ERod Thread 2019

DeadlySplitter

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 20, 2015
33,247
ERod had a really disappointing first outing tonight after Cora and the staff all spring were public in wanting him to take the next step. Speier with some scathing tweets:

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 55m55 minutes ago
Dana LeVangie said Rodriguez didn’t stick with the game plan entering the game, particularly with failure to use his changeup vs lefties.

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 40m40 minutes ago
LeVangie thought Mariners righties would be sitting on changeups away so wanted Rodriguez to attack with cutter in, but he didn’t do so aggressively enough to open the plate. And he wanted left-on-left changeups, but Rodriguez threw fastballs in ABs 2 and 3 vs Bruce.

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 38m38 minutes ago
How do you fix unsuccessful implementation of gameplan? LeVangie: ‘A little kick in the teeth here and there, a wakeup call. ... Maybe it’s a little bit of a wakeup call for all of us.’

we need this guy to take that next step and maybe beyond. fortunately it's just March, but looks like he needs a talking to again.
 

Mighty Joe Young

The North remembers
SoSH Member
Sep 14, 2002
8,401
Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada
ERod had a really disappointing first outing tonight after Cora and the staff all spring were public in wanting him to take the next step. Speier with some scathing tweets:

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 55m55 minutes ago
Dana LeVangie said Rodriguez didn’t stick with the game plan entering the game, particularly with failure to use his changeup vs lefties.

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 40m40 minutes ago
LeVangie thought Mariners righties would be sitting on changeups away so wanted Rodriguez to attack with cutter in, but he didn’t do so aggressively enough to open the plate. And he wanted left-on-left changeups, but Rodriguez threw fastballs in ABs 2 and 3 vs Bruce.

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 38m38 minutes ago
How do you fix unsuccessful implementation of gameplan? LeVangie: ‘A little kick in the teeth here and there, a wakeup call. ... Maybe it’s a little bit of a wakeup call for all of us.’

we need this guy to take that next step and maybe beyond. fortunately it's just March, but looks like he needs a talking to again.
Doesn’t some of this also fall on Swihart? Was Rodriguez actively shaking him off? If the starter isn’t following the game plan surely the catcher has to be taking a more proactive position?
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,298
deep inside Guido territory
Sooner or later this is just who Eduardo Rodriguez is. If he went away from the game plan, well who the hell is Rodriguez to do that? He has all the physical tools in the world to be a really good pitcher but to me I don't think he's mentally capable of doing it.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,369
Sooner or later this is just who Eduardo Rodriguez is. If he went away from the game plan, well who the hell is Rodriguez to do that? He has all the physical tools in the world to be a really good pitcher but to me I don't think he's mentally capable of doing it.
If that’s so, the Sox should trade him. I’m sure there are plenty of teams that view his upside and would take a chance on that and the Sox probably could get a nice return on him.

Of course...we don’t know if this is who he is, or who he will always be. That’s the problem.
 

CoffeeNerdness

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2012
8,711
Doesn’t some of this also fall on Swihart? Was Rodriguez actively shaking him off? If the starter isn’t following the game plan surely the catcher has to be taking a more proactive position?
Those quotes seem to indicate it's Erod and Erod only. Seems like Levangie is none too happy nor should he be.
 

Murderer's Crow

Dragon Wangler 216
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
23,473
Garden City
Isn't it a little odd that the team is choosing to take the public route to throw Erod under the bus? It's like Cora decided they need to be extra tough on him by telling the media he's non-compliant after yesterday but also making it a point in ST.
 

absintheofmalaise

too many flowers
Dope
SoSH Member
Mar 16, 2005
23,325
The gran facenda
ERod had a really disappointing first outing tonight after Cora and the staff all spring were public in wanting him to take the next step. Speier with some scathing tweets:

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 55m55 minutes ago
Dana LeVangie said Rodriguez didn’t stick with the game plan entering the game, particularly with failure to use his changeup vs lefties.

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 40m40 minutes ago
LeVangie thought Mariners righties would be sitting on changeups away so wanted Rodriguez to attack with cutter in, but he didn’t do so aggressively enough to open the plate. And he wanted left-on-left changeups, but Rodriguez threw fastballs in ABs 2 and 3 vs Bruce.

