Red Sox Starting Rotation 2023

[moonslav59]

They should both be starters in my mind. Cora has stated Paxton will be a starter only. That means there is still a possibility of Pivetta moving to the pen. Houck maybe #7 starter out of this group (when Whitlock, Bello and Paxton return).

 

I hate to even do scenarios with Paxton healthy and doing well, but here it goes...

 

1. Sale

2. Whitlock

3. Kluber

4. Bello (Paxton piggyback)

5. Pivetta

 

Closer: Jansen

Set-up: Martin, Schreiber, Bleier (Joely when healthy)

Long: Houck, Wink

Low Leverage: Brasier

(Paxton is the 8th RP'er, technically, unless we start him and piggyback Bello.)

 

I suppose we could piggyback Pivetta and Paxton, but I think Bello's innings might be restricted.

 

[Maxbialystock]

I hate to even do scenarios with Paxton healthy and doing well, but here it goes...

 

1. Sale

2. Whitlock

3. Kluber

4. Bello (Paxton piggyback)

5. Pivetta

 

Closer: Jansen

Set-up: Martin, Schreiber, Bleier (Joely when healthy)

Long: Houck, Wink

Low Leverage: Brasier

(Paxton is the 8th RP'er, technically, unless we start him and piggyback Bello.)

 

I suppose we could piggyback Pivetta and Paxton, but I think Bello's innings might be restricted.

 

 

You know way better than I, but right now after 10 games I'm less inclined to anoint Whitlock and more inclined to go with the more experienced guys. By all means, give him a start or several starts. I would love to be wrong and to see him use that excellent repertoire he has to good effect.

 

But the fact is that he is still new to starting, whereas even Houck has started more than Whitlock--and experience is valuable for a starter, which beyond question is the toughest position in MLB when that guy is on the mound.

 

Thus right now Pivetta is by far a better starter than Whitlock--and Pivetta was a problem last season. But this year he seems to have a really nasty breaking ball he did not have last year, and after 2 starts (one against the best hitting team in MLB so far), his ERA of .90 is ranked 18th in MLB.

 

Same goes for Bello. If you say Whitlock and Bello are the future, I can't disagree. But right now I like Pivetta, Sale, Klubar, Houck, and possibly even Crawford.

 

However, for now I do not disagree that both Whitlock and Bello should be starters this month.

[moonslav59]

You know way better than I, but right now after 10 games I'm less inclined to anoint Whitlock and more inclined to go with the more experienced guys. By all means, give him a start or several starts. I would love to be wrong and to see him use that excellent repertoire he has to good effect.

 

But the fact is that he is still new to starting, whereas even Houck has started more than Whitlock--and experience is valuable for a starter, which beyond question is the toughest position in MLB when that guy is on the mound.

 

Thus right now Pivetta is by far a better starter than Whitlock--and Pivetta was a problem last season. But this year he seems to have a really nasty breaking ball he did not have last year, and after 2 starts (one against the best hitting team in MLB so far), his ERA of .90 is ranked 18th in MLB.

 

Same goes for Bello. If you say Whitlock and Bello are the future, I can't disagree. But right now I like Pivetta, Sale, Klubar, Houck, and possibly even Crawford.

 

However, for now I do not disagree that both Whitlock and Bello should be starters this month.

 

I'll take Whitlock and Bello over Crawford, and felt that way before seeing Crawford's bad start to 2023. I've not given up on Crawford, but Whitlock and Bello not only have better histories, but they both throw better stuff.

 

I have always felt Houck's inability to go through the line-up 3 times makes him the "odd man out," but not in a bad way. We need someone to fill the very important role Whitlock filled these past 2 years: long relief/spot starter.

 

I'm okay keeping Houck as a starter, if we yank him after 18 batters, but I think Bello deserves a chance to shine, too.

 

1,2 and 3 times through a line-up, career as SP:

 

.587/.901/.573 (11 PAs) Whitlock (as RP: .615/.361/n/a)

 

.490/.671/.1.091 (33 PAs) Houck (as RP: .588/.423)

 

.660/.903/.837 (47 PAs) Bello

 

It's important to note the small sample sizes these 3rd time through reveal. Also, it is interesting to see that Bello has faced more batters the 3rd time through, in his brief ML career, than Whitlock & Houck combined.

