What Are Fans Entitled To?

[Petagine in a Bottle]

I agree; the only legit pitching prospect the Sox have is Bello. I think it’s likely a big reason that they haven’t been able to pull of any significant trades. Guys like Crawford, Winckowski, Seabold, Walter, etc are depth but not really all that compelling; all of them have low ceilings and low floors.

 

[EricFeczko]

I agree; the only legit pitching prospect the Sox have is Bello. I think it’s likely a big reason that they haven’t been able to pull of any significant trades. Guys like Crawford, Winckowski, Seabold, Walter, etc are depth but not really all that compelling; all of them have low ceilings and low floors.

I think Mata still has mid-to-back-of-the-rotation starter potential, and Wilkeman Gonzalez is intriguing; otherwise I agree completely.

 

[nvalvo]

Unlike with position players, there's not a lot of optimism on the horizon for SPs/RPs on the farm -- as stocked as we are with position players, we are alot thinner on SPs/RPs; Bello, Mata, Houck, and Whitlock are the best of the bunch and after that a bunch of miracles and retreads. I can't project a possible 2025 starting rotation with the current roster like I can with the starting 9.

There are more interesting guys than you mentioned, but even so, that is more young pitching than we’ve had at once since Buchholz, Lester, and Papelbon.

 

[simplicio]

Crawford was 26 last year and stunk -- especially towards the end of the year (7.58 ERA, 5.34 FIP in August, opponents had an OPS over .900 off him, %10 walk rate ) expectations for him should be low (his ceiling is a 5th starter his floor is AAA); by 2025 he'll be 29, its unlikely he's part of the future for this team.

He stunk for 3 starts at the end of August and then got shut down for the season with a shoulder impingement, after looking like a legit starter for 2 months. Maybe he's the August guy, but maybe he was pitching hurt.

I'm not expecting him to be a star, but in June and July he looked like someone capable of holding down a mid-rotation job.