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 38m38 minutes ago
How do you fix unsuccessful implementation of gameplan? LeVangie: ‘A little kick in the teeth here and there, a wakeup call. ... Maybe it’s a little bit of a wakeup call for all of us.’

we need this guy to take that next step and maybe beyond. fortunately it's just March, but looks like he needs a talking to again.
If that was the game plan against LHHs ER certainly failed to follow it according to the data on Brooks Baseball. He threw one changeup, six fastballs, six sinkers, and two cutters. Maybe it's better that he didn't throw more changes since the speed variation between his FB was virtually non-existent. His change was 90.4mph and his FBs ranged from 92.9mph to 94.3mph. It looks like both hits came on sinkers(91.5mph).

Against RHHs the data from Brooks shows that he threw 33 FBs(92.2 to 94.3), 30 sinkers(87.4 to 91.4), 22 changes(87.8 to 89.7), and 4 sliders(80.7 to 82) and 3 sinkers(92 to 92.2). The hits came on three fastballs, three changes, and one slider. One another chart they have a pitch at around 78mph classified as a slider. He only threw three or so changes for strikes. The vast majority were outside or low, or both.

He needs more of a speed differential between his fastball and changes, with the corresponding movement to be effective. Those are just meatballs to MLB hitters. I wonder if he's changed his grip.
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,274
Isn't it a little odd that the team is choosing to take the public route to throw Erod under the bus? It's like Cora decided they need to be extra tough on him by telling the media he's non-compliant after yesterday but also making it a point in ST.
I assume they tried to the private route in the past.... And after that has not worked numerous times, they decided, tough love was the only option. And really, if he isn't going to execute the game plan, then he shouldn't be in the rotation
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
Sooner or later this is just who Eduardo Rodriguez is. If he went away from the game plan, well who the hell is Rodriguez to do that? He has all the physical tools in the world to be a really good pitcher but to me I don't think he's mentally capable of doing it.
Clay Buchholz 2.0, though not as good. I wonder how he'd do in a full time bullpen role but it's probably a waste of EdRod's talents unless he's elite level. Here's hoping he figures it out in the rotation and can put together a full solid season because the stuff is there.
 

sean1562

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 17, 2011
3,620
I mean, he has had several decent seasons and is a cost controlled starting pitcher. That is a valuable asset, but I think everyone on this board(myself included) keeps thinking he is going to break out and become something that he isnt. This is who the guy is and we should plan for the future accordingly. ERod and Eovaldi are really solid 4/5 starters, but it is very unlikely that either of them transform into a dependable top starting pitcher.
 

Murderer's Crow

Dragon Wangler 216
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
23,473
Garden City
I mean, he has had several decent seasons
Has he? He's never topped 137ip and is in his 5th season. In his 89 career starts, he has 40 quality starts and a whip around 1.3 (1.29). The upside is there but it's shit or get off the pot time.

There are so many pitchers in the league with nasty stuff who teams struggle to get on the right track. Jon Gray, Reynaldo Lopez, Zack Godley, Luke Weaver, Sonny Gray...I think Eduardo is one of those guys and the Sox are probably very conscious about the fact that they can't spend the entire year coddling him because they need production out of that rotation spot.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,428
If that’s so, the Sox should trade him. I’m sure there are plenty of teams that view his upside and would take a chance on that and the Sox probably could get a nice return on him.

Of course...we don’t know if this is who he is, or who he will always be. That’s the problem.
Also sucks that we traded Andrew Miller (albeit before he became ANDREW MILLER) for him, with the way he's failed to develop. Maybe this is why Baltimore let him go.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
Also sucks that we traded Andrew Miller (albeit before he became ANDREW MILLER) for him, with the way he's failed to develop. Maybe this is why Baltimore let him go.
That was a great deal for the Redsox even if EdRod never pitches another inning.
 

Van Everyman

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2009
26,991
Newton
ERod also got called out by Cora last year for not being straight about failing to cover a base IIRC.

I think the whole “He shouldn’t be in the rotation” thing is stretching things a bit but he has some maturity issues he’s dealing with.
 

