2022 Starting Rotation Thread

[moonslav59]

Our rotation was able to stay remarkably healthy last year. Hopefully, we see more of the same this year.

 

I never count the Yankees out, but I'm more "concerned" with the Jays and the Rays than I am about the Yankees.

 

It should be a fun division race. I wouldn't rule the Red Sox out as division winners!

 

Agreed.

 

I will add that we were missing our best starter, Chris Sale for more than two thirds of the season. Perhaps our best replacement starter, Houck, missed some time during Sale's injury, too, but yes, overall our rotation held up pretty well, health wise.

 

[Old Red]

Agreed.

 

I will add that we were missing our best starter, Chris Sale for more than two thirds of the season. Perhaps our best replacement starter, Houck, missed some time during Sale's injury, too, but yes, overall our rotation held up pretty well, health wise.

 

When was the last time Chris Frail was the Red Sox best starter? I would say the first part of the 2018 season.

[jacksonianmarch]

A Red Sox rotation of Eovaldi, Pivetta, Hill, Wacha, and Sale. Not exactly iron men here. The issue for the Sox is their depth pulls from their pen, so one guy goes down and you pull Houck. Next guy goes down and you’ll pull Whitlock. It’s not a great formula when the pen is a concern for the Sox. Who is gonna close games do you think?

[notin]

When was the last time Chris Frail was the Red Sox best starter? I would say the first part of the 2018 season.

 

For a full season - 2017. 5 years ago...

[Old Red]

For a full season - 2017. 5 years ago...

 

That was my point the Sale hasn’t been a #1 starter for years even though he is paid like one, Sale’s ship has sailed.

[Bellhorn04]

That was my point the Sale hasn’t been a #1 starter for years even though he is paid like one, Sale’s ship has sailed.

 

If Eovaldi can get healthy, so can Sale.

[Old Red]

If Eovaldi can get healthy, so can Sale.

 

I hope he can, but that is a big if. He certainly hasn’t earned his contract up to this point. I was all for the trade, but not for the resigning with a year left on his old contract, and a predictable TJ in his future, which did happen.

[Bellhorn04]

I hope he can, but that is a big if. He certainly hasn’t earned his contract up to this point. I was all for the trade, but not for the resigning with a year left on his old contract, and a predictable TJ in his future, which did happen.

 

I had a weird feeling when I heard about Sale's extension. I didn't hate it, but I was very uneasy about his health, that's for sure.

 

Only Dombrowski can ever explain the thinking that went into it.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That was my point the Sale hasn’t been a #1 starter for years even though he is paid like one, Sale’s ship has sailed.

 

As long as astute fans like us realize this and don't count on him as an ace, we won't be disappointed. At this point, it's best to accept that whatever the Sox get from Sale is a bonus.

 

Maybe he'll ease back in middle relief, then become the lefty closer in the postseason. People can say no way, he's paid too much -- which is true if he does "nothing" (like he admits). But being a part-time reliever is better than nothing.

 

p.s. the bullpen as a final destination is basically what happened with David over-Price in LA

Edited April 1, 2022 by 5GoldGloves:OF,75

[mvp 78]

As long as astute fans like us realize this and don't count on him as an ace, we won't be disappointed. At this point, it's best to accept that whatever the Sox get from Sale is a bonus.

 

Maybe he'll ease back in middle relief, then become the lefty closer in the postseason. People can say no way, he's paid too much -- which is true if he does "nothing" (like he admits). But being a part-time reliever is better than nothing.

 

p.s. the bullpen as a final destination is basically what happened with David over-Price in LA

 

Fine if you lower expectations, but that payroll hit is substantial. If he's a middle reliever, you try to deal him and eat salary.

[Bellhorn04]

Fine if you lower expectations, but that payroll hit is substantial. If he's a middle reliever, you try to deal him and eat salary.

 

If he's a middle reliever, you're talking about eating at least 90% of his salary, so that's not gonna happen.

 

But if he's healthy, he's not a middle reliever.

[moonslav59]

A Red Sox rotation of Eovaldi, Pivetta, Hill, Wacha, and Sale. Not exactly iron men here. The issue for the Sox is their depth pulls from their pen, so one guy goes down and you pull Houck. Next guy goes down and you’ll pull Whitlock. It’s not a great formula when the pen is a concern for the Sox. Who is gonna close games do you think?

 

Barnes & Noble.

[Bellhorn04]

Barnes & Noble.

 

Book it.

