7/25 Braves @ SOX 7:10PM ET

[Maxbialystock]

Have to play whoever is in front of your schedule. What this team could use is a starter until these other guys get back. I mean they’re talking about middle August.

 

Thanks for those brilliant statements of the obvious.

 

That reminds me. Earlier in this game thread you excoriated Cora--as you invariably do in every game--for starting Schreiber. You clearly had forgotten that right now the Sox have 3 starters--Bello, Paxton, and Crawford. Four others are on the IL--Sale, Whitlock, Houck, and Kluber. But by your commentary you appear to think that Cora's efforts to work around the lack of starting pitching is evidence that he's just stupid and doesn't know how to manage.

 

But don't take my word for it. Ask the other contributors to talksox what they think of your insights.

[Maxbialystock]

I promised not to get my hopes up again this season, but this team is a SOX teaser.

 

Once again you have captured the mood of the senate.

 

Tonight was a huge win, your third straight.

[Maxbialystock]

That was a very good team we just beat, somewhat convincingly, I might add.

 

Yep.

[Maxbialystock]

Great move by Cora bringing in Martin to get final out in 7th.

 

It was.

[moonslav59]

Some guys get the yips and can't throw to first ( see Knoblauch and Lester) . Pivetta has a psychological block against starting. Too much time to think beforehand. Let him run out the season as a 5 inning shutdown ace.

 

Pivetta has had two very nice and rather lengthy stretches as a SP'er with us.

 

I won't count his short 2020 time with us:

2-0 1.80 (2GS/10 IP)

The two...

 

6-1 3.78 first 12 GS in '21/ 64 IP (7-3 4.10 after 17 GS/92 IP)

 

12-8 3.62 middle 20 GS/122 IP (12-8 4.13 final 28 GS/159 IP)

 

The guy has shown he can start and do well for long stretches.

 

I'm fine keeping him in the pen, but I'm not afraid of him starting, either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Thanks for those brilliant statements of the obvious.

 

That reminds me. Earlier in this game thread you excoriated Cora--as you invariably do in every game--for starting Schreiber. You clearly had forgotten that right now the Sox have 3 starters--Bello, Paxton, and Crawford. Four others are on the IL--Sale, Whitlock, Houck, and Kluber. But by your commentary you appear to think that Cora's efforts to work around the lack of starting pitching is evidence that he's just stupid and doesn't know how to manage.

 

But don't take my word for it. Ask the other contributors to talksox what they think of your insights.

 

C'mon, Max. I've disagreed with some of d-money's posts, just like other posters have disagreed with mine. The way I see it is d-money loves the SOX and sometimes lets his emotions get carried away. My only advoce to d-money would be just count to ten before you post. Sometimes that helps.

[moonslav59]

Pivetta has had two very nice and rather lengthy stretches as a SP'er with us.

 

I won't count his short 2020 time with us:

2-0 1.80 (2GS/10 IP)

The two...

 

6-1 3.78 first 12 GS in '21/ 64 IP (7-3 4.10 after 17 GS/92 IP)

 

12-8 3.62 middle 20 GS/122 IP (12-8 4.13 final 28 GS/159 IP)

 

The guy has shown he can start and do well for long stretches.

 

I'm fine keeping him in the pen, but I'm not afraid of him starting, either.

 

Here is a better breakdown of two 25 game stretches by Pivetta:

 

May 7-Sept 17, 2022

10-7 3.85 ERA in 25 GS.

 

Sept 21, 2020 to Aug 14, 2021

11-5 4.02 ERA in 25 GS

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Here is a better breakdown of two 25 game stretches by Pivetta:

 

May 7-Sept 17, 2022

10-7 3.85 ERA in 25 GS.

 

Sept 21, 2020 to Aug 14, 2021

11-5 4.02 ERA in 25 GS

 

I like your research, MOON, but in the words of a very smart person, whose name I do not know, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Since he's been in the BP, he's been his best as a SOX.

Also, if Cora was going to start Pivetta, he would have done it by now.

Edited July 26, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[illinoisredsox]

Must be a reason every team uses a rotation of starting pitchers- no? And let's be honest, Schreiber going only one inning was not the plan they had hoped for.

 

Actually, the radio guys said before the game started that Schreiber was going only 1 inning.

[Dipre]

C'mon, Max. I've disagreed with some of d-money's posts, just like other posters have disagreed with mine. The way I see it is d-money loves the SOX and sometimes lets his emotions get carried away. My only advoce to d-money would be just count to ten before you post. Sometimes that helps.

 

Yeah but these GT's get insufferable some times, even when the game is winning, which is incredible, and not in a good way.

[mvp 78]

Some guys get the yips and can't throw to first ( see Knoblauch and Lester) . Pivetta has a psychological block against starting. Too much time to think beforehand. Let him run out the season as a 5 inning shutdown ace.

 

I'm pretty sure he still knows he's going to pitch that day.

[mvp 78]

C'mon, Max. I've disagreed with some of d-money's posts, just like other posters have disagreed with mine. The way I see it is d-money loves the SOX and sometimes lets his emotions get carried away. My only advoce to d-money would be just count to ten before you post. Sometimes that helps.

 

Sometimes?

[d-money]

Thanks for those brilliant statements of the obvious.

 

That reminds me. Earlier in this game thread you excoriated Cora--as you invariably do in every game--for starting Schreiber. You clearly had forgotten that right now the Sox have 3 starters--Bello, Paxton, and Crawford. Four others are on the IL--Sale, Whitlock, Houck, and Kluber. But by your commentary you appear to think that Cora's efforts to work around the lack of starting pitching is evidence that he's just stupid and doesn't know how to manage.

