AL East 2016 thread

[molsaniceman]

Red Sox exercise option on Clay Buchholz, pass on Ryan Hanigan

Not surprising at all. He provides depth and the other free agent options aren't particularly enticing.

lot of money for depth

 

[Vyle203]

Red Sox exercise option on Clay Buchholz, pass on Ryan Hanigan

Not surprising at all. He provides depth and the other free agent options aren't particularly enticing.

I think he earned it. He still scares me whenever he takes the mound.

 

[navamind]

I think he earned it. He still scares me whenever he takes the mound.

I can agree with that.

 

[navamind]

lot of money for depth

It is, but the other FA options are rather bleak and full of question marks themselves. Sox aren't going to be getting 30+ starts from all five starters. If they somehow do, there's a pretty good chance they'll be returning to the playoffs.

 

[The Q]

It is, but the other FA options are rather bleak and full of question marks themselves. Sox aren't going to be getting 30+ starts from all five starters. If they somehow do, there's a pretty good chance they'll be returning to the playoffs.

Interesting that I saw this and just read they might need to cut payroll to add a big bat.

Yeesh.

Benny really did leave them with some serious problems.

That's why you do a real rebuild and not a half ass one.

 

[tducey]

I hear Chris Sale might be made available by the White Sox. Wonder if Boston or Toronto could get him?

 

[The Q]

I hear Chris Sale might be made available by the White Sox. Wonder if Boston or Toronto could get him?

Boston probably already has this deal if they hadn't made the Kimbrel and Pomeranz deals. Sale is probably in Boston before 8/1/16.

Now....hard to say.

 

[poprocksncoke]

I hear Chris Sale might be made available by the White Sox. Wonder if Boston or Toronto could get him?

If true, need to get this done. Still need a #1 pitcher.

 

[Vyle203]

If true, need to get this done. Still need a #1 pitcher.

It sounds like Chicago wants JBJ and Moncada.

 

[The Q]

It sounds like Chicago wants JBJ and Moncada.

So the Sox aren't getting Sale.

Got it.

 

[Vyle203]

So the Sox aren't getting Sale.

Got it.

I hope not, not at that price.

 

[navamind]

Major League Team Stats » 2016 » Starters » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball

Just terrible.

 

[The Q]

Major League Team Stats » 2016 » Starters » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball

Just terrible.

Sox are 15th in xFIP and 20th in FIP for 2016. So it's not exactly like we should be expecting a ton of improvement from this team.

 

[navamind]

Sox are 15th in xFIP and 20th in FIP for 2016. So it's not exactly like we should be expecting a ton of improvement from this team.

That's also not park adjusted. they're 11th in FIP- and 13th in xFIP- and they also threw the 5th most innings of any rotation.

Sox should hopefully have a healthy Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez was bad when he first came up struggling with command (and possibly pitch tipping) after the injury, but he pitched very well in the 2nd half. Pomeranz had a 3.90 xFIP in his stint with Boston. I don't expect him to have a 2.50~ ERA like he did in San Diego, but I think Pomeranz can pitch like a good #3. Even Price, I think there's reason to be optimistic about him improving next year. His HR/9 and HR/FB rates were well above his career norms. I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes with a better ERA next year.

Steven Wright will also probably see some regression, but how much remains to be seen. Depends on whether you buy into FIP and him having some control over his soft contact rates, or how much you buy into xFIP. I don't see why he can't be a good #4/5 that throws 180+ innings.

 

[The Q]

That's also not park adjusted. they're 11th in FIP- and 13th in xFIP- and they also threw the 5th most innings of any rotation.

Sox should hopefully have a healthy Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez was bad when he first came up struggling with command (and possibly pitch tipping) after the injury, but he pitched very well in the 2nd half. Pomeranz had a 3.90 xFIP in his stint with Boston. I don't expect him to have a 2.50~ ERA like he did in San Diego, but I think Pomeranz can pitch like a good #3. Even Price, I think there's reason to be optimistic about him improving next year. His HR/9 and HR/FB rates were well above his career norms. I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes with a better ERA next year.

Steven Wright will also probably see some regression, but how much remains to be seen. Depends on whether you buy into FIP and him having some control over his soft contact rates, or how much you buy into xFIP. I don't see why he can't be a good #4/5 that throws 180+ innings.

Porcello is also going to regress.

Wright I agree with your last line. That's ALL i can ever really hope for out of a knuckleballer.

Price and Eddy are going to be interesting. I have high hopes for both. But the question is how much regression will the other guys have, and what the f*ck Pomeranz will do.

 

[navamind]

I'm more worried about the bullpen. They have depth (Hembree/Ross/Barnes/etc), but they don't really have any established late inning options outside of Kimbrel. Lord knows when Smith will get back and as good as Kelly looked down the stretch, it's still a small sample size. Losing Ziegler sucks.

 

[navamind]

Porcello is also going to regress.

Wright I agree with your last line. That's ALL i can ever really hope for out of a knuckleballer.

Price and Eddy are going to be interesting. I have high hopes for both. But the question is how much regression will the other guys have, and what the f*ck Pomeranz will do.

Agreed on Porcello, but I'm not particularly worried about a guy with a 3.40 FIP and 3.89 xFIP. I think he'll be more of a 3.5-4 WAR pitcher than 5.2. Still would be one of the more valuable starters in the AL.

 

[The Q]

I'm more worried about the bullpen. They have depth (Hembree/Ross/Barnes/etc), but they don't really have any established late inning options outside of Kimbrel. Lord knows when Smith will get back and as good as Kelly looked down the stretch, it's still a small sample size. Losing Ziegler sucks.

I don't think they necesarily lose Ziegler.

man they need Carson Smith back, so badly.

I go get Holland. F*ck it. I know he's a clean inning guy, that just means you move Kimbrel around to those key situations.

 

[Vyle203]

I'm more worried about the bullpen. They have depth (Hembree/Ross/Barnes/etc), but they don't really have any established late inning options outside of Kimbrel. Lord knows when Smith will get back and as good as Kelly looked down the stretch, it's still a small sample size. Losing Ziegler sucks.

Is there any word on when to expect Carson back?

 

[poprocksncoke]

Is there any word on when to expect Carson back?