AL East Thread

[navamind]

The starters aren't much better, past Crochet and Buehler. Bello is a walk machine, Houck flat out sucks. Giolito might help but he hasn't pitched sine the Reagan Administration.

Meanwhile, Nick Pivetta is 5-2 with a 1.012 WHIP. Could the Red Sox have back to back seasons where they dumped the NL Cy Young winner?

It's not just the walks that are an issue with Bello, he just doesn't get that many whiffs for how "good" his stuff is. He just doesn't have very good command and he gets hit pretty hard for a ground ball pitcher. Also not sure why he's throwing his changeup less.

It's frustrating to see Pivetta blossom this year, but I feel like that was a ballpark issue with him. I've always liked his K/BB rates, but the long ball has been an issue for him. Moving from Philly/Boston to San Diego (a very pitcher friendly ballpark) is a pretty big difference for HR prone pitchers. Not saying he wouldn't be an improvement over some of the starting pitching performances the Sox have gotten in 2025 (he would), but I don't think he'd have a 2.72 ERA in Boston.

 

[bksballer89]

When do the Sox start firing coaches?

Is Cora safe?

After the Yankees sweep them next weekend

 

[navamind]

There is a lot of season left. Look at the 2002 A's, they were sitting at 19-25 and 28-30 before going on a massive tear to finish 103-59. Hell, the 2001 team was sitting at 38-42 and finished 102-60. The 2022 Phillies were 21-29 and fired Girardi, only to finish 87-75 and make it to the WS. 2019 Nats started 19-31, won 93 games and the WS. It does feel bleak right now though, especially when their MVP (and one of the few consistent hitters on the team) will be out until after the ASB.

 

[bksballer89]

Remember what Gleyber said last season about playing 3B?