2022 Starting Rotation Thread

[moonslav59]

He is a dream killer…

 

He made some good points, and poof- my hopes were dashed.

[mvp 78]

Rich Hill cannot be a GM's proposed solution to helping a contending team repeat above 90 wins , contributing 150+ innings . I'll be impressed if Rich is still pitching by July 31 . Hoping for the best but expecting no more than we did from Perez or Weber last year.

 

He's apparently competing for the 5th spot with Whitlock. I guess Wacha is a lock to make the rotation before him. Hill looked good in the bullpen a long time ago for the Sox.

[mvp 78]

I see Houck and Whitlock getting more innings.

 

I had originally thought Seabold was ready for the bigs, but MVP talked me out of that hope.

 

Maybe Crawford or Winckowski. Bello might impress enough to come up later in the season. I see Groome as a dark horse.

 

Soxprospects has DHern, Brian Keller, Thomas Pannone and Kyle Hart as other AAA syarters and Belloe and Groome starting in AA.

 

I think Crawford leapt over Seabold this offseason. He's come in throwing fire and seems to be a lock to at least make the pen in a multi inning role. I think Seabold still has a higher ceiling than Kutter, but his stuff just disappeared somehow. Winckowski also has a higher season than Kutter, but needs to develop one more pitch.

[mvp 78]

Crawford’s velocity has been outstanding this spring, I would like to see him in the bullpen this year, ala Whitlock.

 

Interestingly enough, groome’s velocity, after Tommy John, has not come back.

 

Worse, Groome's curveball isn't back either.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

He's apparently competing for the 5th spot with Whitlock. I guess Wacha is a lock to make the rotation before him. Hill looked good in the bullpen a long time ago for the Sox.

 

Even with Hill and Wacha, the rotation looks to be better than Baltimore's (and that's about it, folks). But if Whitlock starts, the bullpen is a trolley wreck. Make that dreck...

 

Bloom wouldn't or couldn't part with the minor leaguers to trade for Manaea, so once again the hopeful reinforcements will be healing veterans: Sale and Paxton -- and whatever they can give us. If only we can get through the first month's 13 games vs. the Yanks, Jays and Rays... and then hang on for the next month... and the next...

[mvp 78]

Even with Hill and Wacha, the rotation looks to be better than Baltimore's (and that's about it, folks). But if Whitlock starts, the bullpen is a trolley wreck. Make that dreck...

 

Bloom wouldn't or couldn't part with the minor leaguers to trade for Manaea, so once again the hopeful reinforcements will be healing veterans: Sale and Paxton -- and whatever they can give us. If only we can get through the first month's 13 games vs. the Yanks, Jays and Rays... and then hang on for the next month... and the next...

 

I think Bloom believes Crawford will make an impact this year. Whichever pitcher gets demoted to the pen from the rotation should be decent there. He is also probably projecting a jump for Wickowski, Zack Kelly and maybe Bello this season. I think they have some arms, just that the Opening Day lineup is a little too hodgepodge. This team should be better on July 1 than April 1.

[mvp 78]

NEWS FLASH

 

@NBCSEdgeBB

Rich Hill named Red Sox' fifth starter to open '22

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think Bloom believes Crawford will make an impact this year. Whichever pitcher gets demoted to the pen from the rotation should be decent there. He is also probably projecting a jump for Wickowski, Zack Kelly and maybe Bello this season. I think they have some arms, just that the Opening Day lineup is a little too hodgepodge. This team should be better on July 1 than April 1.

 

If not, it may look a lot different on August 1. And for conspiracy theorists, maybe that's the plan.

[mvp 78]

If not, it may look a lot different on August 1. And for conspiracy theorists, maybe that's the plan.

 

It very well could be the plan. Xander, JD, Eovaldi, Kiké and Vaz could be all out the door this offseason. I guess there's a outside chance Sale opts out, but I'm not sold on his health this year. If you are in 4th place, may as well trade the guys you don't plan on re-signing.

[notin]

It very well could be the plan. Xander, JD, Eovaldi, Kiké and Vaz could be all out the door this offseason. I guess there's a outside chance Sale opts out, but I'm not sold on his health this year. If you are in 4th place, may as well trade the guys you don't plan on re-signing.

 

Except that in theory, the Sox could finish forth in the AL East and still make the postseason…

[mvp 78]

Except that in theory, the Sox could finish forth in the AL East and still make the postseason…

 

I'd sell even if they are "in contention." If they don't have a decent shot at winning it all, just move on.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Except that in theory, the Sox could finish forth in the AL East and still make the postseason…

 

That has to be a worry for Sam Kennedy, juggling his executive hat in the private meetings with his carnival barker cap on the outside. At least Chaim believes his own lines, because he's locked into his longterm vision.

[mvp 78]

That has to be a worry for Sam Kennedy, juggling his executive hat in the private meetings with his carnival barker cap on the outside. At least Chaim believes his own lines, because he's locked into his longterm vision.

 

I believe that Bloom has a long term vision. A lot of people shouted that we'd just be Tampa Bay North. I think the Story signing disproves that. I think Bloom wants a strong farm system that can add a few guys to the MLB club every offseason. With a large payroll, you'd start to look more like the Dodgers juggernaut. I think that's the end goal, not the Rays.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I believe that Bloom has a long term vision. A lot of people shouted that we'd just be Tampa Bay North. I think the Story signing disproves that. I think Bloom wants a strong farm system that can add a few guys to the MLB club every offseason. With a large payroll, you'd start to look more like the Dodgers juggernaut. I think that's the end goal, not the Rays.

