2022 Starting Rotation Thread

[moonslav59]

GM IP-(ER) Pitcher

 

01 5.0-(3) Eovoldi

02 5.2-(4) Pivetta

03 3.1-(3) Houck

04 4.1-(1) Wacha Quality

05 4.1-(3) Hill

06 5.0-(2) Eovaldi Quality

07 2.0-(4) Pivetta

08 5.2-(0) Houck Quality

09 5.0-(0) Wacha Quality

10 4.2-(4) Hill

11 4.1-(1) Eovaldi Quality

 

3 out of 4 and 5 out of last 8 is encouraging.

[harmony]

GM IP-(ER) Pitcher

 

01 5.0-(3) Eovoldi

02 5.2-(4) Pivetta

03 3.1-(3) Houck

04 4.1-(1) Wacha Quality

05 4.1-(3) Hill

06 5.0-(2) Eovaldi Quality

07 2.0-(4) Pivetta

08 5.2-(0) Houck Quality

09 5.0-(0) Wacha Quality

10 4.2-(4) Hill

11 4.1-(1) Eovaldi Quality

Under the traditional QS definition, the Red Sox are among 10 MLB teams with no quality starts this year:

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/stats/team/team/extended-pitching/mlb/regular/?sortcol=qs&sortdir=descending

 

The San Diego Padres lead the way with eight quality starts in 13 games.

 

The game has changed.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Under the traditional QS definition, the Red Sox are among 10 MLB teams with no quality starts this year:

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/stats/team/team/extended-pitching/mlb/regular/?sortcol=qs&sortdir=descending

 

The San Diego Padres lead the way with eight quality starts in 13 games.

 

The game has changed.

 

Yep, quality starts aren't as important as quality finishes. Relievers don't get high WAR scores, but their key metric can be found in the standings.

[harmony]

Yep, quality starts aren't as important as quality finishes. Relievers don't get high WAR scores, but their key metric can be found in the standings.

FWIW entering today's game Red Sox starters had posted a negative 0.1 fWAR in 49.2 innings this year while Red Sox relievers had posted 0.9 fWAR in 48.1 innings:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=sta&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2022&month=0&season1=2022&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2022-01-01&enddate=2022-12-31

[mvp 78]

@ChrisCotillo

Red Sox shuffling rotation a bit. After Houck today and Wacha tomorrow, it’s likely Whitlock on Saturday (unless he pitches in relief before then). Hill will pitch Sunday with Houck piggybacking him before being ineligible for TOR series. Tue (Houck’s day) TBA.

[moonslav59]

@ChrisCotillo

Red Sox shuffling rotation a bit. After Houck today and Wacha tomorrow, it’s likely Whitlock on Saturday (unless he pitches in relief before then). Hill will pitch Sunday with Houck piggybacking him before being ineligible for TOR series. Tue (Houck’s day) TBA.

 

Interesting, but sounds very reasonable.

[moonslav59]

Taking Whitlock out of the pen to place him in the rotation may happen full time, at some point, this year, but I worry about the affect on the pen, especially after we go from a 10 man pen to 8.

 

This looks pretty nice, though:

 

1. Eovaldi

2. Houck

3. Whitlock

4. Wacha

5. Pivetta (Hill as piggyback with Pivetta or Wacha?)

 

If and when Sale & Paxton join the rotation, it will be interesting to see the choices made, then.

[Nick]

Taking Whitlock out of the pen to place him in the rotation may happen full time, at some point, this year, but I worry about the affect on the pen, especially after we go from a 10 man pen to 8.

 

This looks pretty nice, though:

 

1. Eovaldi

2. Houck

3. Whitlock

4. Wacha

5. Pivetta (Hill as piggyback with Pivetta or Wacha?)

 

If and when Sale & Paxton join the rotation, it will be interesting to see the choices made, then.

 

Getting Taylor back healthy and productive would help.

[moonslav59]

Getting Taylor back healthy and productive would help.

 

Indeed, and once Sale or Paxton joins the staff, we can move the lowest starter to the pen for some long relief action.

[mvp 78]

Getting Taylor back healthy and productive would help.

 

He's only pitched once in AAA on rehab. May have another week or so. Unsure about any setbacks that have happened.

[moonslav59]

He's only pitched once in AAA on rehab. May have another week or so. Unsure about any setbacks that have happened.

 

Maybe once we go to an 8 man pen, he'll be ready.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

After watching the flabbergasting Gausman make the Sox look ghastly, did anyone else agree you get what you pay for?

 

For those against investing in top pitchers for market rates, maybe it's just a matter of accepting the inevitable drag of the backend of a longterm contract for the elite front end of the front enders...

 

When the Jays get Teoscar Hernandez back they'll be even harder to beat, and could even go all the way... as soon as they install a real shortstop and shift Bichette somewhere safer.

[mvp 78]

After watching the flabbergasting Gausman make the Sox look ghastly, did anyone else agree you get what you pay for?

 

For those against investing in top pitchers for market rates, maybe it's just a matter of accepting the inevitable drag of the backend of a longterm contract for the elite front end of the front enders...

