moonslav59

Anybody he picked to bring in has sucked recently. Whitlock was not available.

Just like that. The Yanks are now winning and we are down.

I’d take Pivetta out now.

Where’s the guy who said DFA him?

Good will Hunter!

It’s all a mirage. Jackie told us so.

He'd use previous 7 starts like that's all that counts. Then, when a Yankee has sucked, it's all about previous success stories. I know we all do this to some extent, but he doesn't seem to even notice his criteria is all over the map.

How perfectly worded. Note the "playing everyday...and playing defense." This could mean he needs to play everyday for a while to get into a groove, or that if he was called up, he would not be playing everyday. Mentioning the defense hints at them still thinking he needs to work on his defense at a non ML level, but maybe his bat is ML ready. (We don't need a DH, right now.)

I've never argued our 2-5 rotation is better than yours- only that it would not be a fluke if it ended up being better. I was also very high on Pivetta before the year started. There are times when numbers don't tell a whole story of can not be good for projecting future production. Certainly several of your SP'ers have some very nice aspects, but I would not be making definitive judgments based on 6-8 starts- not for Kluber, Richards or Pivetta. Kluber sure looks like he's rounding back into form, but it's just 7 starts. I'm not projecting Pivetta to end up as our best starter, but I do think he can end up with some very nice #3 or 4 numbers. He could suck, too, as could just about any Yankee starter not named Cole. No, I don't "know" Pivetta can't sustain being good. This good? Very likely not, but not impossible. You act like no pitcher has never blossomed later in their career, and it's not like he's 33. Scouts and top baseball people have always spoke of his abilities. Is there no chance he can't put it all together, this year? You cat like it's a 100% sure thing. When it comes to Taillon, I've "talked about him" more than anyone- even Yankee fans. (I wanted the Sox to trade for him.) He's no sure bet- just like all the Sox starters not named Erod. What bugs me most is that you switch up criteria to suit each different starter. With one guy, it's most recent numbers. With another, it's their best WAR season. With another it's improved K and BB rates. With our starters, you selectively choose the worst aspect of their record or recent production or ignore or pooh-pooh their most recent numbers as "unsustainable." If I had to placer a bet on which starter group beyond their #1 does better in 2021, it would be a very tough choice. I'd probably pick the Yanks, but in no way would I be acting like it's a forgone conclusion, and neither should you- "and you know it."

With one of the worst defensive teams in MLB, I'd think having a nice late inning defensive replacement is worth more than the 14th pitcher, especially since the Sox rotation is 5th in IP. having the 4th bench player also allows the manager to PH more freely, because he knows, he's got some flexibility. later on, especially in case of an injury. I sure would have liked to have has Chavis as a PH'er or replacement for Cordero/Dalbec much earlier on. It's hard to imagine Chavis hitting worse than those two.

Our rotation: ERA+ Pitcher OPS Against 136 Pivetta .609 111 Richards .735 108 Perez .700 104 ERod .759 103 Eovaldi .631 Yanks: 292 Cole .457 131 Kluber .676 101 Montgomery .666 100 German .754 74 Taillon .777 Bluejays 141 Ryu .667 123 R Ray .730 86 Matz .751 71 Stripling .886 (Nobody else has more than 2 starts.) 112 pitchers have over 30 IP, so far this year. The Sox have 5. ERA- 5. Cole 33 37. Pivetta 75 38. Kluber 75 55. Richards 91 59. Perez 94 61. Montgomery 97 62. ERod 97 64. German 99 65. Eovaldi 99 I'm not sure, if we are the only team in MLB with 5 starting pitchers under 100. The Sox rotation places 5th in IP (205.1 IP). The Yanks place 10th at 196.1. In all fairness, Overall Starter ERA- 71 CWS 74 SFG 76 NYM 78 MIL, SDP 79 LAD 84 NYY 89 TBR 90 MIA 91 CLE 92 DET 93 BOS