[moonslav59]

I had a weird feeling when I heard about Sale's extension. I didn't hate it, but I was very uneasy about his health, that's for sure.

 

Only Dombrowski can ever explain the thinking that went into it.

 

I think they paid him, assuming he'd miss one full season. The pay kind of matches that thinking, if you assume he'd be the pitcher he was before signing.

 

Essentially, they signed him to $145M/4 with one no play year. That's $36M x 4. Still high, but as a free agent, at the time of the signing, that's what he might have gotten.

[mvp 78]

@PeteAbe

Sox are enthused about the progress James Paxton is making with his TJ rehab. He’s ahead of schedule. Throwing short bullpens already.

 

They are going to need the help. Hard to see him pitching a full 1.5 years here though.

[moonslav59]

Book it.

 

I think Barnes will be fine. He won't be like he was the first 3 months of 2021, but he might come close.

[Bellhorn04]

I think Barnes will be fine. He won't be like he was the first 3 months of 2021, but he might come close.

 

I think it'll be an adventure. But knowing Cora, he's probably looking forward to it.

[moonslav59]

I think it'll be an adventure. But knowing Cora, he's probably looking forward to it.

 

Maybe Cora's biggest skill, so far, has been cobbling together decent pens, when they look awful, or close to awful, on paper.

 

Let's hope that's a repeatable skillset.

 

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe Cora's biggest skill, so far, has been cobbling together decent pens, when they look awful, or close to awful, on paper.

 

Let's hope that's a repeatable skillset.

 

 

I think so. Some of it is just having the guts to do what seems different, which Cora definitely does.

[jacksonianmarch]

Barnes’ issue as closer is he doesn’t bounce back from failure. Great closers do that. They blow up a game and then come out and dominate next game like it never happened. Barnes has the talent, just not the mental fortitude

[mvp 78]

barnes’ issue as closer is he doesn’t bounce back from failure. Great closers do that. They blow up a game and then come out and dominate next game like it never happened. Barnes has the talent, just not the mental fortitude

 

4/23 1 ip , 3 er, bs

4/25 1 ip, 0 er, 2 k, sv

 

5/16 1.1 ip, 2 er, l

5/20 1 ip, 3k, sv

 

6/24 .2 ip, 1 er, l

6/25 1 ip, 1k, sv

[jacksonianmarch]

How bout after June?

[mvp 78]

How bout after June?

 

No blown saves in July. He had a s*** August. Nobody is saying he pitched well in August. It just doesn't have anything to do with mental fortitude.

[moonslav59]

Barnes really just had an awful 8 game stretch- from 8/7 to 8/24 (1.510 OPS against).

 

He wasn't great after that, but not bad.

 

.739 in 8 games from 8/26 to 10/1.

 

It seems so easy for some to think that 9 game stretch is who Barnes is.

 

First 44 games (44 IP): .477 OPS against

 

Next 8 games (4.1 IP) 1.510

 

Last 8 games (6.1 IP) .739

 

44 games of greatness, 8 of god-awful and 8 of so-so, and the guy's a bum!

[notin]

No blown saves in July. He had a s*** August. Nobody is saying he pitched well in August. It just doesn't have anything to do with mental fortitude.

 

It could have just as easily been the increased workload over his ridiculously light 2020. Fans like to label every slump as mental far too fast, like we did with Price until it suddenly didn’t apply any more...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The thing is, Barnes just sucks every August: '18 ERA 9.64, '19 ERA 5.23, '20 ERA 6.30, '21 ERA 13.50...

 

If it's obvious to fans, the Sox and Matt know, too... and so far have no answers.

[mvp 78]

It could have just as easily been the increased workload over his ridiculously light 2020. Fans like to label every slump as mental far too fast, like we did with Price until it suddenly didn’t apply any more...

 

I just don't buy the "mental fortitude" crap. Overworked? Sure.

[mvp 78]

The thing is, Barnes just sucks every August: '18 ERA 9.64, '19 ERA 5.23, '20 ERA 6.30, '21 ERA 13.50...

 

If it's obvious to fans, the Sox and Matt know, too... and so far have no answers.

 

He just can't hold up. It's not mental.

[mvp 78]

Sale says he's feeling better and hopes he sees good results in the MRI.

 

Still waiting on results.

[mvp 78]

@PeteAbe

Sox are enthused about the progress James Paxton is making with his TJ rehab. He’s ahead of schedule. Throwing short bullpens already.

 

They are going to need the help. Hard to see him pitching a full 1.5 years here though.

 

video of Paxton bullpen