moonslav59

I said bad-mouthing not "seriously bad mothing," and it goes beyond just the "inconsistent" comment. He doesn't even trust him in a relief role, next year. It's not just about starting. He's implying he was removed as a SP'er because he wasn't good enough and because he was babied. Of course, there are doubts about any pitcher, next year, but this is who he singles out.

Not just good, but team leading in every starter category, except longevity.

You are bad mouthing him. I want him as our closer, next year. I'm not sure he would be better as a SP'er, but he'd be better than Perez, Richards and Pivetta (maybe ERod, too). Wanting him as a closer is not bad mouthing him. If you can't see who is bad mouthing him, look in a mirror. Is this what you call "good mouthing?" ...He was inconsistent as a starter this year... (implying that's why he was removed from the rotation)

People are taken out of the rotation for a number of reasons, some of which might be because he was greatly needed in the pen, an injury, a plan to limit IP'd, a returning SP'er or because his profile projects better as a RP'er, at this moment in his career. I am pretty sure the plan was never to have him start 32 games, or even 22. We knew Sale was out, and ERod was given his first start a little late. Houck had 2 starts in April: 5.0 IP 2 ER 4.1 IP 3 ER He then went on the IL and missed about 3 months. That might be why he missed some starts, too. Upon his retrun, he pitched one 3 inning relief game and went back into the rotation when Perez and Richards were imploding. In 10 starts, he had a 3.86 ERA/.641 OPS Against, despite a .321 BAbip. He wasn't yanked because he was doing poorly as a starter. He was yanked because Sale was back and the pen needed help, desperately. Just because he's done much better as a RP'er, doesn't mean he sucked as a starter. "Stats anybody..." SP Numbers: 3.68/1.125 (.627 OIPS Against) Career as SP: 2.97/1.070 (.591) SOX 2021 Leaders as SP ONLY (10+ starts) 3.68 Houck 3.75 Eovaldi 4.56 Pivetta 4.77 ERod 4.77 Perez 5.22 Richards WHIP 1.125 Houck 1.190 Eovaldi 1.312 Pivetta 1.398 ERod 1.520 Perez 1.650 Richards OPS Against .627 Houck .696 Eovaldi .735 Pivetta .769 ERod .844 Perez .868 Richards Pick on Richards or Perez, if you need a punching bag.

I just don't get why anyone, especially now, in the thick of a playoff run, would bad mouth Houck. The kid missed some time, but has been an incredible asset down the stretch and in the post season. Sure, the guy only has 86 innings in the bigs, but our system finally produces a pitcher that comes out of the gates doing well, and he's maligned. 2.93 ERA 1.081 WHIP 3.6 K/BB .579 OPS Against with a .294 BAbip is pretty damn decent. Man, some of you guys are real tough on our players- even the good ones.

The union might warm up to the idea if they tie in raising the floor on low-spending teams significantly. The union might be looking at ways to better the situation for the vast majority of its players rather than the few dozen biggest contract players.

If all you want is Schwarber and some under the radar pen arms, we can get 2 Schwarbers. We are so far away in what the highest need area is for this team, I’m not sure it’s worth going back and forth, anymore. I’m fine with giving Seabold a shot and more innings to Houck and Whitlock, but we still have a giant need on the staff. Like 2-3 pitchers short with one or two needing to be solid. Look, I really like Schwarber. I’ve been one of JDs biggest supporters and I’d still prefer KS to JD. after arb raises, we’ll be lucky Henry gives Bloom $40M to spend. I doubt it’s that much, and if he tries to go quantity over quality, again, it will bring us guys like Richards, Perez, Ottavino and Andries. If you think that helps us get better, I’m stunned. Bringing ERod back might not even break even with the 2021 ERod and may cost half the winter budget. People think Ottavino sucked, but he was good much more than bad and won’t be easy to replace. Maybe we can trade for a cost effective pitcher, but there goes the farm or Bogey. You know I trust Bloom, but we have a lot to do this winter and taking the luxury to double up on DHs, and yes, these guys are best used as DHs is not coming close to filling our greatest need areas. It’s my philosophy to build up your weakest link and not to spend on someone that forces another very good player to the bench. Sign KS and trade JD, Dalbec or an OFer is the only way I see it being practical.