Adrian's Dome

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2010
4,424
Also sucks that we traded Andrew Miller (albeit before he became ANDREW MILLER) for him, with the way he's failed to develop. Maybe this is why Baltimore let him go.
As others said, no.

Also, Andrew Miller was very good for us out of the bullpen.
 

absintheofmalaise

too many flowers
Dope
SoSH Member
Mar 16, 2005
23,325
The gran facenda
Also sucks that we traded Andrew Miller (albeit before he became ANDREW MILLER) for him, with the way he's failed to develop. Maybe this is why Baltimore let him go.
Besides the 2011 season when the Sox had him starting, he pitched pretty well for the Sox.
2012 ERA+ 127. WHIP 1.19.
2013 ERA+ 158. WHIP 1.37.
2014 ERA+ 171. WHIP .898.
He was better in Baltimore. Also in NY and Cleveland.
Please base your opinion on facts.
 

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
90,014
Oregon
Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 55m55 minutes ago
Dana LeVangie said Rodriguez didn’t stick with the game plan entering the game, particularly with failure to use his changeup vs lefties.

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 40m40 minutes ago
LeVangie thought Mariners righties would be sitting on changeups away so wanted Rodriguez to attack with cutter in, but he didn’t do so aggressively enough to open the plate. And he wanted left-on-left changeups, but Rodriguez threw fastballs in ABs 2 and 3 vs Bruce.

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 38m38 minutes ago
How do you fix unsuccessful implementation of gameplan? LeVangie: ‘A little kick in the teeth here and there, a wakeup call. ... Maybe it’s a little bit of a wakeup call for all of us.
I'm not sure the last time I heard a Sox coach be this specific about a pitcher/player not doing what was expected of him.

If ERod isn't listening to LeVangie, maybe he could just follow the lead of a couple of better lefty starters on the team.
 

brandonchristensen

Loves Aaron Judge
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2012
38,144
Isn't it a little odd that the team is choosing to take the public route to throw Erod under the bus? It's like Cora decided they need to be extra tough on him by telling the media he's non-compliant after yesterday but also making it a point in ST.
I feel like he kind of did that to Devers last year.
 

NickEsasky

Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em
Silver Supporter
SoSH Member
Jul 24, 2001
9,190
Not to absolve ERod completely here, but a gameplan is fine and dandy until you get on the mound in the bullpen and realize you don't have a good feel for the change, or you can't spot your fastball in to righties. ERod is the one throwing the pitches so he has to have confidence in them during the game. It might not be that he was completely ignoring the gameplan.
 

Pandarama

New Member
Aug 20, 2018
149
Not to absolve ERod completely here, but a gameplan is fine and dandy until you get on the mound in the bullpen and realize you don't have a good feel for the change, or you can't spot your fastball in to righties. ERod is the one throwing the pitches so he has to have confidence in them during the game. It might not be that he was completely ignoring the gameplan.
Maybe for the coaching staff, it’s a bit like parenting. Sure, for one or two outings, any pitcher can have trouble locating the change or spotting the fastball in to righties. But when there’s always an excuse, always a reason, game after game, season after season, why the guy can never get through 7IP in a start, it gets old and frustrating.
 

EllisTheRimMan

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 6, 2007
4,560
Csmbridge
Too many pitches. Can’t put hitters away. Can’t get out of innings. Very frustrating to watch a big lefty with his stuff perform this way year after year.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 11, 2007
6,344
Dude is really starting to hurt me. I’ve been so strongly bullish on him as a developing “no.2”. Really confident he was going to put the health and “stuff” together and emerge. Confidence in that has about 3 more starts left before it crashes
 

