"Inconsistent" is kind of a fuzzy word applied to pitchers.
When you look at Houck's overall numbers, they're pretty damn good.
A 3.02 career ERA. Don't you old schoolers look at ERA first?
Why not though? Is this a scientific fact? Haven't some pitchers missed 1.5 seasons or more with TJS like Whitlock and come back strong?
Where is the tipping point?
You could actually make an argument that Song's hiatus was only 2 years, compared to other prospects at least, because the 2020 minor league season was wiped out by COVID.
Anyone up for that discussion?
Well, it's the Red Sox media that really make a big deal out of this to start with.
For obvious reasons - DD pulling a "gotcha" on the Sox is juicy material for those guys.
No one knows if he'll stick, would be a more accurate way to put it, I think.
I think the most rational position is to simply shrug and say "I have no effing idea."