 

I just wished they invested a little more in decent pitching. We were all hoping for at least a trade for a legitimate reliable arm, especially after they went so far with below-average relievers (except Whitlock) and lost ERod.

 

The Rays won 100 games with dozens of guys who throw 95 with a change-up. The Jays traded for and locked up Berrios, replaced Ray with Gausman, and added Kikuchi. And the Yankees are always predicted ahead of Boston because of Cole and an elite bullpen (it's not because their power hitters strike out more than ours).

 

Meanwhile, the Sox added old pitchers rejected by Tampa and NY...

[jacksonianmarch]

There’s one thing the Sox cannot afford and that’s a slow April start with the bats. Your pitching will be atrocious early on. You’ve got two starters. Houck has never been good at going deep in an order. Hill is f***ing 42 and tops out mid 80s and hasn’t been better than replacement in a long time. Wacha is a disaster. Now if Sale comes back healthy and Paxton is vintage on return, you’ve got the long term makings of a rotation. Goal for the Sox should be to just hang in there enough until reinforcements arrive.

[Bellhorn04]

I'd sell even if they are "in contention." If they don't have a decent shot at winning it all, just move on.

 

What qualifies as a decent shot? Last year was a very good year for the crapshoot theory.

[Bellhorn04]

There’s one thing the Sox cannot afford and that’s a slow April start with the bats. Your pitching will be atrocious early on. You’ve got two starters. Houck has never been good at going deep in an order. Hill is f***ing 42 and tops out mid 80s and hasn’t been better than replacement in a long time. Wacha is a disaster. Now if Sale comes back healthy and Paxton is vintage on return, you’ve got the long term makings of a rotation. Goal for the Sox should be to just hang in there enough until reinforcements arrive.

 

Hill had a +1.7 fWAR last year.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Just hanging in there until reinforcements arrive every year doesn't sound quite like being "all in," Sam.

[Bellhorn04]

Just hanging in there until reinforcements arrive every year doesn't sound quite like being "all in," Sam.

 

That was Jax talking, not Sam.

[mvp 78]

What qualifies as a decent shot? Last year was a very good year for the crapshoot theory.

 

If they are playing like last year, you take a chance on the playoffs. If it's closer to 2019, you sell IMO.

[mvp 78]

I just wished they invested a little more in decent pitching. We were all hoping for at least a trade for a legitimate reliable arm, especially after they went so far with below-average relievers (except Whitlock) and lost ERod.

 

The Rays won 100 games with dozens of guys who throw 95 with a change-up. The Jays traded for and locked up Berrios, replaced Ray with Gausman, and added Kikuchi. And the Yankees are always predicted ahead of Boston because of Cole and an elite bullpen (it's not because their power hitters strike out more than ours).

 

Meanwhile, the Sox added old pitchers rejected by Tampa and NY...

 

I agree on putting $$$ towards the rotation. I'm not sold on Paxton/Hill/Wacha is better than just signing Syndergaard or someone else.

[mvp 78]

Hill had a +1.7 fWAR last year.

 

If you prorate 2020 to a whole season, Hill has only had one season below 1 fWAR since before he was with the Sox last go around in 2015.

[Bellhorn04]

If you prorate 2020 to a whole season, Hill has only had one season below 1 fWAR since before he was with the Sox last go around in 2015.

 

Jax needs a fact checker.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That was Jax talking, not Sam.

 

I know, but I like to address him once in a while because even if he's not a regular alias here, he must at least have a minion monitoring us. It's good to check the pulse of the nation (even if some of us are closer to rigor mortis).

[notin]

There’s one thing the Sox cannot afford and that’s a slow April start with the bats. Your pitching will be atrocious early on. You’ve got two starters. Houck has never been good at going deep in an order. Hill is f***ing 42 and tops out mid 80s and hasn’t been better than replacement in a long time. Wacha is a disaster. Now if Sale comes back healthy and Paxton is vintage on return, you’ve got the long term makings of a rotation. Goal for the Sox should be to just hang in there enough until reinforcements arrive.

 

True. Not since last October. WTF is holding him back?

[Old Red]

True. Not since last October. WTF is holding him back?

 

Lots of road, and Div games in April, so it won’t be a easy go one way, or the other.

[mvp 78]

Rich Hill starts:

3/22 2IP, 2H, BB, 2K, 0R - ok start

3/27 3IP, 1H, 0BB, 3K, 0R - pretty good start

4/1 3.2IP, 11H, 0BB, 1K, 9R - horrible start where the Sox took him out of the game and then brought him back the following inning

 

Which is the outlier?

[mvp 78]

Rich Hill starts:

3/22 2IP, 2H, BB, 2K, 0R - ok start

3/27 3IP, 1H, 0BB, 3K, 0R - pretty good start

4/1 3.2IP, 11H, 0BB, 1K, 9R - horrible start where the Sox took him out of the game and then brought him back the following inning

 

Which is the outlier?

 

Number of times in 2021 he gave up more than 4 runs in a start: 0.

[mvp 78]

I don't think Hill is going to be a stopper, but I think he'll be better than 2021 Richards or Perez.

[notin]

I don't think Hill is going to be a stopper, but I think he'll be better than 2021 Richards or Perez.

 

Especially the Post-Spider Tack versions…