree that the team needs to do something about the pen, but I believe that solidifying the rotation is more important. By shoring up the rotation, you indirectly strengthen the pen. A panic move may be called for, but not if it's going to end up hurting the team overall. We shall see.

 

Again, if putting Eovaldi in the pen is better for his arm health-wise, then I'm all for the move. Otherwise, I disagree with it.

 

Bottom line - the players that we have need to perform to expectations.

 

Think about this, the Sox have 14 games with the Rays and Yankees at the end of the month, into the 1st week of August.

If the choice is no Eovaldi for those games, because he's not ready to start, or he's in the pen for those games, which is more beneficial to the team?

[moonslav59]

Think about this, the Sox have 14 games with the Rays and Yankees at the end of the month, into the 1st week of August.

If the choice is no Eovaldi for those games, because he's not ready to start, or he's in the pen for those games, which is more beneficial to the team?

 

We should try hard to acquire a solid RP'er before these series.

[a700hitter]

Think about this, the Sox have 14 games with the Rays and Yankees at the end of the month, into the 1st week of August.

If the choice is no Eovaldi for those games, because he's not ready to start, or he's in the pen for those games, which is more beneficial to the team?

if his arm strength and stamina are not sufficient to start, he’s probably not ready to close.

[dgalehouse]

I believe he is expected back right after the break . Not sure how much of a AAA rehab stint he will need . But rushing him back too soon could only lead to more problems.

[Kimmi]

10 games out at the halfway point is probably a good time to panic.

I'm not sure you can take Eovaldi out of the rotation, if he was never really in it.

If the choice is get Eovaldi off the IL and back on the mound now, or wait another week or two to stretch him out, I'll take now.

 

As I've said, if it's a move being done for the health of Eovaldi, which includes being able to get him back quicker, then fine. I can agree with the move.

 

If Eovaldi could solidify the 5th spot in the rotation, that would almost definitely help the pen out as well. My belief is that the pen can only be as good as the starting rotation allows them to be. Our pen was built on the idea that the starters would be a strength. I don't think adding Eovaldi to the pen is going to help much if the rotation continues to give mediocre performances.

[Kimmi]

Think about this, the Sox have 14 games with the Rays and Yankees at the end of the month, into the 1st week of August.

If the choice is no Eovaldi for those games, because he's not ready to start, or he's in the pen for those games, which is more beneficial to the team?

 

I do agree that Eovaldi in the pen is better than no Eovaldi.

[devildavid]

These two guys get it.

 

Chris Mason‏Verified account @ByChrisMason

 

The bullpen shoulders all the blame — and they absolutely deserve a lot of it — but at what point are Sox starters going to start taking matters into their own hands and going deeper into ballgames, too?

 

 

Jon Couture‏ @JonCouture 1h1 hour ago

 

Jon Couture Retweeted Chris Mason

 

Well put. For the plan #RedSox put together this winter to work, starting rotation had to be rock solid, not injured/inconsistent. Rotation is top-5 by fWAR, but also just below league average in innings pitched per start. Just not good enough for the way the bullpen was built.

 

The key stat is innings pitched by start. This is where the starting rotation is not meeting expectations or pitching to norms. This team was built to have starters go deep into games. If that does not happen, the bullpen becomes exposed over the long run. Trying to fix the bullpen just ignores this issue, but the problem remains. The starters are expected to shoulder the bulk of innings pitched. If they do not, the team plan fails and we are seeing the results of that.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Team sucks shut down Evoldi

[Kimmi]

The key stat is innings pitched by start. This is where the starting rotation is not meeting expectations or pitching to norms. This team was built to have starters go deep into games. If that does not happen, the bullpen becomes exposed over the long run. Trying to fix the bullpen just ignores this issue, but the problem remains. The starters are expected to shoulder the bulk of innings pitched. If they do not, the team plan fails and we are seeing the results of that.

 

Exactly. You said that much better than I did.

