Part of me wants to blame the front office for ignoring the rotation, but then again, they didn't. Cherington definitely over-rated the additions of Masterson, Porcello, and Miley. At the same time, many were optimistic Buchholz could stay healthy and emerge as a serviceable Ace. At least long enough to make a July trade for a Cueto, Hamels, or Zimmerman.
I blame the players on this. Pablo and Hanley aren't working out but that's the fault of their own. 2011-2013 taught us the importance of a cohesive clubhouse. We ditched the chicken and beer environment, won a title with a group of gritty role-players, only to take a step back. Granted we needed the offense, but we certainly didn't need Hanley's lazy LF and Pablo's eating habits. There's lots of talk about Pedey and Hanley friction in the clubhouse...and we're waiting for Papi to swallow his pride and start looking for way to beat the shift instead of hit homeruns.
Its been a lot of uninspiring baseball from the bigger names on this team. All the while, guys like Xander, Mookie, and Brockstar are grinding. I want to salvage the season, make a run, and win....but I'm afraid that'll take selling our younger grinders in an effort to acquire the big-name SP we need to make any winning possible. I say find a way to shed Pablo and/or Hanley. Hanley's bat is nice but his LF is not. Papi isn't going to move away from the DH spot anytime soon. Pablo will look like Yokozuna in another season from now. Get Brock into the starting lineup everyday and lets begin to clear a path for the other studs we've got on the Farm.
