AL East 2016 thread

[navamind]

Looking like the Sox will get Pomeranz. Possibly for Espinoza straight up. He's a top pitching prospect, but he's far away from the majors.

 

[cerealboi]

Looking like the Sox will get Pomeranz. Possibly for Espinoza straight up. He's a top pitching prospect, but he's far away from the majors.

I think I like it. Worried a little about Pomeranz innings load though.

 

[navamind]

I think I like it. Worried a little about Pomeranz innings load though.

The innings are the one thing that worry me. His walk rate has been pretty high, though he's been a lot stingier as of late. 10.1 K/9 is pretty impressive even in this era. Also Petco isn't quite the pitcher haven it used to be, now that they moved the fences in. His 2.47 ERA isn't sustainable, but his 3.18 FIP and 3.66 xFIP are still quite good. He's also become a three pitch starter. He's also under control through 2019.

As for Espinoza, he has two potential plus-plus pitches (fastball that tops out at 100+ mph and his curveball) and a potential plus pitch in his changeup. There was a lot of disagreement on his prospect ranking heading into the season (BA had him #19, MLB.com had him #39, and BP had him #73). His stats aren't overly impressive (4.38 ERA, 8.5 K/9, 1.37 WHIP), but at 18 years old, he's among the youngest players in the Sally league. It's pretty impressive for someone that young to be holding his own against a bunch of guys coming out of college IMO. But he's pretty far away from the majors.

It'll be a while before you can really assess this trade. Sucks the Sox had to part with Espinoza (especially given their recent struggles in developing pitchers), but they get someone that could potentially play a huge role in the next few years.

 

[navamind]

On the bright side, the Sox still have Kopech. And now it looks like they've reached a deal with Groome ($3.65M), pending a physical. They also have another young pitcher in the Sally league (Roniel Raudes), though his ceiling isn't as high as Espinoza's. He's holding his own posting a 4.06 ERA (though his FIP is 2.99) and solid strikeout/walk rates (8.87 K/9, 1.65 BB/9). And he's also only 18 years old.

 

[bksballer89]

Going to be fun to see the Yanks kick the Sox ass this weekend

 

[johnson]

Just when I was feeling pretty confident about the Jays taking the division, Boston goes and lands Pomeranz and Ziegler. Both are really big additions to their weak spot, pitching. Nice moves.

Jays may need to step up and add an arm now.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Damn Red Sox. Seems like a pretty good move on paper.

Just when I was feeling pretty confident about the Jays taking the division, Boston goes and lands Pomeranz and Ziegler. Both are really big additions to their weak spot, pitching. Nice moves.

Jays may need to step up and add an arm now.

They're going to have to if they want any chance. With Sanchez likely bullpen-bound by mid-August, Estrada's back issues, Stroman's consistency issues, Happ and Dickey being Happ and Dickey, I don't see them holding on or doing any damage unless they get Sonny Gray or Julio Teheran (doubt they move heaven and earth for another Price-like rental). And then they'll still need another BP arm.

 

[johnson]

Damn Red Sox. Seems like a pretty good move on paper.


They're going to have to if they want any chance. With Sanchez likely bullpen-bound by mid-August, Estrada's back issues, Stroman's consistency issues, Happ and Dickey being Happ and Dickey, I don't see them holding on or doing any damage unless they get Sonny Gray or Julio Teheran (doubt they move heaven and earth for another Price-like rental). And then they'll still need another BP arm.

Yep, need a lefty BP arm and a great starter. Sonny Gray seems to have lost it so I'd tread carefully there, but I suppose that might make him more available for less. Teheran would be great.

I hope Gibbons pulls his head out of his arse and just spot starts Chavez, Floyd or Hutch for Sanchez to rest his arm rather than sending him to the pen.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Yep, need a lefty BP arm and a great starter. Sonny Gray seems to have lost it so I'd tread carefully there, but I suppose that might make him more available for less. Teheran would be great.

I hope Gibbons pulls his head out of his arse and just spot starts Chavez, Floyd or Hutch for Sanchez to rest his arm rather than sending him to the pen.

I just figure Gray may need a change of scenery, and as you said might be cheaper now (although Beane might be less inclined to move him when his stock has dropped).

 

[navamind]

Gray's had some bad luck (BABIP is 40 points higher than his career norm, his ERA is considerably higher than his FIP/xFIP), but he hasn't been nearly as effecient as he was in 2014/15 (and even those years, he outperformed his peripherals). He's been giving up harder contact this year and is allowing 1.2 HR/9 despite pitching in Oakland. Gray gets his ground balls, but not at an elite rate and his K/BB numbers are pretty meh.

 

[tducey]

Pomernanz is getting a fair bit of hype but I don't see it with him at all. Still think Toronto makes a move for a pitcher though.

 

[navamind]

even if Pomeranz is only league average over the next 2.5 months, he'd still represent a huge upgrade over what the Sox have gotten from their #4/5 starters (who combined have been worth at least a win below replacement). Pomeranz is in the top 25 among MLB pitchers in FIP/xFIP/SIERA. He was pretty good in Oakland too.

 

[johnson]

Pomernanz is getting a fair bit of hype but I don't see it with him at all. Still think Toronto makes a move for a pitcher though.

Pomeranz has Ace-quality stuff. Health has always been his issue. The dude has been nasty this year.

 

[navamind]

FWIW, Pomeranz has pitched very well against batters the 3rd time through the order (albeit small sample size). It's not like he's been breaking down late in his starts.

Drew Pomeranz 2016 Pitching Splits | Baseball-Reference.com

 

[navamind]

Nice win, though it was pretty disappointing that Wright couldn't make it past the 6th (his pitch count was in the low 50s entering the 6th inning), though a "quality start" by definition is Kershaw-esque compared to what they've gotten from Buchholz/Owens/Kelly/etc. this year.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Going to be fun to see the Yanks kick the Sox ass this weekend

You could still be right? I guess the weekend doesn't start till Saturday right? Nice final out A-fraud. Just think if the Skankees win tomorrow they'll be back to .500

 

[navamind]

At least they have three really good relief pitchers. That's all you need to win baseball games, right?

 

[navamind]

In all seriousness, I miss 98-05. The rivalry hasn't been nearly the same, especially the last few years.

 

[navamind]

Bundy will make his first MLB start tomorrow.

 

[Sportsguy9695]

yankees need to go atleast 6-4 over the next 10 games. and losing last night was not the best way to start it off