[jacksonianmarch]

Man, I’m being proven right this year a lot. I said in the offseason that your rotation was not one that goes deep into games and I got battered for it. Price is a 6IP pitcher. Porcello was the only one capable of going 6+ on a nightly basis. Sale was a big ?? With his injury and ineffectiveness entering the offseason. ERod is a chronic sub 6 inning starter and Eovaldi is always hurt. By removing Kimbrel and Kelly (not saying you needed to re-sign them) and not replacing them, you forced a thin pen squad to work at least 3 innings per game on a nightly basis. With Eovaldi going down, Sale being questionable on a start by start basis and Porcello losing some endurance, your pen has shouldered an even bigger load and it broke them. You cannot build a team touting the rotation then completely ignore the fact that more than 1/3 of the innings in a 9 inning game will be thrown by guy outside your starting 5. You can do that when you’ve got the 05 White Sox rotation, but not with the 19 Sox.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Man, I’m being proven right this year a lot. I said in the offseason that your rotation was not one that goes deep into games and I got battered for it. Price is a 6IP pitcher. Porcello was the only one capable of going 6+ on a nightly basis. Sale was a big ?? With his injury and ineffectiveness entering the offseason. ERod is a chronic sub 6 inning starter and Eovaldi is always hurt. By removing Kimbrel and Kelly (not saying you needed to re-sign them) and not replacing them, you forced a thin pen squad to work at least 3 innings per game on a nightly basis. With Eovaldi going down, Sale being questionable on a start by start basis and Porcello losing some enduhjust rance, your pen has shouldered an even bigger load and it broke them. You cannot build a team touting the rotation then completely ignore the fact that more than 1/3 of the innings in a 9 inning game will be thrown by guy outside your starting 5. You can do that when you’ve got the 05 White Sox rotation, but not with the 19 Sox.

You sir have to stop .Who are still the World Series champs ? And when's the last Time you won it all ? Good luck in October .The Yankees pitching suuuuuuuucks ass also bud, and you will be exposed big time .The Redsox have many issues but World Series appearances the last 19 years are not one of them .Enjoy this time .You will not win the 2019 World Series .

Edited July 4, 2019 by Swiharts Ghost

[Swiharts Ghost]

We need a starter a reliever and A power bat and yes I think we would win this year .

[iortiz]

Seems like Kimbrel is not having a good time in Chicago.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Seems like Kimbrel is not having a good time in Chicago.

 

He's had 8 months off folks .Pretty predictable .The truth is its criminal what he his agent did to sabotage what could have been a run again for back to back WS .

[iortiz]

Think about this, the Sox have 14 games with the Rays and Yankees at the end of the month, into the 1st week of August.

If the choice is no Eovaldi for those games, because he's not ready to start, or he's in the pen for those games, which is more beneficial to the team?

 

Furthermore. Limiting the load of work in his arm in the second half in the BP, could be an excellent ramp up for possible starts in POs.

[iortiz]

He's had 8 months off folks .Pretty predictable .The truth is its criminal what he his agent did to sabotage what could have been a run again for back to back WS .

 

We have to see more but entering the season I didn't want Kimbrel. IMO The Kimbrel of Atlanta and later in Boston in recent years is pretty gone. His command and control probably will never be the same. Geez, we were very close to lose in PO because of him.

[Bellhorn04]

Seems like Kimbrel is not having a good time in Chicago.

 

Wow. Just looked it up. What a bad start he's off to.

[Swiharts Ghost]

We have to see more but entering the season I didn't want Kimbrel. IMO The Kimbrel of Atlanta and later in Boston in recent years is pretty gone. His command and control probably will never be the same. Geez, we were very close to lose in PO because of him.

 

We would have never had the season without Craig and to deny how s***** our pen is without him is head in sand territory .Craig will get shelled he's not going to pitch well for a month guy needs to get stretched out .Evoldi will Have some bumps .I do think a workman 8th Evoldi ninth works pretty well though .Matt Barnes and Darwin can handle 3 outs and walden 1 out .We need Green badly .