 

But don't take my word for it. Ask the other contributors to talksox what they think of your insights.

 

Dude again I wouldn’t have started schreiber but i am not the manager. I know they have injuries right now and they have to use BP guys. Relax man.

[Maxbialystock]

C'mon, Max. I've disagreed with some of d-money's posts, just like other posters have disagreed with mine. The way I see it is d-money loves the SOX and sometimes lets his emotions get carried away. My only advoce to d-money would be just count to ten before you post. Sometimes that helps.

 

True. He did compliment the team and the win. We all contribute on impulse and not always wisely.

[moonslav59]

I like your research, MOON, but in the words of a very smart person, whose name I do not know, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Since he's been in the BP, he's been his best as a SOX.

Also, if Cora was going to start Pivetta, he would have done it by now.

 

I’m fine with keeping Pivetta, Crawford, Whitlock and Houck in the pen.

 

We can use that “not broken…” on all of them. Someone has to start, unless we trade for two SPers. That’s what I would do, but we may not even get one decent SPer at the deadline.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I’m fine with keeping Pivetta, Crawford, Whitlock and Houck in the pen.

 

We can use that “not broken…” on all of them. Someone has to start, unless we trade for two SPers. That’s what I would do, but we may not even get one decent SPer at the deadline.

 

 

I believe having one BP opener is sustainable until Sale, Whitlock and Houck return. Hopefully, Bloom can acquire one proven starter ASAP.

Note: The Tigers' Lorenzen would be a good place to start. How do you feel about that RH?

Edited July 26, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[Maxbialystock]

I’m fine with keeping Pivetta, Crawford, Whitlock and Houck in the pen.

 

We can use that “not broken…” on all of them. Someone has to start, unless we trade for two SPers. That’s what I would do, but we may not even get one decent SPer at the deadline.

 

I think I posted elsewhere, I love the pitching staff you designed if Bloom picks up a couple of fairly decent starters (you cited one from the White Sox and one from the Cubs)--

 

Sale, Paxton, Bello, + 2 good starters from Chicago

Houck, Whitlock, Pivetta, and Crawford as long relievers

Jansen, Martin, Schreiber, and Bernardino as late inning guys

 

But what if Bloom doesn't even get one decent starter? I think there is compelling evidence that Cora's improvisations--especially since Sale, Houck, Whitlock, and Kluber went on the freaking IL (and remain there--have worked wonders. Improvisation isn't quite the right word because the Rays have been using relievers to start for years--as you pointed out.

 

Plus the math is on Cora's side. We know the bullpen is going to pitch in almost every game, so what difference--in terms of bullpen usage--does it make whether a reliever starts or comes in later in the game?

 

Last night we did see that not every reliever is ready to pitch the first inning. Schreiber, one of the Sox best relievers, was lucky to escape the 1st inning giving up just 1 run. A weird double play saved him.

 

Bernardino, on the other hand, seems to thrive on "false" starts and can even go 2 innings. Maybe it helps that he is a lefty and Pivetta is a righty, so opposing managers are less likely to load their lineups with lefty bats.

 

And this. Right now I don't have a whole lot of confidence in Whitlock, Houck, or Kluber as starters, so their returns might not help the rotation much. If the good Sale returns, that's four good starters plus--and I can't resist saying this--one good false starter.

[Maxbialystock]

I’m fine with keeping Pivetta, Crawford, Whitlock and Houck in the pen.

 

We can use that “not broken…” on all of them. Someone has to start, unless we trade for two SPers. That’s what I would do, but we may not even get one decent SPer at the deadline.

 

I think I posted elsewhere, I love the pitching staff you designed if Bloom picks up a couple of fairly decent starters (you cited one from the White Sox and one from the Cubs)--

 

Sale, Paxton, Bello, + 2 good starters from Chicago

Houck, Whitlock, Pivetta, and Crawford as long relievers

Jansen, Martin, Schreiber, and Bernardino as late inning guys

 

But what if Bloom doesn't even get one decent starter? I think there is compelling evidence that Cora's improvisations--especially since Sale, Houck, Whitlock, and Kluber went on the freaking IL (and remain there)--have worked wonders. Improvisation isn't quite the right word because the Rays have been using relievers to start for years--as you pointed out.

 

Plus the math is on Cora's side. We know the bullpen is going to pitch in almost every game, so what difference--in terms of bullpen usage--does it make whether a reliever starts or comes in later in the game?

 

Last night we did see that not every reliever is ready to pitch the first inning. Schreiber, one of the Sox best relievers, was lucky to escape the 1st inning giving up just 1 run. A weird double play saved him.

 

Bernardino, on the other hand, seems to thrive on "false" starts and can even go 2 innings. Maybe it helps that he is a lefty and Pivetta is a righty, so opposing managers are less likely to load their lineups with lefty bats.

 

And this. Right now I don't have a whole lot of confidence in Whitlock, Houck, or Kluber as starters, so their returns might not help the rotation much. If the good Sale returns, that's four good/decent starters plus one good/decent false starter.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I believe having one BP opener is sustainable until Sale, Whitlock and Houck return. Hopefully, Bloom can acquire one proven starter ASAP.

Note: The Tigers' Lorenzen would be a good place to start. How do you feel about that RH?

 

BTW, Lorenzen's remaining salary for this season is around 3.4 MIL.