 

[mvp 78]

They should both be starters in my mind. Cora has stated Paxton will be a starter only. That means there is still a possibility of Pivetta moving to the pen. Houck maybe #7 starter out of this group (when Whitlock, Bello and Paxton return).

 

Pivetta has pitched well, but...

 

ERA 0.90

xERA 8.02

FIP 5.10

BABIP 174

LOB% 97.6

[moonslav59]

Pivetta has pitched well, but...

 

ERA 0.90

xERA 8.02

FIP 5.10

BABIP 174

LOB% 97.6

 

In the antiuniverse:

 

Ort

6.00 ERA

1.40 FIP

[Bellhorn04]

Pivetta has pitched well, but...

 

ERA 0.90

xERA 8.02

FIP 5.10

BABIP 174

LOB% 97.6

 

So how has he pitched well?

[mvp 78]

So how has he pitched well?

 

His velo is up. More movement on his slider early on. He's not leaving his offspeed stuff over the plate. His curve is what got hammered last season and he's keeping it down and getting more whiffs on it so far this year. Plus, all the four leaf clovers he's put in his pockets.

[moonslav59]

So how has he pitched well?

 

The 97.6% LOB% is a big help. It's been between 67-75% every other season.

 

The .174 BAbip speaks to MVP's point about the 4 leaf clover. That has helped lessen the damage from 5 BBs in 10 IP.

[sk7326]

The 97.6% LOB% is a big help. It's been between 67-75% every other season.

 

The .174 BAbip speaks to MVP's point about the 4 leaf clover. That has helped lessen the damage from 5 BBs in 10 IP.

 

At the end of the day Pivetta is Pivetta - he can go on heaters, he can go on serious slumps ... but he will always be available. It's still the smart play that he will be a dude in the middle.

[mvp 78]

At the end of the day Pivetta is Pivetta - he can go on heaters, he can go on serious slumps ... but he will always be available. It's still the smart play that he will be a dude in the middle.

 

Pivetta stays 5th.

 

Either Whitlock or Bello with get piggybacked with Paxton.

[Bellhorn04]

Pivetta stays 5th.

 

Either Whitlock or Bello with get piggybacked with Paxton.

 

Not the "p" word!

[mvp 78]

Not the "p" word!

 

Oink Oink motherf***ers!

[Old Red]

Pivetta stays 5th.

 

Either Whitlock or Bello with get piggybacked with Paxton.

 

It would be a waste to use Bello as a piggyback, and Whitlock too. I’m all for Whitlock in the BP, but not as a PB.

Edited April 12, 2023 by Old Red

[mvp 78]

It would be a waste to use Bello as a piggyback.

 

It's not forever. Paxton probably won't pitch for a full month and Bello needs to work back up anyway.

[Old Red]

It's not forever. Paxton probably won't pitch for a full month and Bello needs to work back up anyway.

 

Bello threw 80 pitches yesterday. He’s ready. Cora only lets his starters go 5 anyway.

[Old Red]

Bello vs Ohtani on Pats Day?

[Bellhorn04]

1. Kluber

2. Sale

3. Houck

4. Crawford

5. Pivetta

6. Kluber

7. Sale

8. Houck

9. Crawford

10. Pivetta

11. Whitlock

12. Sale

13. Kluber

14. Houck

15. Pivetta

16. Whitlock

17. Bello

 

Sale and Kluber getting extra rest. If all goes well (LOL), do they go 6-man rotation, or Houck to the pen?

[moonslav59]

Since we have so many pitchers that will not or should not go over 75 or 80 pitches in starts, it makes sense to piggyback, for a while.

 

Bello

Paxton

Whitlock

Houck has struggles after 18 batters

 

If we have 2 piggyback going, at the same time, it can help the pen, if they go 8-9 IP, combined, or use up too many of the 13 slots on SP'ers, if they can't go 7-8, combined.

 

Ideally, I'd love to see Houck be the one that goes to the pen, but we need the other SP'ers to start doing the same or better than he has done, so far.

 

[Nick]

When Paxton comes back we can use Winck Cutter and Houck as multiple inning guys.

