Don’t want Philly pitching to have a chance to see him hit if they line up in the World Series.
Smart.
Smart.
Pomeranz probably has to pitch on Sunday since Saturday is a DH.So this is Pom’s last chance, I think. Hopefully more about him than about Sale’s shoulder.
When they won the third game, my first thought was "I hope they push Sale back to give him more time." My second thought was "if they do that, I'm going to freak out worrying that there is actually something wrong."Or the sky is falling.
Could be either.
Agreed. Not to jinx things / talk about things too early and take things for granted, and we're still a bit away from there, but we're not too far from the point where the focus shifts to being in the best position possible come playoff time. Unless things dramatically change, no need to rush or risk anything.Given the division lead, seems like he should take all the time needed plus some extra
And even Brian Johnson looked encouraging, though he did give up 3 HRs. The Yankees will do that to you though.9-1/2 game lead and coming off a 4-game sweep where Porcello, Eovaldi and Price looked great. They'd be stupid to not take the opportunity to give Sale some late-season rest and maximise the chances that he's on peak form come October. As soon as ERod comes back I'd like to see Pom thrown into the pen and see how he looks ramping up the velocity for 1 inning relief stints. The way this team has weathered injuries has been great, but we could be in position to see it at its healthiest and most dominant when it counts most.
He's been a quiet surprise....at least to me. I expected replacement level or worse from him. But he's improved his swinging strike numbers and as a result, his overall K numbers, while also somewhat lowering his FB%. That makes him a completely competent 5th starter.And even Brian Johnson looked encouraging, though he did give up 3 HRs. The Yankees will do that to you though.
And that was his worst start of the season. Johnson as a starter this year:And even Brian Johnson looked encouraging, though he did give up 3 HRs. The Yankees will do that to you though.
I think he's going to surprise a lot of people because I think he is a classic over performer, the sum is greater than the individual parts type. He dominated the minors by not allowing HRs and not giving up to many free passes. I think 2016 is safe to ignore because he was robbed at gun point and pitched most of the year with anxiety issues. In 2017, it was a return to form and more of the same. I wouldn't be shocked if he was close to a league average starter.He's been a quiet surprise....at least to me. I expected replacement level or worse from him. But he's improved his swinging strike numbers and as a result, his overall K numbers, while also somewhat lowering his FB%. That makes him a completely competent 5th starter.
He's actually "pitched" better as a reliever based on the numbers. His K/BB is better, his HR/9 is better, etc. He's just been way luckier as a starter. His BABIP as a starter is almost 70 points lower and his strand rate is way higher. That's not to say he shouldn't ever start. As I mentioned above, I think he's pitched perfectly competently as a 5th starter even when you remove all the luck. We just shouldn't expect the pixie dust to stay on him. He's probably closer to a mid-high 4s ERA type guy as a starter.For whatever reason, Johnson has seemed far more effective as a starter than as a reliever.
Does his stuff really play better out of the pen? I'd guess he also faces a higher percentage of righties when he comes out of the pen but I could be wrong. His BAbip as a starter is .292 while out of the pen it's .359 so it could just be bad luck. His HR rate and BB rate are significantly lower out of the pen while his K rate is higher starting. I'm sure 99.999% of it is just random noise in a small sample size.For whatever reason, Johnson has seemed far more effective as a starter than as a reliever.
Average era in the AL this year is 4.22, so pretty close to average or slightly below.He's actually "pitched" better as a reliever based on the numbers. His K/BB is better, his HR/9 is better, etc. He's just been way luckier as a starter. His BABIP as a starter is almost 70 points lower and his strand rate is way higher. That's not to say he shouldn't ever start. As I mentioned above, I think he's pitched perfectly competently as a 5th starter even when you remove all the luck. We just shouldn't expect the pixie dust to stay on him. He's probably closer to a mid-high 4s ERA type guy as a starter.
Pretty simple reason: until this season, he had never pitched out of the pen in his entire professional career. It's a different set of skills, if you haven't done it before.For whatever reason, Johnson has seemed far more effective as a starter than as a reliever.
I think he's going to surprise a lot of people because I think he is a classic over performer, the sum is greater than the individual parts type. He dominated the minors by not allowing HRs and not giving up to many free passes. ... I wouldn't be shocked if he was close to a league average starter.
I agree with the first post here. If you look at his MLB totals to this point, the K/9 and BB/9 are almost identical to those of his 500+ minor league innings. The difference is in the contact quality MLB hitters make against him. A portion of that is probably just their greater ability to capitalize on mistakes. The H/9 and HR/9 are much higher. But he's a "control" guy with a mix of pitches who works around the edges and doesn't have overpowering stuff. He's the type of guy who should outperform his FIP or xFIP.He's actually "pitched" better as a reliever based on the numbers. His K/BB is better, his HR/9 is better, etc. He's just been way luckier as a starter. His BABIP as a starter is almost 70 points lower and his strand rate is way higher. That's not to say he shouldn't ever start. As I mentioned above, I think he's pitched perfectly competently as a 5th starter even when you remove all the luck. We just shouldn't expect the pixie dust to stay on him. He's probably closer to a mid-high 4s ERA type guy as a starter.
