4/12 SOX @ Tigers 1:10 PM

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

He hasn’t thrown many pitches.

 

Yup, it's not number of innings, it's number of pitches.

[Tedballgame]

Its pretty clear that Whitlock will be the Sox most valuable pitcher.

[moonslav59]

G. W. !

 

Forevers!

[Maxbialystock]

Its pretty clear that Whitlock will be the Sox most valuable pitcher.

 

So far he sure is. It’s a long, long season.

[Old Red]

Its pretty clear that Whitlock will be the Sox most valuable pitcher.

 

39 pitches in 4 innings, so pretty easy Peasy.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

What’s Bloom waiting for. It should have been done after he made the JBJ trade.

 

I didn't say a big ticket item. But the Braves were able to add four good outfielders in the middle of the season last year. One won a Gold Glove and led the NL in RBI, another won NLCS MVP, and a third was WS MVP... (the fourth wore a pearl necklace?)

[Old Red]

I didn't say a big ticket item. But the Braves were able to add four good outfielders in the middle of the season last year. One won a Gold Glove and led the NL in RBI, another won NLCS MVP, and a third was WS MVP... (the fourth wore a pearl necklace?)

 

Arroyo in RF in Fenway will be more of a challenge. If JBJ continues not to hit he may see less playing time even against righties.

[jacksonianmarch]

It's the worst kept secret in Boston. Whitlock is being groomed to start. He is piggy backing right now on guys who won't deliver depth. Once they can be reasonably assured he can withstand the work load, he will be inserted into the rotation.

[Old Red]

He was warming up when it was 3-0.

 

Cora said after the game that Whitlock was not coming into the game if still down 3-0.

[moonslav59]

It's the worst kept secret in Boston. Whitlock is being groomed to start. He is piggy backing right now on guys who won't deliver depth. Once they can be reasonably assured he can withstand the work load, he will be inserted into the rotation.

 

I don't think that's it.

 

I think they know Whitlock can start, but they want to give the 5 current starters a reason to move our best RP'er to a starter role.

 

If none do, Whitlock can be very valuable in the role he has, now.

[Maxbialystock]

I don't think that's it.

 

I think they know Whitlock can start, but they want to give the 5 current starters a reason to move our best RP'er to a starter role.

 

If none do, Whitlock can be very valuable in the role he has, now.

 

His role right now can be more valuable than a starter.

[jacksonianmarch]

Plus or minus. He can essentially carry what a starter gives to the end of the game. Problem is, he is only useful every 5th day in that scenario. He can impact more games, maybe up to 3 games per 5 in a shorter role.

 

It will be harder to have him stay in this role once the roster size drops. Here is why. Let's say Cora decides he can be useful as a piggy back guy and targets Hill as his guy to piggy back with. Well, next Hill start, the sox score 10 runs and Hill is cruising. Why burn him then? Now you have him ready to piggy back on the next starter, but lets say the sox are either in the middle of a run or the middle of a losing streak. It is far harder to predict who will be starting than it will be who will take over in the 5th and carry it the distance

[moonslav59]

His role right now can be more valuable than a starter.

 

But only if our starters are keeping the games close enough to be able to use him when he's ready.

 

If it's his day to pitch, and we go down 5-0, he won't pitch. Next day, we are up 7-1.

[jacksonianmarch]

And that is how you injure him. You're asking him to give starter's innings without starter's consistency.

[moonslav59]

And that is how you injure him. You're asking him to give starter's innings without starter's consistency.

 

Agreed.

 

I think each starter gets 2-4 more shots, and if anyone not named Eovaldi ior Pivetta are struggling, Whitlock might replace them.

[Maxbialystock]

But only if our starters are keeping the games close enough to be able to use him when he's ready.

 

If it's his day to pitch, and we go down 5-0, he won't pitch. Next day, we are up 7-1.

 

True. But last year his long relieving seemed to work pretty well. It helps, of course, if you have an offense that can keep you in games.

[a700hitter]

Agreed.