 

When the Jays get Teoscar Hernandez back they'll be even harder to beat, and could even go all the way... as soon as they install a real shortstop and shift Bichette somewhere safer.

 

Sox won a WS with Xander as their SS and -8 DRS that year. Bichette has yet to have a negative DRS season.

[Nick]

Toronto starter goes 8+ innings.

 

We're doing cartwheels for 5 innings.

 

Do Sox pitching coaches have low expectation of our starters?

 

I heard Cora say Whitlock may go 3 or 4 innings.

 

WTF?

 

I'm anxious to see how efficient Whitlock will be Saturday. I'm excited.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sox won a WS with Xander as their SS and -8 DRS that year. Bichette has yet to have a negative DRS season.

 

But I bet Toronto fans in the front row behind first base say their prayers every time he winds up to sail a throw.

[mvp 78]

Toronto starter goes 8+ innings.

 

We're doing cartwheels for 5 innings.

 

Do Sox pitching coaches have low expectation of our starters?

 

I heard Cora say Whitlock may go 3 or 4 innings.

 

WTF?

 

I'm anxious to see how efficient Whitlock will be Saturday. I'm excited.

 

The most Whitlock has ever thrown in a game is 4 innings, so it makes sense.

[mvp 78]

But I bet Toronto fans in the front row behind first base say their prayers every time he winds up to sail a throw.

 

He led the league in throwing errors last year with 13.

 

#2 Trevor Story 11 (the guy that is supposedly a huge upgrade over Xander at SS)

#3 Kiner-Falefa 11 (the glove first fielding "wiz" the Yankees fans were excited over this offseason)

#4 Iglesias 10 (the guy who was traded to make room for Xander even though he was a generational glove)

[Bellhorn04]

After watching the flabbergasting Gausman make the Sox look ghastly, did anyone else agree you get what you pay for?

 

Gausman was expensive, but he has really progressed as a pitcher.

 

I do agree it's disappointing the Sox didn't spend a little on a starter.

[moonslav59]

Gausman was expensive, but he has really progressed as a pitcher.

 

I do agree it's disappointing the Sox didn't spend a little on a starter.

 

I wish we’d spend on one good starter instead of three questionable ones.

[notin]

I wish we’d spend on one good starter instead of three questionable ones.

 

Or one or two good relievers and just committed to moving both Houck and Whitlock to the bullpen…

[moonslav59]

Or one or two good relievers and just committed to moving both Houck and Whitlock to the bullpen…

 

Relievers are too hit and miss. I prefer spending on starters.

[Bellhorn04]

Or one or two good relievers and just committed to moving both Houck and Whitlock to the bullpen…

 

Nothing wrong with the way our cheap relievers have been performing.

[notin]

Relievers are too hit and miss. I prefer spending on starters.

 

Incorrect.

 

Good relievers, like good starters, are not hit and miss. I’m not implying get the bullpen equivalents of Wacha and Hill, but pay for the elite relievers. If nothing else, elite relievers cost less than elite starters and typically require fewer years…

[notin]

Nothing wrong with the way our cheap relievers have been performing.

 

Not at all, and (with the exception of moving Whitlock to the rotation) they’re not the pitchers I’m talking about replacing…

[Bellhorn04]

Not at all, and (with the exception of moving Whitlock to the rotation) they’re not the pitchers I’m talking about replacing…

 

So who are you talking about replacing?

[moonslav59]

Incorrect.

 

Good relievers, like good starters, are not hit and miss. I’m not implying get the bullpen equivalents of Wacha and Hill, but pay for the elite relievers. If nothing else, elite relievers cost less than elite starters and typically require fewer years…

 

I realise many starters “miss” too, but so do more good RPers. Even the really good ones underperform, too often. Are you saying we should pay for a top closer?

[mvp 78]

Incorrect.

 

Good relievers, like good starters, are not hit and miss. I’m not implying get the bullpen equivalents of Wacha and Hill, but pay for the elite relievers. If nothing else, elite relievers cost less than elite starters and typically require fewer years…

 

Yes the "relievers are less reliable" thing is just a myth.

[dgalehouse]

Relievers are too hit and miss. I prefer spending on starters.

 

I think that is a misconception that gets repeated enough that folks start to believe it. I think starters are just as hit and miss as relievers.

[Bellhorn04]

I think that is a misconception that gets repeated enough that folks start to believe it. I think starters are just as hit and miss as relievers.

 

Well, once upon a time there were starters, late inning relievers and middle relievers. The middle relievers were the guys who weren't very good and were always coming and going on a shuttle.

 

Now middle relievers have to be good too.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think that is a misconception that gets repeated enough that folks start to believe it. I think starters are just as hit and miss as relievers.

 

Maybe you're right... for those of us who watch nightly, we often see relievers used more frequently on a weekly basis, thus giving the perception of guys more hot and cold in the regency role. There are also other factors that have to affect bullpen performance that include, but aren't limited to, high stress situations, inherited runners, umpire adjustments to different deliveries, the ability to loosen up after sitting for hours in various weather, and when/if stimulants/opioids have kicked in.

 

However, when a starter has a "bad" year, it's usually due to a nagging injury or radical change like banning the sticky stuff.