They didn't announce it yet because they are still deciding, but there will indeed be 2 or 3 additional roster spots in April this season, 28 or 29.
The 2022 Rotation
- Thread starter nvalvo
- Start date
So right now we got:
1. Eovaldi
2. Pivetta
3. Houck?
4??? (Seabold?)
5. Winkowski? Kutter?
Does Whitlock move to starter? I really wanted him as the bullpen ace and I worry about him getting hurt trying to stretch him out in a shortened ST.
Do they sign someone? Two?
1. Eovaldi
2. Pivetta
3. Houck?
4??? (Seabold?)
5. Winkowski? Kutter?
Does Whitlock move to starter? I really wanted him as the bullpen ace and I worry about him getting hurt trying to stretch him out in a shortened ST.
Do they sign someone? Two?
They already signed Rich Hill and Michael Wacha. The rotation to start the season will be Eovaldi, Pivetta, Hill, Wacha, Houck/Whitlock.
Eovaldi- Pivetta- Wacha- Hill- Houck
Whitlock-Barnes-Diekman-Brasier-Taylor-Strahm-Sawa-Davis/Hernandez
Not very deep. If 42 year old Hill tweaks something, things get dicey quickly.
Whitlock-Barnes-Diekman-Brasier-Taylor-Strahm-Sawa-Davis/Hernandez
Not very deep. If 42 year old Hill tweaks something, things get dicey quickly.
I think you need to keep at least one of Houck / Whitlock in the pen. The pen looks shaky as is, but needs a shutdown righty who can go multiple innings.
Granted, if someone else in the rotation is injured, who is next man up? Seabold? Crawford?
Granted, if someone else in the rotation is injured, who is next man up? Seabold? Crawford?
As always, it will be someone we dont know/havent heard of. Like 2021 Whitlock. The time to panic doesn't come until after, for example, they are swept in the season's opening series against a shitty team. Then we'll know they're going nowhere. They haven't even played an exhibition game yet.
They’re stretching Whitlock out too, though stopped short days ago of saying he has a guaranteed rotation spot.
https://theathletic.com/3181051/2022/03/13/with-innings-badly-needed-red-sox-stretching-out-garrett-whitlock-as-a-starter-for-now/?source=user_shared_article
Eovaldi/Pivetta/Whitlock/Houck/Hill/Wacha with Sale and Paxton coming in the summer isn’t so bad. Hopefully there’s more to come.
https://theathletic.com/3181051/2022/03/13/with-innings-badly-needed-red-sox-stretching-out-garrett-whitlock-as-a-starter-for-now/?source=user_shared_article
Eovaldi/Pivetta/Whitlock/Houck/Hill/Wacha with Sale and Paxton coming in the summer isn’t so bad. Hopefully there’s more to come.
Is Paxton on a summer timeline? I thought he was maybe in play for fall if things go well, but really more about '23.
Yeah, I agree Whitlock is best off being a mid-game stopper and inning-extender on close games. Especially if Cora and Bloom are on the TBR "times through the order" philosophy, which they seem to be.
If you look at usage, Eovaldi and Pivetta are going to reproduce 2021 and be "classic starters" who will go as deep as they can, 30 starts a year. Wacha was signed with the same expectation, but has a shittier track record in terms of ERA in recent years. Hill's going to be a starter too, but, as you say, age. I'd guess they treat those two like our last two fungible starters - pulling them early if there's trouble. Then Whitlock/Houck for the last spot.
Deciding Whitlock/Houck - last year, Whitlock gave us 73 innings. Then Ottavino at 62, Barnes at 54, with Sawamura and Taylor just after them. Otto is gone, Barnes may be broken, and Sawamura seemed to finish ragged. That's about 300 core innings from the bullpen to address the starting style.
I can't see trying to get 5 innings out of Whitlock and turning to Houck to take his role. So, Houck to start, Whitlock in the pen.
I'd expect Diekman to be a 60 inning go-to guy after Whitlock.
Taylor will chip in 50.
Strahm is a lottery ticket de to his knees, but like Whitlock could be folded into the rotation in an emergency.
Much turns on where Barnes and Sawamura are.
The wheels started coming off around Aug 7 and 8.
Covid in late August, then late September thumb-injury (non-throwing) didn't help.
He's always been terrible in August though. So. . .it's not really abnormal, save that he didn't turn in a middling September performance, as he usually does.
Current pitching staff:
Rotation:
Eovaldi
Pivetta
Hill
Wacha
Whitlock/Houck
(Sale, Paxton on IL; Bello, Crawford, Groome, Seabold, Winckowski in minors)
Bullpen:
Barnes
Bazardo
Brasier
Davis
Diekman
Hernandez
Sawamura
Strahm
Taylor
Valdez
Whitlock/Houck
That's a lot of arms. Not a lot of high level MLB talent, but a lot of usable arms. It would be GREAT if somehow they could hold it together and then in the second half of the year basically add a healthy (and effective) Sale, Paxton, and either Seabold or Winckowski.
Rotation:
Eovaldi
Pivetta
Hill
Wacha
Whitlock/Houck
(Sale, Paxton on IL; Bello, Crawford, Groome, Seabold, Winckowski in minors)
Bullpen:
Barnes
Bazardo
Brasier
Davis
Diekman
Hernandez
Sawamura
Strahm
Taylor
Valdez
Whitlock/Houck
That's a lot of arms. Not a lot of high level MLB talent, but a lot of usable arms. It would be GREAT if somehow they could hold it together and then in the second half of the year basically add a healthy (and effective) Sale, Paxton, and either Seabold or Winckowski.