I'm not sure we can judge him on just 2021, although most of us thought he got more than enough opportunities, last year.
The way Fitzy is playing, Cordero might not ever get another chance like '21 with the Sox.
We need another capable starting pitcher. That takes an enormous strain off the pen, and maybe even moves Houck to the pen.
That's not to say the pen is fine, as is, but let's not think only the pen need addressing.
Except this is not really a "long term investment."
Didn't Whitlock still have 5 years of team control remaining? 2 pre-arb and 3 arbs?
This is really a one year extension and takes away arb year estimating and haggling.
Don't get me wrong. I like this deal, but we didn't really add much.
I agree 100%.
Had we signed more RP'er or a decent starter, so Houck could be in the pen, we might have 2 wins, right now.
Also, 7.1 innings in 2 games has seen some good pen pitching, so far, and Barnes & Taylor were not even available.
Pen Numbers, so far:
7.1 IP
4 H
1 ER (+2 ghost runs) 1.23 ERA
3 BB
9 K
0.955 WHIP
.160 BA Against
.267 OBP Against
.320 SLG Against
.587 OPS Against
It's just 2 games, but the pen has not been even close to the main reason for either loss.
Our bats have come alive, early, then poof.
Our starters have given up the long ball, too often.
Let's hope Houck can right the ship.
You crack me up.
By the way, we all know Bobby Dee has some sizable split differentials, but are these numbers all that bad for any players first 331 PAs vs righties in his MLB career?
.296 OBP
.463 SLG
.759 OPS
19 HRs
48 RBI
Project that to 662 PAs:
.218 38 96
Dave Kingman stuff, here!
vs LHPs per 660 PAs
.279 42 138 (.898 OPS)
Yes, the 138 RBIs is correct- the man gets hits with men on base. Too bad that is not a repeatable skill. (Cue hysteria)
I never said the pen did well. I just said blaming them more than Eovaldi was not right, and Nate did not have to start 2 of his 5 innings with a man on 2nd.
Our pen was supposed to suck, last year, too, and we used 33 pitchers.
This year, we have more "long guys," so I'm sticking with the under.
This 28 man roster may create more chances in April, though.
Santana was not paid much. Marwin just 3 yrs/1. Those deals don't baffle me as much as 2 x $4M.
On Marwin, what baffled me was how long Cora stuck with him. There was a time in May or June where he was still something like 7th or 8th in PAs on the team!
No doubt, but if blame has to be given- not that it has to be given- to one aspect of our pitching in game 1: starter vs pen, it was more Eovaldi's fault we lost.