Edited July 4, 2019 by Swiharts Ghost

[S5Dewey]

We have to see more but entering the season I didn't want Kimbrel. IMO The Kimbrel of Atlanta and later in Boston in recent years is pretty gone. His command and control probably will never be the same. Geez, we were very close to lose in PO because of him.

 

At last someone with a clear memory of what actually happened. Kimbrel had gotten to the point where he couldn't be trusted to win an important game. There's a reason several starters became "closers" in the WS while The Great Craig Kimbrel sat on the bench and watched.

[iortiz]

We would have never had the season without Craig and to deny how s***** our pen is without him is head in sand territory .Craig will get shelled he's not going to pitch well for a month to get stretched out .Evoldi will also get shelled .

 

As I said, time will tell. Entering the season, I wanted a closer, no question about that but a younger one. IMO the days of Kimbrel in Red Sox uniform had to end last season.

[Kimmi]

Wow. Just looked it up. What a bad start he's off to.

 

I am not one who wanted to re-sign Kimbrel for a large amount, but I watched the end of that game last night, and to be fair to Kimbrel, he was let down by his defense. Not that he pitched great, but with better defense he could have gotten out of the inning with no damage.

[iortiz]

At last someone with a clear memory of what actually happened. Kimbrel had gotten to the point where he couldn't be trusted to win an important game. There's a reason several starters became "closers" in the WS while The Great Craig Kimbrel sat on the bench and watched.

 

That's how I see the thing Steve. He gave us his best years which IMO are very gone, but this is baseball. We had to move on.

[iortiz]

I am not one who wanted to re-sign Kimbrel for a large amount, but I watched the end of that game last night, and to be fair to Kimbrel, he was let down by his defense. Not that he pitched great, but with better defense he could have gotten out of the inning with no damage.

 

 

That's the thing. These days he depends a lot on the defense rather than his stuff which was a trade mark through his career. Look at 2018. Our defense saved his ass several times last year.

Edited July 4, 2019 by iortiz

[jacksonianmarch]

You sir have to stop .Who are still the World Series champs ? And when's the last Time you won it all ? Good luck in October .The Yankees pitching suuuuuuuucks ass also bud, and you will be exposed big time .The Redsox have many issues but World Series appearances the last 19 years are not one of them .Enjoy this time .You will not win the 2019 World Series .

 

You won it in 2018. Last I checked, this is not 2018. You’ve won nothing this year. The Yanks last won it all 10 years ago. The 5 title and 7 time AL champion run over 14 years had to fall at some point. We're back now. Enjoy third place

[jacksonianmarch]

I’m also incredibly familiar with the way DD won last year’s title. There’s a reason why we spent 13-16 in no mans land. Building the way he did is not as easy to recover from as it used to be. The Sox has always kept a good farm system while winning, they’ve never gutted it from 04-16. It was always brimming with talent. DD won you a title with his plan and flags wave forever, but the fall off in this climate will be very harsh.

[iortiz]

You won it in 2018. Last I checked, this is not 2018. You’ve won nothing this year. The Yanks last won it all 10 years ago. The 5 title and 7 time AL champion run over 14 years had to fall at some point. We're back now. Enjoy third place

 

There are several ways to win a WS. Last year was by winning 108 games while slaughtering everyone in POs including the Yankees in their own turf.

 

Maybe this year will be different. I wouldn't discard the Sox, not just yet. There's a lot of talent in the offense and rotation, and while the BP has been a mess in late innings, if the Sox figure out how to solve it, be careful. Nobody will want to face us in POs if we are hot and with all engines oiled.

[jung]

We are assuming a good deal with regard to Kimbrel and staying in Boston. For example I think it unlikely that Kimbrel would have accepted 3 years/$16M per before the start of the 2019 season. I suspect he was holding out for more than 3 years, more like 4 or 5 and only signed for 3 years/16 to get back in the game. I would not have wanted him for 4 or 5 years.

 

The problem is not so much were we didn't spend the money as much as where we DID spend the money. Henry appears to be making his feelings on the matter felt in baseball ops as we speak.