Sale, Price, Porcello in that order for Red Sox to start the season, Alex Cora announces. Brian Johnson also likely in the rotation to begin. Eduardo Rodriguez has a chance to be in there too, depending how he does next time out.
Brian Johnson can't be sent down. He's out of options. If he's not in the rotation, he's in the bullpen or he's DFA.Makes sense. Hopefully just one start has to be made by Brian Johnson before Pomeranz returns and Erod slides into that 5th spot. Wright in the bullpen to start the season when BJ gets sent down?
Do they have room for him with a healthy Erod and Wright? Wonder how the bullpen will shape out.Brian Johnson can't be sent down. He's out of options. If he's not in the rotation, he's in the bullpen or he's DFA.
He threw in a minor league game today. 3.1 innings, 62 pitches. Assuming no ill effects from this outing, he may make a start for the big league club this weekend. If all goes well, he might only need one more start before he's good to go in terms of being stretched out for 100 pitches.I thought ERod was out until midseason? is he really progressing that well?
Edit: read post aboveI thought ERod was out until midseason? is he really progressing that well?
There's not one "pitching line" in Spring Training that I pay attention to. If Kershaw wasn't striking out anyone and doing nothing but giving up HR's and BB's, I wouldn't be concerned. These guys are mostly working on stuff and getting their mechanics back in order.That pitching line ... yuck!
Sale got rocked yesterday too. Everyone panic!!That pitching line ... yuck!
I believe Sackamano is cleverly referring to this:That pitching line ... yuck!
Since 1970, 47 lefthanded pitchers have thrown at least 300 innings with an average-or-better ERA through their age-24 season. It's a pretty encouraging list. Of course there are some busts on it, but not a lot of them.That said.... this is the year, IMO, that will really sway me on Rodriguez's future as a starter... will he take the next step and STAY THERE???? We've seen several stretches where he's pitched like a 1a or a 2 type of starter for a playoff hopeful team and then mechanics or injuries derail him..... Would the real EdRod please step forward!!!!
Shit like this is why I love this place. This has made my optimism for the '18 Sox go from 7 to 9 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being certain of an appearance in the WS).Since 1970, 47 lefthanded pitchers have thrown at least 300 innings with an average-or-better ERA through their age-24 season. It's a pretty encouraging list. Of course there are some busts on it, but not a lot of them.
On that list of 47, Rodriguez ranks 10th in K rate -- better than Zito, Price, Valenzuela, Swindell, Righetti, Quintana, Lester, Pettitte, Mulder, Avery, Hampton. He ranks 24th in BB rate -- better than Hampton, Valenzuela, Kershaw, Lester, Zito, Price, Sabathia, Santana. He ranks 22nd in OPS+ allowed -- better than Kazmir, Sabathia, Bumgarner, Quintana, and Hampton.
He's been pretty good, overall. If he gets much better, he'll be really good. So if by "will the real EdRod please step forward", we mean "are you just a pretty good pitcher like a Kazmir, Milton, or Danks, or are you a very good pitcher like a Lester, Zito, or Sabathia?" then I think that's a valid question to be asking, and boy is it a fun question to be asking about your #5 guy.
Since 1970, 47 lefthanded pitchers have thrown at least 300 innings with an average-or-better ERA through their age-24 season. It's a pretty encouraging list. Of course there are some busts on it, but not a lot of them.
On that list of 47, Rodriguez ranks 10th in K rate -- better than Zito, Price, Valenzuela, Swindell, Righetti, Quintana, Lester, Pettitte, Mulder, Avery, Hampton. He ranks 24th in BB rate -- better than Hampton, Valenzuela, Kershaw, Lester, Zito, Price, Sabathia, Santana. He ranks 22nd in OPS+ allowed -- better than Kazmir, Sabathia, Bumgarner, Quintana, and Hampton.
He's been pretty good, overall. If he gets much better, he'll be really good. So if by "will the real EdRod please step forward", we mean "are you just a pretty good pitcher like a Kazmir, Milton, or Danks, or are you a very good pitcher like a Lester, Zito, or Sabathia?" then I think that's a valid question to be asking, and boy is it a fun question to be asking about your #5 guy.
Considering the rise in k%, it may be a good idea to keep that in mind when comparing Erod to the rest of that list. But I am also high on him and think he has a great chance to really put it together this year. Not that he's been bad before now, but get past the knee issues and have a consistently good season.Since 1970, 47 lefthanded pitchers have thrown at least 300 innings with an average-or-better ERA through their age-24 season. It's a pretty encouraging list. Of course there are some busts on it, but not a lot of them.
