Who should start the year as the #5 starter?

[mvp 78]

 

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

But that will probably include Crochet and Buehler, so I don't think that's exactly what you mean.

 

 

No that's exactly what I mean, your 5th starter should be your 5th best starter.  Perhaps a better way to say it is, you 5 best starting pitchers should be your #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 starter. 

We all know there's a spot open and guys are competing for it.  I could care less if they actually end up being the 1st or 5th best starter.  That's irrelevant. 

Whoever looks best between Priester/Fitts, assuming one of them looks capable, in a couple weeks from now should get the node. 

[moonslav59]

I think our 7-9 SP'er depth might be more promising than almost all other teams. Let's roll with it.

Fitts, Priester & Criswell

Hopefully, we won't need 2 at any given time, but if Gio, Crawford and Bello start the season on the IL or bench, we might see it happen,

[mvp 78]

So good so good so good!!!

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

55 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

So good so good so good!!!

 

We'll pay him not to pitch, but if his leg starts to feel better there's a clause in his contract that allows him to go surfing.

Running in waste deep water to catch a wave might strengthen his hamstring for when he throws his first pitch in 2026 (the homophone's intentional; crap contract). 

[mvp 78]

Sean Newcomb: 3 GS, 4 G, 9.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 10 K, 0.833 WHIP, 0.94 ERA

🫠

[Larry Cook]

30 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sean Newcomb: 3 GS, 4 G, 9.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 10 K, 0.833 WHIP, 0.94 ERA

🫠

His first outing his stuff was nothing special. But today his stuff was much better!!!! 

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

His first outing his stuff was nothing special. But today his stuff was much better!!!! 

He's probably not 5th starter material in a perfect world, but he's probably going to get his shot at some point. I don't believe his contract includes an opt out. 

[Bellhorn04]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

So good so good so good!!!

 

Lucas Btfsplk.

[vegasbob]

8 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

If the Sox didn't have Priester/Fitts/etc. they'd be really in a tough spot right now. They only have an MLB quality rotation after losing 3 SP's because of the depth. Not many orgs could handle that. 

Fully appreciative of the depth that guys like Priester and Fitts provide , my comment was a shot at the fact that Houck  was the only Sox draftee and team developed name on the list.   Obviously looking for recovery by Bello and Crawford but neither looks to be available  anytime soon. 

In any case the origin stories of the guys we do have with avail-ability doesn't matter as long as they can  show up and perform well.

[moonslav59]

I guess we will find out just how good our rotation depth is.

[notin]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Sean Newcomb: 3 GS, 4 G, 9.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 10 K, 0.833 WHIP, 0.94 ERA

🫠

Extension!!!!

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Extension!!!!

Yes, great elbow extension!

[notin]

3 pitchers down and the TJ veterans (Crochet, Buehler) still standing for the moment?

Kyle Gibson and Drew Smyly still need work…

[Larry Cook]

2 hours ago, notin said:

3 pitchers down and the TJ veterans (Crochet, Buehler) still standing for the moment?

Kyle Gibson and Drew Smyly still need work…

I doubt either could be ready before we get bello back!! But I am excited to see how fitts and preister do. 
preister’s stuff is really good. Too bad he lacks command and confidence 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Larry Cook said:

. Too bad he lacks command and confidence 

He has not pitched much, at the big level, so maybe this is not really a known weakness.

I nice first start or two might be all he needs.

[Larry Cook]

4 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

He has not pitched much, at the big level, so maybe this is not really a known weakness.

I nice first start or two might be all he needs.

I agree. Confidence grows from success and belief in your stuff!  A few nice outings and he could be special because his stuff is really good 

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

I agree. Confidence grows from success and belief in your stuff!  A few nice outings and he could be special because his stuff is really good 

I'm just not sure early struggles are all a result of lack of confidence. It could be, but it's hard to know.

[Larry Cook]

21 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm just not sure early struggles are all a result of lack of confidence. It could be, but it's hard to know.

Today preister came out and was over throwing and that was an issue 

[moonslav59]

They took Priester to church.

[mvp 78]

On 3/15/2025 at 2:59 PM, Larry Cook said:

Today preister came out and was over throwing and that was an issue 

The big problem the Sox will run into if they have Fitts and Priester in the rotation together is inconsistency. They are young and may have decent ceilings, but it may be a rollercoaster in the short term until they are solid contributors. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The big problem the Sox will run into if they have Fitts and Priester in the rotation together is inconsistency. They are young and may have decent ceilings, but it may be a rollercoaster in the short term until they are solid contributors. 

Fans have to be willing to live with that, because it comes with the badge of badgering management to finally trade for some young pitching. 

Bet the Yankees wish they had Fitts right now, instead of basically firing Verdugo.

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Fans have to be willing to live with that, because it comes with the badge of badgering management to finally trade for some young pitching. 

Bet the Yankees wish they had Fitts right now, instead of basically firing Verdugo.

I'm willing to live with it, but I think we're going to hear a lot of complaining when Fitts and Priester have inflated ERA's due to a few blow ups even though they could show more than we've ever seen from Bello or Crawford.

[moonslav59]

If we can stay healthy, our pitchers should have one big advantage over 2024: much better defense behind them:

C: The same? Narvaez may not be better than McGuire and jansen, but maybe as good on D. Wong needs to show improvement, but we can't count on it. 

1B: Worse. Casas will play more, under my assumption of good health.

2B: Better. DHam is much better than EValdez, Grissom, Reyes and others. Romy is okay, I guess.

SS: Much better. Story blows everybody we had in 202away.

3B: Much better. Bregman is on the opposite side of the spectrum from Devers on 3B defenders.

LF: Depends how often Duran plays LF nd not Ref/Yoshi.

CF: Better as Rafaela should play here more often and Duran, when he is not.

RF: Same as Abreu returns and maybe Rafaelsa or Anthony play here.

2 much better

2-3 better

2-3 same

1 worse

[Larry Cook]

Has newcomb out pitched Priester this spring for the 5th spot????

[Cameron Tran]

cora loves Newcomb. Speaks really highly of him. Newcomb hasn't started consistently since 2019 but he's had a much better spring that Priester and Criswell

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Maybe second base is still up for grabs. Campbell looked much better at 2B today, and very athletic, according to Middlebrooks (who noted KC was starting on the split squad line-up with all the rest big leaguers). He also lined a double and struck out twice -- his swing doesn't just cause him to pull his head; he literally pulls his whole body out of the box.

 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Cameron Tran said:

cora loves Newcomb. Speaks really highly of him. Newcomb hasn't started consistently since 2019 but he's had a much better spring that Priester and Criswell

He has looked real good, but the sample sizes of these three range from 6.2 IP (Criswell) to 9.2 IP (Newcomb & Priester.)

[mvp 78]

15 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Has newcomb out pitched Priester this spring for the 5th spot????

He has been good, but is not on the 40 man. My guess is they give Priester/Fitts the 4th/5th spots for now and give Newcomb more time to show what he's got in AAA. 

[moonslav59]

44 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He has been good, but is not on the 40 man. My guess is they give Priester/Fitts the 4th/5th spots for now and give Newcomb more time to show what he's got in AAA. 

Agreed. Newcomb may get the next call, ahead of Criswell and Dobbins, but he'll have to be added to the 40, first, so maybe even that will not happen. They may be saving those 60 Day IL additions for 2-3 of our top prospects to be added, at some point.