Nick

Moon I suggest you read Cora's comments. I'm just surprised Pivetta doesn't think he's part of 'auditioning'.

Here's Cora's comment per MLB.com There could be a lot of deliberating in the coming days. “There's a lot of stuff that comes into play,” said Cora. “And it's not only my decision, it’s the organization’s decision of what we’re going to do, putting everything on balance and seeing what benefits us now and in the future. We'll all sit down, we’ll talk about it. There’s going to be people that are thrilled they're going to be in the rotation, and others are going to be upset. “At the same time, you’ve got a job to do, and you’ve got to get people out and you’ve got to contribute for us to get to where we want to go. So that's part of this.” I'm not trying to be an ass.....this is a business.

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2023/05/nick-pivetta-doesnt-want-move-to-bullpen-but-red-sox-likely-considering-it.html I've been off the computer ever since I alluded to this article. My point was that it appears to me Pivetta thinks he's owed a spot in the starting rotation. But I disagree. He has to show it on the field. The team is fighting for a playoff spot. I get it that we're only at the beginning of this journey. Based on last year and with our injury situation, Cora and his team collected multiple starting arms. Paxton will start this Friday and Whitlock should return soon. That gives us seven starters. We didn't sign Kluber to NOT to start. The same goes for Paxton. I'm as anxious as Cora to see what we have in Paxton. I doubt either goes to the pen, at least not now. They would have to pitch themselves to the pen by faltering as a starter. I think Pivetta is very close to that. My guess is things will work itself out but Pivetta should be more concerned about his own performance. Right now, Houck has better stats. Sox will NOT give up on Whitlock until it's proven he can't do it. Bello maybe sent down but won't be if he's pitching better than Pivetta. It's all about the team and I don't give a damn what Pivetta thinks. Like the article says, he's been very mediocre for almost a year now. JUST f***IN PITCH BETTER.

So Pivetta thinks there should be no consequence for pitching poorly? Not a big fan of him. I hope we can do better.

Thanks to Pivetta, this thread is only 4 pages long. Everyone decided not to hang around.

Never been a big fan of Pivetta. But he will start 33 times for us. Oh goodie.

Early look at 2024 money..... I see $46M available AFTER paying Devers pay increase and not accounting for arbitration raises, big ones being Verdugo and Pivetta. We'll need to replace Kike, Duvall and Tapia in the field. We'll need to replace Kluber, Paxton and Brasier essentially in our pitching department. Assuming Casas works out at 1B and Duran becomes a replacement in CF, we'll have every position covered except for SS. I'm hoping Mondesi shows us something and returns at a cheaper salary than Kike. We'll have Chang, Refsnysder, Valdez, Hamilton, Abreau, Dalbec and maybe bring back Tapia (I like his athleticism) for the utility role. We can go with Sale, Pivetta, Bello, Houck, Whitlock and Kutter in the rotation. Assume we eat up $6M of $46M for arbitration raises (it's probably more than that), how would you spend $40M to make the team better?

All Left Handed Core Group Lineup. C.. McGuire 1B Casas 2B Valdez 3B Devers SS Hamilton LF Tapia CF Duran RF Verdugo DH Yoshida Utl Fitzgerald Utl Abreau Utl Sogard Utl Allen Utl Palka Utl Goodrum Bunch of switch hitter in AAA (Sogard, Allen and Goodrum) Geez, we're only Hamilton away from all lefty lineup RIGHT NOW.

Shane Drohan looks like Sale clone weighing only 175lbs? He's certainly having a good year and I look forward to his promotion to AAA at some point. He turned 24 in January by the way. I like this new thread, get the feel for our pipeline. One thing we all agree on here is how difficult it is to develop a starting pitcher. That said, that is exactly why we don't dispatch Whitlock, Tanner and Kutter to the pen on a whim. They are all only 27 years old. Their prime pitching days are here or just around the corner. Whitlock's issue is his health. Tanner came into the year with only 2 pitches. Now he has enough in his arsenal to be a starter. The drum beat against him remaining in the rotation is his 'third' time around the lineup. Perhaps that's something he'll overcome. As I've said often, he and Kutter have kick ass look about them. Very unlike Mr. Barnes as an example. Down the line, Luis Perales, despite his small frame seems to have the highest ceiling, already throwing at 95-98, topping out at 99 and with a good curveball and work in progress change up. Who knows, maybe Winckowski will reinvent himself again.

Hopefylly St Louis stays down.

Hopefylly St Louis stays down.

Interesting regression analysis on Overthemonster site. They expect Verdugo to have his career year but the implication is he's peaked. If he played for the Rays, he would be traded this winter.(my opinion)

Who gets sent down?

Anyone have our rotation schedule for this week?

Worthless MLB's power ranking has the Sox at #6. Top 4 out of 6 comes from AL East.

Losing Kutter is hurting our pen. When we used both Martin and Winckowski in the same game, it just felt we were thin the following game. When will the other lefty be available? We'll still need reinforcements in July. Unless we have 5 dependable starters and dispatch the other two to the pen.

I am also excited to see Paxton. You never know. Maybe he's very good when healthy. It appears to me we'll need all 7 starters to plug the holes for minor injuries.

I'm ok with the Rays running away with it. I want them to own Toronto, NY and the Orioles. Maybe we can close the gap on the Orioles. They start a 3 game series with the Orioles.

I thought I read only reason Dalbec came up and not Hamilton was due mainly to him being left handed. We can start 9 lefties if we play Hamilton at ss and let Yoshida DH. Crazy.

So we got two possible positional starters for three months rental in Vaz? Plus opened up spot for our future #1 catcher? Sweet. Good job by Bloom. Houston must be loaded.

Setting aside all of my belly aching, at some point everyone of these starters need take control of their own fate. Go out there and throw seven innings of shutout ball. That"s how you secure a spot in the rotation. Take it out of Cora's hands.

Thannks.

Pitiful OF in 2022? You mean the one Bloom and Cora assembled by trading away Renfroe to get JBJ? Having "he can't play but LF" Verdugo and Cora's best friend Kike in CF? The OF assembled by the management?

Bleier was 8-18 vs left handed batters. So much for knowing your pitcher. Shove that lefty vs lefty in your ass. I guess no one ever thinks of a reverse split. Ok it's just one game. I'm a big Houck fan and I was upset he was pulled.

Today was the day for Houck to take a step up. After throwing only 75 pitches, he was pulled. Nothing like taking away Houck's confidence. He didn't deserve that. I thought Cora was players' manager.