 

I think each starter gets 2-4 more shots, and if anyone not named Eovaldi ior Pivetta are struggling, Whitlock might replace them.

Or maybe Cora likes this role for Whitlock. In the postgame, Cora said that this was a role he had been thinking about for Whitlock over the winter. Maybe they will use him like Hader is used by the Brewers -- multiple innings 2 to 3 times a week. He was very efficient today using 40 pitches.

[moonslav59]

True. But last year his long relieving seemed to work pretty well. It helps, of course, if you have an offense that can keep you in games.

 

They kept saying they were going to stretch him out, last year, but it never really materialized.

 

His 4 IP, today is a career high in MLB, although his pitch count was not even close to his career high.

 

In 2021, he pitched 3.1 IP, his most of the season, in his first outing (59 pitches were his most, too).

 

He only pitched 3 IP once more (May 13th) and only pitched more than 2 IP five times, all season and only once (8/23) after May 13th.

 

It's like he started out going longer in relief than he did after May 13th.

 

Now, he did go more than 1 IP in 31 of his 46 appearances, so in that sense, he was not a short reliever.

 

His last 4 outings, he never went beyond 1 IP.

[Old Red]

Agreed.

 

I think each starter gets 2-4 more shots, and if anyone not named Eovaldi ior Pivetta are struggling, Whitlock might replace them.

 

Whitlock had an easy 4 innings today against a weak hitting club, and gave up a game tying homer into his 3rd inning against the Yankees, so let’s see how he does his next 4-5 outings going 4-5 innings, before he gets anointed the next big starter. In a couple of weeks the Red Sox will have to get down to 13 pitchers, so some decisions will have to be made then.

[notin]

Whitlock had an easy 4 innings today against a weak hitting club, and gave up a game tying homer into his 3rd inning against the Yankees, so let’s see how he does his next 4-5 outings going 4-5 innings, before he gets anointed the next big starter. In a couple of weeks the Red Sox will have to get down to 13 pitchers, so some decisions will have to be made then.

 

 

And that decision might involve demoting both Valdez and Crawford. Although a DFA of Austin Davis might be in the mix…

[moonslav59]

And that decision might involve demoting both Valdez and Crawford. Although a DFA of Austin Davis might be in the mix…

 

A phantom or real IL stint by Davis might be more likely.

[mvp 78]

And that decision might involve demoting both Valdez and Crawford. Although a DFA of Austin Davis might be in the mix…

 

Why would they demote Crawford? He's actually pitching well.

[Bellhorn04]

Why would they demote Crawford? He's actually pitching well.

 

Crawford has a FIP of 0.11

Valdez has a FIP of -0.49 (yes, it's a minus sign)

 

[Maxbialystock]

They kept saying they were going to stretch him out, last year, but it never really materialized.

 

His 4 IP, today is a career high in MLB, although his pitch count was not even close to his career high.

 

In 2021, he pitched 3.1 IP, his most of the season, in his first outing (59 pitches were his most, too).

 

He only pitched 3 IP once more (May 13th) and only pitched more than 2 IP five times, all season and only once (8/23) after May 13th.

 

It's like he started out going longer in relief than he did after May 13th.

 

Now, he did go more than 1 IP in 31 of his 46 appearances, so in that sense, he was not a short reliever.

 

His last 4 outings, he never went beyond 1 IP.

 

My impression is that, while starting is certainly an option, Cora likes Whitlock in the bullpen.

 

I also think he and Eovaldi have by far the best assortment of pitches on the team.

[mvp 78]

Crawford has a FIP of 0.11

Valdez has a FIP of -0.49 (yes, it's a minus sign)

 

 

Is that like when Superman reversed time by spinning the world backwards?

[moonslav59]

My impression is that, while starting is certainly an option, Cora likes Whitlock in the bullpen.

 

I also think he and Eovaldi have by far the best assortment of pitches on the team.

 

An assortment of pitches that are all good ones.

Edited April 13, 2022 by moonslav59