He hasn't had 7 bad innings. His overall numbers over the last 7 innings are not that great. Big difference. (I'm sure he's had more than 2 bad pitches: some where not hit or hit well and some were not one of his 2 HRs allowed.) He's has 17.1 scoreless innings. He's been scored upon in just 3 innings: 5/2 1 IP: HR, out, single, out, out 5/5 1 IP (10th): single, HR, out, single, CS, out 5/13 3 IP: 7th: out, HBP, out, 2B (runner out at home) 8th: single, out (runner advances), runner to 3B on defense indiff., GO scores, BB, out (I wouldn't really call this inning a bad one.) On 5/7, he went 2 IP with no runs allowed. On 5/13, he had 2 scoreless innings. He's allowed 1 BB in his last 7 IP and 11 hits (only 3 K, which is much less than the 18 he had in his previous 13.1 IP). 2 "bad innings" out of his last 7, and both of those innings were bad only because of 2 pitches.

There is very little chance we ever have a point where everyone is healthy at the same time, but for argument's sake, who would be the 26 you keep on the big club? (I'm assuming mid-summer, when Sale is back and maybe Duran is ready) Who has options plays into the choices, of course, and these players do not: Brice Arroyo Andriese (Others don't either but they are fixtures.) Here's my choice (not what I think Bloom & Cora might choose): 13 Pitchers: Sale, Richards, ERod, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Perez Barnes, Ottavino, Brasier, Whitlock, Sawamura, Andriese, DHern (DFA Brice, AAA: Houck, Valdez, Taylor, Bazardo) 13 Everyday Players: C: Vaz & Plawecki 1B: Dalbec 2B: Arroyo 3B: Devers SS: Bogaerts LF: Renfroe CF: Kike RF: Verdugo DH: JD Bench: Chavis, Marwin, Santana, Duran (AAA: Cordero, Arauz, Munoz, Downs, Casas) Bloom & Cora? (Assuming 14 pitchers) Houck over Santana (maybe Duran or Chavis)

Really, just 2 bad pitches.

We could face some interesting roster decisions when these guys return from the IL or are deemed ML ready and physically ready: Arroyo & Kike (IL) Santana (opt out ends, soon- not physically ready, yet?) Bazardo Brasier (IL) Houck (IL) Sale (60 day IL) Duran (ML ready?) Seabold (IL & ML ready?)

I didn't say I prefer that, but Brice has something Sox brass likes, and he's out of options: Taylor & Cordero are not. I'd keep Taylor. I'd even rather DFA Brice than demote Cordero, but that demotion is just a matter of time. 1. Arroyo returns. 2. Kike returns. 3. Santana should be ready, soon.

It's nice to feel like we have a chance with all 5 starters.

He does look less chunky. He reminded me too much of Middy, but I always wanted to see him get a long enough look-see. Keep hitting, and he will.

They may just send Taylor or Cordero down- no DFA.

We should take advantage of teams like them, but every game can be lost.

Then choose the largest SS- the whole 2021 season: 20.1 IP 17 H 3 BB 21 K 1.77 ERA 0.612 OPS Against 0.984 WHIP

One could cherry pick May 6 to 13: 5 IP 1.80 ERA .802 OPS against

It looks that way, and for the longest time, I used to argue you start filling out your line-up card by putting your best overall hitter 3rd. Then, your best power hitter 4th. Your best OBP first. Your next best power hitter 5th. Your next best OBP guy 2nd.

Add 2 more games: 11.1 IP 3.18 ERA 14 H 3 BB (1 HBP) 10K .878 OPS Against

No doubt, we have maybe the leagues best 4 combined hitters. We need to find ways to improve the other 5, or spread out our 4 best hitters a little more. The theory is the 3 slot is not as valuable as the other top 5 slots, so maybe we need to try someone else there (Renfroe v LHPs and Vaz or Chavis vs RHPs?). Then, we need to slot someone else in the top 6 slots. Where and who, I don't know. Maybe.... Verdugo Hernandez Renfroe/Chavis Bogey JD Devers ? ? ? I'm not saying I want this to happen, but maybe it would "lengthen" our line-up.