Nick

Per MassLive Bullpen short one arm? The Red Sox bullpen is fifth in the majors in ERA (3.18), but it’s clear it is short one late-inning piece without Ryan Brasier (calf injury). “We’ve been saying that all along,” Cora said. “But somebody has to step up. Bottom line is we had the lead going into the eighth and we ended up losing the game. We feel we’re capable. We’ve got capable guys. But people have to step up and do the job.” Cora named Matt Barnes, Adam Ottavino and Darwinzon Hernandez as his top high-leverage relievers with the lead in the seventh inning and beyond. But Ottavino has six walks in 6 ⅔ innings (8.1 BB/9). Hernandez has allowed eight walks in 7 innings (10.3 BB/9). Shouldn't we be doing everything to win winnable games? Geez, we have full of pitchers with control issues. We have a 24 year old kid who hasn't walked a batter in 9 innings. Why don't we try him? You know, in high leverage situations? He can't do much worse.

Not sure of Cora guys... Gonzalez, Cordero, Renfroe and Kike... That's a black hole at the bottom and top of the lineup.

Pivetta with 63 pitches through first 5 innings, one walk, 0 hits. Our overall pitching is not that bad.

All of you keep talking about hitting where they're most comfortable. Has anyone ever asked Kike where he wants to bat? It was not his idea to lead off. It was his coach. We're not consistent in our thought process.

As a veteran, he can refuse minor league assignment. He becomes a free agent. Most likely scenario is to put him on IR, and let him work it out.

Just as he said, he's struggling to find the proper slot and release point. I don't care if he gets destroyed, I do care walking guys. If they hit him, there's better chance of getting an out than walking them. Didn't he have entire spring training to work on his command?

4.2 IP, 4H, 4 ER, 6 BB.....I hate pitchers that can't throw strikes.... I just think the delivery was off a little bit tonight,” Richards said. “I was kind of fighting it the whole night. And then obviously, couldn’t get my release point under control. Just kind of a combination of things. Nothing that can’t be fixed.” You're 8 year veteran. Why don't you fix the damn problem? Sooner the better.

Only difference is that our payroll is $205M. (albeit $53M is not playing right now)

I'm going to be a jerk here. Aren't you and Kimmi and others on this board praised breathlessly how Rick Porcello was God's gift to starting pitching because of INNINGS HE PITCHED? You loved the idea of 6 IP and 3 ERs. Can you survive a season with starters giving the team less than 4 innings? I don't consider 3.2 innings a quality start under any circumstances, unless I'm a Rays fan.

I really don't know what else he needs to work on. Starter pitches, command of strike zone. I can see him getting hurt. Nine innings pitched and 0 walks. That tells me more than anything else.

My concern would be switch in position may cause some anguish that may leak into his hitting.....I agree. Just stay with it.

Apparently Cora read my post from this morning. Whitlock pitches 2.2 innings, 2 K', 0 BB, 0 Hits I guess we'll see him on April 29th.

Big question is does he hit well enough to be an elite 3rd baseman?

Sure....182 day season. At this rate he'll get to pitch 18 innings. What a waste of talent. You know I'm just being an ass......but it's frustrating how we run our pitching staff.

Garrett Whitlock continues to rest his arm. One inning pitched in last 10 days. I'm frustrated not getting to watch him pitch.

Per Masslive Red Sox rookie sensation Garrett Whitlock has hurled 6 ⅓ scoreless innings over three outings for the Red Sox this season. He has given up just three hits and no walks while striking out eight. So why has he pitched only one inning the past nine days? Where has he been? Manager Alex Cora said pitching coaches Dave Bush and Kevin Walker are working to stretch him out. Not sure I understand this logic. So when is he going to get stretched out?

Trying to figure out who Garrett Whitlock reminds me of. He's 6-5 so he's much taller but his presence on the mound reminds me of Greg Maddux. You know, the Hall of Famer who won over 350games? I did hate Maddux for getting strike calls on any ball near the plate. He definitely got the benefit of doubt. Whitlock has faced 22 batters, 9 strikeouts but more importantly, no walks. I despise pitcher that can't throw strikes. Now if Dalbec breaks out, I'm a happy camper. Why can't Houck work on his third pitch on his off days in the majors?

There was a deep dive analysis of the trade and the PTBNL aspect of it. Based on players already received by the Sox in that trade, the analysis went on to say that Sox should expect pretty good player from the Mets. Sox will receive two more PTBNL from the Royals. I'll see if I can find it. Maybe it was a piece in the 'mlbtraderumors'.

Me ERA is so distorted for relievers. 9 one inning stints without giving up a run or hit followed by an outing with three straight walks and get pulled. Next batter hits grand slam. You're charged with 3 earned runs and 0 innings pitched. Your season ERA is now 3.00 despite not giving up a hit. Just not a great metric for relief pitchers. Giving up 5 runs in one outing shouldn't define effectiveness of a reliever. Notin As Adam Ottavino showed last season... Lets think outside of box. ERA is more appropriate for starters. If you go back into history, it was common for starters go 9 innings. Projecting starter innings to 9 innings make sense to me. Basically it gives you an idea of how many earned runs are given up by a starting pitcher. Maybe this was the genesis of ERA. (earned runs per nine innings) Not so fast for relievers in modern age. Many are one inning specialists. No one gives a damn about 9 inning projection. Relievers don't pitch nine innings. (exception of Eovaldi). For relievers, I would simply take total earn runs given up divided by number of appearances with one modification. Earn runs given up in any outing exceeding one inning would be adjusted, pitcher's earn run would be runs given up divided by innings pitch. That's the run given up number for that outing. (ie restate the runs given up per one inning basis). So you come in and give up up 3 runs in 3 innings, your number would be 1.0 for that appearance. Reliever's stats would be called Earned Runs per Appearance. In above example, his 'ERA' would be 0.3. He gives up .3 runs per outing.

I think we've had much shorter list of hopefuls in the past (age as of 12/31/21) 22 Bryan Mata 23 Jay Groome 24 Noah Song 24 Thaddeus Ward 25 Garret Whitlock 25 Tanner Houck 25 Darwinzon Hernandez 25 Conner Seabold Not everyone will come through but there's some talent. Don't forget the #4 draft pick this year. I'm hoping for college pitcher. Screw the high school kids. Go draft and/or sign younger players outside of US.

This is why we don't trade away the farm in July when we're 3 games back from wild card spot. The biggest addition will come way of Sale and Houck.

ERA is so distorted for relievers. 9 one inning stints without giving up a run or hit followed by an outing with three straight walks and get pulled. Next batter hits grand slam. You're charged with 3 earned runs and 0 innings pitched. Your season ERA is now 3.00 despite not giving up a hit. Just not a great metric for relief pitchers. Giving up 5 runs in one outing shouldn't define effectiveness of a reliever.

I thought weather forecasts are simply based on past experience and not really predicting the future. Under 'these' conditions, 'A' happened 75% of the time, then 'A' is predicted. They'll be wrong 25% of the time.

I think we're on the same page. Had Sale been 100% healthy, the spending mix probably would have been different. (ie no Richards) How sick would it be to sign an 'ace' and extend E Rod along with Chris Sale pitching to his norm? Ace, Sale, E Rod, Eovaldi and Whitlock/Hoouck as starters? Richards/Perez money can easily cover E Rod extension. Pedey money can cover much of arbitration raises. Price money will be gone in one year so that can go towards paying "Ace".