How worried should we be about the Red Sox slow starters?

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Being a Sox fan for 50+ years has made me superstitious and paranoid about the team.  That's my excuse, anyway.

Oh I fully understand all the worry, and concern, but after listening to Cora explain how Raffy was behind his conditioning early in ST I went with the bad mechanics being all messed up theory instead of he was still being injured. Raffy starting out as bad as he did made things even look worse.

[mvp 78]

Will Wong pull out of it? 

 

[moonslav59]

27 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Will Wong pull out of it? 

 

Wasn't Wong one of the "luckiest" batters in 2024?

[Kimmi]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Will Wong pull out of it? 

 

Obviously, it's a very SSS, but Wong's 'expected' stats are much higher than his actual stats.

BA .053,   xBA ,267

SLG .053,   xSLG .465

wOBA .107,   xwOBA .349

Wong will be fine.

[Old Red]

There has to be a lot of relief felt around Fenway these days. First the team has climbed, and clawed their way back up from a 1-4 record to a now respectable 4-4. Raffy has made a miraculous recovery in just 3 days from possible having double shoulder surgery, and not being able to even touch a baseball with a bat with now being able to do so, and actually get some hits. Some suggested his mechanics were just out of whack, but most said no it had to be those bad shoulders. Cora must feel relieved, because he won’t have to be fired for playing Raffy, and embarrassing him. Next no hitting coaches will have to be fired, because the team is striking out so much, and looking like a bunch of Little Leaguers. Enjoy the games until A REAL crisis comes up.😀

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

47 minutes ago, Old Red said:

There has to be a lot of relief felt around Fenway these days. First the team has climbed, and clawed their way back up from a 1-4 record to a now respectable 4-4. Raffy has made a miraculous recovery in just 3 days from possible having double shoulder surgery, and not being able to even touch a baseball with a bat with now being able to do so, and actually get some hits. Some suggested his mechanics were just out of whack, but most said no it had to be those bad shoulders. Cora must feel relieved, because he won’t have to be fired for playing Raffy, and embarrassing him. Next no hitting coaches will have to be fired, because the team is striking out so much, and looking like a bunch of Little Leaguers. Enjoy the games until A REAL crisis comes up.😀

 

You just knew that the team that leads the league in strikeouts and was second last year would only fan three times yesterday.

But no one should underestimate the condition of the rotation, with three starters already rehabbing down in Worcester or at physical therapy.

The bullpen looks decent so far, but we all know that won't last if the starters don't do their jobs; we've seen that movie over and over again every August for the past three seasons.

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

You just knew that the team that leads the league in strikeouts and was second last year would only fan three times yesterday.

But no one should underestimate the condition of the rotation, with three starters already rehabbing down in Worcester or at physical therapy.

The bullpen looks decent so far, but we all know that won't last if the starters don't do their jobs; we've seen that movie over and over again every August for the past three seasons.

I agree, and the success of the team will hinge on the success of the starting rotation.

[Hugh2]

On 4/3/2025 at 9:05 AM, Old Red said:

Oh I fully understand all the worry, and concern, but after listening to Cora explain how Raffy was behind his conditioning early in ST I went with the bad mechanics being all messed up theory instead of he was still being injured. Raffy starting out as bad as he did made things even look worse.

When did you become the voice for reason around here?

[Hugh2]

It’s pretty telling that the Sox have three starters missing and the team is seemingly fine.

having a PIG at the top of the rotation can make you feel like that.  

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

29 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

It’s pretty telling that the Sox have three starters missing and the team is seemingly fine.

having a PIG at the top of the rotation can make you feel like that.  

Just don't let him near Papelbon.

[Bellhorn04]

54 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

It’s pretty telling that the Sox have three starters missing and the team is seemingly fine.

having a PIG at the top of the rotation can make you feel like that.  

It's great that we're back to .500.  But after Crochet the rotation is looking a bit shaky.  It's pretty important that guys like Houck and/or Buehler/Fitts/Bello/Giolito contribute.

You're not going to win a lot of games 13-9.   

[moonslav59]

15 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

It's great that we're back to .500.  But after Crochet the rotation is looking a bit shaky.  It's pretty important that guys like Houck and/or Buehler/Fitts/Bello/Giolito contribute.

You're not going to win a lot of games 13-9.   

We haven't even got through the rotation twice, and 3-4 of our expected rotation pitchers are on the IL: Bello, Gio, Crawford & Sandoval.

I'm not defending the results: they are worrisome, but to me, our rotation consists of our depth chart #1, #2, #3/4, #8 and #9. (Newcomb had jumped in the chart over Fitts , Criswell & Priester, and might have been #1.1 or 12 at  the start of ST'ing.)

I'm cutting the rotation a lot of slack as I await the return of pitchers on the IL.

My depth list:

1. Crochet

2. Houck (may drop with continued struggles)

3./4. Bello (IL) & Buehler 

5. Dandoval (60 Day IL)

6. Giolito

7. Crawford

8. Fitts

9. Newcomb

10. Criswell

11. Priester

12. Fulmer

13. Drohan or Dobbins?

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

It's great that we're back to .500.  But after Crochet the rotation is looking a bit shaky.  It's pretty important that guys like Houck and/or Buehler/Fitts/Bello/Giolito contribute.

You're not going to win a lot of games 13-9.   

Boston is on pace to win 77 games the rest of the way, but the Sox could go on a roll only and finish 78-76 for a winning season. 

Crochet and Whitlock should be able to account for half of those victories... then we the upside of Fitts, and a rebounding Bello... and then.... damn- Brez may have to trade Anthony or Mayer for Alcantara.

[Cameron Tran]

On 4/5/2025 at 10:14 AM, moonslav59 said:

We haven't even got through the rotation twice, and 3-4 of our expected rotation pitchers are on the IL: Bello, Gio, Crawford & Sandoval.

I'm not defending the results: they are worrisome, but to me, our rotation consists of our depth chart #1, #2, #3/4, #8 and #9. (Newcomb had jumped in the chart over Fitts , Criswell & Priester, and might have been #1.1 or 12 at  the start of ST'ing.)

I'm cutting the rotation a lot of slack as I await the return of pitchers on the IL.

My depth list:

1. Crochet

2. Houck (may drop with continued struggles)

3./4. Bello (IL) & Buehler 

5. Dandoval (60 Day IL)

6. Giolito

7. Crawford

8. Fitts

9. Newcomb

10. Criswell

11. Priester

12. Fulmer

13. Drohan or Dobbins?

 

I'd trust Kutter over Giolito and Sandoval. I think Cora probably will too. Dude is a workhorse 33 starts on a bum knee and solid numbers. Hopefully he can get healthy soon and cause don't forget he was unhittable in his first few starts last year (prior to the knee injury)

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Cameron Tran said:

I'd trust Kutter over Giolito and Sandoval. I think Cora probably will too. Dude is a workhorse 33 starts on a bum knee and solid numbers. Hopefully he can get healthy soon and cause don't forget he was unhittable in his first few starts last year (prior to the knee injury)

I like Kutter, too, but he might be the last guy back, except for Sandoval.

I will also add that Sandoval has a longer history of pitching very well than Kutter. Gio does, too, but it seems to long ago I'm not sure it matters enough to think he may be able to do it again.

Sandoval started 27 and 28 games in '22 and '23. He had a 3.47 ERA from when he became a SP'er in 2021 until the end of 2023. That was not as long ago as Gio's stretch of decent pitching.

Who knows if Gio or Sandoval can regain what they once had, and maybe Crawford and Bello already had their best moments in the sun, but having 4 of these guys coming back should produce 1-2 good ones.