On that list of 47, Rodriguez ranks 10th in K rate -- better than Zito, Price, Valenzuela, Swindell, Righetti, Quintana, Lester, Pettitte, Mulder, Avery, Hampton. He ranks 24th in BB rate -- better than Hampton, Valenzuela, Kershaw, Lester, Zito, Price, Sabathia, Santana. He ranks 22nd in OPS+ allowed -- better than Kazmir, Sabathia, Bumgarner, Quintana, and Hampton.
He's been pretty good, overall. If he gets much better, he'll be really good. So if by "will the real EdRod please step forward", we mean "are you just a pretty good pitcher like a Milton or a Danks, or are you a very good pitcher like a Lester or a Sabathia?" then I think that's a valid question to be asking, and boy is it a fun question to be asking about your #5 guy.
EDIT: Trimmed a few comps to make the distinction clearer.
Has to be. Six games in a row to start the season, all in domes so no rainouts, then a day off then the home opener. Based on Price starting game 2, it would be his turn. Can't imagine they'd re-shuffle he and Porcello that early on, or give them extra rest by inserting Pomeranz or Rodriguez that soon.So, are we thinking Price for the Fenway home opener?
Even assuming all three of Sale, Price and Porcello remain healthy, this is still a bad idea.I wouldn't mind plugging in a 6th starter against the New Orleans Baby Cakes. Do we really want Sale hitting on the 2nd start of the season? Or get a couple of extra days of rest?
Seriously. We get a little luck in terms of health and in terms of guys like Hanley Ramirez, Rick Porcello, and Brian Johnson hitting the top half of their performance curve and we're gonna be doing shit that makes the minstrels weep.Shit like this is why I love this place. This has made my optimism for the '18 Sox go from 7 to 9 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being certain of an appearance in the WS).
Sale can stand in the batters box and watch three down the middle with his bat on his shoulder if they're concerned about him pulling a Bartolo. I don't think the offense would suffer too much by it. (though he was 1 for 3 with a double last year)I wouldn't mind plugging in a 6th starter against the New Orleans Baby Cakes. Do we really want Sale hitting on the 2nd start of the season? Or get a couple of extra days of rest?
So you're saying 100 wins is not out of the question?Seriously. We get a little luck in terms of health and in terms of guys like Hanley Ramirez, Rick Porcello, and Brian Johnson hitting the top half of their performance curve and we're gonna be doing shit that makes the minstrels weep.
Rasputin never said the Red Sox would win 100 games, did he?So you're saying 100 wins is not out of the question?
So you're saying 100 wins is not out of the question?
Minstrels don't like round numbers is all I'm saying.Rasputin never said the Red Sox would win 100 games, did he?
If that is the degree to which we are to quibble with thread titles, I believe it's actually Sale, Price, Porcello, TBD, Johnson.Nevermind
OD --> opening day, not ocular dexter
If I were to guess, it would be Wright (or Velezquez) starting the fourth game and Brian Johnson starting the first game in Miami. That gives Rodriguez time to make an additional minor league or simulated start before debuting some time in the second week of April (13th or 14th vs the Orioles?).Sounds like Erod or Wright could start game 4 of the season but neither wouldn’t pitch in Miami where they would have to hit.
The article linked below echoes this:Sounds like Erod or Wright could start game 4 of the season but neither wouldn’t pitch in Miami where they would have to hit.
But Wright will still be available as a pinch runner, right?Cora doesn't want either pitcher to have to hit or run the bases."
I wonder if Cora would consider the following unusual approach if both Wright and ERod are ready to pitch against Miami:The article linked below echoes this:
"Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and right-hander Steven Wright are both "in play" as candidates to start the fourth game of the regular season against the Rays rather than going on the disabled list...
Rodriguez and Wright are both coming back from knee surgeries, which is why they are candidates to pitch the fourth game against the Rays, but not either of the two games in the second series of the season at Miami, which will be played under National League rules. Cora doesn't want either pitcher to have to hit or
I rather suspect that if they're both ready to go, they'll make the decision on rotation and bullpen spots betwixt Rodriguez, Wright, and Johnson.I wonder if Cora would consider the following unusual approach if both Wright and ERod are ready to pitch against Miami:
Top of 1st: use Swihart or another bench player as the #3 hitter.
Sub out Swihart for ERod, who would pitch 2-3 innings then be lifted for a pinch hitter.
In the bottom of the inning, Wright would go in for 2-3 innings. Then when his turn came up, Moreland would go in to pinch hit and as a defensive replacement, while the pitcher would go in for HRam (who would need to be batting 2nd or 4th).
Then at that point just go to the pen for the final 4 innings.
I know keeping both pitchers burns a roster spot and the bench would be short for this game, but if they are really both ready to pitch this probably gives the RS the best pitching option over the the 1st 5. In addition, it would be likely that even in the best case scenario it is hard to imagine either going longer than 5 innings.