[moonslav59]

When Paxton comes back we can use Winck Cutter and Houck as multiple inning guys.

 

Certainly, not locking into a rigid piggy-backing routine has some advantages, too.

[Bellhorn04]

Certainly, not locking into a rigid piggy-backing routine has some advantages, too.

 

A rigid piggy-back doesn't really make much sense.

[moonslav59]

A rigid piggy-back doesn't really make much sense.

 

Except it keeps SP'ers in the same routine and readiness mode. Is that enough to outweigh the benefits of just having several long men in the pen?

 

Normally, I'd say, no, but for a couple weeks (a 3 start stretch, each), maybe it makes some sense.

[notin]

When Paxton comes back we can use Winck Cutter and Houck as multiple inning guys.

 

Kutter will be sent to Worcester when Paxton returns…

[Nick]

Kutter will be sent to Worcester when Paxton returns…

Then Pivetta to the pen?

 

Or go 6 man rotation of Sale Kluber Paxton Pivetta Whitlock and Bello?

 

Does that hurt the pen with now only 7 relievers instead of 8?

[Bellhorn04]

Wow, this game by Whitlock was a sight for sore eyes.

[notin]

Wow, this game by Whitlock was a sight for sore eyes.

 

 

Whitlock is a good pitcher that had a bad game last time.

 

If the Sox can get Paxton, Whitlock and Bello going, this team might not be so bad…

[notin]

Then Pivetta to the pen?

 

Or go 6 man rotation of Sale Kluber Paxton Pivetta Whitlock and Bello?

 

Does that hurt the pen with now only 7 relievers instead of 8?

 

 

I actually think Whitlock and Houck to the pan, but that’s just me. And seriously, probably just me.

 

But if Sale, Kluber, Paxton, Pivetta and Bello can get going, the bullpen anchored Jansen, Martin, Schreiber, Houck, Whitlock, Winckowski, Bleier could shorten a lot of games.

 

 

Of course that rotation should always have an injury or two

[moonslav59]

Of course that rotation should always have an injury or two

 

The suspense is unbearable.

 

We are just days away from having all our SP'ers healthy, at the same time.

 

To me, Whitlock could easily be the best SP'er we have on the team, so I'm not sending him to the pen.

 

Bello may morph into the second best by year's end, but he's not going to go 190 IP.

 

Houck might be a top 3 SP'er, and maybe I'm reading too much into his small sample size of horrible numbers the third time through a line-up. Besides, not many SP'ers go past 18 batters, anyway. That being said, with so many SP'ers healthy, unless some are or still are really stinking things up in a couple/three weeks, I like Houck taking over Whitlock's 2021-2022 role in the pen.

 

Whitlock

Bello

Kluber

Sale

Pivetta

Paxton (I'd piggy back Paxton with Bello, until we know more about these 6.)

 

Pen:

 

8-9th inning

Jansen

Martin, Schreiber

6-7th inning

Brasier, Bleier (JRod when healthy)

 

2-3 inning guys (may pitch through 8th and 9th)

Houck, Whitlock

Crawford

 

[Nick]

Moon u probably meant Winckowski and not Whitlock.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The suspense is unbearable.

 

We are just days away from having all our SP'ers healthy, at the same time.

 

To me, Whitlock could easily be the best SP'er we have on the team, so I'm not sending him to the pen.

 

Bello may morph into the second best by year's end, but he's not going to go 190 IP.

 

Houck might be a top 3 SP'er, and maybe I'm reading too much into his small sample size of horrible numbers the third time through a line-up. Besides, not many SP'ers go past 18 batters, anyway. That being said, with so many SP'ers healthy, unless some are or still are really stinking things up in a couple/three weeks, I like Houck taking over Whitlock's 2021-2022 role in the pen.

 

Whitlock

Bello

Kluber

Sale

Pivetta

Paxton (I'd piggy back Paxton with Bello, until we know more about these 6.)

 

Pen:

 

8-9th inning

Jansen

Martin, Schreiber

6-7th inning

Brasier, Bleier (JRod when healthy)

 

2-3 inning guys (may pitch through 8th and 9th)

Houck, Whitlock

Crawford

 

 

Did you forget the Sox' most valuable pitcher so far? A nod is a good as a wink.