Adrian's Dome

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2010
4,424
Based on the pointed comments from Cora and Levangie, I don’t think he will get a ton of rope.
Who's gonna replace him? The Human White Flag, Velazquez? You could at least make an argument if Wright were still with the team, but as of right now, EdRod is still the best option.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 11, 2007
6,344
Who's gonna replace him? The Human White Flag, Velazquez? You could at least make an argument if Wright were still with the team, but as of right now, EdRod is still the best option.
Obviously nobody... yeah.
But for me it's his change from being replaceable "no. 5" guy from a "no. 2/co ace" type which I was really envisioning happening this season. Before his freak injury last season he was well on the way (not there yet) to being that
 

luckysox

Indiana Jones
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2009
8,073
S.E. Pennsylvania
No one is replacing ERod after 2 starts. I mean, yes, he has been abysmal. But he's also had a few really strong innings. His stuff is there. Someone needs to calmly stoke his hair and his ego, or put a boot directly up his arse - either way is fine with me - and get his brain back to a point where it doesn't implode on 3-2 pitches or when someone gets on base. He's reminding me of when Clay used to be awesome for 2 innings and then, BOOM, everything went precisely to shit when he lost a call, or gave up a hit, or a run or whatever. GET IT TOGETHER, man, or you WILL be the next Felix Doubront (the comparison to whom was the most depressing thing I have seen on the main page in a while, I have to admit).
 

geoduck no quahog

not particularly consistent
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 8, 2002
13,024
Seattle, WA
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose:

"The Red Sox have lost six of their past eight games mainly because of dismal outings from Boston starters, but no performance was as poor as Eduardo Rodriguez's meltdown...
.
..“The bottom line is, (Rodriguez) is capable of more. We’re capable of more,” the Red Sox manager told reporters. “We need to get better,...We collectively have to get better.

..."To continue to fall behind as much as we have of late, we’re more talented than that. We have the capabilities of executing pitches at a higher rate, and we can’t continue to expect our offense to climb out of holes as we’ve been. We’ve got to set the tone and lead the way from the mound, more than we are.”


Rodriguez gave up nine runs on 11 hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work, ballooning his ERA to 8.59 this season. During a third-inning mound visit, team leader Dustin Pedroia tried to motivate the struggling pitcher to no avail. Pedroia downplayed the exchange after the 13-7 loss to the Rays.

...E-Rod's outing, which resulted in the southpaw getting demoted to Triple-A, also sparked a team meeting...
2016
 

EllisTheRimMan

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 6, 2007
4,560
Csmbridge
It's starting to remind me of.....



And their career arcs so far are remarkably similar, though Edro has been better.
Fack!!! I didn’t see the comparison at first and then realized you were referencing the Once and Future King Felix doubront. My heart sank and I got nauseous when I actually looked at the graphs closely.

That said, EdRo is 26, cost controlled and left handed. He gets a good chunk of 2019 to figure it out... given our other options.

That doubront comp is pessimism inducing and I need a Tums.
 

The Gray Eagle

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2001
16,720
Doubront never had a season of 30 or more IP with an ERA+ over 95. Eduardo put up a season with a 114 ERA+ way back... 6 months ago. He's already way better than Doubront ever was.

He's been horrible in his 2 starts so far this year, like the other starters have generally been. It's still 2 starts.
 

brandonchristensen

Loves Aaron Judge
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2012
38,144
Pedro is the best.

EdRo looked phenomenal today. The HR was BS, he should have been out of the inning twice before.

I’ll take that outing 100% of the time.

Hopefully this fires up the rest of the starters.
 

Al Zarilla

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
58,867
San Andreas Fault
I saw a clip of Pedro working with Edro in one of the bullpens. He sure looked like he was paying attention. Duh! More of this, please, with whatever pitchers feel they need it. Nobody should be too proud to take advice from the great one.
 

SouthernBoSox

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 23, 2005
12,084
I haven't had the chance to check the pitch charts, but from watching the game it looked like he threw way less cutter and significantly more true breakingballs.

I have been preaching a refined look from him for a while. He need to stick to fastball change heavy and mix in a slower breakingball for strikes.

He had been way to fastball cutter heavy and even though his change is fantastic it's still very hard. Everything was 89-94. A slower breakingball could really make him tough.

He needs to scrap that cutter it makes him over think and really isn't a dynamic pitch.
 

Sprowl

mikey lowell of the sandbox
Dope
SoSH Member
Jun 27, 2006
34,437
Haiku
Edro threw 17 sliders and only 5 cutters (although 2 fastballs might be classified as cutters. Most of the cutters were waste pitches, outside the strike zone. Most of the swinging strikes were on Edro's bread and butter, the four-seam fastball and the changeup, but it does help to have five legitimate pitches to keep the batters guessing.