I hope we can bring Robles back.

I’m glad someone at least described their plan rather than just criticizing mine. I don’t think our pitching only needs an ERod re-sign or replacement. I think significant upgrades are needed every year, or you end up going backwards. We are losing a lot of innings from 2021, and counting on Seabold and more innings from Houck, Whitlock and others is pushing our luck.

Change Barnes to Perez, and I’m listening.

I’m for spending just about the whole winter budget on pitching. I’m taking nothing for granted. I’m not paying big time for a closer, so to me, our best bet is to keep Houck in the pen and maybe Whitlock, too. Hope one can be the closer. Spend on starting pitcher(s).

Indeed, but answer my question. Would you rather have Scherzer or Raul IGLESIAS and some other $15 M RPer? Remember, adding a SPer slides Houck into the closer slot at no cost. Give me some names and numbers you add to Schwarber’s cost.

This really exposes how the problem is at the top of the food chain.

I’m pushing it when I say we might have $40M to spend, and that’s assuming nothing changes on the system. I’ve said, if we can spend significantly more than $40M, I’m all in on Schwarber. I’m not ever for spending large on RPers, and if can show me how we can get 3 solid RPers, a utility IFer and Schwarber for under $40M, I’m listening. In short, Whitlock and Houck will fill the two holes in the rotation, but who fills their pen holes plus the Ottavino one? Starting pitcher free agents seem like surer bets than signing RPer FAs, right?

Smooth.

Not telling you what to do, but try taking the long view next time you feel like basing Cora.

That’s why I mentioned “new ones.”

First time an AL team made the ALCS 5 years in row. Wonder if they found a new way to cheat.

Like music to my ears.

Funny how the GM you have bashed shamelessly, ended up “proving you right.” I, on the other hand, felt a cliff was coming and would last longer than a year, but once we hired Bloom, I projected 86 wins “before we signed any free agents,” while you projected 70 at most, and somehow you are always proven right. I admit I was wrong. It’s not as hard to do as you might think.

I feel the same, but I’m tired of people acting like Bloom just got lucky, because this guy was a bum.

Master of spin. We sucked in 2020, and you predicted gloom for 2021, and you call yourself “right.” LOL! You just didn’t call it a cliff. I’ve admitted I was wrong, and it seems you really enjoy bringing it up over and over. Bring it on. No need to ease up. I can take the criticism without going into name-calling. You should try it sometime.

A couple days ago, the talk was we have 1 SPer. I said, if we use both Houck and Whitlock as SPers we’d need 3 top RPers. I even provided a chart with both alternatives.how much will signing 3 of the best 5-7 RPers cost plus a utility man. Subtract that from $40M and that’s what you can pay for Schwarber.

True, but it just seems like the Stros and CWS deserved a prime time game or two.

Robles can throw very hard, so those type of RP'er are often picked up, in hopes they can control it for a couple months. Robles has had more than just a couple nice streaks in his career. He's also had some horrific stretches, but let's not short change the hot streaks: It wasn't long ago, either... 2018: 2.97/1.297 with LAA in 36 IP to end the season after getting traded. 2019: 2.48/1.018 with LAA in 73 IP! That's no short stretch! He only pitched 16 innings in 2020, so I'm not sure how much weight you can give that season. With MN, this year, he started out badly. He then had this run: 1.75 ERA/.676 OPS Against in 26 IP from April 22 to June 21 From June 22 to Aug 6th (including 3 games with the Sox): 11.66/1.157 in 15 IP Aug 7 to end of season: 2.08/.575 in 22 IP So, since the end of 2018, he's had 1/2 good season Full good season bad shortened 2020 season bad start to 2021 good middle to 2021 bad stretch around the trade Great ending to 2020 Kinda like most decent RP'er in MLB. The IP in 2018 and 2019 far outweigh the bas stretches in 2020 and 2021. Add the good stretches of 2021, and he's been good many more IP than bad. Not all that surprising he had a nice stretch- just as it would not have been surprising had he sucked and been DFA'd by us.