I think it probably is mostly noise. And, I would think his stuff probably suits him better as a starter, really. He doesn't have the raw stuff or velocity for big strikeout numbers, and his GB rates aren't anything great. His strengths seem to be in being able to mix and match and command 4 pitches to keep hitters off balance. His career (it's only 96 IP) 4.11 ERA/4.30 FIP/4.55 xFIP seem about right to me, and that would make him a decent starter. This year has been a bit wacky, as you guys point out, in terms of his starter/reliever splits. They even out and make his overall line this season pretty representative of what he's done.Does his stuff really play better out of the pen? I'd guess he also faces a higher percentage of righties when he comes out of the pen but I could be wrong. His BAbip as a starter is .292 while out of the pen it's .359 so it could just be bad luck. His HR rate and BB rate are significantly lower out of the pen while his K rate is higher starting. I'm sure 99.999% of it is just random noise in a small sample size.
Agree, and I think you could rephrase it: They have to have the guts to take the risk of sitting a guy like Sale and his replacement not winning. Tito always took this risk, and the team tended to do OK. The reward was a rested team hitting the post-season. Farrell managed scared all year, and wore out his best players in the regular season. At some point you have to be able to say, this is a team playing at an historic pace, we can risk a few games against whoever is on the schedule.Agreed. Not to jinx things / talk about things too early and take things for granted, and we're still a bit away from there, but we're not too far from the point where the focus shifts to being in the best position possible come playoff time. Unless things dramatically change, no need to rush or risk anything.
Right, like the lowly MFYAgree, and I think you could rephrase it: They have to have the guts to take the risk of sitting a guy like Sale and his replacement not winning. Tito always took this risk, and the team tended to do OK. The reward was a rested team hitting the post-season. Farrell managed scared all year, and wore out his best players in the regular season. At some point you have to be able to say, this is a team playing at an historic pace, we can risk a few games against whoever is on the schedule.
I was talking about the Blue Jays this week. Thursday it sounded like they really needed to shut him down, now they're just picking a spot to start up again.Right, like the lowly MFY
Eovaldi pitches Friday. Price and TBA are the listed starters for Saturday. My guess is TBA will probably be a committee game...maybe Pomeranz or Johnson on short rest backed by the other and Velazquez?So how do they handle the doubleheader, assuming Price starts Friday as normal?
Why not just start Sale on Saturday? Off day Monday, so they can empty the pen Sunday whether they start Pomeranz on regular rest or Velazquez.You get a 26th player on Double Header days. There might be someone in Pawtucket coming up for a spot start like Cuevas?
THISWhy not just start Sale on Saturday? Off day Monday, so they can empty the pen Sunday whether they start Pomeranz on regular rest or Velazquez.
Right. 2 days off next week means that the doubleheader doesn't screw up the rotation after.THIS
They need an innings eater for the day with the doubleheader. And then he'd get extra rest for the day off the following Thursday, and start the Friday.
Those are pretty good numbers for your number 7 or 8 starter to be sure.And that was his worst start of the season. Johnson as a starter this year:
7 GS, 35 IP, 2.57 ERA, .248/.318/.409 against, 9.00 K/9, 3.60 BB/9, 1.54 HR/9, 1.37 WHIP, .292 BABIP, 4.59 FIP, 4.34 xFIP
15 swings and misses on 68 pitches. Crazy town.How amazing is Sale? Working with a very strict pitch count in his first start off the DL, he goes out and pitches a 5 inning one hitter with 12 strikeouts in 68 pitches.
After the game Cora said the plan was 75. Yeah it's only 5 more, but if 5 why not 10. The team is in a position to make a plan and stick to it.He was amazing, but I thought with how much the 'pen has worked lately that he should have gone one more inning or up to 80 pitches.
It’s either the bullpen or Sale who gets stretched (a little). One of those twoHe was amazing, but I thought with how much the 'pen has worked lately that he should have gone one more inning or up to 80 pitches.
Me, too! Change it!!!!Can we change this thread title? Scared the shit out of me seeing it pop back up.
The day off Monday certainly helps.He was amazing, but I thought with how much the 'pen has worked lately that he should have gone one more inning or up to 80 pitches.
And another Thursday too. With the 8-man pen they're still carrying, barring some sort of disaster in Philly (specifically a quick exit by a starter), they should be able to get everyone some down time this week.The day off Monday certainly helps.
For Sale, baby steps, gently wornI was hoping he'd go 8 and get 20 or 21 K.
Thanks, but still a missed opportunity that it's not "Love for Sale."Thread title revised.
Why wouldn't he make next start?I’d love to see him go again on Saturday. He’d have five days rest and still be able to go against CLE as well. Does this happen though?