evilhand

It's not 1968 anymore. The game is very different than it was then. Guys throw harder, lineups are tougher meaning less opportunities to ease up during a game. Pitchers just don't go 9 innings regularly anymore. You may not like it, but that's the reality of mlb baseball today, and greatness is measured against contemporaries, not against eras bygone.

That defect is what concerns me. But again, it's a minor concern at this point.

They don't really have much in their system worth getting excited about. Nick Hagadone was a Sox prospect and was part of the Victor Martinez trade that also sent Justin Masterson away. If they'd be willing to discuss Masterson, whose line is inflated by two really bad starts, and either Dillon Howard or Francisco Lindor it might be worth trying to work something out, but since Cleveland sees themselves as a contender, I don't know why they'd part with Masterson and most teams balk at being asked for one of their top two prospects. I don't think there's a match there. Their system isn't deep enough and the pieces on their major league roster are needed to compete.

You might be referring to my post. When I used the word chronic, I meant that a back injury like his could become chronic in the future. We won't know until he throws a full season. It might not bother him for years. It might not bother him again in his career. But there was some good discussion about it at sosh last year and fractures like these can lead to chronic back issues. Doesn't mean it will, but the possibility is there. I agree it's too early to call him injury prone.

The thing people don't seem to be considering with Clay is that he missed most of last year. It's possible some of his early struggles have been due in part to needing to figure out his mechanics again after such a long layoff from pitching. He wasn't just banged up last year, he was completely shut down because of a fracture in his spine. That level of inactivity is bound to leave some lingering rust.

I'll take Clay as a good number 3 type starter. Hell, a full season of 4.25-ish ERA would be enough for this team to win the division if Beckett keeps pitching like he has and Lester can remember he's good. We don't need three aces to contend in the division. We need our pitchers to give the bats a chance to win. And with 5.25 runs per game (second best in the AL) that doesn't have to be ace level production from our top 3 pitchers. Hell, if our rotation averages quality starts we're going to win a ton of games, and quality starts aren't that good (4.50 ERA). Anyone who thinks Beckett hasn't broken out of his early season slump just isn't paying attention, IMO. Four straight games of 7 or more IP and a 2.20 ERA over that span is the definition of ace level performance. Clay is clearly headed in the right direction and has looked like a completely different pitcher in his last two outings. Lester has enough of a history as an ace or near ace that you have to think he'll figure it out. With Doubront pitching way better than expected and Bard managing to be decent for a 5th starter (soon to be replaced by Daisuke who will likely continue being decent for a 5th starter, the team just needs to keep doing what it's been doing over the last 20 games and they'll make a good run at winning the division. Never mind if they make a trade for another quality starter.

The fans aren't entitled to anything more than the team putting the best possible effort forward to win games.

Cleveland's system isn't that impressive. Not sure what they'd be able to offer that would make sense for both teams.

Banuelos alone would be an overpay for Garza. I'm sure Theo will ask, but Cashman will say no and they'll move on. There are plenty of pieces in the New York farm system for Theo to target. They could work something out without him.

I think you guys would be insane to part with Banuelos, especially for someone like Garza. You need an influx of young talent and he'll be the tip of the spear there. Not saying the Yankees can't put together a package for Garza, but I'd be stunned if Banuelos is part of it.

Don't worry, I flailed myself as I typed it. It may be true, but that doesn't mean I didn't blaspheme by posting it.

Every night? Sure that's not good enough. Once in five starts while being dominant in the other 4? That's exactly what an ace does. No pitcher in the history of the game has ever had a season where they dominated every single start. Even Pedro in 99 had a few mediocre starts and one stinker. Beckett has pitched like an ace for the last 5 games. The last start was average, but that happens to the best pitchers.

If they didn't have track records proving they were capable of pitching at a high level consistently, then Beckett's five games and Clay's two wouldn't mean much. But both guys have done it and both guys are looking like the versions of themselves that *have* done it in their recent starts. I think it's silly to suggest Beckett hasn't straightened himself out already or that Clay isn't really close to proving the same.

I'd argue that they're all really good and are beating up on each other. It's certainly up for grabs, though.

No wonder why new things frighten you! (just teasing)

Me too, but that's not saying much.

Hes 29. Not exactly a youngin.